NAM.2014-02-9-1

Oral history interview with Maj Graham (Spike) Paul Quant, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), 1979-. Interview conducted by Danu Reid and Amy Cameron at West Court Officers Mess for the National Army Museum Conflicts of Interest gallery, 15 May 2009. Digital audio file, duration: 1 hr 59 min 24 sec. Associated with Northern Ireland (1969-2007), Gulf War (1990-1991), Iraq (2003-2011) and Afghanistan (2001-2014). Interview covers his service in Northern Ireland, the Gulf War, the Iraq War and the Afghanistan war; describes his reasons for joining the army and his initial training including civilian qualification and apprenticeship; describes his role as a mechanic working on aircraft including the Gazelle, Lynx, Beaver and Islander in Northern Ireland for 5 and a half years; describes his experiences in the Gulf War including fear of and training for nuclear warfare and difficulties with communication equipment and fighting conditions; describes his service on Op TELIC 1 in Iraq as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade including pre-deployment briefings and setting up rehabilitation workshops for vehicles and aircraft; describes thoughts on conflict in Iraq and relationship and differences between UK and US forces; describes his service on Op HERRICK 4 providing second line support, resupplying equipment, securing supply routes and building Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) including OpTAG training and lack of resources; describes decrease in REME presence due to civilian contractors; describes appeal of life in the Army and relationship with his wife, an Army nurse.

DESERT STORM, Operation, 1991 (Gulf War 1990-1991), TELIC, Operation, 2003-2009 (Iraq 2003-2011), HERRICK, Operation, 2002-14 (Afghanistan 2001-2021), BANNER, Operation, 1969-2007 (Northern Ireland deployment 1969-2007)