Description
Object description
British gunner and NCO served with 208 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery in GB, 1937-1944; NCO served with 608 Mixed Bty Royal Artillery in GB, 1944-1945; served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Germany, 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Beckenham, GB. Aspects of period as gunner and NCO with 208 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery in GB, 7/1937-6/1944: reasons for and opinion of call-up in 9/1938; uniform worn; details of guns in battery; civilian work; firing practice and mobilisation, 8/1939; journey to gun site at Gravesend; further details of civilian work; details of period at gun site; leisure activities; details of childhood in Beckenham; education; civilian work at Covent Garden Market; family connections with Covent Garden; family; reasons for joining Territorial Army and opinion of Munich Agreement; process of joining army, 7/1937; problems with hearing; role as height finder and aiming of guns; firing of guns; reactions to outbreak of war; details of pay.
REEL 2 Continues: expectations of success in war; opinion of Home Guard; reaction of father to war; clientele served in Covent Garden; work of son in fruit market; leisure activities; details of gun site at Gravesend; relationship with civilians and description of local farm; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; winter conditions, 1939-1940; rotation of duties and make-up of gun crew; Stand To; aiming of guns including description of ammunition.
REEL 3 Continues: story of action against Dornier air raid and member of air crew captured; German attempt to dive-bomb gun site; story of application to become officer; service of friend in tank; story of date during training course and subsequent charge; posting to Tooting; details of gun site; leisure activities; posting to Orpington. Aspects of period as NCO with 608 Mixed Bty Royal Artillery in GB, 6/1944-4/1945: formation of unit; relationship with Auxiliary Territorial Service colleagues; posting to Folkestone; anti-aircraft fire against V1 Doodlebugs; concerns during Ardennes campaign; relationship with Auxiliary Territorial Service member and marriage; houses bought following war and family; first car owned including gaining of driving licence during period as Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant; learning to drive; family holiday to Isle of Bute; other cars owned and family holidays.
REEL 4 Continues: relationships between men and women in mixed batteries including current girlfriends; contact with American troops; leisure activities; memories of officers; details of automatic guns including training received; training given to Home Guard; marriage in Belgium; air activity during Battle of Britain; evacuation of family members; memories of sister; question of firing at parachutists; information received from Headquarters; details of air raids during course at Woolwich; story of dates with nurse; attitude towards Germans; reason for transfer. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Germany, 1945: destruction of German ammunition; state of Germany; relationship with civilians.
REEL 5 Continues: post-war life; reason for not staying in army; family; trips to New Forest; attitude to Second World War; opinion of Home Guard; story of incendiary bomb; posting in Windsor; activity shortly before D-Day; leisure activities; details of mess; return visit to Windsor.