Description
Object description
British stoker served aboard HMS Sikh, 4th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters, Norway, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1939-1942 including sinking off Tobruk, Libya, 14/9/1942; prisoner of war in Libya, 9/1942-10/1942, Campo PG 85, Tuturano and Campo PG 70, Monteurano, Italy, 10/1942-9/1943 and Stalag IV-B, Mülhberg and Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 9/1943-4/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as stoker aboard HMS Sikh, 4th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters, Norway, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1939-1942: drafting to destroyer after enlistment in Royal Navy, 1939; character of ship and living conditions on board; role landing and evacuating troops in Norway, 1940; hunt for MV Altmark, 1/1940-2/1940; rivalry between crews of HMS Sikh and HMS Cossack; collision of ship with duty destroyer at Scapa Flow; reasons for missing Dunkirk Evacuation; hunt for German battleship Bismarck in North Atlantic, 5/1941; attacks on Bismarck, 5/1941; move to Mediterranean, 6/1941.
REEL 2 Continues: in action against Italian cruisers during Battle of Cape Bon, 13/12/1941; decoy convoy work at Malta; participation in the Second Battle of Sirte, 22/3/1942; sea damage to ship; sinking of minesweeper by mine off Alexandria, Egypt, 6/1942; sinking of submarine depot ship HMS Medway, 6/1942. Aspects of sinking of HMS Sikh during commando raid Operation Agreement on Tobruk, Libya, 14/9/1942: exercises with commandos in Haifa, Palestine; plan for commando raid on Tobruk; execution of raid on Tobruk; damage to ship from Axis shelling and his wounding; reads newspaper account of action.
REEL 3 Continues: reads German report of raid; attempts to use pumps to fight fire on board; treatment for wounds; reaction to orders to abandon ship; abandoning ship; period in sea and rescue by German E-boat; initial treatment by Germans. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Libya, 9/1942-10/1942: treatment of wounded; treatment of prisoners of war by Italians in hospital in Tobruk; German objection to Italians stealing from prisoners of war; giving water to dying prisoners of war; unhygienic conditions in tented hospital at Derna.
REEL 4 Continues: amputation of patient's toe without anaesthetic; rations; bartering with Arabs; move to Benghazi; relations between British and South African prisoners of war in Benghazi. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Campo PG 85, Tuturano and Campo PG 70, Monteurano, Italy, 10/1942-9/1943: conditions for segregated black South African troops in Campo PG 85, Tuturano; issue of former Yugoslavian uniforms; health problems; comparison between Italian and German rations issued to prisoners of war; serving of rations; repatriation of naval prisoners of war; symptoms of beri-beri; reading newspaper account of repatriated seaman of his treatment as prisoner of war of Italians.
REEL 5 Continues: behaviour of Italian civilians towards prisoners of war on capture; German treatment of Italians after capitulation; opinion of treatment received from Italian and Germans; question of escaping from Italy prior to capitulation; his abortive attempt to reach Allied lines on capitulation; unhygienic conditions in Italian camps; different attitudes towards hygiene in the three services; discipline among prisoners of war; craving for salt and sugar; further details of escape and recapture after Italian capitulation, 1943.
REEL 6 Continues: preparation for transfer of prisoners of war to Germany; burning of Campo PG 70, Monteurano by prisoners of war, 9/1943. Aspects of period as prisoner of war during transfer from Italy to Germany, 9/1943: cattle truck journey into Germany; reception by Red Cross in Germany; misunderstanding with guard; arrival in transit camp containing Soviet prisoners of war at Jacobstahl. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg, Germany, 9/1943-10/1943: head shearing; fumigation of clothes; registration of prisoners of war; problems with bugs; rations; heating problems. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 10/1943-4/1945: removal to camp; initial impressions; reception by German Lieutenant Guessfeld; camp organisation.
REEL 7 Continues: accommodation; Red Cross parcels; receipt of private parcels; German examination of books for hidden maps; drawing Red Cross parcels; German searches for hidden radios; unpopularity of Lieutenant Guessfeld; camp entertainments; an instance of homosexuality; study groups and sports; German commandant's use of horse drawn carriage; construction of Klim tin blowers; mouse driven toys; morale problems and cases of 'bunkitis'; disappearance of pet cat.
REEL 8 Continues: keeping of pets in camp; alcohol consumption; contact with civilians via work parties; regulation of prices in camp; financial transactions with officers' camp; camp ship; question of profiteering amongst Merchant Navy prisoners of war in Milag Nord camp; propaganda effect of prisoners of war casino on German guards; attitude towards French Navy prisoners of war; religious life; skating rink; sabotage of William Joyce 'Lord Haw Haw' broadcasts; attempt by Germans to recruit to British Free Corps.
REEL 9 Continues: removal of prisoner of war who agreed to join British Free Corps; prisoner of war contingency plans for end of war; German tactics of moving troops and prisoners of war together in the camp; prisoner of war resistance to evacuation of the camp; liberation of camp by British Army troops, 4/1945; reaction of prisoners of war to release from captivity; surrender of former German guards to their former prisoners of war.
REEL 10 Continues: reaction to receiving white bread; attempt of prisoners of war to protect German civilians; hostility towards German Lieutenant Guessfeld; attitude of British Army front line troops; return to GB via Brussels, Belgium; processing of former prisoners of war in GB; return to family; effects of period of imprisonment; rehabilitation into Royal Navy; attitude towards the Germans.