Interview with Frederick Brett

British private served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Free Territory of Trieste, 1/1951-6/1951; NCO served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 10/1951-9/1952

REEL 1 Background in Hertford, GB, 1932-1950: family; social circumstances; education; effects of Second World War, 1939-1945, including V1 and German Air Force bombing raids, food, sweet and clothing rationing; use of air raid shelter in cellar, following progress of war and street parties; employment with building firm and glove factory, 1946-1950. Recollections of enlistment and basic training with British Army at Colchester Garrison, GB, 11/1950-12/1950: call-up procedure for National Service, 8/1950; initial reaction to discipline on reception and consequent fatigues punishment; kitting out and question of superior uniform issued to potential officer; cap badges; barrack accommodation; reveille; rations; drill; weapons training, including rifle, Bren Gun, Sten Gun, bayonet and hand grenades; physical training. REEL 2 Continues: relations with fellow recruits and instructors; story of saluting regimental sergeant-major; preparation for kit inspections; treatment of potential officer; passing out parade; recreational visits into Colchester; embarkation leave; question of writing to parents. Recollections of period as private with D Coy, 1st Bn Northamptonshire at Rosetti Barracks, Free Territory of Trieste, 1/1951-6/1951: train journey from GB to Free Territory of Trieste; story of soldier's letter to girl friend; description of Rosetti Barracks; nature of Bora winds; fatal accident; story of police investigation after pay roll robbery reception; cross-country runs; training with Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT); funeral guard duty; nature of continuation training; opinion of officers; story of conducting internal security duties, 1/5/1951; guard duties on ammunition dump; relations with civilians and visits into Trieste town; sporting activities; cycling to Villach, Austria; volunteering for draft to 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt; train journey to GB. Aspects of period as private with C Coy, 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt at Crowborough Camp, GB, 6/1951-9/1951: opinion of officers; refusing posting as officer's servant; nature of training at Thetford Training Area, including cooking rabbit, street fighting, hand grenades and tactical exercises; inoculations; embarkation leave; activities as money lender. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Orwell from GB to Pusan, South Korea, 9/1951-10/1951: send off; conditions on board; visits ashore at Port Said, Egypt, Aden, Aden Protectorate, Colombo, Ceylon and Hong Kong. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 10/1951-9/1952: role with advance party; prior attendance of NCOs cadre course at Kure, Japan, 10/1951, including battle assault course, types of grenades used, assessment and gambling on cards; rejoining battalion in South Korea; promotion to lance corporal; defensive positions on Hill, 327; digging dugout and makeshift stove; effects of cold conditions. REEL 4 Continues: cold weather uniforms worn; latrines; American K-rations; taking up smoking cigarettes; fresh meals; story of taking North Korean People's Army prisoner; wiring parties; water ration party; washing and shaving; showers; stand to and checking weapons; sentry duty; promotion to corporal; cleaning weapons; question of Chinese People's Volunteer Army snipers; Chinese People's Volunteer Army artillery and mortar fire; personal morale; relations with officers; memories of battalion officers, NCOs and Other Ranks; story of accidental shooting; nature of patrols in No Man's Land, including weapons carried, patrol numbers, story of corpse, briefings, listening patrols, fighting patrols, move out and receiving minor leg wound. REEL 5 Continues: further details of nature of patrols in No Man's Land, including weapons carried, minor skirmishes, duration, return to lines and debriefing; move to Samichon Valley; river swimming; situation; story of getting drunk at New Years Eve party, 31/12/1951; story of killing Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldier and bringing in corpse; move back to Hill 327; story of narrow escape from Chinese People's Volunteer Army mortar fire during daylight patrol to locate survivors of ambushed patrol, 29/5/1952-30/5/1952; demobilisation parties; snake and rat problems; use of infra-red American manufactured carbine; cold weather uniform; recreational activities during local leave in Tokyo, Japan; period at rest camp at Inchon; period out on rest; story of hitting sergeant, reduction to private and posting to regimental police; story of seeing 'ghost'; role as regimental policeman; handover on pulling out of line, 8/1952; leaving battalion and voyage aboard HMT Empire Orwell from Pusan, South Korea to GB, 9/1952; question of continuing with military service and demobilisation, 11/1952. Post-service life and employment: employment in building trade; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; marriage, 1955. REEL 6 Continues: service as quartermaster with Hertfordshire Regiment in Territorial Army at Hertford Drill Hall, 1952-1955, including examples of stealing from stores, story of ex-National Service conscript refusing haircut and subsequent court case, story of dispute over treatment of wife and question of staying in Territorial Army; membership of British Korean War Veterans Association and Royal Norfolk Regimental Association; visits with British Korean War Veterans Association to South Korea.