Stringer, Tom (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1/4th Bn, Essex Regt in Egypt, North Africa, Syria and Italy, 1942-1944; POW in Italy and Austria, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Hackney, London and Becontree, 1921-1939: family background including father's service in King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1914-1918 and social circumstances; education; father's death, 1933; work as copy reader at printers, 1935-1936; work as office boy at solicitors, 1936-1939; sporting activities. Recollections of training with 2/4th Bn, Essex Regt at Halburt Street Drill Hall, Dagenham and Gordon Fields Drill Hall, Ilford, 3/1938-9/1939: background to recruitment; kitting out; drill nights; relationship with ORs and NCOs; summer camp at Wannock, 8/1939; weapons training; call up to Gordon Fields Drill Hall, 1/9/1939; air raid alarm on outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. Period at Clacton on Sea Camp, 9/1939: chalet accommodation; training; role guarding interned German sailors. Period at Shell Haven, 9/1939-12/1939: role guarding oil installations against possible IRA attack; patrolling sea wall. Periods at Saxmundham, Seaburn, Chester le Street, Fairford and Leiston, 1/1940-6/1942: Bren gun training; opinion of officers; move to Seaburn; role as mess orderly. REEL 2 Continues: move to sweet factory at Chester le Street; relationship with civilians; German aircraft shot down by anti-aircraft guns; move to Fairford; losing position as mess orderly; move to Leiston; erecting beach defences; minimal ammunition supply; success in cross country race and reaction to consequent selection for overseas draft, 6/1942. Period at Warley Barracks, Brentwood, 6/1942. Voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth to Port Tewfik, Egypt, 6/1942-7/1942: route; conditions. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during operations with 10 Platoon, B Coy, 1/4th Bn, Essex Regt, 5th Indian Bde, 4th Indian Div in Egypt, North Africa and Syria, 7/1942-9/1943: first impressions on train journey and on joining unit at Ruweisat Ridge; acting as runner for Captain Jack Beesley; situation; slit trenches; water supply; climate and sandstorms; food rations; personal morale and Stuka raids; latrines; daily routine; memories of Private Stan Griffiths. REEL 3 Continues: view of failed German attack at Alam Halfa; opinion of Montgomery; reserve role of 4th Indian Div in Battle of Alamein, 10/1942-11/1942, including effects of bombardment, taking up defensive positions on Miteria Ridge, German counter-attack, superiority of German light machine guns, acting as No. 2 on Bren gun, breakdown of German attack, German shell and mortar fire and use of former German trenches; keeping close to artillery barrage during night attack on German positions, 2/11/1942; Italian and German POWs; lack of MT in 4th Indian Div; period at El Adem; origins of 4th Indian Div; relationship with Indian troops; aspects of Battle of Mareth, 20/3/1943, including situation, patrol by 10 Platoon anti-tank ditch and minefields; aspects of Battle of Wadi Akarit, 5/4/1943, including situation, attack across open ground and German mortar fire; night attack on Mejad el Bhat; rest period; personal morale and value of experience. REEL 4 Continues: move to Syria; situation; move back to Egypt. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during operations in Italy, 9/1943-3/1945: reactions to news of posting to Italy; first impressions on landing at Taranto; winter conditions and situation; move to Western Italy; billets in Avigliano; snow clearance duties; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1943; move to Monte Cassino area, 1/1944; situation and failure of Anzio operations; taking up positions in Wadi Villa; German shell fire and sangar tranches; supply and sniper problems; story of religious British sniper; treatment of casualties; 2 man bivouac shared with Private George Clark; question of acting as runner; daily routine; stand to; letter contact with family; cold conditions; food rations; situation; accidents due to mountainous terrain. REEL 5 Continues: description of photo of Point 175; casualty evacuation; nature of Point 175. Account of capture during attack on Monte Cassino Monastery, 17/3/1944-19/3/1944: situation and capture of Castle, 17/3/1944; move into Castle sector, 18/3/1944; accidental shelling from New Zealand tanks; ruined state of Castle; move out to second start line on Hangman's Hill; German counter-attack at Epping Bend, 02.00, 19/3/1944; question retreat to Castle; effects of German hand grenade and medical treatment by German stretcher bearer for hand, arm, leg and head wounds; taking shelter in cave near monastery. Initial period as POW in Italy, 3/1944-4/1944: question of armistice arrangements; reactions; rat problem; move into monastery, 20/3/1944; evacuation by German stretcher bearer and story of meeting German general; issue of German shirt; evacuation by ambulance. REEL 6 Continues: evacuation by ambulance to field hospital at Arce; isolation amidst German wounded; visit by British nurse; medical treatment; move to POW hospital in Florence, 4/1944; food; movements. Period at Mantova Hospital, 4/1944: Italian nurses; state of wounds and personal morale. Period in POW Hospital, Spittal, Austria, 5/1944: train journey from Italy; failed skin graft; treatment on hand and effects of injured tendon; POW medical staff. Recollections of period at Stalag 317 POW Camp, Pongau, Austria, 5/1944-5/1945: lice problem; hut accommodation; food and Red Cross parcels; recreations and library; roll call; Austrian guards; camp wireless; role of senior BNCOs; question of escape attempts; question of sports activities; latrines and shower facilities; state of health; question of work parties and interview with German doctor. REEL 7 Continues: recommendation for repatriation; role of padre; relationship with prisoners including from US; winter conditions; Allied air raids; news of progress of war; arrival of Polish prisoners from Warsaw Uprising and Serb POWs; departure of German guards and arrival of Soviet troops, 4/1945; necessity of remaining within camp; arrival of US troops, 4/1945; food and initially restricted diet; loss of weight. Flights back to GB, 5/1945: re-equipment by US troops; DDT treatment on arrival in GB; reception from family. Period prior to demobilisation, 12/1946: attending resettlement course; medical assessment as unfit for duty; extended leave. Post-war career: invalid pension; question of outdoor work; career as office clerk; appeal through British Legion resulting in pension increase after medical examination; mental effects of war service; membership of 4th Essex Old Comrades Assoc and visit to Monte Cassino.