Description
Object description
British NCO served with Royal Engineers in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Lancashire, GB, 1919-1939: memories of childhood on family farm in Coppull; education; reason for gaining work off farm; civilian work as postboy; details of period as student engineer at Chorley Royal Ordnance Factory including increase in work, 1938; work as surveyor building airfields with Wimpey; accommodation and transport; leisure activities; details of surveyor work including preparations for bomb damage; call-up to militia; accommodation in Liverpool; anti-aircraft arrangements; reaction to outbreak of war.
REEL 2 Continues: arrival of call-up papers; preparations for service including medical; journey to Manchester. Aspects of period as sapper and NCO with Royal Engineers in GB, 9/1939-6/1944: reception on arrival at Old Trafford Drill Hall; accommodation; army number; details of pay; issue of uniform and kit; first meal and night in army; sorting into squads including opinion of Sergeant Cartwright; further details of first night in army; fitness of recruits; problems with feet; change of accommodation; physical training; pattern of training including bridging; winter conditions and duties; details of training period on River Lune at Halton-with-Aughton, 1940; changes to organisation of unit; explanation of term sapper; make-up of unit; weapons training; involvement in competitive shooting and other sports; involvement in physical training; morale; memories of parents; communications and transport in Coppull; pigeons in unit.
REEL 3 Continues: posting to Preston; arrival of troops and equipment from Dunkirk; state of weapons returned and process of sighting rifles returned from France; expectation of invasion and posting to Yarm; duties mining bridges including Humber Bridge; building of coastal defences on Yorkshire coast including camouflaged and dummy emplacements; period setting-up radar stations on County Durham coast including weather conditions; air activity; posting in Newry; duties and training; leisure activities; training of recruits in Barton Stacey including story of Gaelic-speaking soldier; loss of possessions; posting to Fulwood Barracks; accommodation for recruits; quality of recruits; training given to recruits; invasion training; coastal defence postings; problem with unstable explosives at camp in Beccles; removal and destruction of explosives; vehicles issued to company.
REEL 4 Continues: preparations for invasion at Beccles including German defences expected; description and use of Bangalore torpedo; details of bridging and other river crossing training; vehicles issued and modifications made; waterproofing of vehicles including testing; wait for invasion; story of Bailey bridge building competition and markings subsequently painted on vehicles; embarkation for Tilbury including weapons and ammunition carried; boarding of ship; sleeping arrangements; scenes on English Channel; details of landing on Juno Beach, 12/6/1944, including story of George Cross recipient and transfer to LCT. Aspects of operations as NCO with Royal Engineers in North West Europe, 1944: problems faced on landing; vehicles left at beach; description of waterworks built; story of first issue; period running waterworks and return to unit; details of road to be built in beachhead including equipment landed in Normandy; problems gaining equipment; building of road including opposition faced and method of dealing with brook; length of project; covering on road; rest period.
REEL 5 Continues: rations; role as infantry support; events on start line; description of advance with infantry and involvement in a house clearance; problems with snipers; laying of minefield; gathering of equipment for bridge including story of visit to beachhead; relationship with Canadian and American troops including impressions of Canadian discipline; liaison with French Resistance including problems returning to Allied lines and story of interrogation; use of intelligence from French Resistance; story of Bailey bridge built overnight; knowledge of French language; further details of visits to resistance including details of K rations.
