Description
Object description
British private served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1961-1962; served with Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1962-1963; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, GB, Hong Kong, Borneo during Indonesian Confrontation and Cyprus, 1963-1968; served with 4th Bn Light Infantry in Cyprus, 1968; private and NCO served with 1st Bn Light Infantry in GB, Northern Ireland, Germany and Hong Kong, 1968-1978; NCO served with School of Infantry in GB, 1978-1981; NCO served with 1st Bn Light Infantry in Germany and Northern Ireland, 1981-1984
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Co Durham, GB, 1944-1962: family; moves made by family; relationship with neighbours; memories of childhood; education in Dipton and South Stanley; sports; attendance at church; discipline; health; details of family homes; allotment; family doctor; leisure activities as teenager; gaining work upon leaving school; joining of army cadets; details of unit; activities; uniform issued; drill; rifle training; kit issued; cleaning of kit; population of unit; memories of Sergeant Bill Gardener; description of drill hall; firing of rifle at Whitburn; regularity of meetings; example of a typical night at drill hall; promotions; weekend camps at Whitburn; involvement with bugles; Remembrance Parades; sports; comradeship.
REEL 2 Continues: completion of cadets and joining of Territorial Army; work at NCB Brickworks; details of pay and holiday; summer trips away from home; working week. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1961-1962: process of joining Territorial Army; differences in training from cadets; annual camp at Barrow-in-Furness; posting in C Company; NCOs and officers in company; uniform issued; make-up of section; weapons at drill hall; opinion of 3-inch mortar; make-up of mortar crew; description of WOMBAT anti-tank rifle; make-up of WOMBAT crew; opinion of WOMBAT; presence of Vickers machine-gun; details of 3.5 personal rocket launcher and crew; leisure activities at drill hall; start of a drill night; description of firing range; weekend and annual camps.
REEL 3 Continues: freedom to attend annual camp; description of camp set-up at Barrow-in-Furness; journey to Barrow- in-Furness; opinion of annual camp; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; storage of kit; keeping tent and uniform dry; bedding; organisation of camp; battalion parades; relationship with civilians including dealing with troops drinking too much; story of Black Watch regular in Carnoustie; morning procedures; breakfast; cooking of meals; cleaning and inspection of tents; kit inspections with cadets at Whitburn; replacement of lost kit; training activities; building-up of exercises; bayonet practice; morning break; lunch; afternoon activities; end of working day; night exercises; tea; camp canteen; evening activities; lighting in tents; lights out; Regimental Police searches for troops; bugle calls; latrines; location of camp at Carnoustie; sports including boxing; role of band at camp; routine on annual camps; details and administration of pay; troops leaving unit; public attitude toward Territorial Army.
REEL 4 Continues: reasons for joining regular army. Aspects of period as private with Light Infantry Depot in GB, 9/1962-1/1963: process of joining army; posting at Pontefract; journey to Pontefract; reception on arrival at depot; joining of platoon; bedding issued; issue of uniform and equipment; knowledge of posting after training; description of barrack room; storage of kit; cleaning of barrack room; washing facilities and latrines; description of barracks; responsibilities for barrack room cleanliness; sacredness of square; morning procedures; breakfast; training received; details of route marches; foot inspections; physical training; dealing with bullies; background of recruits.
REEL 5 Continues: instructors at Pontefract; posting in Gibraltar platoon; memories of platoon officer and NCOs; team spirit among recruits; learning of Light Infantry regiment histories; army education; writing home; preparations for and inspection of guard; details of guard duties; description of guardroom; making challenges at gate; sleeping during guard duty; punishment for sleeping on duty; details of route marches; breaks and picking up of stragglers; foot inspections; exercises including rivalry between platoons; length of time at Pontefract; visits into town; issue of self-loading rifle; story of arrival of Karl Gustav anti-tank weapon; leaves; period kept in camp; opinion of training; passing out parade; posted to 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry in Berlin; flight to Berlin. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, 1/1963- 6/1963: journey to Montgomery Barracks; reaction to posting.
