Chamberlain, Brian (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry in Germany, Korea and Egypt, 1951-1955

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Darlington, 1932-1951: family background and social circumstances; father's military service, 1916-1918; education and sporting activities; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; effects of war, 1939-1945, including following progress of war, view of British bombers, visits to RAF airfield, brick air raid shelter, minimal German air raids, food and clothes rationing, relationship with military personnel, potato picking and death of relative in sinking of HMS Barham; work as apprentice printer, 1947-1948; studying wireless and radar at college, 1949-1950; background to call up for Royal Corps of Signals and volunteering as regular to join Durham Light Infantry, 8/1951; parent's reaction. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with Light Infantry Training Bde, Bawdon Camp, 8/1951-9/1951: presence of National Servicemen; case of uncooperative reservist; reception and kitting out; barrack room accommodation; haircut. REEL 2 Continues: morning routine; food rations; preparing for kit and room inspections; drill; PT; light infantry drill; weapons training including rifle, Bren gun, Sten gun, ranges and bayonet; relationship with recruits and instructors; pride in brother Lieutenant Burt Chamberlain; initial status as potential officer; passing out parade. Period with Holding Coy at Strenshall, 9/1951. Period with Parachute Regt Training Depot, Aldershot, 10/1951-11/1951: mixed rank platoon; kitting out; nature of PT including assault courses and milling; patrol exercises; background to being returned to unit after dispute with instructor. Recollections of period with Signal Platoon, Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry, Spandau Barracks, Berlin, Germany, 12/1951-5/1952: reception. REEL 3 Continues: composition of Signal Platoon; signals training on 38 and 88 wireless sets; voice procedure; attitude to military career; nickname; relationship with NCOs and officers; fights with soldiers from Welsh Guards, King's Liverpool Regt and Black Watch; drinking habits; relationship with German civilians and black market activities; passing driving test; barrack accommodation; clashes with MPs; relationship with German woman; story of reckless driving in jeep; opinion of jeep and Bren carrier; parade on leaving Berlin; impressions of visits to Soviet Zone. Period at DLI Depot, Brancepeth Castle, 5/1952-7/1952: training on moors; civilian reception during route march after news of Korean posting. REEL 4 Continues: hut accommodation; embarkation leave. Voyage aboard Empire Trooper to Pusan, Korea, 7/1952-8/1952: messdeck conditions; role on posting to Mortar Platoon, Support Coy, 1st Bn, DLI; seasickness; sleeping on deck; story of being attacked by Egyptian civilians during route march ashore at Port Said, Egypt; opinion of Colonel Peter Jefferies and Regimental Sergeant Major Edwards; visits ashore; reception at Pusan. Train journey to Imjin area, 8/1952. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during operations with 1st BN, DLI in Kowang San area, 8/1952-8/1953: role with advance party taking over communications on 'The Boot'; nature of dugouts and beds; night harassing fire of 3" mortars; reverse slope positions and personal morale under Chinese mortar fire; latrines; shaving and washing; US food rations; promotion to lance corporal; relationship with officers. REEL 5 Continues: casualties; rest period out of line at Britannia Camp; move into positions on Hill 199; special cold weather clothing; body armour and consequent reduction in fatal casualties; nature of patrols including weapons carried, importance of controlling valley, types of patrols, briefing, story of patrol in failed attempt to recover corpses from Npo Man's Land, value of father's war experiences, story of effects of cold on ambush patrol; stand to; laying telephone lines to platoons and repairing breaks; switchboard; morning routine and sleep; letter and parcel contact with GB; conversations; cigarette and rum ration; effects of cold conditions and methods of heating; 'welcome' message from Chinese on arrival; observation and command post duties; nature of OP post; Chinese shell fire; story of identifying Chinese sniper and directing tank retaliatory fire; story illustrating Chinese infiltration; defensive firepower. REEL 6 Continues: initial positions on Boot; unit movements; relationship with Australian soldiers; role as signaller remaining behind to cover handover to US unit; opinion of US unit including difference s in tactical approach, discipline, willingness to jettison equipment and role of officers; local leave in Tokyo, Japan, including flight in Globemaster, issue of new uniforms, showers and delousing, accommodation in hotel brothel, flight back and story of rejoining unit in line during rainstorm; rat problem and faunae; relationship with Korean soldiers and porters attached to unit; period in rest camp and story of visit to Korean village brothel; nature of dugout and mortar positions on Hill 355; Chinese attacks on Hill 355, 6/1953, including mortar barrage and fitting impromptu aerial to maintain communications under fire. REEL 7 Continues: Chinese attacks on Hill 355, 6/1953, including counter-barrage, minimal casualties, arrangements for support from Anti-Tank Platoon acting as infantry, role on Bren gun post and simultaneous Chinese attack on Hook; question of casualties; opinion of Colonel Peter Jefferies; officer casualties; Armistice celebrations whilst out on rest and story of recall when drunk to take up reserve positions, 7/1953; return to Pusan and local leave; failed attempts to seek transfer to units on active service to avoid posting with unit to Egypt. Voyage aboard Empire Orwell to Port Said, Egypt, 8/1953: stories of arrest during visit ashore at Hong Kong; punishment. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period on Fayid area, Canal Zone, Egypt, 8/1953-12/1955: attacks by Egyptian civilians on train; relationship with Egyptian civilians; tent accommodation; fly problem; food rations and canteen; training role as corporal; daily routine and general duties; exercises in desert; story of accident whilst driving Bren carrier; story of NCO's retaliatory attack on Egyptian village and subsequent punishment. REEL 8 Continues: personal morale; GB leave; story of reversion to ranks as punishment after fight; story of fight with friend illustrating prevailing boredom; corporal's mess and drinking habits; sporting activities; role on wireless set at HQ Coy; punishments including erecting telegraph poles and painting tent; desire for transfer to active service unit and importance of campaign medals as motivation; status as regular and effect of demobilisations; background to purchasing early release from army with assistance form parents. Post-service career: reserve service attending summer camps; work for light engineering firm; marriage and acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle, 1956; successful career in retail, sales and management; membership of Korean War Veterans Assoc and DLI Assoc; value of service experience in business and attitude to service discipline.