Description
Object description
British private served with 520 Coy Royal Army Service Corps attached to 147 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps and French Foreign Legion in GB, Norway and Northern Ireland 1939-1942; served with 559 General Transport Coy Royal Army Service Corps in Egypt, GB and North West Europe, 1939-1944; served with Royal Army Service Corps in Netherlands, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Leeds, GB, 1920-1939: family including father's service in army; education; reasons for joining Territorial Army including civilian work; process of joining and posting in 520 Company. Aspects of period as private with 520 Coy Royal Army Service Corps including attachment to 147 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps in GB, 4/1939-4/1940: wearing of uniform on Saturday nights; meetings in barracks; learning to drive; rifle issued; mobilisation, 1/9/1939, and attachment to 147 Field Ambulance; pattern of training; morale; posting to Boroughbridge; motorbikes driven; supply of meals; morale; collection of army vehicles; journey to Scotland; clothing issued; situation in Europe; voyage to Norway aboard the Franconia including morale. Aspects of operations as private with 520 Coy Royal Army Service Corps attached to 147 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps and French Foreign Legion in Norway, 4/1940-6/1940: arrival in Harstad; accommodation; duties during wait for vehicles; air activity; condition of roads; transportation of wounded to field hospital; posting to French Foreign Legion; situation in area; journey to Bjerkvik; details of Part 2 Orders; scenes on arrival; make-up of French Foreign Legion troops; activities of unit.
REEL 2 Continues: role with French Foreign Legion; capture and advance from Narvik; withdrawal from Norway and voyage to Britain aboard the Georgic; opinion of French Foreign Legion troops; reaction to situation; scenes during withdrawal; relationship with civilians; sleeping arrangements after Harstad; opinions about campaign. Aspects of period as private with 520 Coy Royal Army Service Corps attached to 147 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps in Northern Ireland, 7/1940- 6/1942: splitting-up of French Foreign Legion on arrival in Britain; reunion with unit; leave; reflections on Norway Campaign; posting to Carrickfergus; re-equipping and exercises; role during exercises; details of Matchless 350 motorbike ridden; attendance on mechanic course; posting to 148 Company; help given to civilians during air raids; relationship with civilians; leisure activities; knowledge of war; state of Leeds after war; pattern of training; description of schemes; conditions in Northern Ireland including items taken home on leave.
REEL 3 Continues: posting in Necarne Castle; visits to Republic of Ireland; news of war; leave; rumours of posting abroad; details of mail sent home; discipline; details of pay; relationship with civilians; background to posting on draft; activities during period in Woking; kit issued; voyage to Egypt; period in Ismailia; conditions during voyage. Aspects of period as private with 559 General Transport Coy Royal Army Service Corps in Egypt, 7/1942-4/1944: posting to company and details of khaki drill; duties with company in Alexandria docks; position and role in convoys; details of lorries in unit; activities on leave in Cairo including contact with Australian troops; problems from civilians and visits to Alexandria.
REEL 4 Continues: reactions to being abroad; story of transporting nitro-glycerine in North West Europe; relationship with civilians; question of concerns during 1942; accommodation; hospitalisation; details of leave camps; story of medical; news from home; voyage to Britain. Aspects of period as private with 559 General Transport Coy Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 4/1944-6/1944: arrival and journey to Newcastle-upon-Tyne; story of short period as lance corporal in Egypt; death of father; convoy duties in North Africa; home leave including rationing; posting and journey to Brandon.
REEL 5 Continues: details of voyage from Norway to Britain, 6/1940; impressions of French Foreign Legion; air raids in Norway including anti-aircraft fire; uniform worn; preparations for invasion including waterproofing of vehicles; rabbit shoots; posting in Fleet; knowledge of coming invasion; background of troops; voyage to Normandy. Aspects of operations as private with 559 General Transport Coy Royal Army Service Corps in North West Europe, 6/1944- 12/1944: arrival on beaches; movement inland; duties of company; sleeping arrangements; morale; advance behind fighting troops including state of Caen and attitude of civilians; knowledge of route taken; question of contact with German troops; air activity.
REEL 6 Continues: story of British plane wreck; contact with American troops; signs of battle; advance to Nijmegen; route taken; condition of roads including repairs and mines; mushrooms; evening with civilians in Rouen; reaction to situation; story of five lorry accident; search for Germans on Belgian frontier.
REEL 7 Continues: coping with winter conditions; hold-up and advance beyond at Nijmegen; leave in Britain. Aspects of period as private with Royal Army Service Corps in Netherlands, 1/1945-5/1945: posting in Nijmegen; duties of company; story of involvement in four road accidents on same day; injuries from last accident including initial reaction; period of hospitalisation including research into incident and treatment received; process of demobilisation, 3/1946; details of pension. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: reflections on service; civilian work; ongoing problems from injuries.
