NAM.1991-12-30-4

Fourth of four sound cassettes: oral history interview with Maj O D F Gardner, who served with the Gloucestershire Regiment in the UK 1939-1942, and in India, Burma and Malaya 1942-1946. Initially with a searchlight regiment, he attended OCTU at Aldershot Feb 1940, was posted first to Wales and then Lincolnshire. In April 1942 his brigade converted to Royal Armoured Corps, sailed to India via Bahia, Brazil Oct to Dec 1942, and trained near Poona as part of the 32nd Indian Armoured Division. In the middle of 1943 his unit revoted to Infantry as part of 36 British Division, intended for combined operations, and then in early 1944 the 10th Gloucesters were committed to the latter stages of the 2nd Battle of the Arakan. Gardner describes his part in fight for the 'Tunnels'. His formation then moved to Imphal-Kohima but Gardner suffered an accident and following his recovery he was appointed to a staff appointment at HQ 72 Infantry Bde. Gardner then became an Assistant Provost Marshal with 4 Corps, crossed the Irrawaddy at Pagan and went in with operation Zipper to help police Singapore once it was reoccupied. Gardner returned to the UK in early 1946. Interview conducted on 20 November 1991.

Arakan Campaign, 1942-44 (World War Two, Far East 1941-1945), ZIPPER, Operation, 1945 (World War Two, Far East 1941-1945)