DeptName
Documents
IDNO
1058
OtherNumber
88/19/1
ItemName
Private Papers of J S Fletcher
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ts account (20pp), undated, of the actions of 'V-Force', a largely British unit collaborating with Kochin natives to supply intelligence on Japanese activities in Northern Burma and to harass their forces there in late 1944, written largely from the point of view of his own service as an American private with the unit and describing the part played by local natives, the difficulties of jungle operations and the brutality of the Japanese. Also, photocopies (12pp) of 1988 printed reports of his war-time exploits.
MakerName
Fletcher
Forenames
J S
RelatedIWMItems
See also DCAR (DPH)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
7805
OtherNumber
98/23/1
ItemName
Private Papers of J P Macdonald
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Excellent ms Letts 1952 Pocket Diary recording his experiences as a 2nd Lieutenant commanding a platoon with the 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment (18th Brigade) in the State of Selangor during the Malayan Emergency, January 1952 - January 1953, including: preparing for service with the FARELF in the United Kingdom, January 1952; his journey by sea to Malaya, January - February 1952; training with the 1st Battalion at Wardieburn Camp, Kuala Lumpur and Minden Barracks, Penang, February - April 1952; active service on counter-insurgency operations in the Kuala Kubu Bahru area, April - June 1952, the Kajang area, June - August 1952, and the Klang area, August 1952; instructing drafts of recruits near Kajang, September - November 1952; back on operations as 2nd in Command 'A' Company in the Sunggei Manggis area, November 1952 - January 1953; moving to and parading through the streets of Kuala Lumpur prior to the Battalion's return to the UK from Singapore, January 1953; and giving interesting details of army life; his duties, the conditions; his off-duty entertainment; sacking his batman for inefficiency; platoon and jungle training; patrolling the jungle in search of enemy camps and killing 'bandits', notably the commanders of the 1st MRLA Regiment (Long Pin, 26 April 1952) and 4th Company MRLA (Lieu Kon Kim, during Operation 'Churchman', 6 July 1952, and Kong Har, 25 November 1952), in jungle ambushes; attending the funeral of an NCO killed in a fire-fight; and celebrating Minden Day, 1 August 1952, and Christmas Day, 1952; and briefly mentioning visits from the GOC Malaya, Major General R E Urquhart, 25 February 1952, and General Sir Hugh Stockwell, 24 June 1952; the High Commissioner, General (later Field Marshal Sir Gerald) Templer, 10 July 1952; and the CinC FARELF, General Sir Charles Keightley.
MakerName
Macdonald
Forenames
J P
Style
Colonel
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
8179
OtherNumber
99/19/1
ItemName
Private Papers of L S Ives
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ts memoir (326pp) of his National Service during 1949 - 1951, giving interesting details of his training at Strensall Camp, York, and subsequent service with the 1st Battalion The Green Howards in Malaya, describing the journey out in the SS ORBITA, jungle training at Bentong and posting to various rubber plantations, the Battalion's participation in Operation 'Jackpot' and the implementation of the 'Briggs Plan', local patrols and close encounters with Communist insurgents, an inspection visit by CIGS Field Marshal Lord Slim, posting to Singapore in late 1950 to help restore order following popular riots in the city before returning to the United Kingdom in 1951 and reintegration into civilian life.
MakerName
Ives
Forenames
L S
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
10165
ProductionDate
1988
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
McLane, Martin
Cowell (Sergeant)
Greenwood (Colonel)
Churchill, (Colonel)
Gill (Private)
Mann (Captain)
Simpson (Major)
Fanshaw (Major)
McBain (Major)
Hutton (Major)
Rookes, Ralph
Rafferty (Regimental Sergeant Major)
Brooks (Regimental Sergeant Major)
Wiehie (Colonel)
Mountbatten, Louis (Earl)
Mountbatten (Lady)
Macluse, Duke of
Gregson (Colonel)
Stobart (Colonel)
Annand, Richard
Gregson, John
Bulmer, Bob
Gill (Private)
Falgande (Brigadier)
Cavendish (Brigadier)
Lawson (Brigadier)
Rudd, J W
Lyster-Todd
Theobalds (Brigadier)
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd
GB, England & Durham, Co Durham
GB, England & Barnard Castle, Co Durham
GB, England & Worksop, Notts <Welbeck Abbey>
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd <Bycker>
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd <Walker Drill Hall>
GB, England & Catterick, Yorks <Camp>
GB, England & London <London Zoo>
GB, England & Pickering, Yorks
GB, England & Carnoy, Yorks
GB, England & Hornsea, Yorks
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Newtown St Boswells, Roxb <POW Camp>
GB, Scotland & Kelso, Roxb <POW Camp>
GB, England & Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
GB, England & Bridlington, Yorks
GB, England & Rillington, Yorks
GB, England & Bridlington, Yorks <Hamilton Hill>
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd <Fenham Barracks>
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd <Church Street>
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd <Swan Hunter Shipyard>
GB, England & Gateshead, Northd
GB, England & Dover, Kent
GB, England & Netheravon, Wilts <Small Arms School>
GB, England & Salisbury Plain, Wilts
GB, England & Blackdown, Dorset <Camp>
GB, England & Woking, Surrey <Barracks>
SA
SA & Capetown
SA & Capetown <Retreat Camp>
FR
FR & St Nazaire, ???
FR & Nomaine, ???
FR & Douai, ???
FR & Nantes, ???
FR & St Venant, ???
FR & Rochelle, ???
FR & La Bassee Canal, ???
FR & Nieppe Forest, ???
FR & Dunkirk, Nord
FR & Dunkirk, Nord <Harbour mole>
FR & Dunkirk, Nord <Beach>
FR & Dunkirk, Nord
BE
BE & River Dyle, ???
BE & La Tombe, ???
BE & River Dyle, ???
BE & Tournai, ???
BE & Poperinghe, West Flanders
IN
IN & Bombay
IN & Ahmednagar
IN & Kharakvasla
IN & Thana
IN & Juhu Beach
IN & Arakan
IN & Chittagong
IN & Akyab
IN & Mayu Peninsula
IN & Donbaik sector
IN & Foul Point
IN & Kirkee <Arsenal>
IN & Donbaik sector <Sugar Loaf 4
IN & Donbaik sector <Sugar Loaf 5
IN & Indin
IN & Mahableshwar
IN & Kohima
IN & Kohima <Lancaster Gate>
IN & Kohima <Kohima Hill>
IN & Kohima <Terrace Hill>
IN & Dimapor
IN & Assam
IN & Belagaum
IN & Pantola
IN & Hydrabad
IN & Urilly <Camp>
IN & Urilly <St Patrick's Church>
IN & Poona <Convalescent Camp>
IN & Deolali <Convalescent Camp>
IN &
IndexUnits
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry, Bn 1
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry, Bn 2
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry, Bn 8
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry
GB.A & Durham Light Infantry, Depot, Squad, Salamanca
GB.A & Northumberland Fusiliers, Bn 5
GB.A & School, Small Arms, Netheravon
GB.A & School, of Cookery, Blandford
GB.A & Army Catering Corps
GB.A & Command, Southern
GB.A & Drill Hall, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
GB.A & Royal Welch Fusiliers
GB.A & Cameron Highlanders
GB.A & Berkshire Regt
GB.A & Royal Scots
GB.A & Coldstream Guards
GB.A & Camp, Catterick
GB.A & Camp, Convalescent, Deolali, India
GB.A & Camp, Convalescent, Poona, India
GB.A & Camp, Urilly, India
GB.A & Camp, Blandford
GB.A & Camp, Blackdown
GB.A & POW Camp, Newtown St Boswells
GB.A & POW Camp, Kelso
GB.A & Camp, Retreat, Capetown, South Africa
GB.A & Barracks, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne
GB.A & Barracks, Woking
GB.A & Home Guard, Bridlington
GB.A & Home Guard, Pickering
GB.A & Bde, 6
GB.A & Bde, 161
GB.A & Bde, 6 <Headquarters>
GB.A & Bde, 127
GB.A & Bde, 127 <Headquarters>
GB.A & Div, 2
GB.A & Div, 42
GB.N & Ship, Lucia
GB.N & Ship, Silvarros
GB.N & Ship, Empress of India
GB.O & Association, Regimental, Durham Light Infantry
GB.O & Post Office
ShortSummary
British NCO served with 5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in GB, 1929-1932; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1932-1938; served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West GB, Europe, India and Burma, 1939-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Byker area, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1912-1932: family circumstances and father's unemployment difficulties as hand riveter; scavenging for coal; mother's death from blood poisoning, ca 1926; rented terraced house accommodation; father's means tested unemployment money; risk of malnutrition and provision of school dinners; shoes and clothing; community spirit; childrens' street games; education; effects of First World War, 1914-1918, including impact of casualties; presence and send off given Northumberland Fusiliers training in area, providing billets for soldiers and uncle's death after leg amputation.
REEL 2 Continues effects of First World War, 1914-1918, including view of Zeppelin raid; Armistice street parties and bonfires across Newcastle; search for work on leaving school, 1926; background to refusal of work as machine riveter at Swan Hunter shipyard due to father's status as hand riveter; work as factory hand at engineering foundry until redundancy during miners' strike, ca 1927; factory work in Gateshead, ca 1927-1932; rugby and sporting activities; Boy Scout's activities; mother's funeral, 1926; question of being put in children home; role in caring for family. Recollections of recruitment and training with 5th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers at Walker Drill Hall, Church Street, Newcastle, 1929-1932: reasons; procedure; uniform; rifle training.
REEL 3 Continues rifle maintenance and training; Lewis gun training; drill; route marches; bayonet drill; grenade lectures; weekend firing range course; territorial bounty payment; absence of gas drill; annual summer camps; demonstration from regular platoon; illustration of scouting role in intelligence section during exercises; nature of intelligence section training; application to be transferred to Vickers machine gun section and attending course.
REEL 4 Continues Vickers machine gun course including elevation and ranging, firing methods practised on range and method of carrying and setting up position; relationship with officers, NCOs, instructors and ORs; sporting activities. Background to recruitment to Durham Light Infantry, 9/1932: redundancy from gear making factory; refusal on height grounds from Tank Corps; medical and written tests.
REEL 5 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during training with Salamanca Squad, Durham Light Infantry Depot, Fenham Barracks, Newcastle, 9/1932-2/1933: barrack accommodation; kitting out and standard method of laying it out; typhus inoculation; uniform and kit maintenance; basic drill and saluting; ban on civilian clothes; rejection of inadequate recruits and suits issued; reaction to army lifestyle; nightly kit inspections and consequent privileges and punishments; mess orderly duties and disputes over food; fights over prevalence of swearing; beatings administered to thieves; relationship with fellow ORs and team spirit; officers' lectures on regimental history and administration.
REEL 6 Continues: pay and deductions; reveille; breakfast; kit inspection; 3rd class education certificate training; PT and boxing; increasing loyalty to DLI; uniforms; learning to put kit on; rifle and bayonet training; heavy infantry pace used in initial training; lunch and orderly's role in giving out food; adequacy of rations; gymnasium.
REEL 7 Continues: shared gymnasium with Northumberland Fusiliers; tea; cleaning barracks; stealing incident; rugby activities; adaptation to DLI greatcoats and special cap; inspection prior to pass out to visit family; attending Catholic church; preparations for commanding officer's kit inspection and parades; posting to 1st Bn DLI at Catterick Camp, 2/1933.
REEL 8 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle, training and daily routine with 10 Platoon, C Company, 1st Bn, DLI at Catterick Camp, 2/1933-11/1934: reception; first impressions and contrast with Fenham depot; posting specially to join battalion rugby team; arrival of rest of camp; recollections of Sergeant Cowell and story of wearing his uniform for photograph; role of 1st Bn, DLI as feeder for 2nd Bn, DLI in India; individual and tactical training as platoon; company training and tactical formations used; route marches, drill parades, church parades and question of use of light infantry pace; 2nd Class Education Certificate training; rugby activities; battalion training under Colonel Greenwood.
REEL 9 Continues battalion training and acting as Greenwood's runner; brigade training; army manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain disrupted by weather, ca 8/1934: experimental uniforms and kit issued; scouting role following amphibious exercise landing from HMS Lucia at Hornsea; posting to Intelligence Section; organisation and training of Intelligence Section; trench warfare training; practical weapons training including hand grenades at ranges; gas training; opinion of training; period preparing sports ground at Hipswell; assignment to garrison fire brigade, duties at camp cinema and desire to return to battalion duties.
REEL 10 Continues: dislike of fire brigade duties and return to battalion duties; extra guard and sentry duty drill; sporting activities and physical fitness test; effects of promotion to lance corporal including reaction, section duties and need to maintain distance from privates; purpose of sand table lectures; shooting course on ranges, 8/1934, including skill with revolver, winning champion company competition and light infantry pace employed during march back to Catterick; inter-linked stories of battalion leave period at Catterick Camp, 8/1934, including decision not to take leave, duties as company and battalion orderly corporal supervising rear details, desertion of returned military prisoner Private Gill, opinion of military prisons, arrival and unofficial accommodation of brothers, barrack room fight and arrest of Gill.
REEL 11 Continues: inter-linked stories of battalion leave period at Catterick Camp, 8/1934, including Gill's assault on Colonel Churchill, sick parade inspection of battalion orderly corporal, acting as witness at Gill's court martial and prior run through of evidence; story of being put on charge for fighting during night exercise; duties on defaulters and assistance of friends in preparing kit for inspection to avoid further charges; selection of 'stick' man following officer's inspection of uniform, kit and rifle on guard duty.
REEL 12 Continues: guard duties; relationship between NCOs and ORs and general lack of bullying; NCOs responsibility for discipline, weapons training and drill; use of junior NCOs cadre system; officers' responsibility for overall supervision, inspection of standards and tactical training; question of financial improprieties amongst NCOs and officers; canteen 'chits' system.
REEL 13 Continues: canteen 'chit' system; case of misappropriations from Regimental Association funds following its establishment in 1933; general absence of financial co-operation; attending Vickers machine gun course as acting corporal at Small Arms School, Netheravon, 10/1934, including comparison of DLI's standards of appearance with other troops, value of territorial training, handicap of 'Geordie' accent, exercise on Salisbury Plain and course results; conversion of unit to experimental machine gun battalion on move to Blackdown Camp, 11/1934; success of Vickers training; increasing mechanisation of unit; subsequent end of mechanisation experiment, 1936. Recollections of period as third instructor to Salamanca Squad at DLI Depot, Fenham Barracks, Newcastle, 1935: reactions to posting; responsibility for barrack rooms, kit and recruits' appearance; polishing and burnishing of tables.
REEL 14 Continues: barrack room improvements; extra drill sessions; reasons for early promotion to corporal; dispute over training methods. Period with C Company, 1st Bn, DLI at Blackdown Camp, 1935: unarmed Austin 7s issued as scout cars on conversion to reconnaissance unit; passing driving course; car crash during reconnaissance exercise and subsequent punishment; Bren Gun training.
