Arnall, Jack (IWM interview)

British gunner served with 45th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953

REEL 1 Background in Liversedge, 1920-1938: family; employment; reasons for joining Territorial Army, 1938. Reaction to recall from army reserves, 8/1950 and role in 45th Field Regt, Royal Artillery. Recollections of operations with 45th Field Regt, RA, 29 Bde in Korea, 1950-1951: flight from GB to Japan, 10/1950; bartering with US troops; work of advance party; initial impressions of Korea; contrast between US and British Army discipline; opinion of use of napalm. REEL 2 Continues: US troops' abandonment of supplies on retreat; change of role to tank wirelessman, 25/12/1950; inadequacy of clothing for winter; mistreatment of civilians; character of US retreat, late 1950. Recollections of capture by Chinese and trek into North Korea, 1/1951-3/1951: circumstances of capture, 1/1951; initial treatment by Chinese. REEL 3 Continues: effect of Chinese MiGs on US heavy daylight bombing; British POWs' support for US use of atomic bomb on China; Chinese precautions against air attacks, nature of main supply route, treatment of stragglers and Korean civilian starvation. Recollections of period as POW in North Korea, 1951-1953: arrival in Camp 5, Pyukdong; incident of Chinese officer kicking US soldier; nature of stay in Bean Camp on journey north; camp diet; fraternisation with Turkish prisoners; conditions in camp; question of fastidiousness with food; qualities of Chinese infantrymen; complaints by Turks against US troops. REEL 4 Continues: contrast in different nationalities' attitudes under captivity; Chinese political indoctrination and POWs' response; literature available; reception of Alan Winnington; Arnall's own political views; opinion of Andrew Condron; cases of homosexuality; Turkish POWs and use of marijuana; other left wing visitors to POWs; question of germ warfare issue; question of causes of Korean War; contrast between black and white US POWs in coping with camp life. REEL 5 Continues: question of work as POW; opinion of POW work of Andrew Condron.