Description
Object description
British private served with 1st Bn, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in Libya and Egypt, 1950-1951; served with 1st Bn, Black Watch, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Bethnal Green and Tottenham Hale, London, 1933-1951: family background and social circumstances; death of father, ca 1938; move to Tottenham Hale; education; interest in horses and coalyard; Anderson shelter; German air raids including effects of incendiaries on factories and depots, collecting shrapnel and bomb damage; replacement prefab houses; blackout; gas mask; helping in stables and story of death whilst rescuing horses during incendiary raid.
REEL 2 Continues: question of following progress of war; street parties on end of war, 1945; work as stable boy and driving horse and cart, 1947-1948; work as apprentice fitting cutter at shoe factory, 1949-1951; football activities; recreations including dance halls and cinema; call up and background to joining Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 1951. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with Imphal Platoon, Highland Training Division, Fort George, 4/1951-7/1951: train journey.
REEL 3 Continues: reception, kitting out and kilt; Scottish ancestors; barrack room accommodation; uniforms worn; food rations; drill; weapons training including zeroing rifle on range, Bren gun, rifle cleaning, bayonet, hand grenades and Sten gun; PT including Highland dancing, route marches and pipes; relationship with recruits, instructors and officers; wearing kilts without underwear.
REEL 4 Continues: preparations for uniform, kit and room inspections; importance of personal hygiene; canteen; recreational visits to Inverness and Ness Islands; passing out parade; leave; dispersal of friends amongst various units. Conditions during voyage aboard Empire Orwell to Tripoli, ca 8/1951. Recollections of period with Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Coy, 1st Bn, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Azzizia and Prinn Barracks, Tripoli, Libya, ca 8/1951-11/1951: nature of barracks; reception; training in driving Oxford Carrier; training as loader on 17pdr AT gun in desert; question of digging gun pits; digging defensive positions at Tarhuna; relationship with regulars.
REEL 5 Continues: story of German aircraft strafing Tottenham Hale, ca 1943; move into tent accommodation at Prinn Barracks. Recollections of periods at Moascar, Ismailia and Tel el Kabir Barracks, Cairo, Egypt, ca 11/1951-4/1952: role with advance party; unloading merchant ship at Port Said; vehicle searches on road blocks; reactions to casualties; move into Tel el Kabir Barracks; story of Regimental Sergeant Major's parades; tent accommodation; fly, kite hawk and crab problems; desert sores; guarding compound including story of setting dogs on intruder and 'killer' patrols guards on governor's residence; tea and bromide; background to volunteering for service with Black Watch in Korea. Voyage back to GB, ca 4/1952. Period with 4 Platoon, B Coy, 1st Bn, Black Watch at Crail, 4/1952-5/1952: reception.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Sergeant Hutchison and Second Lieutenant John Gillespie; question of singing on as regular; opinion of Colonel David Rose, Major Irwin and Angus Rowan-Hamilton; question of cold weather kit; embarkation leave and family reaction. Voyage out to Pusan, Korea, 5/1952: recreations; disembarkation and first impressions. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during operations in Korea, 5/1952-11/1952: train journey; move onto Hill 355, Kowang San area; nature of defences and dugouts; Chinese shell and mortar fire; rat problem; US food and cigarette rations; tea; latrines; washing; stand to.
REEL 7 Continues: sentry duty; weapons cleaning; relaxations; letter contact with GB; situation on move to Hill 159; Chinese shell fire and question of casualties; relationship with ORs; nature of ambush night patrols including carrying wireless, composition, weapons carried and opinion of Thompson gun, role of B Coy in supplying patrols, move into No Man' Land, ineffective ambush by Chinese patrol, returning fire, close escape from Chinese mortar fire, return to lines, thirst caused by cordite and effect of accidentally drinking petrol; story of firing Browning machine gun into Chinese lines from observation post and Chinese mortar retaliation; listening patrols; rest periods in reverse slope positions; peace talk situation; mosquito and malaria precautions; move to Hook, Sami Chon area, 10/1952; situation and state of defences on relieving US unit; propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts across Sami Chon valley; actions of Colonel David Rose in securing assistance to improve defences and dugouts.
REEL 8 Continues: mass attack by Chinese troops, 4/11/1952-5/11/1952, including fire support, opening fire at close range, personal morale, Chinese retreat, question of drugged stat of Chinese soldiers, over-run of observation post in shell hole and reactions to corpse; US corpse in trench; story of being wounded in back and head by Chinese shell, 5/11/1952; evacuation to field dressing station; helicopter evacuation to Seoul. Period in US Military hospital, Seoul and Kure Hospital, Japan, 11/1952-3/1953: temporary deafness; medical treatment; amusing story of visiting latrines with assistance from wounded Australians; Christmas celebrations and concert party, 25/12/1952; recovering mobility; hospitality of Japanese civilians; ear tests. Voyage back to GB, 3/1953: story of looking after detained mentally ill soldier; duties in stores; relaxed atmosphere. Background to rejection as regular due to reduced medical classification and demobilisation, 4/1953.
REEL 9 Post-service career: reactions to end of army career; questions of disability pension, signing on as unemployed and state assistance; hospitalisation with attack of cerebral malaria, 8/1953; decision not to return to work as fitting cutter at shoe factory and problems in acclimatising to civilian lifestyle; work as coalman and in Merchant Navy; career manufacturing horse harnesses, 1956-1988; period on Supplementary Reserve, 1953-1956; effects of military service; membership of Korean War Veterans Assoc; story of meting Bill Hands during visit to Korea, 2002; membership of Black Watch Assoc and Cameron Highlanders Assoc.