REEL 15 Recollections of period with 2nd Bn, DLI at Woking Barracks, 1938-9/1939: background to posting on move of 1st Bn, DLI to China, 1938: role as NCO of band boys; music practice; dispute with other NCOs over band boys' smoking; transfer to D Company and subsequent incident of band boys' indiscipline; course in 3" mortars at Netheravon; method of firing 3" mortar; posting to Mortar Platoon, Headquarters Company; quality of mortar platoon ORs; promotion to lance sergeant; assignment of mobilisation store 3" mortars to another unit and inferiority of mortars subsequently issued; background to marriage, 11/1938.
REEL 16 Continues: background to marriage and subsequent celebrations; married quarters provision; wife's return to Newcastle during difficult pregnancy; attitude to approach of war and Hitler; story illustrating British lack of tanks; inadequacy of Boyes AT rifle; reactions to introduction of conscripts; 48 hours compassionate leave to visit wife, 5/9/1939; role as part of embarkation advance party; emergency vacation of married quarters and consequent loss of belongings, wife's continued ill health and disillusionment with army. Role in advance party in crossing to St Nazaire, France, ca 6/9/1939.
REEL 17 Continues: carelessness of British stevedores; impressions of French troops and civilians; unloading ship at Nantes; rejoining unit at Nomaine. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle, and daily routine at Nomaine, 9/1939-5/1940: billets; preparation of defences including mortar positions on Belgian border; routine guard duty and standard of appearance expected; fume danger from billet heating; food rations and supplements; pay and deductions; visits to Douai cinema; question of troops visits to Douai brothels and its value to morale; visits to estaminets; story of French mayor's visit to sergeants mess.
REEL 18 Continues: relationship with French troops and civilians; sergeants' mess; drinking habits; disciplinary punishments; delayed issue of battledress uniforms by quartermaster; letter contacts with GB; wellington boots sent from GB; promotion to platoon sergeant major of Mortar Platoon; improved billets; reaction of other NCOs to McLane's relative youth; organisation of HQ Company and opinion of Captain Mann and Major Simpson; incident whilst digging anti tank ditch; state of morale; German air raid on Douai, 5/1940; refusal of French to allow radio networking. Period on detachment to checkpoint duty at Mouchin border post, Belgium, 5/1940: absence of orders; return to unit.
REEL 19 Recollections of preparation of defensive positions and subsequent German attack at La Tombe on River Dyle, 11/5/1940-15/5/1940: situation; establishing mortar position despite opposition from Mann; problem with unservicable mortar and quartermaster's inability to secure tripod; Mann's responsibility for sending essential equipment back to B echelon and consequent problems; German mortar fire on ammunition party; successful use of mortars and subsequent change in officers' attitude; view of Second Lieutenant Richard Annand's actions in defending bridge and capturing German pill box; account of accidentally mortaring Royal Welch Fusiliers during their counter attack including initial suicidal reaction and question of shared responsibility with Simpson; use of horse and milk float to move mortar during retreat; personal morale.
REEL 20 Continues: question of unit state of readiness for war. Recollections of retreat from River Dyle to St Venant/Rochelle, 16/5/1940-25/5/1940: reactions to orders to retreat; route out of valley; fatigue; temporary detachment to C Coy; absence of orders for 3" mortar platoon; lack of briefing for ranks below company commanders; lack of anti tank weapons; destruction of mortar and transfer of platoon to D Coy; inadequacy of pre war command system; opinion of unit performance in action; absence of suitable maps; opinion of French troops; rearguard defensive positions and lack of anti tank weapons; foraging for food. Account of battle in defensive positions at St Venant/Rochelle and subsequent retreat, 26/5/1940-27/5/1940: situation; preparing defensive positions and reluctance to use French civilians homes; reconnaissance activities; wounding of Colonel Gregson.
REEL 21 Continues: organising assistance for Gregson, appointment as second in command of D Coy and reactions of senior PSMs; report from night reconnaissance patrol that Germans had crossed La Bassee Canal; ammunition shortages; German artillery barrage; troops' attitude to facing German tank attack; shooting at German infantry; story illustrating Lieutenant J W Rudd's inadequacies on arrival; retreat of right flank battalion and ex mortar platoon; casualties; refusal to counter-attack; giving order to retreat; method of retirement in rushes; inactivity of machine gun section; moving through Nieppe Forest; meeting B echelon transport and their lack of co-operation; story of meeting unit not involved in fighting, criticism from their officer and their subsequent retirement without warning overnight; rejoining battalion HQ; state of morale; Rudd's refusal to take responsibility as an officer.
REEL 22 Continues: situation on rejoining remnants of battalion. Recollections of retreat from River Dyle to St Venant/Rochelle, 16/5/1940-25/5/1940: effect of bombing at Brussels; surprise at failure to employ defensive positions at Nomaine; defensive positions at Tournai and explosion of Albert Canal bridge; situation of Belgian refugees. Recollections of retreat from Nieppe Forest to Poperinghe, ca 27/5/1940-28/5/1940: single file formation; abandonment by Rudd and senior NCOs; reactions to news of evacuation planned via Dunkirk; lift in lorries; exhausted troops; abandoned vehicles, equipment and horses; situation at Poperinghe and German air attacks.
REEL 23 Recollections of retreat from Poperinghe to Dunkirk, ca 28/5/1940: abandoned vehicles; situation of Belgian refugees under air attack; foraging for food. Account of involvement in defence of Dunkirk, ca 28/5/1940-1/6/1940: situation on beach; digging in; dispute with French over efforts to destroy lorry; organising impromptu unit and decision to retain weapons and equipment; German air supremacy and question of absence of support during campaign from RAF; serious dispute with officers over orders to return to defend perimeter; opinion of officers' performance in action; forming, arming and commanding impromptu company from retreating elements of DLI and other troops to defend outer canal Poperinghe road bridge under supervision of Cameron Highlanders; review of DLI units present at Dunkirk; officers' refusal to join company; organising defensive positions.
REEL 24 Continues: Sergeant Bob Bulmer's role in foraging for food; rescue of brigade major and DLI quartermaster; defensive preparations; relief by French marines and return to Dunkirk beach with Cameron Highlanders; situation on beach; reporting to HQ of 6th Bde; presence of 'B' echelon personnel and reaction to their refusal to join mixed platoon of DLI, Royal Berkshire Regiment and Royal Welch Fusiliers under McLane to defend Poperinghe road bridge on inner perimeter canal; preparing defensive positions and use of 25pdr gun; order from Brigadier Lawson to divert French troops to another bridge and consequent dispute with French officer; blocking bridge with truck; getting food from Cameron Highlanders; handing out food and rum to stragglers; meeting Major McBain; introduction by Lawson to French Brigadier Falgande and their orders to defuse bridge demolition charge.
REEL 25 Continues: defusing bridge demolition charge; distributing food to stragglers; dumping ammonol found in lorry; destroying abandoned transport; suppressing threat of mutiny from non DLI sections of platoon; presence of Cameron Highlanders moved back into line; officer's unwillingness to take responsibility; reaction to absence of German attack including possible role of DLI counterattack at Arras; return to Dunkirk; opinion of French and Belgians troops; discipline of Coldstream Guards; helping establish first aid post; machine gunned ambulances; situation at Dunkirk; failure of attempt to evacuate from Dunkirk mole, Sun/6/1940 including loss of ships and effect of shell fire on mole.
REEL 26 Continues: situation, Mon/6/1940; evacuation from Dunkirk mole on HMS Silvarros, Mon/6/1940; retention of personal weapons; ignorance of destination. Reception at Dover, train journey to Aldershot and initial period in camp, 6/1940: notification of family; regret at disposal of Boyes AT rifle; personal morale and symptoms of shell shock; value of alcohol as relaxant; surrendering personal weapons under protest. Recollections of period at Huddersfield, 6/1940: concentration of remnants of unit remnants; civic reception; billets; interest in accounts of Dunkirk; meeting with Quartermaster Pearson; reaction to casualties; reinforcement drafts and attitude of some NCOs.
REEL 27 Continues reinforcement drafts and attitude of some NCOs; opinion of national servicemen; officer's new regulation over forage caps; disillusionment over Hanmers attitude to possible medal for McLane; relationship with new and old officers. Recollections of period in Bridlington area, 6/1940-9/1941: unit dispositions; initial position and activities of HQ Coy at Carnoy; story of dispute with Regimental Sergeant Major Rafferty over use of phrase 'Dunkirk runners'; story of reception from civilians during visit to pub and being given password for free phone calls to wife; cinema visits, reaction to Dunkirk, D Day and Desert Victory newsreels and opinion that film of troops in action was faked.
REEL 28 Continues: resentment over promotion of NCO proved inadequate in action; billets; meeting Richard Annand following award of Victoria Cross; story of emergency stand to including failure to find RSM and state of defences, 15/9/1940; attachment to C Coy on Hamilton Hill and dispute with Colonel Wiehe over siting of defensive positions; account of shooting incident on Hamilton Hill, 2/7/1940, including unofficially allowing soldiers to visit pub whilst on Hamilton Hill, unrelated relief as platoon commander by officer, fatal shooting incident during stand to, subsequent police investigation, arrest of deserter and earlier arrest of soldier for hitting RWF officer in pub.
REEL 29 Continues account of shooting incident on Hamilton Hill, 2/7/1940, including police explanation of accidental nature of shooting, unrelated case of desertion, reason for replacement by officer as platoon commander and being put under house arrest; subsequent justification of defensive positions sited on Hamilton Hill; absence of officers; method of wiring and mining beach and story of fatal accident to brigadier; re-equipment; news of introduction of sticky grenades; exoneration by coroner over shooting incident on Hamilton Hill, 2/7/1940; delayed promotion and reaction; issue of new 3" mortars; participation in review as to function and composition of 3" mortar platoons; winter billets in Bridlington.
REEL 30 Continues: ammunition stores including Molotov cocktails at billets; giving weapons training to local Home Guard unit, near accident with mortar bomb and opinion of military efficiency; patrol to enforce night curfew; bombing raid on Bridlington and refusal of permission to open fire; forced march to exercise at Saltburn; problems in mortar platoon with bad marchers; 'O' Groups; lack of communication on appointment of new officer to command mortar platoon; relationship with officers and opinion of Colonel Wiehie; question of division of responsibility between officers and platoon sergeant; relationship with civilians; unexploded bomb incident.
REEL 31 Continues: mobile exercise using Canadian transport; lack of effective street fighting exercises; promotion to company sergeant major and move to A Coy; hut accommodation; mobile role and exercises using Canadian transport; role as CSM including maintaining company's nominal role, drill and discipline, responsibility for ammunition and work in company office; story of dispute with company commander over treatment of junior officers; dispute over training priorities and assignment to train Pickering Home Guard; continued threat of invasion. Period at Bury St Edmunds, 1941: posting as mechanised unit with 127 Bde, 42nd Div; question of driving aptitude tests; dispute with company commander over conduct of CSM's parade.
REEL 32 Continues dispute with company commander over conduct of CSM's parade and demotion to PSM of HQ Coy; period on detachment to HQ, 127 Brigade HQ near Thetford, 1941, including maintaining personal fitness, background to promotion to CSM and role improving hygiene, drill and discipline of HQ troops; rejoining unit as PSM; end of unit mechanised role on return to 2nd Div at Rillington, 10/1941; preparations for posting overseas, 10/1942-4/1942. Recollections of voyage on Empress of India to Cape Town, South Africa, 4/1942: ignorance of destination; dispute over allocation of space for Reserve Coy; NCOs' accommodation; food rations; opinion of Colonel Stobart; training, lectures and observaton game; submarine watch procedure; seasickness; bingo.
REEL 33 Continues: memorising company personnel; attitude of draft from Liverpool to DLI; seasickness. Period at Cape Town, South Africa, 5/1942: visit ashore and punishment for soldiers returning late; reception from local civilians.; training at Retreat Camp; route march; swimming. First impressions on arrival of Empress of India at Bombay, India, 6/1942. Story of deserter whilst at Capetown, 5/1942. Recollections of period at Ahmednagar, 6/1942-11/1942: prior impressions of Bombay; difficulties in securing pay and supplies from Indian government; shortage of petrol and temporary use of bullock transport; initial pre-war style training and dress conventions; return to full training; course in battle drill, its methods and training unit; conversion to amphibious battalion and combined operations training at Kharakvasla, ca 9/1942; jungle training at Thana, ca 10/1942, including map reading and compass directed marches.
REEL 34 Continues: jungle training at Thana, ca 10/1942, including compass reading and directional methods, snake problem, ban on drinking water on march, nature of bamboo, use and reliability of machetes, 'shit' beetle problem, mosquito problem and precautions, attack of malaria and brief hospitalisation, jungle tactics and communications; use of steel helmets; food and water rations; heat exhaustion symptoms and use of salt in water; order of feeding by rank on active service;; Indian servants' duties and 'char wallah'; impressions of Ahmednagar and Indian civilians.
REEL 35 Continues: relatiosnhip with Indian civilians; accidents during practise night assaults on Indian villages; ill trained reinforcement draft from East Yorkshire Regiment; opinion of national servicemen and comparison of unit in 1939 and 1942; sporting activities; successful attempt to improve military standards in Reserve Coy typified by improvement on guard duty; Colonel Stobart's posting after dispute with brigadier over guard inspections; reorganisation of officers and NCOs including posting as CSM of C Coy and dispersal of Reserve Coy; question of rapid promotion in base camps of NCOs not suitable for active service; question of contact with Anglo Indian and English civilians; leave in Bombay; rejection of opportunity to become officer and friend's acceptance.
REEL 36 Continues: friend's commission after initial rejection. Period at Juhu Beach, 11/1942-12/1942: initial impressions and establishing camp with advance party; swimming lessons; landing craft training; drowning of Captain Lyster-Todd and auction of his effects for relatives benefit; issue of Thompson machine guns including maintenance training, advantages and story of breech explosion during test firing.
REEL 37 Return to Ahmednagar and formation of Independent Brigade, ca 12/1942. Recollections of train journey to Calcutta, ca 12/1942.
REEL 37 Continues reactions to Indian beggars; rations; impromptu showers and prickly heat problem; railway stations; use of derzi mats. Troopship voyage to Arakan, ca 12/1942. Recollections of period at Chittagong, Arakan, 1/1942-3/1942: preparations for amphibious attack on Akyab Island; refusal of sailors to co-operate in security precautions; issue of battledress khaki drill; problem with red ants; learning unpleasant Japanese expressions; problems with snakes; inadequacy of machetes; abandonment of Akyab landing plan due to shortage of landing craft and inadequacy of rowing boats and motor boats in tidal waters; rescue of soldier in water by Colonel Theobalds; situation; appropriatness of British equipment for jungle fighting; story of officers joke in getting McLane drunk.
