Bernard, Joan Constance Churchill (IWM interview)

British civilian student at Oxford University, GB, 1939-1940; private served as secretary with Auxiliary Territorial Service, 5th Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 1940-1941; served as staff officer with Anti-Aircraft Command in GB, 1942-1944 and with Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1918-1938: family; education. Recollections of period as student at Oxford University, 1939-1940: memories of outbreak of war, 9/1939; decision to leave University to join war effort; taking final exams at time of Dunkirk, 1940; decision to join Auxiliary Territorial Service. Aspects of enlistment and training with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1940: adjusting to army life; living conditions; uniform; food rations; first experience of kitchen duty. Aspects of period with Auxiliary Territorial Service, 5th Anti-Aircraft Div in Reading, GB, 1940-1941: posting as platoon secretary; duties; selection for officer training. Recollections of officer training with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1941-1942: attitude towards officer training; class background of women on course; sex education. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period in command of Auxiliary Territorial Service supporting searchlight batteries in Surrey and Hampshire areas, GB, 1941-1942: duties; attitude towards 'Dig for Victory' campaign; story of standing up to Auxiliary Territorial Service inspector; role of searchlight batteries; relations between men and Auxiliary Territorial Service women; dealing with pregnant Auxiliary Territorial Service woman. Recollections of period as Staff Officer with Anti-Aircraft Command at Stanmore, 1942-1944: duties; change in Auxiliary Territorial Service organisation; promotion to Junior Commander; duties; briefing on V1 threat, 1/1944; visit by Princess Royal. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period with Auxiliary Territorial Servive in charge of twenty four anti-aircraft sites in Sussex, GB, 1941: duties in charge of food provision; difficulties of posting. Recollections of period as officer with SHAEF in GB, 1944: selection for service at SHAEF and interview; arrival at Bushy Park; story of being given top secret D-Day plans; V1 raids; memories of colleagues; V1 and V2 attacks. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period with SHAEF, Special Projectile Operations Group, Germany 1945: reaction to sight of slave labourers at Nordhausen; suggesting to superiors that they should research, test and report on V2s; interrogation of scientists and officials re V2s; discovery and preparation of V2s for tests at Cuxhaven; co-operation of Werner Von Braun and other Germans; launch of V2s; invitation of VIPs to launch; attitude of War Office towards V2 project. REEL 5 Continues: MiD for role in V2 project; belief that V2 in Imperial War Museum is one of the eight that they rescued; V1 and V2 attacks on GB and methods of countering them; celebration of VE Day at Rheims, 5/1945; restrictions on female service personnel in Germany after VE-Day. Recollections of civilian life in GB, post-1945: impact of wartime service on life; decision to embark on career post-war; obtaining job with Coal Board; impact of war on women's lives; public attitude towards women in services; relations between servicemen and women. REEL 6 Continues: story of smoking cigar in front of disapproving Brigadier. Memories of meeting General Eisenhower and General Montgomery.