Description
Object description
British private served with 1st Bn, Irish Guards in GB, 1945-1946; served with 2nd Bn, Irish Guards in Germany, 1946; served with Headquarters 4th Guards Bde in Germany, 1946-1948
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Islington, Clerkenwell and Kenton, London, 1927-1945: family background and social circumstances; education; filling sandbags, 8/1939; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; Anderson shelter; cinema; question of rationing; German air raids including close escape from land mine and story of father's close escape from delayed action bomb; paper round; blackout; work for family chip shop; work as builder's labourer repairing bomb damage, 1941-1945; stories of bombing and V1 raids; procedure on call up for Irish Guards, 4/1945. Period of basic training with Irish Guards at Guards Depot, Caterham, 4/1945-7/1945: reception and kitting out; hut accommodation; preparing for kit and room inspection.
REEL 2 Continues: food rations; drill; PT; weapons training including rifle, bayonet, Sten gun and Bren gun; lectures in history of unit to inculcate regimental pride; canteen and pub in grounds; special leave and celebrations on VE Day, 8/5/1945; relationship with recruits, instructors and officers; passing out parade. Period of continuation training at Guards Depot, Pirbright, 7/1945-8/1945: assault course; VJ Day celebrations, 15/8/1945. Recollections of period with Support Coy, 1st Bn, Irish Guards, Tower of London and Chelsea Barracks, London, 1945-1946: first impressions of unit and standards of discipline; barrack accommodation at Tower; picket guard duty; ceremony of keys; relationship with Beefeaters; punishment parades.
REEL 3 Continues: gate guard duty; relationship with visitors; accommodation at Chelsea Barracks; story of escorting German POWs and Italian wives of British servicemen; working parties during docks strike; avoiding fatigues at Tower; role on Bren carrier flame thrower during exercises in Wales; failure to learn to drive Bren carrier; draft to Germany. Recollections of period with 2nd Bn, Irish Guards, Hamburg, Germany, 1946: first impressions of unit; guard duties on fuel dumps; story of removing Yugoslavian displaced persons occupying German village; activities of serial killer; barrack accommodation; disbandment of unit. Period with Defence Platoon, Headquarters, 4th Guards Bde, Hubbelrath, Dusseldorf, Germany, 1946-1948: composition of unit; minimal duties; barracks accommodation; exercises; relationship with ORs, NCOs and German civilians; awareness of black market and use of cigarettes as currency; drinking habits in bars; story of escaping from MPs.
REEL 4 Continues: interest in music and forces radio; fatal motor accident; GB leave; extra leave on extension on service, 2/1948; background to refusal to become regular; birthday party, 31/3/1948; return to GB and demobilisation, 8/1948. Post-service career: work cutting back trees on London Underground; question of contacts with former comrades.