REEL 38 Recollections of night march to relieve Indian troops in Mayu Peninsula, 3/1943: British troops' opinion of Japanese troops; marching problems exacerbated by hangover; halts. Recollections of initial operations in Donbaik sector, Mayu Peninsula, 3/1943: assessment of quality of ammunition and grenades issued; instructions not to open fire unless absolutely necessary; reserve positions; terrain and nature of Japanese defensive positions; failure of Royal Welch Fusiliers attack and absence of debriefing procedure; failure of tank attack; failure of Thompson machine guns during guerrilla platoon's attack on Japanese supply line at Foul Point; consequent replacement of all small arms ammunition with that produced at Kirkee Arsenal; suspicions over quality of brass used; attack by Japanese patrol. Account of failure of attack by C Coy on Japanese defensive positions Sugar Loaf 4 and 5, 18/3/1943: situation and McLane's position with HQ, C Coy; failure of McLanes Thompson machine gun; failure of rifle and Bren ammunition; communication with battalion HQ; wounding of Major Hutton.
REEL 39 Continues: helping Hutton back; failure to get rum ration prior to attack; communication with battalion HQ; near miss from shell and damage to radio; reconnaissance of position; description of nature of fault in Bren guns and rifles caused by faulty ammunition; decision to withdraw and opposition from battalion HQ; faulty construction of Kirkee Arsenal SAA rounds; withdrawal with wounded and shelling from British artillery; casualties; issue of rum ration; personal morale; question of medal recommendations; shell shocked state and collapse; absence of de-briefing prior to further attack by Royal Scots; disposal of Kirkee Arsenal SAA and question of its faulty nature. Recollections of period in reserve positions, ca 3/1943: effects of shell shock; state of unit morale; possible causes of faulty SAA ammunition; near grenade accident; malaria precautions; problem with leeches whilst bathing.
REEL 40 Continues: friend's return as officer; advising reinforcements on marching technique in jungle and advisability of dirtying uniform as camouflage; question of replacement SAA; mule transport. Period in front line in Donbaik sector, ca 3/1943-4/1943: positions and terrain; failure of RAF efforts to set fire to Japanese hill positions; preparations to use howitzer to attack Sugar Loaf 4 and 5 from below; destroying military stores and sudden retreat due to Japanese success in cutting supply routes, 4/1943. Recollections of retreat to Brigade HQ at Indin,4/1943-5/1943: illustrations of soldiers requiring assistance after collapsing during forced march; review of situation and terrain at Indin following Japanese attack; skirmish with Japanese unit; transferring rum to water cart; view of Japanese corpses.
REEL 41 Recollections of evacuation of Indin, 5/1943: death from British shells of Brigadier Cavendish and Brigade Major Fanshaw after capture by Japanese and use as human shield whilst constructing defensive positions overlooking British line of retreat; subsequent controversy; role of artillery in retreat. Period in temporary defensive positions following evacuation of Indin, 5/1943: attempt to set example to Indian troops passing through under shellfire; attempt to use abandoned Vickers machine gun; nature of positions; accidental firing on party of British troops; lack of food. Recollections of continued retreat and various temporary defensive positions, 5/1943: ruined food from air drop; water supply; reaction to case of self inflicted wound; patrol procedure under attack and rescue of wounded man; shooting of lost Japanese soldier.
REEL 42 Continues: strategic situation; a peace time conduct of relieving Indian troops; question of officers' conditions of service and their relationship with ORs; personal morale; missed opportunity of firing on Japanese troops; question of visibility of Japanese uniform. Period in rest area, ca 6/1943: question of return to 2nd Div; dispute over disposal of dead man's kit; kit taken into action; story of effort to rescue typewriters at Indin; question of competence of colour sergeant of C Coy. Recollections of periods at Ahmednagar, Mahableshwar and Bombay, 6/1943-2/1944: prevalence of malaria, food poisoning and sores; reception from other 2nd Div units; recreations; question of value of debriefing; attending 2nd Div Battle School.
REEL 43 Continues: withdrawal of Thompson machine guns; malaria problems and treatment of whole battalion at Mahableshwar hill station; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1943: parcel from GB; severe food poisoning attack during amphibious training exercise; cancellation of 2nd Div planned involvement in Salerno offensive in Italy because of state of health of 6th Brigade; question of effect of anti malaria treatment and level of personal fitness. Recollections of amphibious landing and jungle training in Belgaum area, 3/1943-4/1944: issue of jungle camouflage uniform; old DLI graveyard; burying of Indian civilian corpse; overnight laagers; issue of Sten guns; abandonment of planned divisional exercise because of Japanese offensive.
REEL 44 Continues: return to Ahmednagar and preparation of kit for active service. Recollections of train journey to Dimapor, Assam, 4/4/1944: comandeering train; US control of railways; reception and reaction to base units' requests for defence. Recollections of period in Dimapor area, 4/1944: preparing defensive positions on hill; reconnaissance patrol and contact with neighbouring Gurkha troops; presence of Assam civilians and their assistance in carrying stores; delay whilst 2nd Div completed concentration.
REEL 45 Continues recollections of period in Dimapor area, 4/4/1944-/1944: situation; method of preparing splinter proof defensive positions; anti personnel grenades used on wire. Recollections of operations on Dimapor-Kohima road, 4/1944: order and method of march; Sten gun and magazines carried; use of leaves as heat insulation in helmet; unit morale; Dimapor's role as US base for supplying China; terrain; successful assault by divisional troops on Japanese road block and defensive positions; role of Indian National Army; order and method of march; relieving 161 Indian Bde at Lancaster Gate; successful assault by B Coy on Japanese defensive positions on Terrace Hill; opinion of officers and comparison with France, 1940; unit morale; presence of Grant tanks; allowing Indian troops to relieve Kohima for political reasons; relieving 161 Bde troops; situation.
REEL 46 Account of operations at Kohima, 4/1944: preparing defensive positions on Kohima Hill; situation; carrying in extra water in chaghulls; failure of air drops; entry into Kohima and situation; state of original garrison on leaving; nature of defensive positions taken up by C Coy; preparations for attack by C Coy with D Coy in support; Japanese defensive positions; arrangements for sleep prior to attack; direct hit by phospherous shell in McLane's trench; attempting to remove phospherous from body; Japanese attack including their tactics to disclose British position and failure of Milan's Sten gun; phospherous hand wounds; flames from phospherous shell hitting collected parachute dump; failure of Japanese attack; casualties; visit to field dressing station and decision to return to line; order to report as wounded.
REEL 47 Continues: absence of communication trenches; terrain; role of Japanese bunkers; nature of fighting and opinion of Japanese troops; problem in dealing with phospherous burns. Recollections of evacuation to Dimapor, 4/1944: effect of McLane's departure on those remaining and handing over to CSM; field dressing station at Lancaster Gate; medical dressings; friend's wounds and their post war effects. Recollections of period in Dimapor military hospital, 4/1944: absence of medical care due to evacuation of medical personnel; reactions; volunteer untrained staff; dispute with colonel of Royal Army Medical Corps and threat of court martial; organising tea for wounded; death of Brigadier Theobalds; reporting situation indirectly to HQ 2nd Div; evacuation on ambulance train; reports of later improvements to medical situation.
REEL 48 Evacuation on hospital train to Panatola, 4/1944. Recollections of period in Indian military hospital at Panatola, 4/1944: reception from US troops during visit to US base, and seeing concert show; US troops visit to hospital. Return to Dimapor, ca 5/1944: state of burns; hospitalisation with attack of malaria, food poisoning and dinghue fever, ca 6/1944; news of casualties at Kohima; seeing Assam fertility symbols; officer's lectures concerning kukri. Period of hospitalisation in various hospitals, ca 6/1944: nature of health problems and threat of various parasitic worms; move to Hydrabad hospital, ca 6/1944.
REEL 49 Recollections of period in Hydrabad military hospital, 1944: assisting with hospital radio; success in organising canteen activities including concerts, whist drives and bingo; refusal to continue canteen activities following treatment during visit by Lord and Lady Mountbatten; opinion of Mountbatten; news of relief of Imphal. Period in Deolali convalescent camp, 1944: meeting RSM Brooks and Ralph Rookes; question of supplies not reaching frontline troops. Period at No 1 Convalescent Depot at Poona, 12/1944-11/1945: problem with bed bugs; visit from ex DLI commandos; initial desire to return to unit; promotion to RSM following medical inspection and reclassification as C.
REEL 50 Continues: initial lack of duties as RSM; involvement in reorganising activities in camp to increase numbers participating in fitness training, educational programme, parades and regular medical inspections; reaction to news of atomic bombs being dropped on Japan and peace negotiations, 8/1945; reaction to news of surrender of Germany, 5/1945; period detached to 2nd Bn, DLI in Urilly Camp, Poona,11/1945-12/1945, including reasons for refusing permanent posting and role in re-establishing regular methods; role in organising facilities for soldiers of all denominations at St Patrick's Church including overcoming initial opposition and entertainments provided.
REEL 51 Continues: role in organising facilities for soldiers of all denominations at St Patrick's Catholic church; reasons for rejection of offer of commission as welfare officer for Poona area in Indian Army; reasons for rejection of position as RSM, in DLI, 12/1945. Period in Indian military hospital at Panatola, ca 4/1944: dispute over treatment of patients during visit to tea planters' club; visit to US cinema; recognition of British role in Burma. Aspects of flight back to GB, 12/1945. Period of leave at home in Newcastle, ca 12/1945: physical and mental state; overcrowded family accommodation. Various aspects of periods with 4th Holding Bn, DLI at various camps, GB, 1946: situation; second hand story of soldier smuggling snakes from India to GB for London Zoo.
REEL 52 Continues: second hand story of soldier smuggling snakes from India to GB for London Zoo; rumours of unification of light infantry units including DLI; dispute over shadow ranks for returned POWs and consequent possibility of demotion to sergeant to make room for them. Period as sergeant major at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle, ca 1947: situation; story of deserter prisoner barricaded in cell and later attempt by his civilian friends to break him out; story of deserter prisoner who used children to gain press publicity, ruse to resolve situation and threats made whilst escorting him to military prison; efforts to secure correct rations for troops by preventing stealing from stores. Period at Newtown St Boswells POW camp, ca 1947: system of employing NCOs at junior ranks.
REEL 53 Continues: opinion of German POWs; efforts to improve running of camp; dispute over inadequate transport provided for German POWs; story of discovering German court martial subsequent investigation and removal of SS POWs from camp. Period as Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant in charge of all POW camps in Kelso area, ca 1948: shooting game to supplement family food; dispute over confiscations during repatriation of German POWs; destroying hidden wartime underground sabotage base on Duke of Macluse's estate. Period running stores at Army School of Cookery at Blandford Camp, ca 1949: absence of proper control of stores; refusing to take over stores without stock check; deficiencies discovered and solution adopted; refusal of offer to transfer to Army Catering Corps with prospects of commission. Period with Mobile Recruiting Exhibition in Southern Command area ca 1949-1950.
REEL 54 Continues: recruiting display and backup vehicles; initially inadequate allowances. Period with 8th Bn, DLI, at Durham, ca 1950-1951: situation of regulars attached to territorial battalions; duties with Support Coy and administrative role; dispute with lecturer whilst studying for 1st Class Education Certificate at Welbeck Abbey, Worksop. Period as CSM to 2nd Bn, DLI at Barnard Castle, ca 1952: reformation of unit and background to losing position initially offered as RSM; story of confusion over cancellation of posting to 1st Bn, DLI; story of forgetting words of drill command. Period as RSM to 8th Bn, DLI at Durham, ca 1952-1945: encouragement of sports activities; refusal of offer to attend university and transfer to Army Education Corps; reasons for leaving army, 1957. Subsequent career, 1957-1988: work for Post Office in Newcastle; civil defence training; continued interest in army voluntary organisations.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Durham Light Infantry
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
1620
NumberOfParts
54
OtherFormats
Full : 838pp
MakerName
McLane, Martin
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
photocopied photographs in file
RelatedSoundFile
Maclean-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
25 June 2007
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
10203
ProductionDate
18/May/1988
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Nunneley, John Hewlett xxx
Waruhiu Itote, 'General China'
Kitinya, Tomasi
IndexPlaces
GB, England
KE
KE & Mount Kilimanjaro
TZ
SO
LK
IN
IN & Sangor
BU
BU & Witok
BU & Sunale
BU & Kabaw Valley
IndexUnits
GB.A & King's African Rifles, Bn 3/6, Coy D
GB.A & King's African Rifles, Bn 11
GB.A & East African Bde 25, Headquarters
IN.O & Army, Indian National
ShortSummary
British officer served with D Coy, 3/6th Bn King's Africa Rifles in British Somaliland, 1/1942-11/1942; served with 11th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Kenya, 11/1942-1/1943; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 25th East African Bde in Tanganyika and Ceylon, 1/1943-1/1944; served as intelligence officer with 3/6th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Burma, 1944-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Reasons for volunteering for service with African units. Voyage from GB to Kenya, 10/1941-1/1942. Recollections of period as officer with D Coy, 3/6th Bn King's Africa Rifles in British Somaliland, 1/1942- 11/1942: structure and composition of battalion; differences in backgrounds of unit's officers; informality of off duty life in colonial unit; techniques of leading askaris; opinion of serving with askaris; family's military background; Nunneley's own Australian background; tribal composition of unit; question of divide and rule amongst tribes; rations for askaris and officers; military qualities of askaris; discipline problems with askaris and use of corporal punishment.
REEL 2 Continues: motivation of askaris; oral tradition of German army discipline in East Africa; application for posting to Far East. Period with D Coy, 11th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Kenya, 11/1942-1/1943: character of newly formed unit; question of burden of work as company commander and wish to leave unit. Period as orderly officer with 25th East African Bde in Tanganyika and Ceylon, 1/1943- 1/1944: posting to unit; training duties near Mount Kilimanjaro; nature of training in preparation for posting to Burma; question of Japanese troop's reputation.
REEL 3 Continues: mental preparation of askaris; posting to Ceylon; murder of British officers by askari; question of smoking of narcotic 'Bhang' leading to incidents of indiscipline; nature of incidents of indiscipline amongst King's Africa Rifles; an askari with a grievance against him; killing of Ceylonese villager by askaris, 11/12/1943. Period with 3/6th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Ceylon and India, 1/1944-7/1944: attitude to re-joining unit, 1/1944 and 3 inch mortar course in Saugor, India. Recollections of operations with 3/6th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Burma, 1944-1945: role and duties as intelligence officer.
REEL 4 Continues: question of following military procedure; conditions of Japanese troops on retreat; ravings of delirious Japanese officer who was captured; opinion of Japanese troops; material taken from Japanese soldiers bodies; description of Union Jack captured by Japanese sergeant major during Fall of Singapore; contact with Indian National Army POWs; question of loyalties of Burmese civilians; actions at Sunle and Witok in Kabaw Valley.
REEL 5 Continues: performance of Tanganyika troops including their tracking skills; account of stalking and shooting of Japanese sentry; nature of escape after killing Japanese sentry; employment of African servant, Tomasi Kitinya.
REEL 6 Continues: account of patrol against Japanese including disorder of askari patrol ambushed by Japanese, reasons for leading patrol against Japanese, counter attack against Japanese in chung, wounding in leg, extraction from situation, death of Tomasi Kitinya and concern over his grave.
