description
Object description
British driver served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB and Germany, 1954-1955; served as signaller with 63 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 16th Independent Parachute Bde in GB, Cyprus and during landings at Suez, Egypt, 1955-1957; NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1958-1966
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Gravesend and Meopham, GB, 1934-1954: family; memories of Second World War; wartime food; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1954: background to volunteering; issue of uniform; emphasis on care of equipment; discipline; start of training; saluting on the march and drill; cleaning rifle.
REEL 2 Continues: guard duties; educational and off duty activities; support from Women's Voluntary Service and Salvation Army; move to Ellis Barracks in Farnborough, 11/1954; driving training; decision to apply for parachute training. Aspects of period as driver with Royal Army Service Corps in Germany, 1954-1955: posting to Royal Engineers bridging company in Hamelin; character of accommodation; engineer exercises; description of convoy; relations with German civilians.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of training with Parachute Regt in GB, 1955: character of physical training with P Company; rate of drop out; description of parachute training at RAF Abingdon; reasons for jumping with container; description of container; jumping from balloons and aircraft including night descent.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction to gaining wings. Aspects of period as signaller with 63 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 16 Independent Parachute Bde in GB, 1955-1956: move to Waterloo Barracks, Aldershot, origins of company; duties and training; escape and evasion exercise in cold weather; preparation of dropping zone; work on Blackburn Beverley proving trials.
REEL 5 Continues: parachute injuries; need to keep up parachute jump rate; jumping from various types of aircraft and helicopters. Aspects of operations as driver with 63 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 16 Independent Parachute Bde in Cyprus, 1956: move from GB to Cyprus, 8/1956; listening post duties in Cyprus; search and cordon duties; sealing of camp prior to Suez landings; signal duties.
REEL 6 Continues: signal procedures; description of 38 Wireless Set; opinion of service career; selection for Suez landings and move into sealed camp. Recollections of operations as signaller with 63 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps, 16 Independent Parachute Bde during landings at Suez, Egypt, 11/1956: attachment to 3rd Bn Parachute Regt; preparations of equipment; awareness of destination; blood grouping of Royal Army Service Corps personnel; preparations for jump; problems of jumping from Vickers Valetta; checking parachute; emplaning; preparing for action.
REEL 7 Continues: hooking up; approach to El Gamil; landing at El Gamil; description of drop zone; reaction to being under-fire; organisation on equipment in drop zone; use of Egyptian bus to deliver supplies; opinion of Austin Champs; degree of opposition; sight of medical equipment supply parachute drop during night; Egyptian MiG 15 attack on drop zone; discovery of civilian bodies in house; character of independent parachute brigade; dealings with Egyptian civilians; packing up equipment; return to Cyprus; return to GB, 12/1956.
REEL 8 Continues: construction of trench using containers; personal hygiene; watch system worked; visit to prison; souvenirs taken back to Cyprus; salvaging from damaged 24 Hour Ration Packs; further details of return to GB, 12/1956; attitude towards Suez landings; character of airborne forces; decision to leave army, 12/1956. Recollections of period as driver and NCO with Royal Army Service Corps in GB and Germany, 1958-1966: leaving army and period of civilian life, 1957-1958; re-enlistment, 1958.
REEL 9 Continues: refresher course; opportunity to emigrate to Australia; relations between officers and men; practical jokes played; exercises and guard duties; description of types of containers used; character of exercises; married quarters; flooding of his quarters during cold weather; practising drill for Winston Churchill's funeral; Royal Army Service Corps ranks; promotion to sergeant and clash with sergeant-major in Germany, 1964; duties as sergeant.
REEL 10 Continues: further details of clash with company sergeant-major; opinion of his platoon; description of setting up field kitchen during exercise; duties as orderly sergeant; relations with company sergeant-major; opinion of effect of National Servicemen on quality of army; duties in motor transport control office; reasons for leaving army, 1966; opinion of officer.
REEL 11 Continues: duties inspecting vehicles; types of vehicles; driving instruction duties; leaving drinks; leaving quarters inspection; fiddles worked; loss of spare wheels; process of leaving army and question of leaving army early. Membership of El Gamil Association.