"Weapons were the main problem. As I say you slept with them, slept with those snuggled up beside you.

"When you were out on patrol, ambush patrol particularly we were laying still and quiet.

"In my case the Alan gun, I had to keep the Alan gun cradled inside my parka to stop it freezing up and every now and then you'd move the bolt just to make sure that it was still active. The fellows with the rifles they had a bit more trouble than us. The bren gunners had a serious problem because it was a bit large to tuck inside their coats. So keeping your weapons mobile in that cold was a big problem."

CORPORAL RON CASHMAN