REEL 7 Continues: Imitation of senior British officers during African askaris dances. Memories of Corporal Waruhiu Itote later General China during Mau Mau emergency.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
210
NumberOfParts
7
OtherFormats
Full : 64pp
MakerName
Nunneley, John Hewlett
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
Nunneley-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
10430
ProductionDate
4/Oct/1988
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Gadsdon, Peter Henry xxx
Masters, John
IndexPlaces
GB, England
IN
IN & Dimapur
IN & Imphal
IN & Kohima
IN & Kohima, Naga Village
BU
BU & Tilin
BU & River Irrawaddy
BU & Letse
BU & Rangoon
BU & Letse
BU & Bauthidaung
TH
TH & Bangkok
IndexUnits
IN.A & Punjab Regt, Bn 4/14
IN.A & Army, Indian National
IndexConcepts
Medical services
ShortSummary
British officer served with 4/14th Bn Punjab Regt in Arakan, Burma and India, 1942-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Period with 4/14th Bn Punjab Regt in India, 1942-1943: posting to unit, 1942; communal compositions of unit; handling communal sensitivities; river crossing exercise. Recollections of operations with 4/14th Bn Punjab Regt in Arakan, Burma, 1943-1944: personnel reconnaissance into Arakan, 7/1943; arrival of battalion, 9/1943; reputation of Japanese troops; initial contact with Japanese troops in Bauthidaung area, 4/2/1944; Japanese exploitation of Indian National Army during advance; decision to form box; impression made by Mountbatten on relief of box.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period with 4/14th Bn Punjab Regt at Kohima and Imphal, 1944: transfer to Kohima, spring 1944; sniper attack on arrival at Naga Village, Kohima; question of vulnerability of Dimapur; inflexibility of Japanese tactics; role in cutting road to Imphal; health problems and hospitalisation in Kohima, 8/1944; return to unit; conditions at Imphal after battle. Recollections of operations with 4/14th Bn Punjab Regt in Burma, 1945: advance into Burma; hold up at Tilin; rescue of Canadian pilot; exchange of gunfire with Japanese on River Irrawaddy.
REEL 3 Continues: advance across central plain; action at Letse, 4/1945-5/1945 including Japanese penetration of box and tactics employed, shooting Japanese officer, bayonet attack, estimate of Japanese courage, Japanese soldier's attack on tank, memories of John Masters, story of havildar's lucky escape whilst conducting a reconnaissance patrol; push towards Rangoon; tactics of dealing with Japanese in Pegu Yomas, 8/1945; condition of Japanese. Leading victory march into Bangkok, Thailand, 1945.
REEL 4 Continues: Attitude of sepoys to Indian National Army.
Motivation of sepoys fighting against Japanese. Japanese 'jittering tactics'.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
120
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Gadsdon, Peter Henry
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photo (1945) in file
Typed memoir in Department of Documents, also letters 1939-1946.
RelatedSoundFile
Gadsdon-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
13299
ProductionDate
10/Aug/1993
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Neill, Dominic Fitzgerald xxx
Wingate, Orde
Scott, Walter
Coghlan, Joe
Rai, Prem Bahadur
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, Northern Ireland
GB, Northern Ireland & Belfast
IN
IN & Kohima
IN & Jhansi
IN & Snugar
IN & Srinagar
BU
BU & River Chindwin
BU & Sitsawk
BU & Maianeh
BU & Tonche
BU & Palel
BU & The Escarpment
BU & River Irrawaddy
BU & Baw
BU & River Shwele
BU & Thayatow
BU & Mawhun Forest Reserve
BU & Tangwin Chaung
IndexUnits
GB.A & Chindits
GB.A & Chindits, Column 8
GB.A & Chindits, Bde 77
IN.A & Gurkha Rifles, Bn 3/2
GB.A & Force V
GB.A & Corps 4, Headquarters
ShortSummary
British officer served as animal transport officer with 8 Column during First Chindit Operation in Burma, 2/1943-6/1943
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background to joining First Chindit Expedition. Character of training with 3/2 nd Bn Gurkha Rifles in India, 1942. Period of Chindit training in India, 1942: character of First Chindit Expedition; Order of Battle of 77 Bde; lack of tactical training for Gurkhas; arrival of mules; initial impression of Orde Wingate; question of putting non Gurkha officers in charge of Gurkha columns; getting to know mules; introduction to Walter Scott commanding officer of 8 Column; exercise in Snugar-Jhansi area; move to Burma frontier, 1/1943.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as animal transport officer with 8 Column during First Chindit Expedtion in Burma, 1943: dealing with a drunken soldier and unsatisfactory havidar, Kohima; opinion of Nagas; sight of US General Joe Stilwell during Wavell's inspection of Chindits; move to River Chindwin via Palel; effects of marching through area were many refugees had died in 1942; reaching Tonche on River Chindwin; Wingate's use of Old Testament for sending messages; effect of Wingate's order that wounded were to be left behind; method of getting mules across River Chindwin; first sight of Burmese village of Maianeh; first air drops near Sitsawk; character of rations dropped; equipment and clothing; development of galls by mules; opinion of mules; villages passed through.
REEL 3 Continues: messenger from 4 Column with information that it had been ambushed by Japanese; reaction to not being given information about purposes of march; Prem Bahadur Rai's flute playing to his mules; how he received news that Prem Bahadur Rai was killed in Burma, 1945; crossing River Irrawaddy; effect of court martialling of Joe Coghlan for his actions at Baw; ordering flogging of Gurkha who fell asleep on sentry duty; reduction of his havildar to ranks for failing to pass on orders; relationship between Gurkhas and British other ranks; move northwards from Baw to River Shwele; method of crossing to River Shwele; reaction to killing mule and taste of meat; question of bunching of troops on march; initial encounter with Japanese and question of use of Wingate's dispersal order; wounding of platoon NCO; sound of Japanese medium machine gun.
REEL 4 Continues: arrival of Wingate and his orders to 'disperse, get back to India'; column's march eastward away from River Irrawaddy; story of parent's knowledge of Japan and his apprehension about release of column's mules and horses; reaction to having abandon his horse Rati; first O group and dispersal into small groups for journey back to India; discovery in 1990 that Japanese has three divisions hunting for Chindits; weight of pack; use of Burma Rifleman to contact local villagers in Irrawaddy Valley, 4/1943; crossing River Irrawaddy; reaction to infected toe; Burmese villager who informed Japanese that Chindits were coming; Japanese ambush at Thayatow 14/4/1943. REEL 5 Continues: escaping from Japanese ambush; reaction after ambush; news he received of fate of his wounded men in ambush; bursting of abscess on toe; pre-dropping of supplies and question of potential Japanese ambushes on drop zones; disappearance of British other ranks who attempted to reach drop zones; reaction to being hunted; food supplied by Burmese villagers; degree to which he used Gurkha orderly; physical condition; crossing Mawhun-Mawlu road; entry into Mawhun Forest Reserve; thoughts of hymn 'One More River' on march.
REEL 6 Continues: living off food in jungle; problems of sleep at night; praying to God for help; shooting of buffalo in Mawhun Forest Reserve; preparations for cooking buffalo and attempts to live subsequently on dried meat; preparation of cheroots; question of re-crossing The Escarpment and which route to take; how comrade's fever slowed party down; asking for help from Kachin village; fear of running into 'Burma Traitor Army'; crossing Tangwin Chaung during approaching monsoon; running into Japanese troops led by elephant; escape from Japanese party; opinion of what he should have done during encounter.
REEL 7 Continues: condition of Chindit party on approaching River Chindwin; later information he found out about Japanese officers wearing white topees an shirts; aid from local villagers; discovery that Japanese had confiscated all boats on east side of River Chindwin; contact of with V Force, 6/6/1943; reaction to being back in safety; rations and mule provided by V Force; receiving news that Japanese patrol had been only half an hour behind; how party had managed to reach safety two days before monsoon broke. Recollections of period in India after expedition, 1943: return to Imphal; contact with staff officers at 4th Corps, Headquarters; hospitalisation and new encounter with Wingate; failure of army intelligence to question him.
REEL 8 Continues: false picture of Operation Longcloth's results painted by Indian press; question of his party being last one out of Burma; month's leave in Srinagar; question of whether malaria would prevent his continuing soldiering. Aspects of service during First Chindit Expedition, 1943: 3/2nd Bn Gurkha Rifle losses during Operations Longcloth; opinion of Japanese troops and about Royal representation at Emperor Hirohito's funeral; assessment of expedition; lessons he learnt during expedition including controlling fear, need for ambush drill, need to carry weapons to fire immediately and accurate navigation skills. Question of beneficial use of fear by soldiers. Question of debt he feels he owes to his Gurkhas.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
240
NumberOfParts
8
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Neill, Dominic Fitzgerald
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
013299S01.mp3
Neill-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
17644
ProductionDate
28/Oct/1997
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Pettit, Philip Albert William xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England & Biggleswade, Beds
GB, England & Colchester, Essex
SG
MY & Kuala Lumpur
MY & Penang
MY & Kajang
MY & Sepang
IndexUnits
GB.A & Suffolk Regt, Bn 1
ShortSummary
British civilian schoolchild living in Biggleswade, 1939-1945; private served with 1st Bn Suffolk Regt in Malaya, 1951-1952.
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background: family; education. Recollections of childhood in Biggleswade during Second World War: description of occasional air raids on Biggleswade; relationship between schoolchildren and troops; helping the war effort; community efforts to raise money for war equipment; account of fishing incendiary bomb out of River Ivel; attitude of school children towards the war; relationship with Italian POWs in nearby prison camp; witnessing Blitz on London 45 miles away in Biggleswade; description of street parties in Biggleswade at end of Second World War. Recollections of period of training for National Service, 8/1950-1/1951: attitude towards call up for National Service, 2/8/1950; basic training; reaction to being posted to Malaya; jungle training.
REEL 2 Continues: description of cap badges given to new conscripts; aim of basic training; importance of physical fitness. Recollections of period in Malaya with Suffolk Regt, Bn 1: description of voyage to Singapore in German cattle boat, 1/1951; sea sickness on board ship; description of train journey to Kuala Lumpur; jungle training; description of counter-measures against road ambushes; question of females amongst guerrillas.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of guerrilla warfare; preferring to use the term 'Bandit' rather than 'Communists'; joining 8 Platoon, C Coy; reaction to first jungle patrol; organisation of loads to be carried in to jungle; weapons carried on patrol; reaction to appointment as leading scout on 3rd jungle patrol; aiding section which had been ambushed in jungle; description of first sight of dead guerrillas; reaction to death of comrade in this ambush; question of success of Platoon in jungle warfare.
REEL 4 Continues: quality of personnel in Suffolk Regt; using SEP (Surrendered Enemy Personnel) to lead patrol to guerrilla camp; description of ambush of Suffolks during raid on Jungle camp; reaction to wounding of friend during ambush on 9 Platoon.
REEL 5 Continues: rest and recuperation on Penang island; promotion to Lance Corporal; discovering that guerrillas had mined jungle track; account of planning and executing ambush on guerrillas led by Officer Pensotti; unusual injury sustained by comrade; fate of men injured during raid on jungle camp; superstitions within platoon; attitude towards ensuing end of tour of duty.
REEL 6 Continues: spending night bivouacked in rubber plantation; description of Malayan latrine system and comrade that fell inside one; economic sabotage by guerrillas in Sepang area; attempting to prevent guerrillas from slashing rubber trees on Sepang plantation; account of ambushing guerrillas on Sepang plantation patrol; celebrating 100th and 101st kills for Suffolk Regt on Sepang Plantation ambush; importance of identifying dead guerrillas.
REEL 7 Continues: identifying dead guerrillas at police station; presentation of bottle of champagne to Suffolk Patrol by Asian shopkeepers; 'punishment' after drunken celebration by platoon; meeting with communist guerrilla leader, Lu; discovery of severed finger of guerrilla in Jungle, Sepang; practical jokes within platoon; returning to Kajang for further patrols; importance of preventing spread of disease in camps; punishment of soldiers who damaged Chinese woman's garden; recites song about Sergeant Major; attitude towards plantation managers. Kajang; repeats account of patrol led by Officer Pensotti.
REEL 8 Continues: repeats account of patrol led by Officer Pensotti; difficulty of returning to jungle after period of leave; account of ambushing guerrillas on bicycles; attitude towards last patrol; deciding to stand down from patrol work; medical problems and their effect on his work.
REEL 9 Continues: medical problems; treatment at Military Hospital, Kuala Lumpur; journey home to England aboard the Windrush; marching battalion colours off ship at Southampton; difficulties in getting through customs, Southampton 1952; reaction of mother and father to his return; his mother's fear at receiving telegram containing bad news; attitude towards the communist guerrillas.
ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Malaya, 1948-1960
Duration
270
NumberOfParts
9
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Pettit, Philip Albert William
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photograph in file
RelatedSoundFile
Pettit-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
17930
ProductionDate
2/Mar/1998
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
McMurtrie, David Henry xxx
Cridge, David
Boustead, Hugh
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Stratford-upon-Avon, Warcs
GB, England & Swanage, Dorset
GB, England & Taunton, Somerset
GB, England & Westbury-on-Trym, Somerset
GB, England & New Forest
DE
DE & Munster
MY
MY & Kota Tinggi
MY & South Selangor
MY & Kuala Lumpar
YD
IndexUnits
GB.A & Bordon Camp
GB.A & Royal Military College, Sandhurst
GB.A & Lancashire Fusiliers
GB.A & Small Arms School, Hythe
GB.A & School of Infantry, Warminster
GB.A & Jungle Warfare School, Kota Tinggi, Malaya
GB.A & Suffolk Regt
MY.O & Communist Platoon, 1
ShortSummary
British civilian schoolchild in GB, 1939-1945; officer served with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry in Germany and Malaya, 1951-1954; trained local armed forces in Eastern Aden Protectorate, 1956-1958
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollection of childhood in GB, 1939-1945: family and education; evacuation of school from Swanage to Taunton, c 7/1940; bomb falling Westbury-on- Trym; excitement of presence of aircraft factory near school, Taunton; British forces in New Forest; air activity near Ibsley. Period of training with British Army, 1949- 1951: basic training, Bordon, 9/1949: training with demonstration unit, Lancashire Fusiliers; period with Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1950-1951; degree of stress on Sandhurst cadets; using rocket-launcher Small Arms School, Hythe, 1951; School of Infantry, Warminister, 1951; experience of driving Armoured Personnel Carrier over 'moon country' during training Warminster. Period with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Munster Germany, 1951-1952: sources of anti-British feeling in Munster. Recollection of operations with 5 Platoon, B Coy 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Malaya, 1952-1954: limited time conscripts could be used in operations; organisation of receiving air-drops.
REEL 2 Continues: jungle warfare techniques, Jungle Warfare School, Kota Tinggi; taking over from Suffolk Regt in South Selangor; willingness of communist 1 Platoon to betray comrades; women's section of 1 Platoon; swamp areas he operated in; discomfort of operating in swamps; supplies being sent to enemy by sea from Sumatra; food denial operations; abandoned camps; incidents when he missed shooting insurgents because he thought they were civilians or British troops; killing two insurgents lured by rubber tapper; story of ambush laid by Sergeant David Cridge; escape of insurgent from NCO.
