Interview with John Colley

British schoolchild in Wandsworth, London, GB, 1939-1945; driver served with No 1 (General Transport) Coy and No 806 (General Transport) Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in GB and Libya, 1948-1950

REEL 1 Background in Wandsworth and Balham, London, GB, 1930-1948: family; social circumstances; education; issue of gas masks and Anderson Shelter, 1939; father's call-up with Territorial Army to Royal Artillery; false air raid alarm on declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; closure of school, 9/1939; decision not to be evacuated; rationing; following progress of war and reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; story of German Air Force aircraft's strafing attack on soldiers playing football in St George's Park, Wandsworth; sight of aerial combat; use of Anderson Shelter; nature of underground air raid shelter in St George's Park; narrow escapes from bombs and damage to house during German Air Force raid; German Air Force bombing in Wandsworth area; visit to father in military camp; German Air Force bomb in Garrett Lane, Wandsworth; extinguishing incendiary bomb; blackout; visits to anti-aircraft batteries and collecting shrapnel; personal morale; narrow escape from German Air Force bomb; casualties; question of German Air Force bombing targets; visit to scene of bombing at Balham Underground Station; father's overseas service with Royal Artillery, 1941-1944. REEL 2 Continues: disruption of education; mother's employment in laundry; increased rationing and black market activities; story of father being shell shocked and reported missing during fighting at Anzio, Italy, 1944; sporadic nature of German Air Force raids as war progressed; employment as apprentice fitter making war materials at light engineering factory, 1944-1945, including woman workers and accidents; recreational activities; activities with Army Cadet Corps, 1943-1945, including uniform and training; stories of narrow escapes from German V1 Flying Bombs. REEL 3 Continues: question of German V2 Rockets; civilian morale; move to Balham; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; employment as driver's mate at battery factory, 1945-1948. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1948: call-up procedure for National Service and acceptance for Royal Army Service Corps, 1/1948; reception at Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot Garrison; kitting out; drill; physical training; move to Houndstone Camp, Yeovil; driving training on 3-ton lorry; guard duty; rifle and Sten Gun training; gas chamber training; lorry maintenance training; preparing for kit and room inspections; reaction to military discipline; relations with fellow recruits; story of getting drunk on cider in Yeovil; relations with instructors; passing driving test; duties at Thetford awaiting draft, 1948. Aspects of voyage with draft aboard troopship HMS Cheshire from GB to Benghazi, Libya, 1948: hammocks; conditions; question of seasickness; visits to Malta. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period as driver and NCO with No 1 (General Transport) Coy and No 806 (General Transport) Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in Benghazi, Libya 1948-1950: initial impressions of Libya; bugle calls; driving Dodge tipper lorries to collect earth for officers' gardens; duties driving 3-ton lorries; rations; collecting sewage tins from latrines; story of arrest by Libyan police after accident with donkey; story of black market activities; selling stores and fuel to Libyan civilians; story of transport troops into Benghazi; attachment as corporal to No 806 (General Transport) Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, including manning by ex-Deutsches Afrika Korps personnel, learning German language and role driving 10-ton diesel lorry; presence of war debris in Libyan Desert; convoy driving; water supply; background to promotion to and duties as corporal; reaction to extension of National Service by six months; visits to Tobruk and danger from Second World War era minefields; relations with Libyan civilians; guard duties and threat of Libyan thieves stealing; driving ambulances; relations with Other Ranks, NCOS and officers. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Pride from Libya to Liverpool, GB, 1950: period waiting at Tobruk; conditions on board; story of success in smuggling cigarettes through HM Customs and Excise; demobilisation procedure on return to GB, 1950. Post-service life and employment: question of career and promotion prospects in British Army; employment as driver; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; call-up to Z Reserve to Colchester Garrison, 1951, including reaction to call-up as reservist, minimal training, driving Austin lorry and decision not to volunteer for service in Korean War.