Description
Object description
British civilian student with Universuty of London in Aberystwyth, GB, 1939-1940; armaments worker with National Cash Register in London, GB, 1940-1945; pacifist in GB, 1946-1981
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1921-1939: family; father's aid to German and Austrian Jewish refugees during 1930s; memories of Austrian Jewish refugee Alice Ehlers and other refugees; degree of political awareness as child; brother's membership of British Union of Fascists; education and studying for career on stage; change in condition of refugees staying with family; degree of awareness of situation in Europe; family's attitude towards pacifism and patriotism.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1939: family reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; father's call up for military service; abortive attempt to sign on for ambulance work; conditions at start of Second World War; canteen work. Aspects of period as student at University of London in Aberystwyth, GB, 1939-1940: attitude towards studies; civilian response at time of Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; second hand story of brother's experiences during Dunkirk Evacuation; preparations for German invasion, summer 1940; forestry work, summer 1940; question of evacuation from GB. Recollections of period as armaments worker with National Cash Register in London, GB, 1940-1945: background to becoming armaments worker; use of cellar of family home as air raid shelter; firewatching; attitude towards German bombing.
REEL 3 Continues: work in relief canteen during German Air Force raids; degree of contact with survivors of air raids; discovery of bomb crater in garden of family home; reasons for seeking employment in armament factory; attitude towards factory work; social background of fellow workers; attitude of workers towards war news; attitude towards living day-to-day; nature of armaments work; work as inspector and quality control; consciousness of working for war effort; attitude towards Germans and V weapons; reaction to Allied demand for German unconditional surrender and dropping of atomic bombs.
REEL 4 Continues: writing messages on armaments; attitude towards Allied bombing; preparations for D-Day landings witnessed in New Forest; question of ambivalent attitude towards end of Second World War, 1945; resigning from war work; effect on war on future life; awareness of social inequalities in factory; participation in staff and management committees; conditions for female workers; question of finding suitable employment at end of Second World War; employment for Women for Westminster organisation. Aspects of period as pacifist in GB, 1946-1981: initial awareness of pacifist movement; position in pacifist movement.
REEL 5 Continues: justification as pacifist of her war work in armaments; lack of knowledge of conscientious objectors during Second World War; question of pacifist views on Nazi regime could have been defeated; disappointment at outcome of Second World War; parent's attitude towards her pacifist stance; attitude towards 'just wars' and consequences of warfare; belief in and conditions needed for non-violent resistance; importance of pacifist propaganda.
REEL 6 Continues: attitude towards own pacifist stance; question of differing backgrounds on those involved in pacifism.