Description
Object description
British trooper served with Royal Devon Yeomanry in GB, 1939; gunner served with 67th Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery and with 3rd Anti-Aircraft Tractor Bty, Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1943; served with No 1 Composite Anti-Aircraft Unit, Royal Artillery in GB and US, 1943-1944; served with 3rd Anti-Aircraft Tractor Bty, Royal Artillery in GB, 1944-1945; private served with Somerset Light Infantry and 2nd Bn Royal Surrey Regt in GB, 1945; served with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt in Germany, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Barnstaple, GB, 1921-1939: family; education; family's military service;; awareness of events in Europe; employment on family farm. Aspects of period as trooper with Royal Devon Yeomanry in GB, 1939: joining of Territorial Army, 5/1939; pattern of training; duties at engine shed on mobilisation; opportunity to return to farm; posting to Okehampton; accommodation; pattern of training; weapons; journey to Canvey Island. Aspects of period as gunner with 67th Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery and with 3rd Anti-Aircraft Tractor Bty, Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1943: training received from Captain Holt; duties in command post; aircraft recognition training; story of alert caused by flying boat on Thames, 9/11/1939; lectures; roles of gun crew members; length of training period; story of bad meat; arrival of GL Sets; story of artist drawing gun site; problem with eyes and subsequent posting to cookhouse; attending cookery course at Chester; winter conditions and latrines.
REEL 2 Continues: air activity prior to Dunkirk Evacuation; searches for parachutists; gas training and precautions; discipline; background of officers and troops; hearing noise of Dunkirk battle; increase in air activity;; role during air raids; firing of guns; start of night raids; success of anti-aircraft fire; postings to Rolls-Royce Factory in Derby and Scotland; story of burning barrage balloon at Drumcross; move to Isle of Sheppey; incident of explosion in gun barrel; cookhouse duties; recreational activities; move to Portwrinkle; clean-up of cookhouse on arrival; daily routine; reaction to complaint and subsequent changes; off duty activities and agricultural leave; posting to 3rd Tractor Battery; move to Gloucester; character of unit.
REEL 3 Continues: learning to operate gun tractors; transport of Canadian manufactured vehicles from Plymouth to Edinburgh; story of sergeant- major at Crewe Station; details of pay and service; duties with unit; sleeping arrangements in tractor; supply of rations; latrines; tractor brakes; accidents; war news; leave; training on American gun tractor; issue of service dress. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Ile de France from Gourock, GB, to New York, US, 4/1943: sleeping arrangements; presence of German POWs and other passengers; crossing Atlantic; arrival in New York. Recollections of period as gunner with No 1 Composite Anti-Aircraft Unit, Royal Artillery in US, 5/1943-12/1943: disembarkation; train journey to Fort Bliss; period in quarantine.
REEL 4 Continues: accommodation and sleeping arrangements; rations; climate; demonstrations given and status of unit; story of parade in Wilmington; relations with civilians; return to New York; demonstration at West Point; competition at Cape Cod; visit to Boston; details of train journey to Nevada; demonstrations in desert; publicity and photographs of tour; story of reprimanding of sergeant-major in Santa Monica; visit to Riverside Air Base; activities in Los Angeles; demonstrations at El Paso; visit to Juarez. Mexico; hospitality recieved in New York; clothing worn and physical state.
REEL 5 Continues: demonstrations in Savannah; farewell party at Camp Davis; parade in Wilmington with Lord Halifax in attendance; train journey to New York; voyage aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth from New York, US to Gourock, GB including rations and duties. Aspects of period as gunner with No 1 Composite Anti-Aircraft Unit, Royal Artillery in GB, 1944: tea with Lord Mayor of London; character of gun site in London; ammunition used; German use of Window to effect radar; firing at flares; care taken to miss St Paul's Cathedral. Aspects of period as gunner with 3rd Anti-Aircraft Tractor Bty, Royal Artillery in GB, 1944-1945: character of guns delivered to Romney Marsh; movement of guns through Kent to Romney Marsh; story of visit to pub at Yattendon; use of guns and radar against V1 Flying Bombs; story of explosion during journey; journey from Pembroke to Yattendon; story of illicit visit to West End. Aspects of training as private with Somerset Light Infantry and 2nd Bn Royal Surrey Regt in GB, 1945: pattern of training in Seaford and Pembroke; firing PIAT at tank on ranges.
REEL 6 Continues: training in lifting mines; inoculations; period with 2nd Bn Royal Surrey Regt at Canterbury. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Hampshire Regt in Germany, 1945-1946: assistance given to Military Police in Ghent during journey to Germany; deserters and background of troops in Europe; VE Day celebrations, 5/1945; state of Germany; posting to Bunde; duties as driver; black market; conditions for civilians; postings to Belgium and interview for Military Police; guard duties at German POW Camp; process of demobilisation; opinion of officers served under.
