Description
Object description
British civilian volunteer served with British contingent of Finnish Army during Russo-Finnish War in Finland, 1940; POW in Stalag VII A, Moosburg, Laufen, Wurzburg, Tost and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, Finland and Norway, 1939-1940: political beliefs; attitude to Russians; reason for volunteering to go to Finland; worked for Forestry Commission to increase physical fitness; description of journey to Finland. 3/1940; reaction to arriving after end of hostilities, 5/1940; swore oath of loyalty to Finnish Army; uniform; NI (Non-Interventionist) badge; equipment; military discipline; opinion of Finnish armed forces; arrived in Oslo, Norway after German invasion; story of attempt to leave on train to Sweden; arrested by police; interrogation; conditions in prison cell. Aspects of period as POW in Stalag VII A, Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany, 1940-1941: classed as civilian POW; camp uniform; composition of camp; memories of Polish and Russian POWs; daily life and living conditions; reaction to fall of France, 6/1940; barracks; relations with guards; working parties; story of insulting German officer and period of solitary confinement; rations and living conditions; morale of French POWs; location of camp. Aspects of period as POW in Laufen camp and Oflag IV C, Colditz, Germany, 1941: camp uniform; assigned to work as orderly; accommodation; escape attempts.
REEL 2 Continues: description of camp and inmates; opinion of Scots; duties as latrine orderly in German quarters and in kitchen; story of role in failed escape; escape organisation; attitude to escape; relations with British officers; status as civilian; transferred to Oflag IVC, Colditz; first impressions; memories of Pat Reed and other inmates; relations with guards; first escape attempts; duties as orderly; transferred to civilian internment camp, 3/1941. Aspects of period as POW in Wurzburg, Germany, 1941-1942: description of castle; discipline; inmates; living conditions.
REEL 3 Continues: story of tracing former POWs after war; accommodation; daily routine; opinion of food; working parties; description of escape attempt; preparation and planning; used rope to scale battlements on rope; landed in moat; used postcard of castle as guide; story of recapture after three days. Aspects of period as POW in Tost internment camp, Silesia, Germany, 1941: inmates; living conditions; opinion of commandant; relations with guards; discipline and punishments.
REEL 4 Continues: food; story of concealing chocolate; recreational activities including playing mouth organ; parades; attitude to being transferred back to Oflag IV C, Colditz, 1/1942. Aspects of period as POW in Oflag IV C, Colditz, Germany, 1/1942-4/1945: description of journey to Colditz Castle; cold weather; clothing; question of status as civilian POW and pay; classed as civilian with officer status; searches; read German newspapers to other prisoners; relations with guards; codes; story of SD insignia.
REEL 5 Continues: various memories of other POWs; story of requesting book 'England, Their England'; availability of books; use of concealed radios ('canary birds'); role in providing news service for other prisoners; acting in plays and shows; question of parole; description of making and selling illicit alcohol; sporting activities.
REEL 6 Continues: story of obtaining plan of Colditz Castle; black market activities; story of German girl; memories of various escape attempts from Colditz; story of liberation by Americans, 4/1945; question of receiving decoration as civilian; cultural activities; various memories of escape attempts and shootings.
REEL 7 Continues: memories of Skipper Barnett; story of stealing briefcase; reads from official reports about Colditz; utensils and bedding; comments on BBC television series 'Colditz'; memorabilia from Colditz; various memories of senior officers.
REEL 8 Continues: further memories of period in civilian internment camp, 3/1941; effects of captivity on morale and mental state; therapeutic value of acting in Colditz; question of wearing medal for Finnish campaign; reflections on period in Colditz.
REEL 9 Continues: Discussion of photographs of Colditz and inmates.