No doubt this link has been spotted previously by members, but I attach a link to the IWM recorded oral testimony of Major General HEN ('Bala') Bredin CB DSO and Two Bars MC and Bar. It's 9 Reels (ie 4 1/2 hours long!) http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011874 Here's a rough and ready guide to the hours.. Reel 1 - Belgium/France with 2 RUR. Reel 2 - Dunkirk with 2 RUR. Reel 3 - Home Front. Reel 4 - Italy 1943 with 2 Parachute Brigade,1 RIrF, 6 Innisks. Reel 5/6 - Italy 1944 with 2 LIR. Reel 7 - Italy/Austria 1945 with 2 LIR/78 Div. Reel 8/9 - Post war in Palestine/Cyprus/Suez. Bala Bredin was one of three remarkable Commanding Officers that led the 2nd Bn London Irish Rifles in Tunisia and Italy - TPD (Pat) Scott, John Horsfall and Bala Bredin. My father was proud to have served with all three men. Here's also a previous thread with more details of 2 RUR in France: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/2nd-royal-ulster-rifles-dunkirk.40130/#post-484218 best wishes
Love this excerpt of the testimony on Reel 2 when Major Bredin was on the Isle of Man paddle cruiser Ben-my-Chree on his way home from France in June 1940: “After I had been sitting in what was probably one of the saloons in this ship, I saw a man in a white coat walking about, sort of stepping over all these myriad of people, who were sitting or lying there and I thought to myself; I wonder if this is possibly, by any chance, a steward and I beckoned him and I said: ‘Excuse me, are you a steward?’ And he said; ‘Yes, sir, can I do anything for you?’ And I said: ‘Well would it be possible, for you to produce a glass of beer for me or if you can’t produce a glass of beer, a glass of water?’ And he said: ‘Oh yes sir, by all means but, of course, you do know the rules. I can’t supply you with any alcohol until we’re 3 miles out.’ I thought to myself: ‘We can’t lose a war with people like this around.’.. ...However, he was as good as his word and by the time that happened, I remembered myself and I thought I must get him to see if he could give the soldiers something too. We all got something eventually." Question: Did you have to pay for it? "Do you know, I can’t remember that but I doubt it. I think that he probably reckoned that this was a slightly unusual situation. “
Good find. Obituary here: Maj-Gen 'Bala' Bredin Was Bala Bredin related to 'Speedy' Bredin? (Lieut-Colonel Alexander Edward Craven DSC, MC - C/O 1/6 GR, 1954-56) Edit: Brothers.
Yes, cousin, I think. A couple more of Bala Bredin: - from Dec 1944, when he was Commanding Officer of 2 LIR, alongside Lt-Col Murphy-Palmer of 1 RIrF. - dressed as a Chicago gangster, with fellow officers, celebrating St Patrick in Forli during March 1945. best
