Description
Object description
British officer served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 50th Independent Infantry Bde on Cyprus, 1/1956-12/1956; served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 5th Infantry Bde Group in West Germany, 1/1957-4/1957
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of background in Derby, GB, 1935-1955: family and social circumstances including father's career as professional footballer; outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; German Air Force raids; use of Anderson Shelter; bomb damage in Normanton and crashed German Air Force aircraft; use of family home as Air Raid Precautions (ARP) centre; collecting war debris souvenirs; German Air Force raids on Rolls-Royce Ltd factory; father's service with Home Guard; issue of gas masks; shortage of sweets; clothing and food rationing; reactions to evacuees from London and question of own evacuation; following progress of Second World War; relations with American service personnel; recreational activities; collecting rose hips.
REEL 2 Continues: education at Bemrose Grammar School including sporting activities and rowing, question of being left-handed and qualification for extra courses in geology and art; street parties on VE, 8/5/1945 and VJ Day, 15/8/1945; Boy Scout activities; studying geography at London School of Economics, 1954 including necessity of studying economics and background to wanting to leave; work as scene shifter at Derby Hippodrome, 1954-1955; family's political activities. Aspects of call-up for National Service in GB, 2/1955-3/1955: reaction to call-up and medical, 2/1955.
REEL 3 Continues: application to join Royal Army Education Corp. Recollections of period of training as private and NCO with Devonshire Regiment, Wessex Bde at Topsham Barracks, Exeter, GB, 4/1955-9/1955: reception; kitting out; hair cut; barrack room accommodation; posting home civilian clothes; preparation for room and kit inspections; rations; drill; weapons training including rifle.
REEL 4 Continues: weapons training including bayonet, Bren Gun, Sten Gun; 2 Inch Mortar, hand grenades and Energa Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade; physical training including assault course, route marches, boxing and athletic display team; minor injury and medical treatment; fieldcraft and value of experience with Boy Scout Movement; tactical and night exercises on Woodbury Common and Dartmoor; relations with and origins of recruits; recreational visits to Exeter; pay.
REEL 5 Continues: relations with instructors; selection as potential officer and posting to No 1 Minden Cadre; hutted accommodation; standards expected in training; platoon Tactical Exercises Without Troops (TEWTs) on sand tables and use of order card; tactical exercise including holding defensive positions and attack tactics; using reading room and interest in military history; attending War Office Selection Board at Warminster including preparations, anonymity of cadets, intelligence tests, command tests, mini-lectures and interviews.
REEL 6 Continues: attending War Office Selection Board at Warminster including debriefing and success in passing for officer training; passing out parade; duties on promotion to lance corporal, 7/1955-9/1955; story of acting as orderly corporal; discipline and visiting schools' Officer Training Corps. Recollections of period as officer cadet with period at Officer Cadet School, Eaton Hall, GB, Chester, 9/1955-12/1955: reception and hutted accommodation; rations; organisation of training; signals training including voice procedure and Sliddex and Griddle codes; attending tactical exercises at battle camp in North Wales; live firing; nature of company 'O' group briefings and orders process; briefing troops; opposition force.
REEL 7 Continues: use of fieldcraft; nature of attack exercise; behaviour expected of officer including leadership and relations with Other Ranks; treatment of officer cadets; case of suicide question of cadets Returned to Unit (RTU); precautions taken against Irish Republican Army, guard duties and question of poor night vision; explosives and demolition training; mine training and marking located minefields; street fighting including booby traps and clearing houses; use of training and venereal disease warning films; Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) training including gas chamber test, nerve gas syringe treatment and nuclear briefings; basic military law.
REEL 8 Continues: drill; opinion of instructors and officers; taking drill sessions and status as cadet; preparations for commandant's parade; issue of new bayonet; problems with varicose vein and hospital treatment; preparations for passing out parade with regimental sergeant-major; failing signals test through fatigue and consequent back squading; story of reprimand for swearing; nature of Eaton Hall; stories of jokes with statues; background to choice of Royal Norfolk Regiment; kitting out as officer; passing out parade, 12/1955; origins of cadets; rail journey to Norwich.
