Interview with John Leslie Bowler

762846156
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
509277761
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
393007804
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
1126718254
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
264992984
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
1197820765
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
1300995145
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
1351023260
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
222876121
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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.
1426584135
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

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:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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 private and NCO trained with Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) at Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe in GB, 11/1950-1/1951; officer cadet trained at Officer Cadet School, Eaton Hall in GB, 2/1951-4/1951; officer commanded 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Welch Regt in Colchester Garrison, GB, 4/1951-10/1951; commanded 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Welch Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 11/1951-8/1952

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1932-1950: family; nature of family business; origins of Bowler Hat; education; employment with family business on leaving school; reasons for popularity of hats pre-Second World War and their decline in post-war period; membership of Officer Training Corps at Cranleigh School. Recollections of enlistment and training as private and NCO with Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) at Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, GB, 11/1950-1/1951: expectations of having to do National Service; call-up to Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe; reception on arrival; inoculations. REEL 2 Continues: organisation of recruits; importance of discipline and physical training; role of barrack corporal; character of inspections; welding together as team; need for precision in making beds; helpful character of educational background; treatment of recruits by NCOs; selection for Leadership Platoon; how he was not selected for fatigue parties; promotion to lance corporal; daily routine during basic training; weapons training on ranges; lack of bayonet training; assault courses; level of fitness. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of meals; similarity of British Army food with boarding school; Christmas leave; selection procedure for potential officer cadets; notification for officer training; question of potential posting to Korea. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Officer Cadet School, Eaton Hall, GB, 2/1951-4/1951: use of railway warrant; description of Eaton Hall; need for regular clothing changes and to move rapidly; treatment of officer cadets by NCOs; obtaining officer like qualities; attending two week battle course on Dartmoor; opportunity to lead; opinion of training received; character of weapons training. REEL 4 Continues: background into commissioning into Welch Regiment; passing out parade; initial reaction to posting to Welch Regiment; leave. Recollections of period as officer with 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Welch Regt at Colchester Garrison, GB, 4/1951-10/1951: reformation of battalion; character of his platoon sergeant; need to impress self on platoon; platoon training for National Service conscripts; relation with platoon members; regular and reservists platoon members; battalion officers; mess games and singing of Welsh songs; proportion of Welsh officers and other ranks in battalion; garrison life in Colchester Garrison. REEL 5 Continues: amusing story of practical jokes played by junior officer; growing awareness of posting to South Korea; story of adjutant's reaction to battalion posting to South Korea; question of junior officers serving in Korean War; transporting regimental goat to Southampton for embarkation. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Fowey from GB to South Korea, 10/1951-11/1951: embarkation at Southampton; British military contribution to Korean War; manpower shortage in battalion; problems during march in Colombo, Ceylon and effect on morale of collapse of regimental goat. Recollections of operations as officer with 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Welch Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 11/1951-8/1952: arrival at Pusan, 11/1951; issue of white winter clothing; train journey to front line; counting hills from bunker; rapid move in vehicles to The Hook. REEL 6 Continues: dealing with question from platoon member on why they were going to Korea; construction of trenches on The Hook; killing square in barbed wire in front of positions on The Hook; size of no-mans-land; quality of rations and method of cooking; allocation of platoon cook; use of DDT; sleeping fully clothed; cold weather conditions; issue of rum; latrines; dealing with cold weather; attempt to deepen trenches; provision of six weeks' worth of supplies and effects of American Compo Rations; attending company 'O' (Officer) group; number of patrols led; clash with Chinese People's Volunteer Army during daylight patrol, 27/11/1951; discovery of dead Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops during patrol to Hill 169, 1/12/1951; problems fighting at night. REEL 7 Continues: organisation of patrol; weapons carried on patrol and reasons for rejecting carrying pistol; opinion of maps; issuing simple orders; artillery support available; relations with platoon members; dealing with dip in morale; night-time company patrol to Hill 169, 9/12/1951; nature of fighting on Hill 169, 9/12/1951; encounter with large Chinese People's Volunteer Army patrol during reconnaissance patrol to Hill 103, 22/12/1951; clash with Chinese People's Volunteer Army in frozen paddy field in which patrol members wounded, 22/12/1951-24/12/1951; return to lines, 24/12/1951; sight of Chinese People's Volunteer Army personnel killing wounded Lance Corporal John Hampton, 22/12/1951; how Chinese People's Volunteer Army patrol had been carrying a propaganda Christmas tree; reaction to killing of Lance Corporal John Hampton. REEL 8 Continues: occasion when patrol was trapped in minefield, 9/2/1952; use of Centurion Tank for support; casualties from mortar shell which landed in trench, 9/2/1952; how Sergeant 'Chalky' White returned to A1 medical grade; death of Private Norman Babbage, 9/2/1952; determination to dominate no-mans-land and use of listening posts; move to Hill 355, 4/1952; opinion of American battalion who relieved unit on Hill 355, 4/1952; intense wiring and minefield marking activities on Hill 355; account of patrol to raid Chinese position known as 'The Diggings', 3/5/1952. REEL 9 Continues: method of halting patrol during withdrawal from attack on 'The Diggings', 3/5/1952; artillery fire brought down on 'The Diggings' 3/5/1952; defection of Chinese People's Volunteer Army officer who commanded 'The Diggings' position; award of Military Cross for actions, 3/5/1952; effects of monsoon weather, 6/1952; patrol to 'The Diggings', 7/1952; Chinese People's Volunteer Army daily artillery shelling of Hill 355 and wounding by mortar shell; decision not to open fire on two Chinese People's Volunteer Army personnel during patrol, 7/1952; need to return to GB for demobilisation; discovery of loss of hearing during medical examination. REEL 10 Continues: long-term medical effects of service in Korean War; attitude towards military service in Korean War; benefits of military service in Korean War; patrolling in South Korea, summer 1952.

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)
Bowler, John Leslie (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2016-10-19
Dimensions: whole: Duration 288, Number Of Items 10
Catalogue number: 34685

Object associations

Our collections information

We have over 1.7 million object records online, and we are adding to this all the time. Our records are never finished. Sometimes we discover new information that changes what we know about an object, such as who made it or used it. Sometimes we change how an object is interpreted. We sometimes make mistakes in our spelling, transcription or categorisation, or miss information out of our records.

Read more about our collections and the information we hold. Developing our collections information

If you have concerns about the language in this record, or you have information to improve it, please share your feedback.

We receive a lot of comments and can't respond to each one, but we do read them all and will respond where we can.

Interview with John Leslie Bowler

Description

Object description

Content description

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated places

Associated keywords

Associated themes

Our collections information