Hopthrow, Harry Ewart (Oral history)

British NCO served as wireless operator with Signal Service, Royal Engineers attached to Headquarters, 30th Div on Western Front, 1917-1918; officer served with various Royal Engineers units in GB, 1925-1939; served as Deputy Assistant Director of Works, General Headquarters, BEF in France, 1939-1940; served as Assistant Director of Works at General Headquarters, Home Forces, 1940-1941; served as Deputy Chief Engineer at Headquarters, Western Command, GB, 1941; served as Controller Military Works Services with War Office, London, GB, 1941-1942; served as Director of Fortifications and Works in GB, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Period in Gainsborough, 1914-1915: reactions to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; question of accuracy of preconceptions of nature of war. Question of adequacy of training as wireless telegraphist with Royal Engineers in GB, 1915-1917. Recollections of period as wireless operator with Wireless Coy attached to General Headquarters, Montreuil and Wireless Section, Divisional Signals Coy, Headquarters, 30th Division on Western Front, 9/1917-11/1918: nature of wireless sets; question of interference to signals; conditions of service and state of morale; movements, 1918. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of French, Portuguese and Belgian troops; question of interception of German wireless signals; food rations; tours of duty; recreations during rest periods; songs; GB leave and question of effects of war; opinion of senior officers. REEL 3 Continues: relationship with officers; question of political views; confidence in victory; early awareness as wireless operators of imminent armistice, 11/1918; post-war military career in Supplementary Reserve, Royal Engineers. REEL 4 Continues: rumours of mutiny at Etaples, 9/1917; relationship with French civilians, 3/1917; operation of French railways; opinion of Non-Combatant Corps; question of keeping diary; wireless aerial mast drill; question of customs posts on Belgian/French frontier; question of presents taken home on GB leave; restrictions on buying food from French and Belgian civilians; narrow gauge railways. REEL 5 Continues: role of narrow gauge railway systems; effects of influenza epidemic, 1918; background to cavalry charge by 7th Dragoon Guards immediately prior to Armistice, 11/11/1918; reaction to Armistice; treatment of French collaborators; food rations; post-war military service as officer in Supplementary Reserve, Royal Engineers; post-war reactions to war service; reputation of Royal Engineers; use of bayonets as earth terminals. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as Deputy Assistant Director of Works, General Headquarters, BEF in Arras area, France, 10/1939-5/1940: mobilisation of former unit; background to posting; role in organising engineering materials for fortifications along Belgian frontier; question of Belgian neutrality; opinion of Lord Gort. Period as Assistant Director of Works at GHQ Home Forces and Director of Fortifications and Works, War Office in GB, 1940-1945: beach defences; research into construction of pillboxes; developments in defensive tactical approach; opinion of Generals Edmund Ironside, Alan Brook and Paget. REEL 7 Continues: review of senior Royal Engineers posts and reorganisation of engineering operations; opinion of General C J King; nature and range of responsibilities; preparing US camps; reactions to end of war and early demobilisation, 4/1945.