Interview with Ray Smith

Sound: © IWM (33816)

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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British marine trained with at Royal Marine Depot Deal and Royal Marines Commando School, Lympstone in GB, 1961-1962; served with 42 Commando, Royal Marines in British Borneo during Indonesian Confrontation, 1962-1964, including Limbang Raid in Sarawak, British Borneo, 12/12/1962; served with 43 Commando, Royal Marines in GB, 1964-1966; trained as carpenter with Royal Marines in GB, 1966-1967; served with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Aden, Federation of South Arabia, 1967; NCO served with 45 Commando in Northern Ireland, 1970 and 1971; served with Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, GB, 1972-1975; served on detachment with Naval Party 901, Royal Marines on Falkland Islands, 1975-1976; served as carpenter with Royal Marines in GB, 1976-1983

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Bournemouth and Plymouth, GB, 1943-1961: family; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training as marine at Royal Marine Depot, Deal, GB, 1961: reasons for enlistment in Royal Marines; clashes with Scottish recruits; opinion of training and discipline; instructors and their treatment of recruits; bonding with squad members; suitability of Deal for recruit training; kit inspections; lack of time to carrying out tasks; weapons training; tough drill regime. Aspects of period as marine at Commando Training School, Lympstone, GB, 1961-1962: pattern of advanced training; speed marches; nature of 'Tarzan' and endurance courses; threat of back squading; use of water filled tunnels during endurance course; thirty mile speed march across Exmoor. REEL 2 Continues: reaction to presentation of green beret; Special Presentation 1774 duties with King's Squad; prior recollection of ship's training. Recollections of operations as marine with 42 Commando, Royal Marines in Singapore, Federation of Malaya, 1962 and during Limbang Raid in Sarawak, British Borneo, 12/12/1962: drafting to commando in Singapore, Federation of Malaya; month long continuation training in Singapore, Federation of Malaya; internal security training; Communist threat to Federation of Malaya; move to Brunei, British Borneo; comrade's premonition of death at Limbang, Sarawak; allocation to Z-craft lighters; reaction of individuals in action; voyage down river towards Limbang, Sarawak. REEL 3 Continues: approach to Limbang town and insurgent's opening fire; effect of Vickers Machine Gun fire; problems disembarking from Z-craft lighter; insurgent positions and weapons; advance into town; house clearing and first night in town; casualty who fell through roof; taking up positions in market place; amusing incident with lorry; NCO who received 'Dear John' letter; accidental death of marine from discharged weapon; deployment to Bangor Embol area, Sarawak; effects of flooding. Recollections of operations as marine with 42 Commando, Royal Marines during Indonesian Confrontation in Sarawak, British Borneo, 1963-1964: deployments to British Borneo; defences at Gumbang; accidental shooting of officer; jungle patrolling; Indonesian forces attack on Gumbang. REEL 4 Continues: accidental crossing of border during follow up patrol; accommodation in temple in village; method of laying ambush; interpreter duties; behaviour of young officer; nature of jungle conditions; firefight in Humber Pig Armoured Personnel Carrier; attitude towards service in British Borneo; narrow escape from snake; encounter with cobra at Gumbang; description of leave in Hong Kong, 12/1963. Aspects of period as marine with 43 Commando, Royal Marines in GB, 1964-1966: participation in film about Westland Wessex helicopter; introduction of 120mm Wombat Anti-Tank Recoilless Rifle. Aspects of period as carpenter with Royal Marines in GB, 1966-1967: background to taking up trade training as carpenter; role of carpenters. REEL 5 Continues: drafting to 41 Commando, Royal Marines at Deal. Aspects of period as marine with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Aden, Federation of South Arabia, 1967: drafting to Headquarters Coy; duties securing searched houses; role advising on observation posts; deployment to camp on border; incident of being under fire during cinema screening; reaction to being in Alvis Stalwart convoy on mountainous road; under fire from border; withdrawal from Aden. Aspects of period as NCO with 45 Commando in Northern Ireland, 1970 and 1971: posting to Belfast, 1970; role securing houses after searches; role as carpenter during tour of Ballykinlar, 1971; reaction to sight of injured civilians in Northern Ireland and reasons for leaving marines, 1970; re-enlistment, 1971. Aspects of period as NCO with Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, GB, 1972-1975: duties and bar work. Aspects of period as detachment to Naval Party 901, Royal Marines on Falklands Islands, 1975-1976: return to GB on compassionate leave; taking diplomatic bag to Buenos Aires, Argentina. REEL 6 Continues: method of driving in Buenos Aires, Argentina; return to Falkland Island; penguin eggs; composition of naval party; nature of drafting; use of workshops in Port Stanley; sheep shearing; relations with Falkland Islanders. Aspects of period as NCO carpenter with Royal Marines in GB, 1976-1983: promotion; specialist carpenter work; expectation that he would be sent to Falklands War, 1982; attitude towards service with Royal Marines.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
Smith, Ray (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2012-11-20
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 33816

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