REEL 3 Continues: variability in quality of Iban trackers; performance of Iban platoon; problems of patrolling in hilly ground round Kuala Lumpar; capture of insurgent 'Vanguard Press' Camp'; use of Surrendered Enemy Personnel; reasons for British success in 1950s; impressions of senior officers; use of Sunderland aircraft for bombing; use of Austers for spotting and helicopters; clearing landing zones for helicopters; role commanding mortar platoon; problems for helicopters operating in jungle; sense of claustrophobia in jungle; characteristics of jungle animals, fauna, smells and sounds; discomforts in jungle; state of troops health.
REEL 4 Continues: performance of conscripts; attitude to insurgents. Recollection of period training local forces with Eastern Aden Protectorate, 1956-1958: biography of Hugh Boustead; Boustead's job as Resident Adviser; McMurtrie's role as training officer with local forces; incident of strike of one of local forces over pay; character of local politics.
ContextDescription
Military Operations Since 1945-1975 : Malaya, 1948-1960
Duration
110
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
McMurtrie, David Henry
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
McMurtie-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
17935
ProductionDate
9/Mar/1998
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Hanna, William Walter xxx
Beaumont, Sergeant
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & East Dulwich, London
GB, England & Bath, Somerset
DE
DE & Munster
MY
MY & Kuala Lumpar
MY & Kota Tinggi
MY & Jencharam
IndexUnits
GB.A & Light Infantry Training Depot, Borden
GB.A & Somerset Light Infantry, Bn 1, C Coy, 8 Platoon
GB.A & British Army of the Rhine
GB.A Munster Barracks, Germany
GB.O & Ship, Dilwara
GB.A & Kota Tinggi Camp
IndexConcepts
Evacuee
ShortSummary
British civilian in Bath, GB during German Air Force raids, 1942; NCO served with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry in Germany, 12/1951-10/1952; officer served with 8 Platoon, C Coy, 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Malaya, 12/1952-8/1953
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in East Dulwich, London,1932-1939: family ;and education. Recollections of period as schoolboy in Bath, Somerset 1940-1945: Baedecker Raids, 1942; lack of trauma from raids; evacuees staying with family, victory celebrations 1945. Call up, 9/1951. Period of basic training, Borden Camp, Hants, 9/1951-12/1951: characters amongst NCOs; opinion of benefits of basic training. Recollections of period with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, British Army of the Rhine, Munster, Germany, 1951-1952: posting to Munster, 12/1951; accommodation in Munster compared to Taunton Barracks; training 1951-1952; relations with German civilians.
REEL 2 Continues: loss of army coal to German pilferers. Commissioning GB, 10/1952. Voyage to Malaya aboard Dilwara, 11/1952: exercise in Aden. Recollection of operations with 8 Platoon, C Coy 1st SLI, Malaya, 12/1952-8/1953: jungle training, Kota Tinggi including fatal shooting incident, opinion of training and demonstration of air power in which aircraft crashed; character of jungle operations; abortive three day ambush on insurgent's food pick up point; question of troops adaptability to alien conditions; support of police 'swoops' on Jencharam a 'new village' incident of loss of Sergeant Beaumont in clash with insurgents and Hanna's role of retrieving body and two dead insurgents.
REEL 3 Continues: operations against insurgent camps, and food sources; property discovered in insurgent camps; relations with loggers and tappers; opinion of Suffolk Regt who preceded SLI; plight of planters in area; level of intelligence about individual insurgents; physical state of SLI troops; road accident between car and army lorry; Iban tracker who poisoned himself with frog he cooked; near accident with Malay policeman armed with grenade; attitude to insurgents and sense of importance of campaign; question of why he never thought insurgents could succeed; regret of leaving Malaya, 8/1953.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Malaya, 1948-1960
Duration
90
NumberOfParts
3
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Hanna, William Walter
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
Hanna-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
20063
ProductionDate
5/Feb/2000
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Channer, Richard de Renzy xxx
Misra, Dinesh
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Gosport, Hants
IN
IN & Quetta
IN & Ranchi
IN & Dimapur
IN & Peshawar
IN & Imphal
IN & Palel
IN & Wanjing
IN & Ukhrul Road
IN & Shillong
IN & Bangalore
IN & Bombay
IN & Comilla
BU
BU & Shenam Ridge
BU & River Chindwin
BU & Kibaw Valley
IndexUnits
GB.A & Hampshire Regt, Bn 70
GB.A & Royal Artillery, Field Regt 158, Troop F
IN.A & Indian National Army
GB.O & Charity, Moral Re-armament
GB.O & Association, Burma Campaign Fellowship Group
ShortSummary
British officer served with 158th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in India and Burma, 1942-1945
FullSummary
REEL Background in India and GB, 1921-1940: family origins; education. Period with British Army in GB, 1940-1941: joining 70th Bn Hampshire Regt; coastal defence work at Gosport, autumn 1940; transfer to Royal Artillery. Period of officer training in India, 1941: voyage from GB to India; OCTU course; presence of Indian servants; commissioning 12/1941. Recollections of period with 158 Field Regt, Royal Artillery in India, 1942: joining unit at Peshawar, early 1942; problems of dealing with men; jungle training at Ranchi; move to Imphal; rail congestion caused by refugees coming out of Burma in Dimapur area; start of monsoon, 1942; character of road journey in monsoon; use of term 'tik hai'; question of Nagas making good porters; attempts to stop mosquitoes biting at Imphal; move to Palel and Shenam Ridge.
REEL 2 Continues Recollections of operations with F Troop, 158 Field Regt, Royal Artillery in India and Burma, 1942-1944: establishing unit on Shenam Ridge; problems for infantry patrolling in Kibaw Valley; allocation of Royal Artillery troops to infantry role; patrol he led into Chindwin Valley, 1943; nature of canoe patrol on River Chindwin, 1943; problem of jungle sores; start of Japanese offensive, spring 1944; start of action against Japanese on Ukhrul Road; period in Wanjing defensive box; reprimand received for critical remark about lack of action; problems of getting troops to dig positions; relations with his superior officer and Channer's demotion on battlefield; story of patrol with Gurkhas as forward observation officer.
REEL 3 Continues: sight of grave of Seaforth Highlander in forest; reaction to order to go on three week course in India; return to unit; Recollections of operations on Shenam Ridge, Burma, 6/1944: situation on Shenam Ridge; Japanese 'jitter' patrols; use of K rations; meeting with Major Dinesh Misra of Rajputana Rifles; character of artillery fire onto Shenam Ridge; problem of close artillery support for infantry; Hawker Hurricane support for infantry; leg wound from friendly fire; zeroing guns on ridge; course of battle and withdrawal of Indian troops.
REEL 4 Continues: Indian infantry and Japanese casualties; how wound in leg became paralysed; stretchering of battlefield to Hatchet position, 24/6/1944. Aspects of medical treatment for leg wound in Burma and India, 1944: treatment to prevent gangrene; treatment in Comilla. Period with 158th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in India, 1944-1945: re-joining unit at Shillong; beach landing training near Bombay, late 1944; pressure to stay on in Far East after VE Day. Aspects of service with 158th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Burma, 1942-1944: award of Military Cross for action on Shenam Ridge, 6/11944; meeting with Dinesh 'Danny' Misra in Bangalore, 1970s; background to Misra's wartime career especially his mission to China; attitude towards Japanese; opinion of Misra; degree of contact with Quit India movement; story of reconciliation with officer who demoted him at VJ Day parade in London, 1995; problems with lack of oil for rifles; question of behaviour of Indian National Army; question of personal morale in action.
REEL 5 Continues: use of chain saws and mattocks in Burma. Recollections of period with Moral Re-armament charity: visits to Albania, 1990s; fate of religion under Communism in Albania; aims of charity; changing attitude towards Japanese; contact with Japanese ex-serviceman; details of Burma Campaign Fellowship Group formed in 1989; his personal attitude to state visits of Japanese Emperors.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
145
NumberOfParts
5
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Channer, Richard de Renzy
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
Channer-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
20769
ProductionDate
18/Sep/2000
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexObjects
machine gun, British: Bren gun
machine gun, British: Sten gun
anti-tank rifle, British: Boyes
anti-tank weapon, British: PIAT
IndexPeople
Harwood, Herbert Stephen xxx
Tatum <Sergeant>
Lynn, Vera
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Bletchingly, Kent
GB, England & Axminster, Devon
GB, England & Lyme Regis, Dorset
GB, England & Edenbridge, Kent
GB, England & Dover, Kent
GB, England & Blandford, Wilts
GB, England & Oxford, Oxon
GB, England & Walton on the Hill, Surrey
FR
FR & Dunkirk
BE
BE & Oudenarde
EG
EG & Port Tewfik
IQ
LE
LE & Beirut
IN
IN & Calcutta
IN & Chittagong
IN & Dimapur
IN & Kohima
IN & Kohima, DIS Ridge
IN & Kohima, Jail Hill
IN & Kohima, Garrison Hill
BU
BU & Arakan
BU & The Tunnels
BU & Meiktila
BU & Kalewa
EG
EG & Port Tewfik
IndexUnits
GB.A & Kent Regt, West, Bn 4, Coy C
GB.A & Kent Regt, West, Bn 4, Coy B
GB.A & Indian Div 4
BU.O & Jail, Rangoon
IN.A & Indian National Army
IndexConcepts
Medical Services
ShortSummary
British NCO served with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, France, Belgium, Middle East, India and Burma, 1939-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Bletchingly, 1920-1939: family; education; employment as gardener. Recollections of period as private with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, 1939- 1940: background to joining Territorial Army, 8/1939; visit to summer camp, 8/1940; reaction to drilling; discipline within unit; recruiting area of unit; method of instructing rifle firing; story of training recruit who threw grenade badly; issue of uniform; digging trenches on mobilisation at Edenbridge, 9/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; move to Axminster area; accommodation at Lyme Regis; cooking for platoon; character of night exercises; method of digging trenches.
REEL 2 Continues: character of unit's equipment; grenade training; memories of unit cooks; unit morale; leave. Recollections of operations as private with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in France and Belgium, 4/1940-5/1940: voyage from GB to France; initial impressions of France; duties on Franco-Belgian border, 4/1940-5/1940; advance into Belgium, 5/1940; taking up positions at Oudenarde; capture of German POW; sight of refugees and question of fifth columnists; withdrawal from Oudenarde; role as company runner; hitching lift on Bren-gun carrier to Dunkirk; reaction to sight of Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attack; obtaining rations; lack of knowledge about situation; attempt to wade out to ship that had run aground; German Air Force attacks on Dunkirk.
REEL 3 Continues: embarking on destroyer; equipment brought back to Dover; reception at Dover. Recollections of period as NCO with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, 1940-1942: arrival at Blandford, 6/1940; equipment on return to GB; opinion of Sten gun and Bren gun; opinion of Boyes anti-tank rifle and PIAT; reforming of battalion at Oxford; unit morale after Dunkirk; promotion to Sergeant at Walton on the Hill; degree of fitness in unit; footwear and footcare; emphasis on cleanliness; guard duties; gas training; attending booby trap course.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of voyage from GB to Egypt, 1942: conditions on board; ashore in South Africa. Recollections of period as sergeant with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in Middle East, 1942: arrival in Egypt; casualty caused by accidental discharge of rifle at Port Tewfik; uniform issued; contracting sandfly fever and treatment received; role as guard commander in transit camp at Beirut; riding bus for free in Beirut; rejoining unit and move to Iraq; joining 4th Indian Division. Recollections of period as sergeant with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in India, 1943: initial impressions of India; problems with lightening in camp; jungle training.
REEL 5 Continues: training with mules; lack of specialist training; issue of canvas shoes; training for movement in jungle; leave in Calcutta; degree of contact with Indian civilians; move to Chittagong. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in Arakan, Burma, 1943- 1944: terrain in Arakan; advance southwards into Arakan; nature of tracks and river tributaries; Japanese delaying tactics; effect of friendly fire on B Coy near The Tunnels; character of The Tunnels; degree of contact with Japanese; opinion of Japanese tactics; size of patrols; organisation of patrols; promotion to company sergeant-major; responsibilities as sergeant-major.
REEL 6 Continues: description of captured Japanese underground fortification; use of flanking movements. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt at Kohima, 1944: flight from Arakan to Dimapur; road journey from Dimapur to Kohima; return to Dimapur, 1/4/1944; second move to Kohima, 4/4/1944; move of C Coy to DIS Ridge; opening fire on Japanese on Jail Hill; failure of Japanese frontal attack on DIS Ridge; continuing attacks on DIS Ridge; character of defensive positions on DIS Ridge; damage to his pack from mortar fire; Japanese use of captured ammunition; hearing shouts from Indian National Army; Japanese attacks on DIS Ridge; causes of casualties on DIS Ridge; conditions for wounded; air supply of water; evacuation of wounded; role as platoon commander; argument with company commander about moving ammunition from exposed position on DIS Ridge.
REEL 7 Continues: water carrying parties; sense of isolation on DIS Ridge; corporal killed helping evacuate wounded; withdrawal into reserve on Garrison Hill; method of keeping record of casualties; degree of information available about battle; start of air drops; supplies dropped; character of rations; fire discipline and ammunition supply; importance of Bren gun; opening fire on Japanese with Sergeant Tatum; opinion of Japanese soldiers; character of DIS Ridge; attitude towards prospect of capture by Japanese; importance of comradeship; danger of moving in daylight; question of fatigue.
REEL 8 Continues: in reserve on Garrison Hill; change in character of Kohima throughout siege; withdrawal from Kohima to Dimapur; degree of hand over to Royal Berkshire Regt; contracting malaria in Dimapur; visit by Vera Lynn; physical condition after Kohima. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in Kohima-Imphal area, 1944-1945: return to Kohima box area; character of Japanese withdrawal from Kohima area; organising loads for mules; rate of advance operating in columns; air drops; Japanese delaying tactics; unit morale; relations between mules and muleteers; behaviour of mules; nightly routine; character of advance towards Imphal and onto Tiddim Road.
REEL 9 Continues: character of the Tiddim Road; lack of contact with Japanese on Tiddim Road; flight from Kalewa to Imphal, c12/1944; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1944; road race. Aspects of operations as company sergeant-major with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in Burma, 1945: returning to front-line at Meiktila; co-operation with tanks; method of transport during leapfrogging actions towards Rangoon; casualty caused by Japanese sniper; method of crossing rivers using inflated trousers; daily routine; importance of regular mail; character of Japanese flags; attacking village with tank support; infiltration of Japanese across Rangoon road at night.