REEL 6 Continues: reception on arrival at barracks and sorting into B Company 8 Platoon; memories of platoon NCOs; background of and relationship with troops; description of barracks; accommodation; memories of roommate; washing facilities; morning routine; rations; training received in Berlin and Sennelager; proximity of barracks to East Germany; contact with East German guards; visits into Berlin including fights with members of other regiments; German lessons; state of Berlin in East and West; relationship with civilians including women; VD among troops; civilian workers in camp; discussion of problems from Rudolf Hess; training at and description of Sennelager including accommodation; description of fire and movement tactics; work with supporting arms; length of time in Berlin; guard duties on compound in Russian sector; dangers of wandering over border around compound; train guard duties; posting to Barnard Castle. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1963-8/1963: knowledge of posting to Hong Kong; reactions to posting; description of Deerbolt Camp; length of time in Barnard Castle; parade for opening of Tyne Tunnel.
REEL 7 Continues: change in battalion; uniform issued for Far East; inoculations and venereal disease <VD> warnings; lectures about Hong Kong; make-up of battalion; memories and opinions of officers and NCOs; embarkation leave and reaction of family on return; flight to Hong Kong. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Hong Kong, 8/1963- 10/1965: first impressions of Hong Kong; description of Gun Club Barracks and accommodation in Kowloon; cleaning of barracks; rations; working day; room and kit inspections; layout of kit for inspection; standard of turnout for guard; daily routine; details of firing on range; cleaning of self- loading rifle; details of other weapons in battalion; lectures on Chinese; visits out of camp; details of pay; leisure activities available in camp; civilian workers in camp; camp boundaries.
REEL 8 Continues: guard duties; civilians breaking into camp; accommodation for families; relationship with civilians; church parades; diagnosis and treatment for VD; army attitude to VD: out of bounds areas; visits to Hong Kong Island; guard duties at Governor's House; learning to drive; signs of poverty; relationship with British civilians; climate and health; monsoons; relationship with non- Durham Light Infantry troops including Americans; duties at and description of border post; details of exercises in New Territories including relationship with Gurkhas and story of fire during an exercise; opinion of chances against a Chinese invasion; length of exercises; opinion of Hong Kong.
REEL 9 Continues: Aspects of journey from Hong Kong to Kuching, Malaya, aboard the Sir Lancelot, 10/1965: details of ship; population of ship; troops travelling by air; knowledge of destination; conditions onboard and sleeping arrangements; activities during voyage. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry during Indonesian Confrontation, 10/1965-5/1966: posting in motor transport platoon; issue of vehicles; platoon duties; memories and knowledge of motor platoon commander; make-up and role of motor platoon; arrival and first impressions of Borneo; journey to Paradise Camp in Keta Balud; description of camp; comparison with Erskine Camp in Hong Kong; sleeping arrangements; climate; uniform and shoes worn; latrines; square; role of camp; water supply; daily routine; problems with wildlife; posting to 12 Platoon C Company; memories and opinions of company and platoon officers and NCOs; surplus troops in Headquarters Company; companies and troops with prior jungle training.
REEL 10 Continues: movement through jungle including use and maintenance of machete; opinion of reasons behind weight loss on Borneo; details of night manoeuvre training; description of laying an ambush; rations; need for escape route from ambush; use of claymore mines; silently dealing with wildlife; details of ArmaLite rifle; other weapons carried by platoon; river crossing training; death of Private Slimmings; lengths of time away from base and kits taken; further details of river crossings; wildlife in rivers including dealing with leeches; knowledge of opposition; looking out for mines; distance between troops during movement; men at front and back of column; noises in jungle; relationship with Eban civilians including scouts attached to platoon; entertainments.
REEL 11 Continues: setting up and description of camp at night; sleeping arrangements; signaller to platoon; medical staff and training; opinion of training; journey to Kuching including New Year's party; spread of battalion and airdrops; description of The Bong camp; latrines; contact with civilians; medial attention available; visits from and opinion of Lieutenant Colonel Maughan; visits from padre; history and maintenance of positions; airdrop zone; problems with A Company's drop zone; spread of company between camp and patrols; activities while in camp; arrival of mail and news; importance of mail; importance of compass bearings; memories of mistakes made by Lieutenant Jackson; story of section corporal getting a patrol lost.
