Nertney, John (Oral history)

British gunner served as driver served with Royal Artillery Depot, Woolwich in GB, 1934-1937; gunner and NCO served with 85th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and France, 1937-1940

REEL 1 Background in Stockton-on-Tees, GB, 1917-1934: family; childhood in Stockton-on-Tees;; education; employment; enlsitment in British Army in Middlesbrough, 1934. Recollecitons of period as driver with Royal Artillery Depot, Woolwich in GB, 1934-1937: journey to Woolwich; requests from boy soldiers for cigarettes; description of barracks; accommodation; relations with fellow recruits; morning routine; breakfast; story of asking for extra helping; issue of kit; medical; memories of NCO and a horse called David; work in stables including punishment received. REEL 2 Continues: training with wooden horse; story of wandering horse; inspections; relationship with horses and learning to ride; story of visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne; use of horses to pulling guns; stories of punishments received; canteen; contact with officers; details of pay; Friday tea; rations; daily routine including physical training; kit inspections; replacement of lost kit; wearing puttees and later problems with varicose veins; evening activities; warnings about venereal disease; treatment for venereal disease; whip drill; description of 9 Pounder Gun and trailer; passing out parade; duties at hospital; wait for posting. REEL 3 Continues: preparations for posting to Spike Island, County Cork; opinion of Woolwich Barracks; buying out of army by mother. Aspects of period as gunner and NCO with 85th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and France, 1937-1940: civilian employment with ICI; joining Territorial Army; details of unit; activities during Munich Crisis, 1938; unit officerst; sites occupied on outbreak of war; change to unit title; composition of unit; posting to new battery in Bradford, 10/1940; story of nearly being discharged; training with Territorial Army; role of gun crew members; character of gun sites occupied during early stages of war; change of uniform; description of departure from Middlesbrough; re-equipping of unit at Camberley including problems with vehicles issued; journey to and across France including reception from civilians and problems with health.