REEL 10 Continues: leave in Calcutta, c7/1945-8/1945; story of role looking after Japanese and Indian National Army POWs in Rangoon Jail including opinion of Indian National Army; reaction to end of Second World War; return to GB for demobilisation, late 1945; attitude to military service and discipline; question of changing relationships between officers, NCOs and other ranks in active service; story of dealing with private who left his post. Demobilisation process and return to civilian life after 1946. Attitude to having served with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt during Second World War.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
300
NumberOfParts
10
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Harwood, Herbert Stephen
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (1940) in file
RelatedSoundFile
Harwood-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
22342
ProductionDate
26/Oct/2001
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexObjects
tank, US: Stuart
tank, US: Lee
tank, US: Grant
tank, British: Valentine Bridging
tank, British: Comet
tank, US: Sherman
amphibious tank, US: Sherman Duplex Drive
gun, US: 75mm
gun, US: 37mm
pistol, British: 0.38
anti-tank gun, Japanese: 47mm
water container, Indian: Chagul
IndexPeople
Bowdler, Norman xxx
Booker, Reggie
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Dunchurch, Northants
GB, England & Coventry, Warks
GB, England & Tidworth, Wilts
IN
IN & Bombay
IN & Poona
IN & Calcutta
IN & Cormilla
IN & River Brahmaputra
IN & Cocanada
ZA
ZA & Cape Town
KE
KE & Mombasa
BU
BU & Arakan
BU & Tortoise
BU & Cox's Bazaar
BU & The Box
BU & Tattenham Corner
BU & Buthidaung
BU & Lashio
BU & Maymyo
BU & Mandalay
BU & Meiktila
BU & Ngakyedauk Pass
IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Armoured Corps
GB.A & Dragoons 25, Sqdn C, Troop 3
GB.A & Carbiniers 3
GB.A & Camp, Bovington
GB.A & Camp, Galunchi
GB.O & Home Guard, Dunchurch
GB.O & Merchant Ship, Samaria
GB.O & Company, British Oxygen Company
IN.A & Bombay Grenadiers
GB.A & Indian Div 7
ShortSummary
British trooper served with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1941-1942; served with 25th Dragoons in India and Burma, 1942-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian living in Dunchurch, 1939-1941: lack of family military tradition; membership of Dunchurch Home Guard; activities of Home Guard; sources of wartime information; employment in Coventry. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1941- 1942: reason for volunteering for Royal Armoured Corps, 8/1941; basic training at Tidworth; origins of fellow recruits; adjustment to discipline; lack of bad language used by NCOs; physical stature of recruits; character of rations; gas training; opinion of accommodation; treatment of scruffy recruit; skills testing; specialisation in driving with second job as radio operator; character of uniform including black beret and boots; recreational facilities; lack of organised sporting activities; learning to drive.
REEL 2 Continues: advanced training at Bovington Camp; trade training; driving a wide variety of armoured vehicles; opinion of First World War tanks; driving cruiser tanks; opinion of tank armament; training as wireless operator; use of sand table for tactical training; passing out parade; system of assessment; reaction to overseas posting; issue of tropical kit. Aspects of voyage from GB to India aboard HMT Samaria, 3/1942: embarkation at Liverpool; conditions on board; seasickness; poor rations; coaling at Freetown; reception at Cape Town; storm in Indian Ocean; route march in Mombasa. Recollections of period with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in India, 1942-1943: landing at Bombay; opinion of Indians.
REEL 3 Continues: conditions at Galunchi Camp; formation of unit; effect of influx of regulars from 3rd Carabiniers; health precautions taken; restricted training due to lack of equipment; performance of radio sets; reveille; ablution facilities; prevalent illnesses; eye injury during dust storm; issue of cap badge and topis; leave in Poona; political situation; security precautions taken for female guests of officers; sight of riot in Poona; character of troop officers and the qualities they needed; degree of knowledge of progress of war; move to Calcutta; initial issue of Stuart tanks; opinion of Grant and Lee tanks including limited traverse of 75mm gun and appreciation of their firepower.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion radial engines used; use of starting handle; character of suspension; driving Lee/Grants; comparison between Lee/Grants and Shermans; versions of Sherman tanks used; mechanics course; target training; character of jungle training; degree of knowledge about Japanese, their tanks and anti-tank guns; character of Japanese anti-tank mines and techniques for their disposal; living conditions at Calcutta; characteristics of 0.38 pistol, 0.45 pistol and Thompson machine guns; effects of Thompson machine on Japanese soldier in Burma; loss of place in tank crew through illness; impressions of his squadron leader, Major Horn; posting to tank crew as loader for 75mm; role as loader; selection of ammunition; rate of fire with 75mm.
REEL 5 Continues: procedure for testing and adjusting sights on 75mm; lack of use of 37mm; smoke discharge unit outside turret; waterproofing tanks. Recollections of operations as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in Arakan, 1943-1944: voyage from Calcutta to Cox Bazaar on board US Landing Ship Tank; incident of missing Japanese dive bomber in The Box; conditions on board; disembarking at Cox's Bazaar area; use of Valentine Bridging tanks; character of water obstructions and virgin jungle; role of advance party; deployment in squadron and troop areas; visits from wild elephants and baboons; encounters with snakes; problems with dysentery and jaundice; orders to attack Japanese position at Tortoise; role of Bombay Grenadiers as supporting infantry; casualties caused by US Air Force accidental bombing of unit during advance to hill; Japanese field works and tunnels on Tortoise; role of tanks during attack; Japanese counter attack recapturing summit; destruction of two Japanese field guns; Japanese use of mortars.
REEL 6 Continues: reasons for lack of success during attack on Tortoise; reaction to first time in action; casualties prior to attack; question of battle hardening; character of passes over the mountains; C Sqdn's retirement from attack on Tortoise; duration of first action; at rest in harbour guarded by Bombay Grenadiers; briefing from Lord Mountbatten; lack of tactical briefings; problems crossing Ngakyedauk Pass along narrow winding ledge; performance of tank; risk of fire; handling characteristics; descending Ngakyedauk Pass; crossing paddy fields and bunds; character of paddy bunds; reaction to driving through elephant grass; orders for no smoking, no noise and no lights.
REEL 7 Continues: sounds of battle during night; role of C squadron supporting 7th Indian Div; Japanese infiltration behind British lines; formation of The Box; tank strength of squadron; Japanese snipers; reaction to sight of Japanese troops; positioning of tanks; infantry positions in The Box; infantry to tank communication; use of slit trenches and turret guards; features occupied by infantry; Japanese attack on divisional headquarters; reasons why Japanese didn't attack vehicle park; arrival of units from 7th Indian Div; role rescuing units under attack; effective sighting of Japanese 47mm anti-tank gun; anti-tank gun hit on tank at Tattenham Corner; method of avoiding anti-tank gun fire; destruction of Japanese anti-tank gun at Tattenham Corner; character of rescue missions; evolution of The Box; effect of lack of sleep; problems of answering the call of nature; use of panjis.
REEL 8 Continues: use of barbed wire; types of artillery in The Box; Japanese frontal attack in which grenade rolled under tank; Japanese wounded crying out; patrol to check bodies in which he took Japanese officer's sword and pistol; disposal of dead; Japanese attack on field hospital in The Box; effect on attitude of unit after Japanese attack on field hospital; opinion of Japanese rifle and quality of other equipment; air supply; method of extinguishing fire on ammunition dump; sight of air supply by Douglas Dakotas; man killed by air dropped sack of sugar; Japanese Air Force dive bombing of positions; effect of shooting at Japanese dive bomber.
REEL 9 Continues: effects of Japanese Air Force attack on The Box; character of patrols; collection of rations; biscuit burgoo; air dropping of US K rations; craving for corned beef; fuel and ammunition drops; character of air drops; changing nature of the battlefield; gradual forcing of Japanese off hills; character of Japanese positions; role supporting infantry in attacking Japanese positions; bunker busting; infantry formation in attacks on Japanese positions; Gurkha attacks; use of grenades and opinion of Japanese grenades; sorties from The Box; Japanese skill at infiltration; growing Japanese shortage of ammunition; state of health; importance of tea; water supply and use of chaguls.
REEL 10 Continues: importance of cool clean water; sources of water; conditions in The Box towards end of siege; attacking hills surrounding positions; Japanese always fighting to the end; Japanese POW; question of Japanese troop's mentality; reinforcement of The Box; character of Japanese artillery piece 'Buthidaung Bertha', housed in tunnels on road from Akyab to Buthidaung; method of destroying 'Buthidaung Bertha'; character of tunnels; character of Buthidaung; opinion of Japanese tanks and armoured tactics; unit role on attack on Buthidaung; squadron tank losses; leaving The Box via Okie Doke pass; advancing through barrage during attack on Japanese positions on hill; catching Japanese in the open during attack; condition of Japanese troops; character of Japanese defensive positions on Okie Doke pass; method of clearing obstructions.
REEL 11 Continues: alcohol available in The Box; problems of smell of tobacco; availability of cigarettes; encounter with burnt corpse; reaction to departure from The Box; incident when his tank ran over Japanese anti-tank mine; character of Japanese anti-tank mine; fitting of cage to tanks for anti-tank mine protection; return to old positions occupied prior to action at The Box; unit casualties. Recollections of period as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in India, 1944-1945: effect of Stingray attack on beach; evacuation to hospital; evacuation by paddle steamer along River Brahmaputra to hospital at Cormilla; re-joining unit at Cocanada; occasion when he was charged for not wearing boots and punishment; fate of tanks abandoned in jungle; orders to prepare for amphibious operations.
REEL 12 Continues: issue of Sherman Duplex Drive tanks; resuming duties as driver; comparison between Sherman tank and Lee/Grant tank; driving characteristics of Sherman Duplex Drive tanks; amphibious training including escape drills, breathing apparatus and sequence that crew left tank; amphibious landing exercises; dropping tank screen; handling capabilities at sea; appearance of tank from shore; loss of tank during storm in Bay of Bengal in which tank commander Reggie Booker was dragged down by his headset; effect on crew of sinking. Aspects of period as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in North Burma, 1945: journey to Lashio; orders to takeover Sherman tanks from Chinese and take them to south Burma; condition of tanks; behaviour of Chinese guards; leaving camp at Lashio; opinion of US engineers; fording rivers under direction; celebrations on hearing news of VE Day, 5/1945.
REEL 13 Continues: listening to BBC on radio; overnight stops; front moving too fast; distances covered per day; tanks damaged by rough conditions; guard duties; reception from Anglo-Burmese civilians at Maymyo; reasons why operation stopped; attitude towards Burmese; conditions in Mandalay and Meiktila; return to India and reaction to atomic bombs being dropped. Aspects of period with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1945-1946: flight from India to GB; reaction to cold weather in GB, 10/1945; issue of European uniform and disembarkation leave; role as driver on staff of OCTU at Bovington Camp; opinion of driving Comet tank; respect shown by cadets; reasons for wish to leave army; question of officers and NCOs towards other ranks; demobilisation and adjusting to civilian life, 1946.
REEL 14 Continues: Question of psychological effects of warfare. Attitude towards having served with Royal Armoured Corps in Second World War. Return to civilian life and employment with British Oxygen Company.
ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: Burma, 1942-1945
Duration
420
NumberOfParts
14
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Bowdler, Norman
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (1943) in file
RelatedSoundFile
022342S01.mp3
Bowdler-landwarfare.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
OMD 3618
ItemName
Vietnam Medal (1964)
ObjectType
medal
IndexPeople
Browne, W C F (208472 Bombadier)
IndexPlaces
South East Asia & Vietnam
IndexUnits
NZ.A & Royal New Zealand Artillery
FullSummary
Australian troops were first committed to South Vietnam in June 1965. The Australian Government had felt impelled to establish a presence in an area of such vital concern to its own interests and to the security of South East Asia as a member of SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organization) and New Zealand, being a signatory of the ANZUS Treaty (Australia, New Zealand and United States), followed suit. The New Zealand contribution, though significant, was far smaller than the Australian. The medal, designed by the Australian artist Andor Meszaros, was the first operational medal to be designed and struck in Australia. Some 4000 medals were issued to New Zealand Forces. Qualification (Army) was one day's service on land after 28 May 1964. This example is named to 208472 Bombadier W C F Browne, Royal New Zealand Artillery.
ProductionCompany
Australian Mint
RelatedIWMItems
OMD 3619
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
The medal, made of cupro-nickel, is 36 mm in diameter. The ribbon, which is 32 mm in width, has a dark blue vertical stripe on the left edge (Navy), on the right edge a light blue vertical stripe (Air Force). Inside these two stripes are 3 mm stripes of red (Army). The central vertical stripe is yellow with three very narrow vertical stripes of red in the centre, representing the colours of the national flag of South Vietnam. The obverse design bears the crowned head of Elizabeth II, facing right, surrounded by the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F. D., the whole in high relief. The design on the reverse shows a nude male figure facing left, left arm outstretched, pushing against a sphere, right arm to the rear holding back a sphere, surmounted by the legend VIETNAM. The two Spheres symbolize two opposing ideologies. The medal is suspended from an ornate swivelling suspender bar. The medal is named on the rim. Naming, for medals issued to New Zealanders, is in small fine impressed Roman capitals.
Access
On display at IWM London
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
ORD 137
ProductionDate
1942
ItemName
QF 3.7in Mountain Howitzer Mk I
ObjectType
gun
IndexUnits
GB.A
FullSummary
The design of a new mountain howitzer to replace existing guns in British service was started in 1915, and the first guns were issued in February 1917. It was the first British gun to feature a split trail but retained the 'screw barrel' feature inherited from earlier guns. It had a hydropneumatic recoil system, and equipments used on the North-West Frontier of India usually had a large shield to protect the gunners. A detachment of nine men was needed to serve the gun, which was easily dismantled into eight loads for carriage by mules. After the First World War, consideration was given to using the gun as an infantry support weapon, and the spoked wheels were replaced by pneumatic tyres, but in 1932, it was decided that the 3-inch mortar would perform this task, and the 3.7in Howitzer faded from the infantry scene. However, in 1939, many were still in service and saw action, especially in the Far East, and Burma. In addition, the ability of the 3.7in Howitzer to come to pieces was of value when airborne artillery units were being formed, and it became one of the standard artillery weapons of airborne troops. The 3.7in Howitzer was finally declared obsolete in February 1960.
ProductionCompany
Coventry Ordnance
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
This is a typical example of the 3.7in Mountain Howitzer, comprising a MkI Barrel with a MkII Carriage, and was manufactured in 1942. The gun is marked as follows (barrel) 'G VI RI No L/605 1942 No L/605.' (breech)
'3 - 3 - 0 QF 3.7 HOWR CO I G 1942 No 605 QF 3.7 - HOWr MkI CO IG 1942 L/605.' (carriage) '3.7 INCH HOWITZER MK II J 1942 REG No 12004'
Access
On display at IWM Duxford
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
WEA 1256
ItemName
sword, Army NCO's Type 95 pattern, with scabbard
ObjectType
sword
IndexUnits
JP.A
FullSummary
The use of swords in the Japanese army during the Second World War extended to non-commissioned officers and even senior privates. Unlike commissioned officers, who purchased their own swords, NCOs were issued with swords made in state arsenals. The aluminium or copper hilts of these swords were cast with raised design which replicated the component parts of the hilt of a typical officer's sword.
