Description
Object description
British staff officer served with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Bde in Germany, 1989-1990; served on Operation Granby with 7th Armoured Bde, 1st Armoured Div in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, 1990-1991
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as staff officer (GSO3) with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Bde, Bournemouth Barracks, Soltau, Germany, 1989-1990: background to prior military service with Royal Corps of Transport; organisation of brigade; composition and role of staff; role as GSO3 dealing with personnel and disciplinary issues including manslaughter cases and drinking habits of soldiers; pay issues; static nature of HQ despite theoretical mobility; attitude to Soviet threat and nature of Operation Active Edge exercises; reactions to Iraq invasion of Kuwait, 8/1990; preparations for mobilisation of 7th AB for Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia, 1990, including addition of extra personnel to staff; replacement of Challenger I, additional tanks added to armoured units, repainting tanks and MT in desert colours, question of modifications for desert conditions, question of welfare provision, role in securing issue of jerboa badges to commemorate desert tradition of unit, despatch of tanks by ship, 9/1990. Recollections of Operation Granby in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, 10/1990-4/1991: flight out with advance party to initial base at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
REEL 2 Continues: initial warehouse accommodation; personal morale; HQ in warehouse office; showers and latrines; US food rations; hygiene precautions; acclimatisation to climate; press presence on disembarkation of tanks; move into desert camp; desert exercises and ranges; lack of Iraqi threat to Saudi Arabia; and question of invasion of Kuwait; role in provision of recreational and welfare facilities at Camp 4; packages from GB; role of 7th Armoured Bde within US 1st Marine Division including success of liaison, story of exercise illustrating relative inefficiency in armoured warfare; joining 1st Armoured Div on arrival; move inland; interim objectives and role seeking Iraqi Republican Guard Armoured Divs; featureless nature of desert and maps; role of HWQ in administrative planning; use of AFV 436 as HQ vehicles; logistical staff role with 24 hour rota and assistance from watch-keeping officers; opinion of Brigadier Patrick Cordingly illustrated by story of river crossing exercise; opinion of Chief of Staff Major Evan Louden.
REEL 3 COntinues: role of US forces in breaking through berm to cross Kuwait border, 24/2/1991; story fo AFV 436 breaking down an being left behind at forming up point; problems in rejoining HQ; question of prevalence of breakdowns with AFV 436; advance to interim objectives and nature of fighting; surrender of Iraqi troops; friendly fire incident of Warrior hit by Centurion and necessity of rapidly replacing vehicle; story of belatedly loading personal weapons illustrating lack of preparation for war; role organising refuelling and repair of broken down Challengers; pause to reorganise unit; necessity of cutting road to Basra before ceasefire, 28/2/1991; helicopter flight to check on status of casualties at rear HQ, 1st Armoured Div; organisation of phone calls to families of casualties; flight back to Germany, 3/1991; role checking movement arrangements for unit return to Germany; development of concept of expeditionary warfare in British Army post 1991; impact of active service on career in contrast to attending Staff College; stories illustrating question of state of preparedness of soldiers in action; story of passing Iraqi transport destroyed by US aircraft.
