Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, France and Belgium, 1933-1941; NCO served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and North Africa, 1941-1943; POW in Italy and Germany, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Stanley, GB, 1916-1939 : memories of childhood and family; details of Stanley in 1920s and 1930s including civilian work and visits to cinema; closure of father's caravan park; subsequent work of father including story of father's mining accident.
REEL 2 Continues: civilian work including details of pay; joining of Territorial Army. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1933-1940: mobilisation; previous training in preparation for war; changes after outbreak of war; posting to Oxfordshire; outbreak of war; rank; qualities needed as NCO; regularity of drill meetings; details of bounty; details of annual camps; machines taken from Germany in 1918; details of work at Birtley Royal Ordnance Factory and superiority of German factories; opinion of Churchill tanks; story of refusal to receive inoculations. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1/1940-5/1940: posting in Gondecourt; weather; description of anti-tank ditches dug; background of troops. Aspects of operations as NCO with 8th Bn Durham light Infantry in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: casualties and POWs taken in France; details of march to Arras; action in Mons; first dead Germans seen; withdrawal of Germans; positions taken in cemetery; story of surrendering POWs; memories of Norman Heaviside; separation from battalion; interview at Divisional Headquarters; opinion of German superiority; opinion of training; remains of platoon and joining of Royal Army Service Corps column; setting up of a road block and training given to troops; refusal of officer to let him go; withdrawal to La Panne; defences at La Panne including Naval support; reason for separation from battalion; memories of Arthur Sands.
REEL 3 Continues: evacuation aboard HMS Douglas. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1940- 1941: morale and reception on arrival; time in Staffordshire camp; reuion with battalion; posting on south coast; duties; posting in Taunton; course taken; reinforcements. Aspects of period as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1941-1942: make-up of 16th Battalion; differences between light and heavy infantry drills; story of bad soldier in platoon and inter-company competition; dressing down from company commander; story of course taught at 12 Corps School and meeting with Montgomery; period on airfield defence duties; details of voyage to North Africa including Christmas 1942 and seasickness. Aspects of operations as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1943: arrival in Algiers; train journey to frontline; route taken into Mediterranean; situation in North Africa; role of 1st Army; proximity to German troops; work with artillery; decision of commanding officer to attack; story of putting hand on dead man's face; memories of advance at Sedjenane; story of German officer met and position taken; memories of battalion attack; story of soup issued; story of being bayoneted and captured; state of platoon; items carried; formation of attack; contact with artillery; story of capture; initial treatment.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1943: German use of Italian troops; march to Tripoli; stay in hotel; voyage to Sicily; march to camp. Aspects of period as POW in Italy, 1943: accommodation; boots issued; details of work undertaken by POWs; story of charge received and punishment; sleeping arrangements; length of stay; journey to Ancona; background of POWs; story of Red Cross parcels rumour; problems with lice; reunion with 8th Battalion troops; issue of Red Cross parcels; details of pay and items available; rations; contents and sharing of Red Cross parcels; items made by POWs; piercing of Red Cross parcel tins; opinion of camp commandant; water supply; washing facilities and cleaning clothes; problems with lice and bed bugs; disappearance of guards; decision to hide in mountains; preparations for departure; arrival of Germans; fates of departed POWs; story of clock made by a POW; conditions and rations on train journey to Germany. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1943-1945: arrival in camp near Kaisersteinbruch; reason why he should not have been in camp; treatment of Russian POWs; delousing; method of heating water; visit from SS concerning stolen gloves; reason for move to different camp; dogs used at camp; details of final camp; information requests from POWs; availability of food and clothes; details of toothbrush made; bribery of guards; radios in camp and searches of huts; emptying of latrines.
REEL 5 Continues: story of revolver stolen from a guard; stories of winding guards up; changes after D-Day; details of game played for cigarettes; photographs taken in camp; rations including work in kitchen; methods of making margarine and coffee; burning of bed boards and sleeping arrangements; method of boiling water; conditions in winter; air raids; story of hut walls used for fuel; collection of wood for fuel. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1945: news of march away from camp; POWs left behind; reactions to being out of camp; scavenging of potatoes from fields; problems with dysentery; need to not drop out; signs of bombing; pram gained from civilian; use and loss of pram; story of being hit by guard; night in warehouse; appearance of Americans and escape of guards; issue of white bread; searches for food after liberation; surrender of German officers; German fear of Americans; story of Americans firing ammunition in air; flight to GB; reception from WAAF on arrival; period in airfield camp; reception on return home; casualties from Stanley and background of Durham Light Infantry troops at end of war.
REEL 6 Continues: discussion of modern army; memories of childhood.