Gaines, Arthur Maurice (Oral history)

British NCO served with Essex Regt in GB, 1939-1940; officer cadet served with Officers Cadet Training Unit in Heysham, GB, 1940; officer served with 1/5th Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 1940-1941; served with 6th Bn Nigeria Regt in Nigeria, India and Burma,1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Clapham, GB, 1919-1939: family; education; period in Officers Training Corps while at university; medical; trips to Europe during 1930s; reactions at start of war; story of promotion on first night in army at Brentwood; details of training received in Officers Training Corps; description of Vickers machine gun; make-up and roles of Vickers team; choice of regiment. Aspects of period as NCO with Essex Regt in GB, 11/1939-1940: pattern of training; discipline; accommodation; details of camp; rations; leisure activities; leave. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Officers Cadet Training Unit in GB, 1940: discipline; pattern of training including guard duties in Colchester; reason for posting to Douglas; improvements to life; route marches including contact with Italian internees; tactical and man management training; choice of regiment and posting to Sherwood Foresters; opinion of training. Aspects of period as officer with 1/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 12/1940-10/1941: postings at East Dereham and Galashiels; accommodation in Galashiels; reception from regiment on arrival; posting back to Midlands at Penkridge; activities of unit; news of posting overseas; illness on return from embarkation leave; hospitalisation in Lichfield. Aspects of period as officer with 70th (Young Soldiers) Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 11/1941-7/1942: posting to RAF Kirton Lindsey; capture of former battalion in Singapore; duties of battalion; training given to RAF personnel. REEL 2 Continues: contact with civilians; story of breaking leg and hospitalisation, 7/1942-12/1942; morale in GB; concerns for family; period with 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters; choice of postings overseas. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Nigeria Regt in Nigeria, 5/1943-10/1943: knowledge of West Africa; details of voyage aboard Highland Princess to Lagos; joining of 6th Battalion; background of African troops; details of jungle training; clothing worn; precautions taken against malaria; accommodation; rations including differences for officers and troops; relationship with Nigerian troops; discipline and punishments; languages spoken in unit; considerations made for Muslim troops; leisure activities; mail. REEL 3 Continues: make-up of division; details of journey to India including state of troops during voyage and events in Durban; arrival in Bombay and transfer of brigade to Indian 3rd Infantry Division aka Chindits; expansion of Chindits. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Nigeria Regt in India, 11/1943-2/1944: journey to Jhansi; setting-up of camp; threat made to civilian workers; make-up of Chindits; training undertaken; details of 1st Wingate Operation; length of training period; description of journey to Burma. Aspects of operations as officer with 6th Bn Nigeria Regt in Burma, 2/1944-1945: details of landing strip; arrival and bases set-up; start of march to Aberdeen; opposition faced and splitting-up of column; march to rendezvous point; situation on arrival; loss of wireless and reaction of General Wingate; continuation to Aberdeen; details of K Rations including use of cigarettes and packaging; cooking of porridge; supplements to rations including work of detached Burmese troops; health of troops and sleeping arrangements; medical treatment; withdrawal from Burma including later hospitalisation of officers; own hospitalisations in Poona. REEL 4 Continues: movement through jungle; covering of tracks; details of camps set up each night; sleeping arrangements including issue of gas capes; role of and events at Aberdeen; rations; contact with superior officers; death of General Wingate and subsequent changes to force; details of Blackpool stronghold; Japanese attacks on Blackpool; evacuation of Blackpool; actions against Japanese including at Mogaung; tactics employed against Japanese; contact with civilians; currency issued; morale; state when withdrawn to India; discussion of Wingate Operations' success; opinion of Japanese troops including contact with British ex-POWs; Japanese opinion of African troops; posting to Madras and preparations for Malaya; knowledge of events in Europe; reaction to media coverage of war in Burma; reaction to end of war; period in brigade headquarters and with 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. REEL 5 Continues: possibility of extension to army service; departure from India and voyage to GB; journey to demobilisation centre. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: reunion with family; changes since departure; return to university and problems settling down; health problems during army service; story of appearance before medical board; details of Chindits Old Comrades Association including reason for name of Chindits and civilian work; details of civilian work including with Iraq Petroleum Company and discussion of problems in Iraq from 1950s to 2000s including stories of losing work permit and being ordered to stop speaking Arabic.