Phillips, Richard (Oral history)

British private and NCO with 2nd Bn South Wales Borderers in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1945

REEL 1 Background in Swansea, GB, 1919-1939: family; registration for service; call-up, 10/1939; reaction to outbreak of war. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn South Wales Borderers in North West Europe, 1944-1945: posting in and make-up of Intelligence Section; landing on and movement up beach including loss of jeep; navigation during movement inland; time of landing; feeling in legs after landing; casualties during landing and opposition faced; arrival at rendezvous area; scenes of dead Germans and air activity; casualties from naval fire; reactions to situation; activities of battalion overnight including accommodation and weather conditions; opinion of troops including ex-miners; attack on Sully; memories of John Boon; activities around Bayeux; sleeping arrangements; details of attack on Villers Bocage; role as intelligence sergeant; problems with terrain in Bocage country; opposition faced; description of air raids; contact with civilians including punishment of Nazi fraternisers. REEL 2 Continues: question over doubt of invasion's success; morale; background of troops; advance north; capture of Waffen-SS occupied house in Netherlands; evacuation of German casualties; opinion of German troops; question of motivation; state of France and Low Countries; story of soldier who had legs amputated, 12/1944; Christmas 1944; casualties during 1944; concerns about possibility of being wounded; reception from civilians in Low Countries; scenes and state of civilians in Netherlands; period on The Island between Nijmegen and Arnhem; crossing of Ijssel river; scenes in Arnhem; relationship with reinforcements including story of drinking in Hamburg; concerns about SS in Hamburg; state of Germany and later rebuilding. REEL 3 Continues: relationship with civilians; story of patrol at Royal Army Service Corps depot; reaction to end of war; contact with Canadian and American troops; opinion of officers and strategy. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 2nd Bn South Wales Borderers in GB, 10/1939-6/1944: exercises with 3rd Division under General Montgomery; contact with Montgomery in North West Europe; prior knowledge of D-Day among troops and civilians; rations in 1939; utensils; settling into army life including sleeping arrangements; ease of promotion; route marches including effect on feet and weapons training; opinion of training including tactical training; details of leave; description of invasion training; joining of regiment; learning history of regiment. REEL 4 Continues: awareness of war's progress; reaction to possible posting overseas; reason for return home from Germany; process of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: civilian work including problems faced on return from service; war service of family members; post-war atmosphere; description of and problems from smog in Barnes; 1945 General Election; increase in value of house in Barnes; reason for not staying in army; attitude to Germans and Second World War.