ProductionCompany
Kokura Arsenal, Japan
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
Aluminium hilt painted brown white and gold, plain blackened-steel oval tsuba (handguard), scabbard bears remains of olive green paint.
Access
Access by prior appointment
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
OMD 5530
ProductionDate
1944
ItemName
Victoria Cross & VC
ObjectType
medal
IndexPeople
Randle, J N ( Lieutenant (Temp Captain)
IndexPlaces
Kohima, India
IndexUnits
GB A & The Royal Norfolk Regiment, Bn 2
FullSummary
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) John Niel Randle (22 Dec 1917-6 May 1944). John Randle was born in India and educated at Marlborough and Oxford, where he read law, and where his best friend was Leonard Cheshire. Commissioned into The Royal Norfolk Regiment, Randle joined the 2nd Battalion in June 1940. On 4 May 1944 during an attack on Japanese positions at Kohima on the border of India and Burma, Randle took over the leading company when its commander became a casualty. Although hit in the knee by grenade splinters, Randle's masterly handling of a difficult situation, together with his courage and leadership, ensured his company took and held its objective. Randle then went out beyond the perimeter to bring in the wounded. Later the following night, having refused evacuation, he went out again to reconnoitre the enemy's position. Early on 6 May, Randle led an attack on the enemy position. One platoon reached the crest of the hill, but another ran into heavy machine-gun fire from a bunker on the reverse slope. Realising it was essential to destroy the bunker, Randle charged. Although mortally wounded, he reached the bunker, and silenced the gun with a grenade. He then flung his body across the aperture completely sealing it. The announcement of the award of a posthumous VC to Randle was announced in the London Gazette on 12 December 1944. Captain Randle is buried in Kohima War Cemetery. Randle was married to the sister of Flight Lieutenant Leslie Manser VC, who was killed in action in 1942.
ProductionCompany
Hancocks & Co (Jewellers ) Ltd 9 Vigo Street, London W1
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
The design of the Victoria Cross, comprises a cross pattee in bronze metal: The obverse design depicts a crown surmounted by 'lion gardant', beneath the crown a scroll bearing the motto ` FOR VALOUR'. The whole in the centre of the cross, having raised borders outlining its shape. Reverse design, a circle, at centre of plain reverse (raised borders outline cross shape). The suspender bar is straight bar, laurelled, with integral 'V' lug the reverse of the suspender bar is plain. The ribbon is red (the term used in the original warrant) although this description of the colour is often qualified by the use of terms such as claret, maroon, dark red. The bar (when awarded) is a straight bar, laurelled. This example is engraved as follows : LT.(TEMP. CAPT) JOHN NIEL RANDLE. THE ROYAL NORFOLK REGIMENT. The recipient's name and service details are inscribed on the reverse of the suspension bar, and the date of the action, 4TH/6TH MAY. 1944, is inscribed on the reverse of the medal itself in the central boss.
Access
On display at IWM London
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
FIR 7775
ProductionDate
1945
ItemName
Rifle No 5 Mk 1
ObjectType
rifle
IndexUnits
GB.A
FullSummary
The No 5 rifle (or "Jungle Carbine") was a shortened version of the standard British No 4 rifle, intended for jungle warfare. The increased recoil felt due to the shortening of the barrel necessitated the fitting of a rubber butt pad. A conical flash-hider was employed to mitigate muzzle-flash.
Over 178,000 examples of this rifle were produced during 1944 and 1945, by BSA Ltd of Birmingham and the Royal Ordnance Factory at Fazakerley, Lancashire. Persistent problems with accuracy resulted in the No 5 being declared obsolete in 1947.
ProductionCompany
Birmingham Small Arms Company, Birmingham, England
RelatedImageFile
FIR_007775.jpg
Weighting
1000
900
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
Serial number 8518. The butt socket bears in inscription M/470/1945, indicating manufacture in 1945 by BSA Ltd.
Access
On display at IWM North
DigitalAsset
Y
IWMImageOwned
Y
DeptName
Film
IDNO
RMY 65
ProductionDate
(?) 1944
ItemName
[RAF SCHOOL FOR JUNGLE SELF-PRESERVATION TRAINING] [Allocated]
IndexObjects
training, British air - survival: jungle
IndexPlaces
India
IndexUnits
GB.F
ShortSummary
Training exercise at RAF School for Jungle Self-Preservation in India summarises for benefit of aircrews forced to land behind enemy lines best techniques for survival.
FullSummary
Commentary over film lists subjects of instruction: route planning, simple Burmese ("Where are the Japs?"), recognition of locality through hut style, use of bamboo for rope, rafts, bows and snares, Japanese booby traps, cooking and medicine (aircrew emergency kit and dangerous insects and snake). Group of trainees set off on a self-preservation exercise, followed later by Kachin trackers, and commit many blunders: choice of bad leader, walking on brow of hill, false compass reading, leaving a fire burning, dropping cigarette butts and bathing in the open. An "individualist" is singled out for particular criticism for having wandered away from his group; after sleeping in a tree to avoid tigers and crossing a river at a narrow point he eventually reaches base after leaving an easy trail for the trackers.
ContextDescription
Technical: print lacks opening credits and last few feet.
Duration
13 mins
Format
P 1/35/N
Colour
B&W
Sound
comopt
NumberOfParts
1
Dimensions
1106 ft
ProductionCountry
GB
Language
English
LanguageMainTitles
None
LanguageSubtitles
None
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/01/2009 05:50:10
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
IWM
DeptName
Film
IDNO
SKC 428
ProductionDate
3/1950
ItemName
JUNGLE OPERATIONS: AIR SUPPLY: MALAYA 1949/50 [Main]
ShortSummary
A Malayan Film Unit film documenting the importance of following army procedure for airdrops of supplies in isolated areas of the jungle during the Emergency.
FullSummary
(Reel 1) Aerial views of the Malayan Jungle. Unit marching through the jungle, setting up camp eating Wilson's corned beef. "Santa Claus" tactics ie. dropping air supplies to a platoon of Devons under a Suffolk commander. Filling in an Air Supply Requisition form, use of code for some supplies. Diagram of the chain of procedure from ordering to the drop. Loading of supplies at the Military Supply Depot eg. fruit, letters, medical supplies, groceries. Selection of the drop zone (DZ); Auster light aircraft may have to do recce to discover a suitable clearing. Diagram to illustrate the best approach path for the plane. (Reel 2) Clearing DZ of trees, stumps, secondary growth to avoid damage of supplies. Marking the DZ, using imagination and initiative, with an identifying letter for specific supplies eg. WI - wireless battery; W - wireless set; W (underlined) - wireless set and battery; H (underlined) supply drop and ground assistance required for casualty; H (underlined twice) - small arms ammunition; a square - food and medical supplies; H - require positional fix. Aerial view of supply drop. Recovery of supplies. Disposal of packing materials so the guerrillas cannot get hold of them to "further their cause".
Duration
20 mins
Format
P 1/35/A
Colour
B&W
Sound
comopt
NumberOfParts
2
Dimensions
1815 ft
ProductionSponsor
War Office
ProductionCompany
Malayan Film Unit
ProductionTeam
Hussain, M D Zain: director
Goran, H W: producer
Amavasi, A Peter: cameraman
Shamsudin, Osman: cameraman
Goran, H W: script
Tan, Ronnie: film editor
Bhaskaran, V G: sound recordist
Potter, R E D: diagrams
ProductionCountry
Malaya
Language
English
LanguageMainTitles
English
LanguageSubtitles
None
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
IWM
DeptName
Film
IDNO
WPN 139
ProductionDate
3/1/1944
ItemName
WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 139 [Main]
IndexObjects
recreation, Allied military - tourism
reconstruction, Italian
destruction, Italian military - area
supplies, United States, movement [FA] - misc
combat, Allied
casualties, Allied dead - battlefield
casualties, Allied wounded - battlefield
casualties, Allied graves - battlefield
IndexPlaces
New Guinea & Salamaua
Egypt
Italy & Isernia
FullSummary
I. 'TROOPS VISIT KING FAROUK'S MODEL FARM.' A contingent of British and Commonwealth troops, including members of various women's services, visit King Farouk's model farm situated between Cairo and Ismailia. The visiting party is shown at the entrance to Farouk's farm, having arrived earlier by military soft-skinned vehicles. A New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) member feeds an ostrich through the fence of its enclosure watched by Egyptian civilians. British and New Zealand troops wearing battledress watch a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) feeding a giant turtle. A New Zealand WAAC handles small baby turtles. Other elements of the visiting party tour orange groves adjacent to the farm. An ATS member eats a freshly picked orange with evident enjoyment. The commentary states that many of the visiting party had been farmers before the war and so the farm tour was of particular interest. ATS members and British soldiers enjoy a ride on some reluctant camels, others look at the horse enclosures. The British and Commonwealth visitors enjoy a banquet at the end of an enjoyable tour of King Farouk's farm.
II. 'FRAGMENTS FROM ITALY.' Panoramic footage shows an unidentified Southern Italian fishing village in the environs of Naples. Views of the port show fishing vessels and Allied landing craft tied up at quays, as Monte Vesuvio (Mount Vesuvius) smokes in the distance. Italian Army personnel and civilians work together to clear rubble in the town of Isernia, Campo Basso. A caterpillar tractor moves rubble in the same area. A Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraftman is watched by Italian civilians as he lays telephone cables from a spool mounted on the rear of a General Purpose utility vehicle (Jeep-Willys quarter-ton ?). The cable-laying is continued by another aircraftman on the balcony of an Italian house who moves Italian civilians out of his way as he works his way along the balcony. The commentary stresses the fact that supplies for the British Eighth Army and United States Fifth Army continue to pour into Southern Italian ports over views of merchant shipping being unloaded at an undisclosed location. a close-up of supply crates show that they are destined for the RAF and contain 20mm cannon ammunition for aircraft. An M3/M4 tank track link is hoisted from the hold of a berthed merchantman and placed on the rear of a waiting soft-skin. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 500-lb bombs are off-loaded from a narrow gauge railway flatcar by Italian prisoners of war. A fork-lift truck is used to load 250-lb bombs onto the back of a waiting soft-skin. Stock shots show DUKW 2.5-ton 6x6 amphibians being loaded with supplies from a Allied Liberty ship. DUKW "Cute Diane" is driven from the surf and up a beach in Southern Italy. British Eighth Army soft-skinned vehicles and an M4 Sherman tank (cast nose) have difficulty negotiating muddy conditions near the Sangro River (Chieti).
III. 'NEW GUINEA-AN EPIC OF JUNGLE WARFARE.' Views of the rugged country near Salamaua (New Guinea) is shown as the commentary points out that although the region is now back under Australian control, winning it back from the Japanese proved to be an arduous task. Ground to air footage shows United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers flying at high altitude. Ground views show shock waves from Allied bombs impacts spreading across the jungle canopy. A USAAF North American B-25 Mitchell bomber attacks concealed Japanese positions at low level. The aircraft is hit in the port engine by ground fire and the pilot narrowly avoids crashing into the jungle as smoke pours from his damaged engine. The commentary points out that although the world's attention has been focused on events in the Mediterranean and in Russia, a grim relentless war has been waged in the steaming jungles of Salamaua. Australian infantry move through thick jungle foliage armed with Lee-Enfield Mk III .303-in rifles. Australian infantrymen fire a water-cooled Vickers .303-in heavy machine gun at a distant mountain ridge. Air to air footage shows USAAF Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft overflying mist-shrouded mountainous terrain and dropping supplies by parachute. New Guinean bearers carry supplies through the jungle and across a make-shift bridge. An Australian brigadier calls his officers together for a conference at a tented encampment in the jungle. Australian officers sit on the ground and consult maps during a tactical briefing. Australian infantry move out of a jungle clearing armed with Lee-Enfield Mk III rifles and M1A1 Thompson .45-in sub-machine guns. Australian soldiers move through the jungle supported by fire from mortars and directed fire from a Bren .303-in light machine gun. A prone Australian infantryman fires a Boys .55-in anti-tank rifle at an unseen target. A captured Japanese fieldgun and a mountain howitzer are used against unseen Japanese positions. Australian wounded are tended to in a jungle clearing as their comrades, looking on, smoke cigarettes. Australian infantry stand bareheaded in the rain during a burial service for their fallen comrades. Two Australian soldiers shelter from the rain using a poncho and share a cigarette. Film footage taken by Australian cameraman Damien Parer shows Private W O Johnson of 58/59 Battalion suffering from an injury to his eyes being led across a stream in the environs of Salamaua by Sergeant G R Ayre. Japanese dead lie near defensive tunnel works. B-25 bomber aircraft (USAAF ?) perform a low-level strafing attack over the jungle canopy.
ContextDescription
Associated material: items II and III are repeated at WPN 290
Duration
10 mins
Format
P 1/35/N
Colour
B&W
Sound
comopt
NumberOfParts
1
Dimensions
942 ft
ProductionSponsor
Ministry of Information
ProductionCompany
War Pictorial News
ProductionTeam
Martin, Charles: film editor
ProductionCast
Keating, Rex: commentary
ProductionCountry
GB
Language
English
LanguageMainTitles
English
LanguageSubtitles
Arabic
OtherReferences
English script
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
IWM
DeptName
Film
IDNO
IWM 84
ProductionDate
(?) 1916
ItemName
OPERATIONS OF THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCES IN EAST AFRICA [Main]
OUR GRIP ON THE HUNS : Cherry Kearton War Series [series]
IN EAST AFRICA [Alternative]
IndexEvents
01/3(676)
IndexObjects
operations, British military - movement: march
weapons, British - mortar: (improvised)
industry, British - guns: mortars & [+]
animals, mammals: horse
equipment, British - camouflage: potassium permanganate
aircraft, French - combat: Caudron GIII & [British] (?)
weapons, British - gun: 4.7-inch naval gun (carriage mounted)
training, British military - combat
IndexPlaces
German East Africa
IndexUnits
GB.A & King's African Rifles
GB.A & Royal Fusiliers, Bn 25
GB.N & Royal Naval Air Service & Sqdn 4
ShortSummary
The British campaign in German East Africa, late 1915 to early 1916.
FullSummary
Soldiers of the King's African Rifles patrolling into the bush, supplied by light canoes bringing equipment up to the frontier outposts. The 25th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers, better known as 'The Frontiersmen' or 'Driscoll's Scouts', moving up country and encamping. Wheeled mortars being cast and scratch-built from molten metal, and later test fired. A horse being camouflaged using potassium permanganate to darken its coat. An aeroplane, a Caudron GIII (captioned as belonging to the RFC, but in fact part of Royal Naval Air Service No 4 Expeditionary Squadron under the command of Squadron Commander J T Cull - note presence of RNAS ground crew), taking off, in flight and landing, probably at Maktau, Taita Hills in background. African scouts stalking on patrol. The Frontiersmen acting out the drill for a night alarm. A 4.7-inch coastal defence gun mounted on a field carriage being fired.