REEL 9 Aspects of period as officer with Royal Norfolk Regiment Regimental Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 12/1955-1/1956: reception; collecting pay; supervisory training role on Thetford Ranges; leave periods; nature of officers' mess and painting
illustrating regimental history; initial confusion over posting; reporting to Goodge Street Transit Camp, London, 1/1956 including visit to cinema. Recollections of operations with 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Cyprus, 1/1956-12/1956: flight from GB to Nicosia via Malta; reception; tented accommodation at Palodia Camp and minimal kit carried; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel William Brinkley, Lieutenant-Colonel Colonel Robert Scott, Major Fisher, Major Strachan and Major Dye; relations with platoon sergeant.
REEL 10 Continues: officers' mess tent; briefing on internal security; situation in Cyprus including roles of National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA), Cypriot Police, Georgios Grivas and unit responsibility for south western Cyprus; story of lorry being shot at
during resupply mission to Kivides and Malia Police Stations, 1/1956 including subsequent success in identifying Greek Cypriot snipers, precautions required on red route, reception at police stations and situation at Kivides and Malia; precautions in resupply missions; lookout post used at Malia Police Station; account of typical platoon patrol in Limassol including 'O' group, composition, being dropped off by lorry, logging route, formation adopted, break at police station and Greek food.
REEL 11 Continues: account of typical platoon patrol in Limassol including role dominating ground, question of intelligence gathering,
relations with Cypriot civilians, evening patrols, story of searching brothel at instigation of NCO, return route and collection by lorry; case of petrol bomb incident and arrest of female suspect; nature of house searches and instance of discovering pistols; nature of road blocks and vehicle searches; establishing observation posts in houses in Limassol; nature of cordon and search operations in villages; shooting incident resulting in death of deaf mute Turkish Cypriot shepherd, discovery of arms caches and detection and arrest of Greek Cypriot National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) insurgents.
REEL 12 Continues: first contact with Other Ranks in tent lines; relations with platoon sergeant and question of his drinking problems; relations with Other Ranks; story of securing medical treatment for foot problems suffered by officer's servant; role of officer's servant/wireless operator; question of welfare role; story of ex-poacher stealing chickens on patrol; tented accommodation; relations with Second Lieutenants Peter Eckford, Michael Buckley and others; nature of officers' mess including protocol, drinking habits and guest nights.
REEL 13 Continues: question of attendance at mess functions interfering with night patrols; relations with senior officers; role as duty officer; story of rapid response to mine explosion detonated under Land Rovers carrying cricket team and brief stand down period to prevent retaliation from soldiers; appearance of French Navy battleship Jean Bart off Limassol as part of build up for Operation Musketeer, 10/1956; loss of kit and inappropriate overcoats worn by officers; climate; nature of mountain patrols; use of compo rations and cooking methods on patrol; rubbish disposal of patrol, value of Boy Scout experience; discovery of fertility shrine and 'hide' on patrol.
REEL 14 Continues: rapid move to secure village after discovery of 'hide'; sight of attack on National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) and Royal Air Force signal station and question of intervention; role of Greek Cypriot policeman serving with Cyprus Police; story of giving wrong map reference; patrol formation; mountainous terrain; wearing Oleander flowers in berets; weapons carried, and length and purpose of patrol; mobile patrols to resupply fortified police stations in villages; visibility of vehicle movements; attack on Field Marshal Sir John Harding and role of Second Lieutenant Michael Buckley in removing bomb from official residence; nature of riots including riot control methods, identification of ringleaders, riot in sector used by British married families; successful pursuit and arrest of Greek Cypriot youths and peaceful methods used to defuse riots.
