Brett, Fred (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt in Italy, 1951; NCO served with 1st Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt in GB and Korea, 1951-1952

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Hertford, 1932-1950: family background and social circumstances; education; effects of war, 1939-1945, including V1 and German bombing raids, food, sweet and clothing rationing; cellar air raid shelter, following progress of war and street parties; work in building trade and glove factory, 1946-1950; call up procedure, 8/1950. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during basic training at Colchester Barracks, 11/1950-12/1950: 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; food rations; drill; weapons training including rifle, Bren gun, Sten gun, bayonet and hand grenades; PT. REEL 2 Continues: relationship with recruits including Joe Banks and Arthur Carter; relationship with instructors; story of saluting regimental sergeant major; preparing for kit inspections; treatment of potential officer; passing out parade; recreational visits to Colchester; embarkation leave prior to posting to Italy; question of writing to parents. Recollections of period with D Coy, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire, Rosetti Barracks, Trieste, Italy, 1/1951-6/1951: train journey out and story of soldier's letter to girl friend; nature of barracks; Bora winds; fatal accident; story of police investigation after pay roll robbery reception; cross country runs; PIAT training; funeral guard duty; nature of continuation training; opinion of officers; story illustrating internal security duties, 1/5/1951; guard duties on ammunition dump; relationship with Italian civilians and visits to Trieste; sporting activities; cycling to Velac, Austria; volunteering for draft to Royal Norfolk Regt; train journey to GB. Period with C Coy, 1st Bn, RNR, Crowborough Camp, 6/1951-9/1951: opinion of officers; refusing posting as officer's servant; training at Thetford training area including cooking rabbit, street fighting, hand grenades and tactical exercises; vaccinations; embarkation leave; activities as money lender. Voyage aboard Empire Orwell to Pusan, Korea, 9/1951-10/1951: send off; conditions; stories of visits ashore at Port Said, Egypt, Aden, Columbo, Ceylon and Hong Kong. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during periods in Kowang San and Sami Chon sectors, Korea, 10/1951-: role with advance party; prior period attending NCOs cadre course at Kure, Japan, 10/1951, including battle assault course, types of grenades, assessment and gambling on cards; rejoining unit in Korea; promotion to lance corporal; defensive positions on Hill, 327, Kowang San; digging dugout and makeshift stove; effects of cold conditions. REEL 4 Continues: cold weather uniforms; latrines; US food rations; taking up smoking cigarettes; fresh meals; story of taking North Korean 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 snipers; Chinese shell and mortar fire; personal morale; relationship with officers; memories of Major Holden, Private Nobby Singleton, Company Sergeant Majors Bell and Bert Fitt and Corporals Fairbrass and Stolley; story of accidental shooting; nature of patrols in No Mna's Land including weapons carried, numbers, story of corpse, briefings, listening patrols, fighting patrols, move out and story of minor leg wound. REEL 5 Continues: nature of patrols including weapons carried, minor skirmishes, duration, return to lines and debriefing; move to Sami Chon valley; river swimming; situation; story of getting drunk at New Years Eve party, 31/12/1951; story of killing Chinese soldier and bringing in corpse; move back to Hill 327; story of close escape from Chinese 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 US carbine; cold weather uniform; recreations during local leave in Tokyo, Japan; period at Imchon rest camp; 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 unit and voyage aboard Empire Orwell back to GB, 9/1952. Question of remaining in army and demobilisation, 11/1952. Post-service career: career in building trade; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; marriage, 1955. REEL 6 Continues: service as quartermaster with Hertfordshire Regt, Hertford Drill Hall, 1952-1955, including examples of stealing from stores, story of ex-national serviceman refusing haircut and subsequent court case, story of dispute over treatment of wife and question of staying in TA; membership of Korean War Veterans Assoc and Royal Norfolk Regt Assoc; visits with KWVA to South Korea.