Horne, Bernard Lionel (IWM interview)

British civilian conscientious objector in GB, 1939-1942; sapper served with 75 Bomb Disposal Section, Royal Engineers in GB, 1942-1943; private served with 225 (Parachute) Field Ambulance, 5 Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB, North West Europe and Far East, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in GB and London, 1912-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as conscientious objector in GB, 1939-1942: development of anti-war attitudes through Congregational Church; contact with Fellowship of Reconciliation; attitude of others to his anti-war opinions; registering as conscientious objector, 1939; appearance at tribunal, 1940. Aspects of period as sapper with 75 Bomb Disposal Section, Royal Engineers in GB, 1942-1943: initial call up to Non- Combatant Corps, 1942; volunteering for bomb disposal work; training at Barton Stacey; posting to unit. Aspects of period as private with 225 (Parachute) Field Ambulance, 5 Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB, 1943-1944: transfer to unit, 8/1943; parachute training at Ringway; role assisting quartermaster with medical supplies. REEL 2 Continues: composition of 6th Airborne Div; organisation of unit; move into sealed camp, 5/1944. Recollections of operations as private with 225 (Parachute) Field Ambulance, 5 Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Normandy, 1944: embarking aboard Short Stirling, 6/6/1944; items carried in kit bag; allocation of drop zone near Ranville; landing in apple tree; rendezvousing at church in Ranville; organising dressing station in chateau and arrival of first casualties; unit casualties; move from chateau to quarry; medical supplies; contact with civilians; treatment of shell-shock cases; return to GB. Recollections of operations as private with 225 (Parachute) Field Ambulance, 5 Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945: move to Flavion, Belgium during Ardennes offensive, 12/1944. REEL 3 Continues: relations with Belgian civilians; lice problem in Netherlands, early 1945; jump from Douglas Dakota during Rhine crossing, 3/1945; stretcher carrying work; minor shrapnel wound in ankle during Rhine crossing, 3/1945; attitude of troops towards non-fraternisation order; contact with German civilian; attitude towards Germans; taking over and running ex-Luftwaffe hospital at Wismar, 1945. Aspects of period as private with 225 (Parachute) Field Ambulance, 5 Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Far East, 1945-1946: sending of unit to Far East; hearing of dropping of atomic bomb in Indian Ocean, 8/1945; membership of Fellowship of Reconciliation.