Description
Object description
British private served with 1st Bn The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regt) and 1st Bn The Queen's Own Buffs (The Royal Kent Regt) in GB, Germany and Kenya, 1960-1962
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1939-1945: family background; various memories of Second World War including Morrison shelter and house in Streatham, London being bombed; story of being used as model for baby pattern book; evacuated to farm in Epworth, Yorkshire; description of train journey; opinion of living conditions and food; story of post-war working holiday on farm; description of VE Day street party in Streatham, 5/1945. Aspects of period in GB, 1945-1960: description of post-war life and education in London; moved to Carshalton, Surrey, 1950; education; began employment in advertising agency in London, 1957; pay; attitude to being in last group to be called up for National Service; story of attempting to have National Service deferred.
REEL 2 Continues: called up for National Service, 12/1959; medical examination in Croydon; reason for choosing to serve with RAF; story of interview and being directed into army. Aspects of training with 1st Bn The Buffs in GB, 21/4/1960-7/1960: posted to Depot in Canterbury; issued with uniform and kit; accommodation; relations with other recruits; cleaning hut; opinion of training sergeant; opinion of food and NAAFI facilities; comradeship; attitude to military life and discipline; kit inspections; method of making bed; drill; problem of weak physical condition; story of being sent to Army School of Physical Training; weapons and tactical training; attitude to lack of privacy; problem of remembering service number; guard duty; story of visits to Herne Bay and holiday camp.
REEL 3 Continues: off-duty activities; passing out parade; embarkation leave; pay. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn The Buffs in Dortmund, Germany, 7-11/1960: opinion of accommodation and food; description of two weeks continuation training; problem with physical training and assault course; opinion of training NCO; description of training exercise in the Black Forest; duties as documents clerk in Motor Transport office; role of Motor Transport section during NATO exercises; story of visit to Denmark; daily life in Dortmund; NAAFI facilities; story of visiting the Mohne dam; relations with German civilians; opinion of The Buffs new cap badge; passing out parade; returned aboard troop ship to Folkestone, GB, 22/11/1960. Aspects of period with 1st Bn The Queen's Own Buffs in GB, 11/1960-5/1961: posted to Shornecliffe Barracks, Folkestone; story of photograph appearing in local newspaper.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of accommodation in Shorncliffe Barracks; description of duties as petrol, oil and lubricants clerk; reason for starting smoking; story of using hot water bottle in bed; issued with tropical kit; story of watching film about Mau Mau; off-duty activities in Shorncliffe; description of voyage to Nairobi, Kenya. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn The Queen's Own Buffs in Kenya, 5/1961-1/1962: issued with mosquito nets and anti-malaria tablets; description of camp and facilities at Gil Gil; opinion of NAAFI; story of seeing film 'Psycho' in camp cinema; description of duties as petrol, oil and lubricants clerk; story of spending weekends at European country club; story of serving food at hotel in Nairobi, Christmas, 1960; story of visit to coffee plantation; memories of leave in Mombasa; use own cine camera; climate; passed driving test; availability of goods; communication with home; story about zebra skin slippers.
REEL 5 Continues: relations with black civilians; problem of thefts from camp; opinion of rations; 1st Bn put on standby for deployment; story of trout fishing trips; description of voyage aboard troopship to Dover, GB, 2/1962. Aspects of period with 1st Bn The Queen's Own Buffs in GB, 2-4/1962: returned to barracks in Shorncliffe; duties as clerk and driver; demobilized, 21/Apr/1962. Reflections on period of National Service: attitude to leaving friends; reunions; civilian employment; comradeship; dreams about army service.
