description
Object description
British officer served 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers in North West Europe, 1939-1940; served with Artisan Works Coy in North West Europe, 1940. Evacuated aboard HMS Windsor from Boulogne, 24/5/1940
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of recruitment direct from Cambridge University as officer with Royal Engineers, 1937-1939: graduate training course at Chatham; opinion of regulars; posting to Aldershot, 9/1939. Recollections of period with 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers in France, 9/1939-2/1940: state and role of unit; expectations; morale; journey out and arrival at Cherbourg.
REEL 2 Continues: journey to Ferce; friendly reception from French civilians; duties and recreations during detachment to Base Depot at La Baule, 10/1939-11/1939; relationship with French civilians; return to unit near Lille; pillbox construction; repair of tracks and drainage work; effects of frost; sale of materials to local firms; infantry attitude to pillboxes; flooding of field works; conditions of service at Lille.
REEL 3 Continues: French fortifications; intended use of field works; billets; recreations; ; crime; defence of soldiers charged with wrecking brothel and hitting NCO; Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations; dispute with commanding officer and consequent posting from unit.
REEL 4 Recollections of period at Engineering Stores Depot, Rennes, 2/1940-5/1940: duties; use of pioneers and French civilians to handle stores; story of ex-Brigadier acting as NCO; accommodation. Period with Artisan Works Coy in Boulogne area, 5/1940: posting; visit to Paris; reactions amongst French civilians to news of German attack, 10/5/1940; arrival at Boulogne; attempt at battle training; importance of railway viaduct at Etaples and consequent German air attacks; expectation of German action.
REEL 5 Continues: panic caused by German air attack; orders to demolish road bridge; unauthorised decision to destroy railway viaduct; problems during preparation of demolition charge on viaduct prior to successful demolition, 22/5/1940.
REEL 6 Continues: hurried return to Boulogne; interview with general; arrangements to demolish road bridge; encounter with German tank on road to Etaples; return to Boulogne perimeter; confusion over orders to support Guards unit; march under shellfire to docks; embarkation of GHQ staff; chaotic situation.
REEL 7 Continues: Stuka attack on dock area; German use of anti-aircraft gun to sink destroyer at quayside, 23/5/1940; casualties; reinforcement of perimeter defences with Lewis guns; plan to escape to Etaples via sand dunes; helping evacuate British passport holders; embarkation aboard HMS Windsor; arrival at Dover, 24/5/1940. Postings in GB, 5/1940-6/1940: return to Aldershot; posting to 15th Div in Essex; anti-invasion preparations; capture of German pilot.