ContextDescription
Production: Cherry Kearton was a noted wildlife film-maker who had filmed Theodore Roosevelt's pre-war African safari, etc. His anecdotal memoir 'Adventures with Animals and Men' includes four chapters on his war-time experiences in Africa as an officer with the 25th Bn Royal Fusiliers, which arrived in Mombasa in May 1915. These African chapters have much less information about specific filming episodes than two earlier chapters about his work for Warwick in Belgium at the start of the war, and provide very few useful dates. There are, however, two descriptions of episodes which confirm that he took a camera with him, and which match the film held. (1) Kearton makes passing mention of "my newly invented spring cinematograph camera" in an account of the mishaps in testing "a new kind of trench mortar". (2) He also writes "the R.N.A.S. put in an application that I should be loaned to them, as they were urgently in need of a photographer. I then did a good deal of work first for them and later for the R.F.C." Both these episodes are described as being "soon after Bukoba" which would suggest a date in the second half of 1915. However, a date in February/March 1916, as well as the Muktau location, were suggested for the RNAS section by Peter Dye in September 2006, citing 'Cross and Cockade International' (Autumn/Winter 2006 issue).
Distribution: although this was probably a freelance production by Cherry Kearton, there is evidence that it was later screened alongside official films. For example, the Sir William Jury papers in BFI Special Collections include a copy of an undated Scala Theatre programme for a show called AT THE FRONT. As prelude to THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME after the interval, the first half offered seven short subjects from Salonika, Russia and Mesopotamia as well as two French items and a film - with the title IN EAST AFRICA - described in terms closely matching this item.
Remarks: a well made film of considerable interest.
Series continuity: there is no film held under the numbers IWM 85 - IWM 94 inclusive.
Duration
10 mins
Format
P 1/35/A
Colour
B&W
Sound
Silent
NumberOfParts
1
Dimensions
580 ft
ProductionCompany
Academy Moving Picture Bureau
ProductionTeam
Kearton, Cherry: cameraman
ProductionCountry
GB
Language
None
LanguageMainTitles
English
LanguageSubtitles
English
OtherReferences
Kearton, Cherry : 1935 : Adventures with Animals and Men : : Longmans, Green : pp 222-224
shotsheet
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
20/05/2008 05:50:18
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
IWM
DeptName
Film
IDNO
BFA 496
ProductionDate
1994 (ca)
ItemName
[BRUNEI - SSVC TAPE] [Allocated]
[BRITISH ARMY ON EXERCISES AND IN TRAINING] [Allocated Series]
ShortSummary
"Edited" highlights of Brunei tapes, taken during Exercise Ulu Rajah with the British Army in Brunei, showing members of 2nd Royal Gurkha Regiment. Scenes include: general views of jungle and river; helicopters; punji cutting; river crossing; simulated combat; briefing from commanding officer; boat drill; live firing exercise; interviews with the British High Commissioner Ivan Callan and with Brigadier Andrew Cummings.
FullSummary
Scenes on river (Tutong ?) are followed by cockpit shots inside helicopter taking off and flying over jungle - shots of Gurkha passengers in full combat gear with camouflage cream on their faces. Helicopter lands and troops disembark (exterior shot) - helicopter takes off. Gurkhas patrol in jungle; one cuts and positions Punji sticks (simple wooden booby traps). Troops wade through jungle stream. Combat simulation: crossing of stream under fire ("enemy" not seen). Close-up of soldier filling rifle magazine with bullets. Soldier copies map. CO gives briefing for amphibious assault on the Tutong River. Shots of Gurkhas, guns prepared, on board assault boat on the Tutong. Marching, boat drils and live firing exercises. Interview with British High Commissioner Ivan Carran about Exercise Ulu Rajah and cooperation with Brunei; also interview iwth Brigadier Andrew Cummings, ACOS Ops HQ Land Command, about the opportunity which the exercise gave to evaluate the 2nd Gurkha Regiment and the Brunei Garrison.
------------------------------------------------------
ARMY MOBILE NEWS TEAM SHOTLIST
(The following data has been copied, without amendment, from Army Mobile News Team computer discs.)
Jungle
River
Cutaway river
Helicopter lifting off from inside
Pilots cutaway
Soldiers inside helicopter
Helicopter landing
Patrolling
Punji cutting
Patrolling
River pictures
Tight head shot
River crossing
Battle
Magazine filling
Over the shoulder briefing
CO briefing
Cutaway over the shoulder
Cutaway troops
Boat drills
Live firing
IV - Ivan Callan - British High Commissioner
IV - Brig Cummings
Duration
22 mins
Format
Beta-SP
Colour
Colour
Sound
Sound
NumberOfParts
1
Dimensions
30
ProductionCompany
United Kingdom Land Forces Mobile News Team
ProductionCountry
GB
Language
English
LanguageMainTitles
None
LanguageSubtitles
None
OtherReferences
---
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
26/09/2008 05:50:15
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
To be established
DeptName
Film
IDNO
CAU 245
ProductionDate
12/1944
ItemName
JUNGLE PATROL [Main]
IndexEvents
Second World War & Shaggy Ridge, Battle of & 25/1/1944
IndexObjects
aircraft, United States - transport: Douglas C-47 Dakota
aircraft, United States - combat: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
combat, Allied
operations, Allied military - sortie
IndexPlaces
New Guinea & Ramu Valley <Shaggy Ridge>
IndexUnits
AU.A
US.F
ShortSummary
Veterans of the North African and Syrian campaigns see combat in New Guinea with the 7th Australian Division, 1943-44.
FullSummary
START 10:00:09 The film's opening titles over which it introduces all eight members of an Australian infantry section - Private A N McGregor, Lance-Corporal A C Pierson, Privates F C Northcott, A B Graffin, M J Driver, Corporal R A Box and Privates J H Adams and E Barmby - and the two cameramen - J W Trerise and William Carty (seen here posing with their Bell and Howell 35mm cine cameras) - who record their combat experiences in the frontline. The rolling caption states, "All of this picture was made in New Guinea, most of it in forward battles areas, some of it under fire. It was photographed by the Commonwealth Film Unit which flew with an Australian patrol into the Ramu Valley and walked with it to the outpost of Shaggy Ridge in the Finisterre Range. This was the nearest point to Tokio (sic) so far gained by Allied troops".
10:02:04 The eight riflemen board 'Honeymoon Express', a C-47 Skytrain aircraft manned by a 5th US Army Air Force crew (375th Troop Carrier Group?) which, as the commentary states, took part in the first airborne landing in the South-West Pacific theatre at Nadzab on 5 September 1943. During their air hop from Port Moresby over the Owen Stanley Range to the northern half of the island, the soldiers keep themselves amused by playing cards, playing a harmonica and smoking cigarettes given to them by the American flight engineer. The route taken by their aircraft, flying in formation with other C-47s, transports them over the Kokoda Trail, scene of fierce fighting between Australian and Japanese forces a year earlier (the commentary refers to the fierce fighting that resulted in the recapture of Kokoda by the Australians in October-November 1942). The aircraft passes over Salamaua and Lae (seized from the Japanese just months earlier) before landing at an airstrip at Dampu in the Ramu Valley just ten miles from the frontline.
10:05:44 The eight Australians disembark from the C-47 and make their way on foot through the disease-ridden Ramu Valley, fording the fast-flowing Ramu river and bathing in a rocky pool. After this brief rest, they push on in the tropical heat through ten feet-tall kunai grass and begin their ascent of the steep Finisterre Range. On their way, they encounter local inhabitants in service with the Australians as porters and stretcher-bearers.
10:09:07 On arrival at their battalion's position high up on Shaggy Ridge, the men pitch tent in a tropical shower, eat bully beef and make themselves comfortable as possible by applying foot powder, insect repellent and anti-lice lotion to themselves. While the rest sleep, one section member wearing waterproofs does sentry duty in the rain.
10:10:26 At day break, the men shave, trim their hair and drink fresh water treated with chlorination tablets. The section holds an 'O' group before then setting out on a long-range patrol into the jungle. The patrol is seen making its way along a waterlogged and muddy trail, pausing to radio back to battalion headquarters its position with the help of a US-issued Motorola AM SCR-536 'handie-talkie' and receiving food supplies dropped by a USAAF C-47.
10:12:41 The eight-man patrol continues on its mission, fording a fast-flowing stream, wading through a swamp and pushing its way through kunai grass before they encounter fire from an enemy sniper. A Japanese machine gun crew opens up on the patrol from a bunker hidden in the jungle. The Australians close in on the enemy, firing their SMLE Mk III rifles, Bren light machine-gun and Owen sub machine-guns from the hip before finally destroying the bunker with hand-grenades. Afterwards, they bury the Japanese soldiers they have killed.
10:15:09 A forward artillery spotter climbs up a tree and the final battle for Shaggy Ridge begins with a bombardment by Australian Ordnance QF 25-pounder field howitzers down in the Ramu valley and shorter-range weapons such as a Vickers machine-gun and a two-inch mortar. Artillery rounds burst on a feature of Shaggy Ridge known as 'The Pimple', followed by strafing and low-level bombing by USAAF P-40 fighter-bombers (identified as Warhawks in the commentary). Australian troops (A Company, 2/9 Battalion AIF) are seen in possession of the blasted slopes of 'The Pimple' following its capture on 21 January 1944. A soldier has his head wound bandaged and a victory in this hard-won battle is signalled by a Very flare and a victoy roll by a P-40 fighter-bomber flying overhead.
10:17:48 After Shaggy Ridge has fallen, a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress surveys the cratered mountain battlefield. Over shots showing clouds over the Finisterre Range, Australian infantrymen struggling up a mountain trail, in action against the Japanese and framed heroically on a mountain top surrounded by clouds and mountain peaks, the commentary concludes,"You, the Australian soldier, have sweated some more miles of jungle. You have won another battle. In a year, you've advanced three hundred miles. You've got three thousand miles to go. But when the Allies march into Tokyo, you'll be marching in - with them!"
END 10:18:31
ContextDescription
Summary: While the actual combat scenes showing the fighting for 'The Pimple' were filmed sometime between 27 December 1943 and 31 January 1944, the rest of the film was probaly shot on or around 23 March 1944.
The film's narrator, a young Australian actor called Peter Finch, would go on to star in feature films like 'A Town Like Alice', Battle of the River Plate', 'Far from the Madding Crowd', 'Sunday, Bloody Sunday' and 'Network'.
In addition to the SMLE Mk III rifle and the Bren light machine-gun, the standard British army infantry weapons of the 1939-1945 war, two of the infantrymen featured in this film (Graffin and Adams) are armed with the Owen 9mm sub machine-gun, an Australian designed and manufactured weapon that proved to be much more robust and reliable than its British counterpart, the Sten.
Remarks: An intelligent and informative short film with a spare and factual commentary about the ordinary soldier's experience of war. The idea of following individual soldiers as they trek into battle was used shortly afterwards by Hollywood director Lewis Milestone in 'A Walk in the Sun', a feature released in December 1945 about an American infantry platoon in Italy in 1943.
Duration
18 mins 31 secs
Format
35mm
Colour
B&W
Sound
Sound
NumberOfParts
2
Dimensions
1720 ft
ProductionSponsor
National Films Council [Commonwealth Department of Information]
ProductionCompany
Commonwealth Film Unit
ProductionTeam
Gurr, Tom: director
Allan, Jack: manager
Gurr, Tom: script
Trerise, J W: photography
Carty, William: photography
Coffey, Frank: editor
Parker, Clifton: music composer
Bird, Walter C: sound recordist
Sutton, E J (Lieutenant): army liaison
ProductionCast
Finch, Peter (Gunner): narrator
ProductionCountry
Australia
Language
English
LanguageMainTitles
English
LanguageSubtitles
None
OtherReferences
See the Australian War Memorial website, locate 'Collections' and click 'Jungle Patrol' for stills taken during the production of this film. They carry a 23 March 1944 dateline.
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
ForgingNationalities
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
17/06/2008 05:50:19
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
IWM
DeptName
Film
IDNO
COI 497
ProductionDate
11/1945
ItemName
BURMA VICTORY [Main]
IndexObjects
aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Blenheim
aircraft, United States - combat: Curtiss P-40N/S Warhawk
aircraft, United States - combat: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
aircraft, United States - glider: Waco CG-4A
aircraft, United States - transport: Douglas C-47 Skytrain
armour, British - tank: Valentine Mk III
armour, United States - tank: M3 General Grant
armour, United States - tank: M4A1 Sherman
armour, United States - tank: M5 Stuart
combat, Allied
strategy, Allied
transport, United States military - truck: GMC CCKW-352-12C1
transport, United States military - truck: Studebaker US6-U2
weapons, British - CBW: flamethrower
weapons, British - gun: 5.5-inch
weapons, British - rocket: bazooka
weapons, British - smallarm: Vickers machine gun
IndexPeople
Cochran, Philip C
Leese, Oliver W H
Merrill, Frank D
Mountbatten, Louis (Earl)
Seagrave (Dr)
Slim, William J
Stilwell, Joseph W
Wingate, Orde C
IndexPlaces
Burma
IndexUnits
GB.A & Army 14
ShortSummary
Film about the Allied victory in Burma.
FullSummary
Introduction briefly outlines the geography and climate of Burma, and the extent of the Japanese conquests. The film then describes the establishment of SEAC under Mountbatten, "a born innovator and firm believer in the unorthodox", and gives a comparatively detailed account of subsequent military events, including the Battle of Imphal-Kohima and Slim's drive on Mandalay, Arakan landings, the northern offensive of the Americans and Chinese under Stilwell, and the roles played by Chindits and Merrill's Marauders. The film ends with the capture of Rangoon and the Japanese surrender. Thematic elements include: (1) The difficulties of climate, terrain, and the endemic diseases of dysentery, malaria, etc., "...enemies more deadly than the Jap." (2) The vital role of air supplies - "the army of the jungle advanced on the wings of the air force" - and air evacuation of the wounded "...the supreme service which Admiral Mountbatten secured for his command." (3) The shattering of the myth of Japanese invincibility. (4) The secondary role of the Burma campaign in overall Allied strategy.
Duration
62 mins
Format
P 1/35/N
Colour
B&W
Sound
comopt
NumberOfParts
6
Dimensions
5577 ft
ProductionSponsor
Ministry of Information
ProductionCompany
British Army Film Unit
British, Indian, and American combat cameramen of SEAC (from material taken by)
ProductionTeam
Boulting, Roy (Captain): director
Macdonald, David (Lieutenant-Colonel): in charge of production
Boulting, Roy (Captain): supervising film editor
Best, Richard (Sergeant): film editor
Clarke, Frank (Sergeant): film editor
Watson, Norman (Lieutenant): production manager
Harvey, Frank (Captain): commentary written
Rawsthorne, Alan (Sergeant): music composer
ProductionCast
King-Wood, David: commentator
Brandt, Ivan: commentator
Clarke, Frank: commentator
ProductionCountry
GB
Language
English
LanguageMainTitles
English
LanguageSubtitles
None
OtherReferences
COI file - script, production information, other documentation
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
JungleWarfare
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43
URLEncodedDeptName
Film
Access
UPU