Oral History Interview with James Black
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Oral History Interview with James Black (Sound)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral monologue with James Black. Black was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 10 May 1920 and joined the Territorial Army in 1937. In August 1939 his unit was mobilized when Great Britain declared war on Germany. He served in Belgium and France and was evacuated at Dunkirk in May 1940. In 1941, he volunteered to be an instructor in the Indian Army. In March 1942 he went to Roorkee, India where he was assigned to King George the First Bengal Sappers and Miners (Indian Engineers). As a trainer of drivers, mechanics and machinists, he worked with Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims and learned to speak Hindustani. In February 1943, he was assigned to the 16th Field Company of the regimental headquarters and sent to Bombay. He recalls a horrific explosion and fire that occurred on 14 April 1944, which caused the death of hundreds. In May 1944 Black’s became part of the 33rd Indian Corps and he describes the deplorable conditions encountered while fighting to break the Japanese siege of Imphal, India. He recounts building Bailey bridge over the Chindwin River in December 1944 on the way to Rangoon. In July 1945, his unit boarded ships to participate in the invasion of Malaya. While on board, they received notice of the surrender of Japanese forces. In December 1945 he arrived in England and recalls being met at the dock by his brother who had been wounded in France. He concludes the narrative by telling of migrating to Canada and ultimately moving to California.
Oral History Interview with James Black - ark:/67531/metapth1608179
Oral History Interview with James Black, text, Date Unknown; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1604370/: accessed May 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.