REEL 15 Continues: difficulty in dealing with Greek Cypriot schoolchildren rioting and question of news media reports; detachment of A Coy to Military Police co-ordinating centre in Limassol; first response role; presence and role of British policemen; story of
unprovoked attack by British policeman on Greek Cypriot students studying in hut; summer uniform worn including testing new pattern of boots designed for wet weather and unofficial use of desert boots; work of Indian tailor in camp in preparing khaki drill and mess kit; nature of Operation Lucky Alphonse in Troodos Mountains, 6/1956, including cordon and search role, fire in forested area, water shortage and evacuation with attack of dysentery; return as guide with Royal Army Service Corps unit to clear up aftermath of fire in Troodos Mountains; survival techniques in fire; intermittent problems with dysentery symptoms; letter and parcel contacts with GB; swimming on beach; story of 'shark' alarm and shooting of swordfish which was subsequently eaten.
REEL 16 Continues: detachment to Paramali Camp, 5/1956-6/1956; story of discovering National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) incendiary bombs while clearing area around house during fire at Episkopi Camp; routine road blocks and purchase of local vegetables; story of night patrol across nullah north of Episkopi Camp, 7/1956, including preparations, establishing listening post, detecting movement, return to camp, subsequent meeting with officer also patrolling in nullah and narrow escape from opening fire; concert party and duties escorting comedian Frankie Howerd and dancing girls to Pathos; impressions of arrival of French Foreign Legion at at Limassol, 8/1956; contact with Egyptian radio station personnel and participation in enforced closure of station; arrival of British reservists and question of National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) threat in Limassol.
REEL 17 Continues: question of short National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) truce during Operation Musketeer; intelligence mission carried out by Second Lieutenant Peter Eckford; attack by Greek Cypriots on Turkish Cypriots, 30/8/1956 including unit role maintaining wire fence between communities, detachment to guard Turkish Cypriot school, ammunition stolen from soldier and return by Turkish Cypriot resistance; question of escorting Turkish spy; situation; question of remaining on Cyprus as liaison officer with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; transfer of unit to First Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA); visit to HMS Duchess; taking Royal Navy personnel on mountain patrols; question of size of British forces on Cyprus and involvement in internal security operations; subsequent development of mountain patrols; routine duties; relief by 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 12/1956; question of unarmed march to port at Limassol, 12/1956. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Clyde from Limassol, Cyprus to Liverpool, GB, 12/1956: route; storms; watching for old floating sea mines; reception; leave. Recollection of period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 5th Infantry Bde Group at Iserlohn, West Germany, 1/1957-4/1957: journey out; barrack accommodation.
REEL 18 Continues: story of Second World War veteran's reaction to scene of fighting; question of boredom over routine nature of duties; training activities; battle training field exercises at Bielefeld Ranges including German range ordnance, mass German and Soviet war graves and defensive exercise with live ammunition; lectures on Soviet threat and mobilisation plans; officers' sword drill; platoon training; reaction to prior introduction of Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) on Cyprus, 7/1956; nature of officers' mess including guest nights, tradition of 'Hong Kong' table, mess kit, commemorative mess silver, value of regimental traditions and mess games.
REEL 19 Continues: attitudes of German Second World War veterans and question of right to wear medals; relation with German civilians; changes in officers; opinion of uniform and equipment; question of training for nuclear warfare; attitude to Soviet threat including nuclear response and necessity for re-equipment and preparations required for modem warfare; question of skiing training; hospitalisation with recurrence of dysentery contracted in Cyprus; question of taking regular commission and possibility of return after university education; basketball activities; presence of replacement regular army officers; leaving unit and dining out in officers' mess. demobilisation at Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 4/1957 including handing in kit; reaction to leaving British Army.
REEL 20 Continues: Aspects of civilian life and employment in GB, 1957-1963: reception from family; work in co-operative
cotton mill on leaving military service, 1957; value of military service; question of acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; studying geography at University of Reading, 1957-1961 including value of military experience and post graduate qualification; work as lecturer at University College London, 1963; question of call-up as officer in Army Emergency Reserve, 1963; left wing political views and work as lecturer at Enfield College of Technology/Polytechnic, including development of 'sandwich' work experience degrees, question of intake of students without academic qualification and career; question of membership of Royal Norfolk Regimental Association and continuing dispute over missing basketball team strip; attitude to National Service.