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Mr Donald Board interviewed by Margaret le Cras.
Edited transcript of tape recording of the interview

In 1940, I started with Billy Sheppard and his harmonica band and that’s when I started on…
I………. Your time was taken up?
Mr Board. I was out almost every night of the week, with practices and all that. Actually, I suppose I ought to mention his name, my mate then was a Mr Ted Le Gallez, I’ve heard that he’s in the King Edward, he was my ambulance division The strange thing is, his father was a captain in World War 1, he was the foreman of the tree-felling gang I was in, and, I don’t know how it come about, but in the Army, - they don’t still wear them I don’t suppose — what they call a Sam Browne, a leather belt with a cross — remember —
I………. Yes, I remember
Mr Board. Well I exchanged, because I didn’t smoke, I used to years before, but anyhow I didn’t smoke, I exchanged my tobacco ration with him for his Sam Browne Belt, and I’ve still got it. And I’ve got 1942 I think it was written on the back. And I use it when I’ve got a bad back, it helps my back. That’s Ted’s father.
I………. A good belt!
Mr Board. Ah yes, it’s solid, and its about that wide.
I………. Would you have gone to see Band concerts at Candie?
Mr Board. The German Bands? Yes, I’ve seen some of those.
I………. Because they would have seen Band concerts in the Summer, wouldn’t they, because I’ve seen photographs, and they would have been very popular for the local people to watch, they would have been good musicians, and the German music is very….
Mr Board. I’ve been at concerts on Saturday nights, and the auditorium was full, and it was crowded with people right up to the statue of Queen Victoria, German soldiers,
I………. So they would have been local people and Germans?
Mr Board. Oh yes. Prior to that, when I’d been occasionally to the Gaumont, - there was a rail down the middle, one side were the Germans.

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