Description
Object description
British volunteer and NCO served with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to Special Operations Executive at STS 54a, Fawley Court, Henley-on-Thames and STS 53a, Grendon Hall, Grendon Underwood in GB, 8/1943-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Coundon, GB, 1923-1939: family; character of village; parent's employment; family home; taking piano lessons; education; social and religious activities; speculation on prospect of coming war. Aspects of period as schoolchild and in Coundon, GB, 1939-1943: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; degree of preparations for war in village; effect of war on education including arrival of education; rationing; move to Bishop's Secretarial School at Darlington.
REEL 2 Continues: coping with blackout; German air raids; employment with Education Department of Durham County Council in Durham; firewatching duties; reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; presence of German prisoners of war in area; troops billeted in area; desire to join armed services. Aspects of enlistment and training as volunteer with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry at Overthorpe Hall, Banbury in GB, 1943: enlistment at Wilton Place in London, 7/1943; move to Overthorpe Hall; background of recruits; basic training; uniform; accommodation; reaction to class background to recruits; relations with other members of group; office duties; drill
REEL 3 Continues: learning Morse Code; officer who saw ghost in Overthorpe Hall; hierarchy of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Recollections of period as volunteer and NCO with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to STS 54a, Fawley Court at Henley-on-Thames in GB, 8/1943-8/1944: posting to station; discipline; attitude of men towards First Aid Nursing Yeomanry including towards her as Morse Code instructor; relations with local civilians; accommodation; rations; responsibilities as instructor; training Dutch and Danish Special Operations Executive personnel; daily routine; uniform worn; rules regarding saluting; duties as Morse Code instructor and listening in for agents.
REEL 4 Continues: security surrounding role; training received by agents at other Special Operations Executive stations; memories of agents; sending and receiving Morse Code; security at station; attending court martial; question of security amongst First Aid Nursing Yeomanry personnel; relations between First Aid Nursing Yeomanry personnel and agents; request for holiday photographs of France; character of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry colleagues; story of parents visit to Henley-on-Thames at time of landings in Normandy, France, 6/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to Special Operations Executive at 53a, at Grendon Hall, Grendon Underwood in GB, 8/1944-8/1945: transfer to station; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; attitude towards work as wireless operators; question of secrecy surrounding wartime role; attitude towards work with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry; difficulties of returning to civilian life.