Walter, Ernest Henry (Oral history)

British NCO served as cameraman with No 5 Section Army Film and Photographic Unit in North West Europe, 1944-1945; officer served with No 9 Section Army Film and Photographic Unit in Far East, 1945-1946

REEL 1: Background in Barry, South Glamorgan, Wales, 1919-1941: family; education; employment with accountants; drafted into Welsh Regt, 1941; training at 38th Div Battle School, Swanage. Aspects of period with Army Film and Photographic Unit in GB, 1943-1944: volunteered for Army Film and Photographic Unit, 1943; interest in aerial photograph; interview in London; question of previous photographic experience; posted to Pinewood Studios for training, 6/1943; accommodation; daily routine and living conditions; opinion of training and instructors; description of training as still and cine cameraman; memories of other trainees and instructors; viewing rushes; description of trade test as cameraman; writing and filming own stories; passed out as sergeant; relations with other film units; posted to Irish Guards at Lingfield for battle training; opinion of training. REEL 2 Continues: accommodation; description of training and exercises; posted to Egerton Gardens, London, 1944; description of various assignments covering preparations for Normandy landings; problems with Eyemo camera and with film stock; volunteered to land with first wave; posted to camp in Southampton; security; attached to 4th Special Service Bde, 48 Royal Marine Commandos; briefing and assignment of duties; amount of film stock; camera and kit; problem of bad weather delaying embarkation; issued with French francs; embarked 5/Jun/1944. Recollections of operations as cameraman with Army Film and Photographic Unit in North West Europe, 1944-1945: memory of invasion fleet; conditions aboard LCI during crossing of Channel; problem of seasickness; landed at St Aubin sur Mer, Sword Beach, 6/Jun/1944; disembarkation from LCI and conditions on beach. REEL 3 Continues: memory of dead Canadian soldier; description of filming various subjects on beach; memory of dead French civilians; followed commandos off beach; method of returning film to GB; dug in on beach; problem of cold weather; rations; description of filming with commandos; transport on bicycle; story of being mistaken for sniper while filming from church belfry; living conditions; HQ established in chateau; casualties in Army Film and Photographic Unit; sleeping arrangements in trenches; relations with civilian newsreel cameramen; story of war correspondent in Caen; intelligence briefings; memory of smells during campaign in Normandy; summary of movements in Normandy; memory of soldier with shell shock. REEL 4 Continues: story of filming from Auster aircraft and problem of camera shake; story of filming old lady in Caen and question of authenticity; filmed De Gaulle in Bayeux; story of journey to Paris and filming liberation; laid wreath at Arc de Triomphe; type of subjects filmed in Paris; coverage of liberation of Brussels; relations with civilians in Paris and Brussels; paired with stills photographer Bert Hardy to film V1 sites; various memories of filming including rocket attack by Typhoon and torture instrument in prison; story of filming visit by King George V and Montgomery's Christmas broadcast; commissioned as lieutenant and duties as section leader; relations with NCOs; organisation of section. REEL 5 Continues: story of identifying bodies of Army Film and Photographic Unit personnel; further memories of flying in Auster over Rhine; story of filming surrender of German generals to General Brian Horrocks, 5/1945; returned to Pinewood and posted to No 9 Unit Army Film and Photographic Unit in Far East, 1945. Aspects of operations as commanding officer with No 9 Army Film and Photographic Unit in Far East, 1945-1946: description of journey to Ceylon; posted to Singapore; appointed CO of No 9 Army Film and Photographic Unit; daily routine and subjects filmed; relations with Mountbatten; description of HQ in Java; projection room; memory of ADC Dirk Bogarde; description of filming hanging of Japanese war criminals in Changi gaol, 1946. REEL 6 Continues: problem with using sound camera; story of editing sequence of hanging and decision to become film editor; No 9 section disbanded and film equipment sold to Malayan Government, 1946; organisation of No 9 section; returned to GB aboard Athlone Castle; reflections on period with Army Film and Photographic Unit; opinion of selection process for Army Film and Photographic Unit; problem of filming battle scenes; attitude to troops to being filmed; question of covering non-military subjects; story of filming crops in Normandy. REEL 7 Continues: attitude to filming death and suffering; question of public showing of film and censorship.