NAM.1991-07-160-1

Sound cassette: oral history interview with Capt Derek W T Ballance, recalling his service as a Captain in the Royal Corps of Signals 1939-1945. Ballance was called up to 55 West Lancs Div Signals in Sept 1939. In 1941 he attended OCTU at Catterick Camp, prior to sailing to India in Nov 1941. In April 1942 he was mobilised with 28 Mountain Regiment Signal Section and accompanied them across India to Dimapur and was based at Shenam on the Assam-Burma border. In December 1943 he was promoted to Capt as Officer Commanding Bde Signals, 37th Infantry (Gurkha) Bde and operated in the Imphal area with the Bde as part of 23 Indian Div. In 1945 the Brigade took part in Operation ZIPPER, amphibious landing in Malaya, and later moved to Java. In December 1945 he was repatriated to England. Interview conducted on 5 July 1991.

World War Two, Home Front (1939-1945)

ZIPPER, Operation, 1945 (World War Two, Far East 1941-1945)