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I was born on 19 February 1917. At the start of the War I was working as a Clerk in the Co-operative in Glasgow. I was living in Possilpark in Glasgow. I saw soldiers walking in the street and I thought I would like to join up and wear a uniform so I remember walking to Yorkhill Barracks in Glasgow and joining up. I realy wanted to be in the Airforce, but all they could offer me was the Royal Artillery and I was joined up in the 64th Anti Tank Regiment. People said that it was a suicide regiment as there were only two pound anti tank guns which meant that you had to be really close to the tannks for the firing to be effective. Anyway, it turned out to be relatively lucky regiment. I trained forstly with the territorial army in various locations. We started off in Kelvingrove Park and lodging in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. I remember digging a trench in Kelvingrove park. Then we were in various locations throughout England such as Halifax and Suffolk etc. I think the training went on for months, and then I was called up as I was a Reservist. Again I think initially their was a period of training, marching etc and I remember being at Catterick Camp. We were based at a camp in Tillicoutry near Stirling when told were were going abroad. I remember being lined up to attention on Greenock Quay and an Officer speaking to us and telling us that we re goind abraod but that the location was secret and that we were not to talk about it. We then boarded a large liner, called the HMS Strathmore. I think it was a P&O Liner. We slep below decks and didn't know where we were going. When we were in the area of the Bay of Biscay we were finally told that we were going to North Africa. I didn't realy know what to expect at that point. We landed at Algiers on the beach and it was peaceful. There was no enemy fire etc. The Americans were already there. We were told to make our way to Tunis. I remember marching for miles to a camp about three miles outside Tunis. The Germans were in the hill round about and there was shell fire etc. It was frightening. I was working as a medical orderly when outside Tunis. I remember my sister's boyfriend, William Leitch (who was a dispatch motorcycle rider) being killed by a German sniper at the side of the road. I was told that some Arabs had stripped him and stolen his clothes and he was found naked at the side of the road. We were doing training etc while at the camp outside Tunis. At one point, when taking refuge in a field hospital from German tanks outside Tunis, I was introduced to Major Randolph Churchill who was Winston Churchill's son. He gave my friend and I a large tin of meat to eat then sent us back to our camp. I remmebr there was no cutlery and we had to scoop it out with our fingers. At Tunis I think there was the air bombardment by the Americans and a two prong attack by the Britich and Americans. I was still working in the sick bay as a medical orderly. The Infantry was in, and then we followed them, backing them up. The Germans capitulated, they were surrounded and the allies took Tunis. I think I remember that there were 150,000 German prisoners. My experience of the capture of Tunis had not been bad. I remember driving in a convoy of lorries into Tunis and there being crowds cheering us and waving flags. I remember being asked for food by a Tunisian lady and I gave her the tin of corned beef which I had. We were then billetted to hotels etc. I think I was staying in a big house. The next detination was Sousse, also in North Africa. From there we sailed for Sicily and landed at Sicily. The Americans went up the left coastline and we went up the right. I remember black grapes and scorching heat. Again we were really following up the rear and I just remember firing some random shots etc. I was not really involved in heavy combat. Sicily was taken and we then crossed to Italy. We were in the Bay of Naples initially and then we fought up the west coats of Italy. A lot of people were killed in Italy. It was frightening. The worst thing was the shellfire. I remember trying to sleep in trenches with shellfire al around and we were all shaking and terrified. The worst point was the battles at Cassino. So many men were killed there. I remmebr in Cassino finally being able to sleep through the night and waking up in the morning with my blankets lapping around my neck as it had ben pouring all night and the trench had filled with water. I was ill for about 6 weeks with hypothermia after that. Before the battle at Cassino, I had found out that my brother's regiment, the Lovat Scouts, was also in Italy. My Regiment Officer arranged me to meet him in Florence as we had not seen each other for about three years by that point. I remember meeting him there. From Italy, we crossed the Alps and went through Switzerland and Germany and into Austria. I remember it being very peaceful and pleasant and more like a holiday in Austria as the war was nearing its end at that point. The weather was great. From there we were sent on holidsy to Cairo and I was staying at the Atlantic Hotel. It was a bit of dump and I was bitten in bed and contracted Malaria. I was very seriously ill in hospital after that. After that, we made our way back to Italy and it was in North Italy that I found out the war was over and I was given my discharge papers. I was so relieved to be going back home. I had been abroad for three and a half years. I was told I could stay in the army if I wanted, but I wanted to go back to my wife and my job in the Co-op. When I went back, I was told that I might not get my job back as I had volunteered for the army. However,it went to a committee and I did get it back and I was there for the rest of my working life.

My experience of the war was bad, the worst points being the battle of Cassino, the malaria, seeing people be killed (I saw an Arab being shot in cold blood in North Africa under order of an officer who was going mad and paranoid and though that all the Arabs were spies), and the rough sleeping. However, my experience could have been a lot worse and I know that the experience of some people was worse. I think it was because I volunterred, rather then waiting to be conscripted, so avoided infantry (infantry did all the heavy work) and also, as I say, it was just a lucky regiment. In addition, as I had bookkeeping experience, I was quite often working in regimental offices rather then involved in heavy combat. I was given five medals in the War. I remember four of them, namely the TA Medal, the Italy Star, African Star and the defence medal.

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