Earl, Albert (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British NCO served with 1st Bn, King's Own Royal Regt in Palestine and Italy, 1943-1946

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of background in North Finchley, 1922-1942: family background and social circumstances; education; Boys Brigade activities; work as office boy and account clerk, 1936-1939; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; work with Food Office, Church End, Finchley, 9/1939-2/1942, including role controlling food rations and staff establishment; Anderson shelter; work cellar shelter; blackout; German air raids; fire watching; recreations; medical and call up, 2/1942. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period with Royal Fusiliers, Infantry Training Centre, Brentford, 2/1942-5/1942: reception and kitting out. REEL 2 Continues: hut accommodation; morning routine; laying out kit; food rations; PT and route marches; drill; weapons training including rifle, Bren gun, Thompson sub machine gun, bayonet, hand grenade, PIAT and 2" mortat; preparing for kit inepections; relationship with recruits and instructors; recreations. REEL 3 Continues: tonsilitus. Recollections of period with Z Coy, 12th Nm, Royal Fusiliers at Ashford Camp, Lyndhurst, Bounenemouth, Winchester and Cosham, 5/1942-11/1943: continuation training; move to Bournemouth; tactical exercises; relationship with ORs, NCOs and officers; move to Winchester; cross country runs; concentration on weapons training; move to Cosham; war situation; training as battalion; embarkations leave. Voyage aboard Dominion Monarch to Port Said, Egypt, 11/1943-12/1943: conditions; convoy route; question of submarine attack; first impressions on disembarkation. Period at Ismailia Camp, ca 12/1943: tent accommodation; climate and acclimatisation training; swimming in Bitter Lakes; visits to Ismailia. Recollections of period with D Coy, 1st Bn, King's Own Royal Regt in Palestine, ca 12/1943-3/1944: background to formation of unit from 8th Bn, KORR; relationship with ORs; role as assistant company clerk. REEL 4 Continues: question of role as company runner and return to section. Recollections of operations in Italy, 3/1944-5/1945: question of deployment to Greek Islands; landing at Naples, 3/1944; move into Gustav Line, Pescara sector; farm billets and forward defensive positions; German shell fire; sentry role; night patrols; compo food rations; water rations; move into Central Mountain are; nature of fighting; story of close escape during attack on Umbertide; opinion of phosphorous grenades; news of death of brother; night attack on Montone; digging slit trenches; story of night attack on farm including German machine gun fire, close escape from stick grenade, use of grenade and being wounded by shrapnel whilst consolidating position. REEL 5 Continues: evacuation and medical treatment; hospitalisation and convalescence in Naples area; rejoining unit during rest period at Citta de Costello; leave in Flrence; comparison of Briitsh and US uniforms and rations; move to Adriatic front; practicing river crossings; cinema shows; attitude to promotion; hospitalisation with jaundice at Bari; period in convalescent camp and removal of shrapnel from finger; rejoining unit at Longiano; move into static defensive positions above Lombardy Plain; German shell fire; Allied air attacks; supply arrangements in mountains; move to Adriatic coast; situation; VE Day, 8/5/1945. Aspects of period in Trieste area, 5/1945-12/1946: situation; role as despatch clerk in orderly room, Headquarters Coy; repatriation arrangements for German POWs at Bolsano; promotion to lance corporal. REEL 6 Continues: training and promotion to orderly room sergeant; internal security role; sergeants' mess; local leave in Venice Lido; move to Pula, Yugoslavia; train journey back to GB, 12/1946. Demobilisation and demob suit, 12/1946. Post-war career: question of return to work at Food Office; work as punch card clerk with gas company; career in automated accountancy; question of effects of war service.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Hart, Peter M (Recorder)
Earl, Albert (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2006-06
Dimensions: whole: Duration 160, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 28679

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