Description
Object description
British NCO and officer served with 2/7th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regt, 137th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in France, 4/1940-6/1940; prisoner of war in Fort VIII, Stalag XXI-D, Posnan, Poland, Oflag VII-D, Tittmoning, Oflag VI-B, Warburg, Oflag VII-B, Eichstaett, Oflag III-C, Oflag III-C, Lübben, Stalag 383/Z, Steinberg and Stalag VII-A Moosburg in Germany, 6/1940-4/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bolton and Huddersfield, GB, 1908-1939: family; education; employment at solicitor in Huddersfield. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 2/7th Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding) in GB, 9/1939-3/1940: enlistment as private on outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; amusing story of playing drums in regimental band. Aspects of operations as NCO and officer with 2/7th Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding), 137th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in France, 4/1940-6/1940: posting to Abbeville, 4/1940; retreat towards Dieppe and journey to St Valery-en-Caux; capture by Germans, 12/6/1940. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in France, Belgium and Germany, 6/1940: German holding of prisoners of war in field in France; march through Belgium; train journey in cattle wagons; in transit at Oflag VII-C, Laufen, Germany. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Fort VIII, Stalag XXI-D, Posnan, Poland and Oflag VII-D, Tittmoning and Oflag VI-B, Warburg in Germany, 6/1940-9/1942: transfer to Fort VIII, Stalag XXI-D, Posnan, Poland; later story of inmates being kept underground as reprisal for treatment of German prisoners of war by Canadians during Dieppe Raid, 8/1942; role of commandant in allowing inmates above ground and improving rations; escape attempts; prior recollection of receiving field commission and acting as intelligence officer; transfer to Oflag VII-D, Tittmoning; opinion of living conditions and facilities; story about sympathetic German officer Dr Falkner teaching prisoners of war the German language; hiding clandestine wireless in double bass; train journey to Oflag VI-B, Warburg; how prisoners of war sawed through train floor and attempted escapes during journey.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of and living conditions in Oflag VI-B, Warburg; weather conditions; prisoner of war mass escape from camp, 30/9/1942. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Oflag VII-B, Eichstaett, Oflag III-C, Oflag III-C, Lübben, Stalag 383/Z, Steinberg and Stalag VII-A Moosburg, Germany, 9/1942-4/1945: hospital block and medical staff; German handcuffing of Canadian prisoners of war in reprisal for treatment of German prisoners of war during Dieppe Raid, 8/1942; how Germans congratulated Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Merritt on award of Victoria Cross; duties in camp hospital; opinion of German guard 'Piccadilly Jim'; amusing story about escape attempt during visit by senior German officer; how he was arrested by 'Piccadilly Jim' and taken to see commandant; story of train journey under guard to home of Dr Falkner in Berlin.
REEL 3 Continues: story of meeting with Dr Falkner and requesting improvement in conditions in camp; sightseeing tour of Berlin; meeting with German anti-Nazi plotters including Adam von Trott zu Solz in Potsdam; return to camp and transfer to Stalag III-C, Lübben; reasons for burning bedding used by Soviet prisoners of war; receiving injections against typhus; visit to camp by Dr Falkner; arrival of brother-in-law in camp; relations with Soviet prisoners of war; permission to go on parole walks; present of dachshund received from Dr Falkner; return to Oflag VII-B, Eichstaett and reporting to Senior British Officer; first visit to cinema; removal of handcuffs from Canadian prisoners of war; shooting of prisoners of war for not going into shelters during air raid; opinion of guards and treatment; repatriation of wounded prisoners of war; transfer to Stalag 383/Z, Steinberg, 5/6/1944; accommodation in country house; meeting with Dr Falkner and appointment as camp adjutant; receiving news of Normandy Landings and being given maps and flags to follow progress of Allies, 6/6/1944.
REEL 4 Continues: censorship of mail; building flight of steps; parole walks into village and recreational activities; story of being asked by Dr Falkner to go back to GB with German officer and negotiate surrender terms with Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the event of Adolf Hitler's assassination, 7/1944; reaction to request and possible methods of travelling to GB; story of having photograph taken in German uniform; return to Oflag VII-B, Eichstatt; attitude of other prisoners of war on return; reaction to news of failed July Bomb Plot and execution of conspirators including Adam von Trott zu Solz; story of discussing with Dr Falkner plan for prisoners of war to be armed and take over camp in event of German defeat; re-organisation of camp, increased rations and physical training.
REEL 5 Continues: leaving camp, 4/1945; North American P-51 Mustang fighters opening fire on prisoners of war and subsequent casualties; journey to Stalag VII-A, Moosburg; liberation of Stalag VII-A, Moosburg by American troops; role as adjutant at Polish civilian prisoners' camp; living conditions in camp; commandeering BMW motorcycle; story about prisoner attempting to escape; German armaments factory manager married to American woman; journey to GB, 1945; debriefing in Whitehall, London; story of how Dr Falkner refused to obey order to transfer prisoners of wars from Stalag 383/Z, Steinberg to Berchtesgaden; arrest of Dr Falkner's by American troops,, 4/1945; opinion of Dr Faulkner and plan for negotiating surrender terms with Prime Minister Winston Churchill.