REEL 12 Continues: action taken when lost; organisation of airdrops; rations carried on patrol; water supply; disease in water; dealing with rubbish; care taken to not repeat patrol routes; difficulties with terrain; evacuation of injured troops from patrol; knowledge of opposition's position; area covered by patrols; knowledge of opposition; border; river patrols including description of boat; rest and recuperation in Kuching including local drink available; nature of 12 Platoon as floating patrol; news of A Company's contact with opposition; story of failed ambush with B Company; reactions and morale following tour; comradeship within battalion; activities during voyage to Singapore; period in camp; length of time abroad; flight to GB. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1966-5/1968: journey to Colchester; pay and leave given; journey home; reception on return home; civilian knowledge of events on Borneo; return to Colchester and GB duties; changes during absence; military presence in Colchester; activities of battalion; opinion of Colchester; process of regiment's disbandment.
REEL 13 Continues: arrival at Colchester and leave; description of Colchester; accommodation; duties; arrival of new weapons; posting in S Company driving duties and role on exercises; vehicles in company; length of posting in Colchester; posting in Cyprus. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry and 4th Bn Light Infantry in Cyprus, 1968: UN role in Cyprus; attachment to motor transport section; duties and activities; accommodation in Limassol; spread and activities of rifle companies; relationship with civilians; sports and opinion of posting; uniform worn; ease of movement around country; changeover to and disbandment of 4th Bn Light Infantry; decision to join 1st Battalion Light Infantry; reaction to disbandment; laying up of colours in Durham. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Light Infantry in Northern Ireland, 1/1969- 5/1970: joining of battalion and mortar platoon; role in platoon; posting in Ballykinler; description of barracks; routine; exercise in Kenya; reason for return to Northern Ireland; accommodation in Kenya; impressions of Kenya and civilians; posting to Belfast; situation in Northern Ireland; changing relationship with Catholic civilians; riot training and equipment; accommodation; posting in Ballymurphy area of Belfast; contact with civilians; defences and patrols around accommodation; weapons and ammunition carried; regularity of patrols; initial relationship with civilians; posting in B Company; background of troops in battalion; settling into battalion.
REEL 14 Continues: details of patrols including attitudes of civilians met; posting in Germany; marriage and family including their accommodation in Northern Ireland; journey to Lemgo. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Light Infantry in Germany, 5/1970-3/1974: description of Lemgo; accommodation; mechanisation of battalion; description of armoured mortar carriers driven; details of mortars; relationship with civilians; duties and exercises; accommodation of family; cleaning of married quarters including work of families officer; local facilities; language; details of pay and marriage allowances; civilian workers in camp; leisure activities of families; promotions up to corporal; length of posting. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Light Infantry in GB, 3/1974-2/1977: reactions on return to Colchester; training of junior soldiers at Shrewsbury; opinion of posting; accommodation of troops and family; opinion of effect on children of moving around; unit at Shrewsbury; settling in of junior soldiers; relationship with recruits; dealing with under-age drinking; background reports on recruits; contact with parents.
REEL 15 Continues: dealing with bullying; punishments given out; effects of training on recruits; army education; route taken by recruits after passing out; posting in Hong Kong. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Light Infantry in Hong Kong, 2/1977-1/1978: changes found on arrival; posting at Stanley Fort; family accommodation including civilian workers; working day; duties with mortar platoon; exercises; duties in New Territories; relationship with civilians; location of Stanley Fort; supply of rations; opinion of posting; family holiday; period in Tidworth. Aspects of period as NCO with Demonstration Battalion at School of Infantry, GB, 7/1978-7/1981: formation of demonstration battalion at Warminster; details of School of Infantry; description of barracks; background of and relationship with NCOS and officers; details of training duties; description of demonstrations; details of foreign officers; organisation of battalion; training in village mock-up; length of posting; break-up of battalion.
REEL 16 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Light Infantry in Germany and Northern Ireland, 7/1981-4/1984: posting in Munster; details of training with helicopters; weapons in battalion; opinion of night vision goggles; posting in C Company; relationship with civilians; cleaning of family quarters; quality of troops entering army; role of provost sergeant; life of prisoners; description of cells; make-up of provost unit; standard of turnout; comparison of himself and old Provost Sergeant Fred 'Chatty' Knowles; movement of prisoners at double; troops returning to prison; organisation of sergeant mess; tradition at events; description of mess including payment of mess bills; news of final posting in Northern Ireland; provost duties; opinion of commanding officer Brian Elliott; bombing of Newry Police Station; demobilisation; classification of time in guardhouse. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1984: family home in Stanley; civilian work.