Description
Object description
British private served as wireless operator with No. 12 Wireless Section, Royal Corps of Signals in Calais, France, 5/1940
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period with No. 12 Wireless Section in GB; 1939-1940: story of formation of No. 12 Wireless Section; mobilized on outbreak of war and posted to Bakewell for training, 9/1939; attached to North West Expeditionary Force and equipped for Norwegian campaign, 4/1940; mobilized and posted to France as independent section, 5/1940; drove in wireless vans to Dover and briefed on quay by CO; role of section providing wireless communications between Dover, Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne; issued with wireless sets and embarked for Calais. Aspects of operations with No. 12 Wireless Section in Calais, France, 5/1940: bombed on arrival in Calais; problem of French dock workers not unloading ships; reaction to ship leaving with all kit and wireless equipment still aboard; weapons; accommodation; description of bombing of Calais; left HQ for docks, 22/May/1940; requisitioned war graves truck; story about German prisoners and French Fifth Columnist; tied rifle to body when sleeping; attitude to discipline; wrote to fiancée and made will; policing duties holding back refugees at docks; received No. 9 wireless sets and set up wireless station; problem of not being able to use naval codes after disappearance of naval signaller; description of fighting in and around Calais; question of British forces being outnumbered and outgunned; location of wireless transmitters on either side of road; story of being unable to decode important signal from Dover until arrival of Royal Marines cypher operator; evacuated HQ; description of conditions at docks; story of Padre Craig receiving Military Cross for unloading ammunition from destroyer in harbour; No. 12 Wireless Section attached to Queen Victoria's Rifles as infantry; problem of having no infantry training; issued with gas masks; story of falling and injuring hand; opinion of Queen Victoria's Rifles; description of conditions in shelter at railway station; discarded greatcoat and walked to dunes; description of scene on beach; problem of German spy in lighthouse; aerial activity; story of German biplane dropping leaflets demanding surrender; description of machine gun bullets ricocheting off tin helmet; story of constructing shelters in dunes; problem of wounded right foot; opinion of NCOs and officers; account by Lt Austin Evitts about conditions in the citadel;
REEL 2 Continues: reaction to arrival of Cpt Curtis of Royal Marines to act as cypher operator; story of Mayor of Calais delivering ultimatum from Germans and reaction of Brigadier; story of message sent by Secretary of State for War Winston Churchill to Brig. Nicholson; description of shelling on Calais; problem of wireless truck at citadel being out of action; description of walking through tunnel under citadel to position on embankment; ordered to hand over rifle when relieved due to shortage of weapons; story of extracting .303 ammunition from Bren gun magazine to use for rifles; description of journey to fort ; story about pregnant Jewish refugee offering rifle; story of French civilian attempting to board launch collecting wounded from beach; handed over pocket field dressings to captain of launch; attitude to launch being shelled despite Red Cross markings; story about surrender of fort; sheltered in breakwater until own party surrendered; reaction to reports of Germans shooting prisoners; attitude to surrendering; threw rifle and respirator into sea; story of attempt to surrender being abandoned after jetty shelled by Royal Navy; problem of injuring right foot and falling into sea; story of being mistaken for German by British soldiers; joined party including other men from No.12 Wireless Section; problem of hypothermia; account by Lt Austin Evitts describing surrender of the citadel.
REEL 3 Continues: story of escaping from Calais aboard HMS Gulzar, 27/May/1940; description of physical condition and treatment aboard ship; disembarked at Dover; opinion of HMS Gulzar's captain Victor Brammall DFC; taken to hospital in London; story of post-war friendship with Victor Brammall and Austin Evitts; reflections on operations in Calais; story of attending book launch in London for Airey Neave's book 'Flames of Calais', 1972.