Description
Object description
British signaller served with Royal Corps of Signals Depot in GB, 1942-1943; served with Z Coy 2nd War Office Signals in GB, 1943- 1944; served with Royal Corps of Signals in North West Europe, 1944; signaller and NCO served with Signals Regt Indian Airborne Div in India, 1945-1947; NCO with Royal Sussex Regt in Aden, 1965
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Lewes, GB, 1924-1942: religion; family; memories of childhood and education; awareness of events in Europe; reasons for joining Royal Signals; outbreak of war; period in Army Cadet Force including contact with Canadian Army; activities with Home Guard; uniform worn during basic training at Catterick; story of recruits wanting to box; night exercise with Home Guard; Cadet and Home Guard equipment; opinion of chances against an invasion; details of later posting at Portsmouth including story of correcting mistake on arrival; story of gaining promotion to lance corporal after war; changes to family life after start of war; newspapers read during war; story of German plane captured in Lewes by brother.
REEL 2 Continues: organisation of Home Guard. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals Depot in GB, 1942-1943: cap badge worn; first meal in army; rumours of bromide in tea; description of assault course; passing out parade; equipment issued; travelling around country; accommodation and other details of barracks; sleeping arrangements; rations; decoration in mess hall; church parade and memories of NCOs; warnings about and treatment for VD; song about Spike Island Hospital; methods used to chat by Morse; role of communications; areas of training; proficiency with Morse; operator tests; difference between B2 and B3 operators; daily orders; posting to and short period in Hammersmith; journey to Dover. Aspects of period as signaller with Z Coy 2nd War Office Signals in GB, 1943-1944: impressions on arrival; initial duties; posting at Dover Priory; accommodation and sleeping arrangements.
REEL 3 Continues: shelling of Dover; Military Police at Dover Castle; description of tunnels at Dover Castle; description of radio room and vacuum tube; duties; messages received and sent; story of armed soldiers and later meeting with a Wren who helped them; details of guard duties; awareness of Operation Fortitude including interference with wireless sets; daily routine; leisure activities; showers at the decontamination centre; details of the canteen at Dover Castle; cover taken from cross-Channel shelling; area affected by shelling; British artillery at Langdon Cliffs including story of help given at site; relationship with civilians; journey to Portsmouth including through Lewes.
REEL 4 Continues; accommodation and sleeping arrangements in Portsmouth; story of wait in mess queue; contact with and war service of brother; role in Portsmouth; embarkation leave; period at Gosport; voyage across English Channel. Aspects of operations as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals in North West Europe, 1944: arrival at Arromanches; story of German POW Camp; accommodation in Marbeuf; posting as translator; relationship with civilians; duties; later visit to Normandy; story of cider and subsequent problems; movement forward to Brussels; reception from civilians; cigars and matches; activities in Brussels; news of posting to India; contact with American troops; reception from civilians; voyage to GB; train journey to Huddersfield; leave; reactions to posting in Far East.
REEL 5 Continues: voyage to India. Aspects of period as signaller in India, 1945: meal given on arrival in Bombay; details of train journey to transit camp; activities and duties during voyage to India; commandant at transit camp; booklet issued on India; period at Mao including health; posting to Airborne forces. Aspects of period as signaller and NCO with Signals Regt Indian Airborne Div in India, 1945-1947: details of Indian train journeys; pills taken; opinion of training; VJ Day; hospitalisation; duties during attachment to artillery unit; rest period at Secunderabad including visit to Hyderabad; posting to Karachi; rations; story of mutiny put down in Karachi Docks; details of Quetta; description of cantonments; contact with civilian workers in camp; language used and relationship with Indian troops; methods of coping with climate.
REEL 6 Continues: description of sunset; smells during evenings; problems with wildlife including sleeping arrangements; details of jungle training; knowledge of Japanese troops; reactions to end of war; plan for withdrawal from India; return to GB; background to joining Territorial Army; details of regiment; reason for joining Emergency Reserve and posting to Aden; training received in Canterbury. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Sussex Regt in Aden, 1965: role in Aden; alcohol brought home from Aden; length of posting; reception from civilians; situation in Aden; attitude towards Germans during war including story of street fighting exercise in Dover; reflections on war including description of nuclear shelter; changes in Britain on return from India; story of visit to club; reactions to events in Europe; civilian work.
REEL 7 Continues: post-war politics; founding of White Cliffs Association and story of meeting Vera Lynn.