Description
Object description
British trooper and NCO with 2nd Bn Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB, Northern Ireland and North West Europe, 1939-1944; served with The King's Regt (Liverpool) in GB, 1944-1945; NCO served with Mechanised Experimental Establishment in Egypt, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Dunfermline, GB, 1920-1939: birth and move to Dunfermline; work of father; education; cycling; reason for joining army; process of joining army. Recollections of period as trooper and NCO with 2nd Bn Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and Northern Ireland, 4/1939- 6/1944: learning to drive with Sergeant Hogg; driving test; memories and opinion of NCOs; civilian work; qualification for bounty; activities on drill nights; transport at drill hall; weekend camps; story of nosebleed during sleep; mobilisation; uniform and equipment issued; outbreak of war; reaction to start of war; posting in Markinch; accommodation; driving duties including driving of bren carrier; posting in Aldershot; heating in barracks; accommodation in Runfold; relationship with civilians; description of universal carrier; training in carriers; exercises; details of wireless training in Farnham; sounds during night in Runfold; story of guard sleeping on duty; journey to Northern Ireland; IRA in Dungannon; manoeuvres; details of route marches; opinion of officers; posting in and nickname for Bessbrook; leisure activities; Christmas 1940 and relationship with civilians.
REEL 2 Continues: exercises at Bessbrook; smuggling of goods into Republic of Ireland by taxi drivers; weekends in Dundalk; marriage leave; description and driving of a Valentine tank; naming of tanks; guarding against cold; period with Matilda tanks at Divisional School; opinion of Matilda and Valentine tanks; exercises on Yorkshire 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 Stanmore Park in Brighton; period as with Matilda tank in unit; role during exercises; details of Crusader tanks; memories of Sergeant Hogg and Bert Moyer; details of Covenanter tank; story of problem with steering; description of Chippenham Camp; memories of Captain Roberts and Colonel Alex Scott; memories of 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 when became driver mechanic; posting in Bridlington.
REEL 3 Continues: reactions on arrival of first Sherman tank; opinion of 75mm gun; driving of Sherman tank; problems with driving Sherman tanks; role of co-driver; exercises; tank courses; details and memories of tank crew; reinforcements including receiving of English troops; reaction to promotion to Lance Corporal; changes to duties; description of barracks in Aldershot; waterproofing of Sherman tanks; details of Firefly tank and crew; waterproof test at Ripon Racecourse; other duties at Aldershot; premonition of death; journey to and activities in St Albans; boarding of LCT; crossing of channel. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in North West Europe, 6/1944-7/1944: disembarkation; description of roads driven along; 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; food and drink taken from farms.
REEL 4 Continues: latrines; fire problems with Sherman tanks; memories of advance on Cheux; first sighting of a Tiger tank; story of abandoning tank and withdrawal; details of replacement tank; air bursts over Cheux; memories of advance on Point 112; story of almost losing tank in front; withdrawal; activities at night time laagers; problems with petrol tanks on Shermans; bracket added to front of tank; approach of a German gunner and firing of gun; conditions in tank; exits from tank; story of firing at Panzer tank; opinions of officers in action; problems with dust; issue of beer; reason for threat of court martial for stealing potatoes; opinion of 88 guns; details of Panzer tanks; story of Royal Artillery activity at night; briefing before Operation Goodwood; passing through minefield; reactions when in action; story of passing over railway and shelling of tank; reporting of damage; evacuation of tank; scenes on glider field taken to; shelling of field and wounding; attempts to take cover; initial reaction to wounds.
REEL 5 Continues: evacuation to dressing station and troops killed in attack; treatment received; evacuation to and time in a school; selection of patients for evacuation to GB; condition; 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; complaints about back pain; arrival and time spent at Windygates Hospital; physical condition; treatment received for back and leg wounds; visits from wife; details of recovery; leave; posting at Catterick; forgery of passes for weekend leaves; physical condition. Aspects of period with The King's Regiment (Liverpool) in GB, 1944-1945: postings at Chippenham and Bovington; attempt to return to regiment. Aspects of period as NCO with posting with Mechanised Experimental Establishment in Egypt, 1945-1946: duties; details of unit including own role; journey to Port Said; return journey to GB; process of demobilisation; civilian work; initial problems with wounds; recurring thoughts of war; contact with old comrades.