Interview with Peter James Young

British trooper with 2nd Bn Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and Northern Ireland, 4/1939-6/1941; trooper and NCO served with 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, 29th Armoured Bde, 11th Armoured Div in GB and Normandy, France, 6/1941-7/1944

REEL 1 Background in Dunfermline, GB, 1920-1939: family; father's employment; education; cycling activities. Recollections of period as trooper with Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB, 4/1939-9/1939: reason for joining Territorial Army; enlistment process; learning to drive and driving test; memories and opinion of NCOs; civilian employment; qualification for bounty; activities on drill nights; transport at drill hall; weekend camps; story of nosebleed during sleep; Recollections of period as trooper with 2nd Bn Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and Northern Ireland, 9/1939- 6/1941: mobilisation, 9/1939; uniform and equipment issued; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; move to Markinch; accommodation; driving duties including Bren Carrier; posting in Aldershot Garrison; heating in barracks; accommodation in Runfold; relations with civilians; description of and training with Universal Carrier; exercises; details of wireless training in Farnham; sounds during night in Runfold; story of guard sleeping on duty; journey to Northern Ireland, 6/1940; presence of Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Dungannon; manoeuvres and route marches; opinion of officers; posting to and nickname for Bessbrook; recreational activities; Christmas 25/12/1940 and relations with civilians in Northern Ireland. REEL 2 Continues: exercises at Bessbrook; smuggling of goods into Southern Ireland by taxi drivers; weekends spent in Dundalk, Ireland; marriage leave; description and driving of a Valentine Tank; naming of tanks; guarding against cold. Recollections of period as NCO with 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, 29th Armoured Bde, 11th Armoured Div in GB, 3/1941-6/1944: training with Infantry Tank Mark II Matilda; opinion of Infantry Tank Mark II Matilda and Valentine Tank; exercises on North York Moors; steering of tanks along roads; weapons used; maintenance of tanks; description of hold-down position; duties at divisional school in Eastbourne; rejoining of battalion at Stanmer Park, Brighton; role during exercises; characteristics of A15 Cruiser Mk VI Crusader Tank; characteristics of Covenanter Tank; story of problem with steering; description of Chippenham Park Camp, Newmarket; memories of Captain H P Roberts, Lieutenant-Colonel Alex Scott and other officers; preparations for and cancellation of posting in North Africa; reaction to cancellation; manoeuvres; accident and activities during repairing of tank; removal of tracks; pay increase on becoming driver mechanic; move to Bridlington. REEL 3 Continues: reaction on arrival of first M4 Sherman Tank including opinion of 75mm gun and problems driving it; role of co-driver; exercises; tank courses; memories of tank crew; arrival of reinforcements including receiving of English intake; reaction to promotion to lance corporal; changes to duties; description of barracks at Aldershot Garrison; waterproofing of M4 Sherman Tank; details of Sherman Firefly Tank and crew; waterproof test at Ripon Racecourse; other duties at Aldershot Garrison; premonition of death; journey to St Albans; boarding of Landing Craft Tank; crossing of English Channel. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in Normandy, France, 6/1944-7/1944: disembarkation; nature of roads; camouflaging of tanks; accommodation including reasons for not sleeping under the tank; items carried on back of tank; weapons carried; uniform worn; rations; cooking of meals; brewing of tea; supplementing rations from farms. REEL 4 Continues: latrines; question of fire problem with M4 Sherman Tank; advance towards Cheux; first sighting of a Tiger Tank; story of abandoning tank and withdrawal; details of replacement tank; air bursts over Cheux; advance towards Hill 112; story of almost losing tank in front; withdrawal; activities at night-time laagers; problems with storage of petrol tanks on M4 Sherman Tank; bracket added to front of tank; approach of a German Army gunner and firing of gun; conditions inside tank; exits from tank; story of firing at German tank; opinions of officers in action; problems with dust; issue of beer; reason for threat of court martial for stealing potatoes; opinion of German 88mm Gun; character of German tanks; Royal Artillery activity at night; briefing prior to Operation Goodwood, 7/1944; passing through minefield; reaction to being in action; passing over railway and German artillery shelling of tank during Operation Goodwood, 7/1944; reporting of damage; evacuation of tank; removal to field containing gliders at Ranville; German artillery fire on glider field and wounding at Ranville; attempts to take cover; initial reaction to wounding. REEL 5 Continues: evacuation to dressing station; unit members killed in attack; medical treatment received; evacuation to school; selection of patients for evacuation to GB; journey to GB. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 7/1944-9/1944: train journey to Farnborough; arrival in hospital and treatment received; journey to Dunfermline; suffering back pain; hospitalisation at Cameron Hospital, Windygates; physical condition; medical treatment received for back and leg wounds; visits received from wife; recovery from wounds; leave; posting to Catterick Camp; forgery of passes for weekend leaves; physical condition. Aspects of period as NCO with King's Regiment (Liverpool) in GB, 1944-1945: postings at Chippenham and Bovington Camp; attempt to return to regiment. Aspects of period as NCO with Mechanical Warfare Experimental Establishment in Egypt, 1945-1946: duties; details of establishment including own role; journey to Port Said; return journey to GB; process of demobilisation; civilian employment; initial problems with wounds; recurring thoughts of war; contact with old comrades.