Description
Object description
British NCO served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB and North Africa, 1941-1942; served with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1946; NCO and officer served with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in GB, 1946-1967
Content description
REEL 1 Background to joining Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1939- 1941: initial deferment from service; periods with an infantry Bren carrier platoon and Royal Army Service Corps; details of period as turner. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, 1941-1942: details of armament artificer training; preparations for voyage to Egypt; march to Portsmouth station; train journey to Gourock. Aspects of voyage from Gourock, GB, to Egypt aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth, 1942: population of ship; issue of money; details of sergeants' mess; duties at mealtimes; bingo; rations; discipline and memories of officer in command of boat Brigadier Tooley; stops at Freetown and Simonstown. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in North Africa, 7/1942- 10/1942: duties during period of acclimatisation; background to creation of No 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicles Inspection and Servicing Unit; role of unit at Berg-al-Arab; joining of Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers and reaction. Aspects of operations as NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in North Africa, 10/1942-7/1943: climate and terrain; discipline; description of Junkers Ju-87 Stuka attacks and other air activity; description of circuit system and story of wounding from Junkers Ju-87 Stuka raid.
REEL 2 Continues: recovery of firing pins from Sherman tanks during Battle of Alamein; reason for problem with firing pins; situation at Battle of Mareth; details of journey with First New Zealand Corps around Mareth Line; period cut off during battle; casualties; standard of turnout; details of appearance in film Engineers in the Desert; accommodation in desert; details of workshops; slit trenches; methods of making self more comfortable; signs on roads; length of period in desert; advance to Algeria; story of pet dog and reason for name, Foo; re-equipping of tanks for 23rd Armoured Brigade; posting to Sicily; loading of LST including deal struck to gain pet dog passage. Aspects of operations as NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in Italy, 7/1943-1946: problems landing on Amber Beach.
REEL 3 Continues: accommodation including memories of dog on Sicily; voyage to Taranto; story of commandeering a tractor in Libya; item gained in Taranto; story of work on 2lb gun triggers for 12th Lancers at Foggia; rest period and preparations for posting to Cassino in Santo Sparito; story of journey to Cassino; situation at Cassino including exchange of artillery fire; state of Cassino; defences on Adolf Hitler Line; activities of US Army during advance on Rome; arrival on outskirts of Rome; story of meeting Pope Pius XII in Vatican City; use of heating system found in Senigallia; story of help given to Supermarine Spitfire pilot.
REEL 4 Continues: movement of unit between postings; story of waterproofing tanks in monastery; story of preparations for VE Day celebrations and conversion of vehicles for use in Trieste; reactions to end of war; conversion of ambulances into caravans for sale to officers including description of one made for his brigadier; reason for and process of making wooden guns made for tanks; changes made to General Montgomery's tank; stories of talk with and visits from General Montgomery; opinion of General Montgomery; comradeship in North Africa; inspections of unit equipment; details of own vehicle; leave in GB including marriage; details of train journeys across Europe for leave and demobilisation.
REEL 5 Continues: visits to Switzerland; problems settling into civilian life and joining of Territorial Army. Aspects of period as NCO and officer with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in GB, 1946- 1967: arrival and promotions; posting to Putney; memories of Joe Ireley including commission; postings received and promotion to Lieutenant; story of help given to Royal Army Service Corps with system for picking up infantry; promotion and posting to Light Aid Detachment of the Westminster Dragoons; details of unit and troopers; story of problems with connecting rods on Comet tanks; story of General Pyeman's announcement after conversion to armoured cars; posts held with Westminster Dragoons; background to leaving Territorial Army; award of Territorial Decoration; civilian work with Royal Ordnance; dispersal of silver and funds on disbandment of Westminster Dragoons; celebrations before disbandment; story of telegram sent to Princess Marina at time of disbandment.
