Description
Object description
British signaller served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, North Africa and Italy, 1941-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Introduction by daughter Daphne Alston. Background to posting in North Africa, 1941-1942: registration for service, 1941; basic training with Essex Regiment; details of signals training including opinion would not be sent abroad; embarkation leave; journey from Catterick to Glasgow including knowledge of destination. Aspects of journey from Glasgow, GB, to Port Tewfik, Egypt, aboard the RMS Queen Mary, 5/1942-6/1942: boarding of Queen Mary; make-up and departure of convoy; movement across Atlantic; stop in Freetown harbour; arrival in Cape Town; listening to Lord Haw Haw; stop in Simon's Town; journey to and through Red Sea; news of war in North Africa. Aspects of operations as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals in North Africa, 6/1942-5/1943: train journey to Cairo; posting in desert with 50th Division; situation at Alamein; details of air raids; story of accident; posting to 5th Indian Division; reception on arrival; attachment to forward brigade; description of artillery fire and events during night of 30-31/8/1942; appeal of German officers for 8th Army surrender and explanation of British trickery; changes among 8th Army senior officers; pressure on Britain to attack in North Africa; air activity and posting to 4th Indian Division; daily routine; story of near miss during air raid; tactics of British air attacks.
REEL 2 Continues: description of a German air attack; shelter taken from air raids; leave in Cairo; return to unit; reason for granting of leave; description of frontline and artillery barrage; position and role of 4th Indian Division; details of Battle of Alamein and German withdrawal; period in reserve; details of advance across North Africa; opposition faced on arrival at front.
REEL 3 Continues: details of front at Mareth; description of Wadi Akarit; story of fort at Enfidaville; details of journey north and meeting with 1st Army; plan for attack on Tunis; description of creeping barrage; results of battle; German knowledge of unit's activity; support from navy. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals in North Africa, 5/1943-12/1943: Germans continuing to fight after surrender; details and state of Tunis; reception from civilians on arrival; withdrawal to Tripoli and rest; preparation for an inspection; story of the inspection by King George VI; visit to Leptis Magna; detail of journey to Egypt; flowers in North Africa; departure of troops for Italy; journey to Palestine; leisure activities; sudden posting to Italy; journey to Taranto. Aspects of operations as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals in Italy from 12/1943: arrival and period in Taranto; posting to and situation in Potenza; description of Potenza; Christmas 1943; advance to Adriatic; accommodation at Lanciano; journey across Italy to Monte Cassino.
REEL 4 Continues: story of earth tremor; position taken at Cassino.