Description
Object description
British private served with 1st Bn, Leicestershire Regt in Germany, 1959-1961; served with 7th Bn, Leicestershire Regt in GB, 1961-1962; served with 3rd Bn, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regt, Home Service Force in GB, 1984-1988
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Melton Mowbray, 1937-1959: family background and social circumstances; father's service with RAF, 1939-1945; evacuation to live with grandparents in Kettleby, 1940-1945, including German air raids, Boys Brigade activities, attending local school, farm work, relationship with London evacuees, street party on VE Day, 8/5/1945 and return to Melon Mowbray, 1945; question of contacts with father in RAF; education; training as apprentice engineer, 1953-1959; sporting activities; game shooting; deferment of call up as apprentice; interview and medical on call up, 11/1955. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during basic training at Leicestershire Regt Depot, Glen Parva Barracks, South Wigston, 2/1959-4/1959: reception; barrack room accommodation; kitting out; hair cut; morning routine; food rations; prior adventure training experience.
REEL 2 Continues: training programme; weapons training on Self Loading Rifle (SLR), bayonet, and Bren gun; story of disciplinary charge for rusty bayonet; training on hand grenades and Inerga rifle grenade; drill; preparing for kit and room inspections; relationship with recruits; ignorance of regimental history; relationship with instructors; PT and boxing; drinking habits; pay; canteen.
REEL 3 Continues: passing out parade; leave. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with 1st Bn, Leicestershire Regt at Buller Barracks, Munster, Germany, 4/1959-2/1961: journey out; reception; barrack accommodation and locker; preparing for kit and room inspections; assessment for specialist duties; playing drums for regimental dinner; continuation training with C Coy including digging slit trenches and weapons training at Sennelager; gas mask and self-injection training; posting to Corps of Drums, Headquarter Coy; memories of Drum Major Holland; issue of ceremonial uniforms; training as stretcher bearers including first aid; musical training as drummer; silver drums and tiger skins; composition of drum band; 'beating retreat' in Leicestershire towns; parade to commemorate airborne landing at Arnhem, 1944; regimental ceremonies; reorganisation of change to Foresters Bde and commemorative parade, 1960; nature of tactical exercises on Luneberg Heath; awareness of Soviet threat and intelligence activities.
REEL 4 Continues: nature of Active Edge deployment exercises and punishment for being late; relationship with ORs and question of illiteracy rate amongst regulars; relationship with NCOs and officers; celebrations during regimental week; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1960; relationship with German civilians; recreations; visits to Munster; currency used; fatal casualty from excess drinking; relationship with German serviceman; Saturday band parade; minor smuggling and British customs; question of signing on as regular; return to GB and demobilisation, 2/1961. Post-service career: redundancy as apprentice engineer; work as engineer and manager at pet food factory; effects of national service and desire for active service; service with 7th Bn, Leicestershire Regt, Leicester, 1961-1962. Recollections of service with F Coy, 3rd Bn, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regt, Home Service Force, Beeston Drill Hall, 1984-1988: role of unit defending against sabotage; interview and assignment to unit; drill night training; promotion to lance corporal weapons instructor; intelligence briefings; trooping colour in front of Princess Ann at Newark, 4/1987.
REEL 5 Continues: tactical exercises on Cannock Chase; question of age of personnel in HSF; question of value of HSF illustrated by role guarding TA barracks; background to leaving HSF. Membership of British Legion, Melton Mowbray, 1959-2008: motivation for joining; question of taking committee role; assisting in poppy selling.