Description
Object description
British officer served as intelligence officer with 11th (African) Infantry Div in Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, 1941; served with Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps in Ethiopia, 1941-1942
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as officer cadet at Officer Cadet Training Unit in GB, 1939-1940: enlistment; pre-war visits to Germany; atmosphere in GB; attendance of pre-war military exercise in Germany; attending Officer Cadet Training Unit; commissioning into Kings Own Scottish Borderers; volunteering for Kings African Rifles. Recollections of period as intelligence officer with 11th (African) Infantry Div in Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, 1941: assignment to intelligence duties and posting to division; selection of driver; story of interrogation of Italian General at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; analysis of documents taken at Kismayu, Italian Somaliland; rapid advance after crossing of River Juba, Italian Somaliland; divisional intelligence staff; character of Italian retreat; sources of intelligence; tasking; intelligence priorities; comparison between Brigadiers Charles Fowkes and Gerald Smallwood.
REEL 2 Continues: character of 24th (Gold Coast) Infantry Bde; sources of intelligence; taking up security work on arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; quality of information from civilians in Italian Somaliland; behaviour of Italian civil population in Italian Somaliland; Italians fear of Shifta; Italian measures to protect Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from Shifta; interview with Italian Fascist Militia General; security work in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; quality of Italian military intelligence; interview with Italian head of Organisation for Vigilance and Repression of Anti-Fascism (OVRA); Italian understanding of Allied Order of Battle and intentions; use of Ethiopian Patriots at Gondar; how attempts to deceive Italians failed; Italian doubts about loyalty of colonial troops; the East African Intelligence Corps and value of irregulars; arrest of German nationals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
REEL 3 Continues: presence of German Consulate-General; question of performances of different types of Italian troops; role of Carabinieri. Recollections of period as intelligence officer with Field Security Section in Ethiopia, 1941-1942: initial attachment to 1st South African Infantry Bde; attitude of Germans towards Italians; a Nazi Lutheran Missionary; threat of espionage in Addis Ababa; work with Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps in Addis Ababa; control of city and threat of violent crime at night; threat of guerrilla war from armed Italian bands; threats to Emperor Haile Selassie; threat of Vichy French Somaliland; relations with Free French Forces; character of armed Italian bands; recruitment of informers and telephone tapping; use of taxis; proportion of good intelligence; co-operation with criminal police; currency and commodities.
REEL 4 Continues: use of informers in hotels; financing of network; sources of Italian intelligence; Italian concern for status and ceremony; relations with Free French Forces in French Somaliland; broadcasting from Addis Ababa; nature of interrogation techniques used; importance of speed during field interrogations; length of interrogations; interrogation techniques of Field Security Section NCOs; improvement in own techniques with practice; selection of suitable subjects for interrogation; dissemination of intelligence reports; degree of contact with Ethiopian authorities and tribal chiefs; Italian handling of local dignitaries.
REEL 5 Continues: informer attacked by Free French Forces in Ethiopia. Recollections of operations as intelligence officer with 11th (African) Infantry Div in Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, 1941: sight of tactics employed by Italians and British forces during campaign; Italian tactics; opinion of Italian defensive positions; air attacks; use of South African Air Force for survey and reconnaissance purposes; incidences of being attack by South African Air Force; opinion of artillery support; Italian artillery fire; use of armoured cars in campaign; crossing River Juba, Italian Somaliland; supplies taken from Italians; South African rations; logistical support; nature of action at Marda Pass, Ethiopia; water supply; bathing in River Juba, Italian Somaliland; state of health; lessons of campaign.
REEL 6 Continues: use of screen of Ethiopian Patriots during action at Gondar; Allied forces during advance to Gondar; terrain at Gondar; plans for assault on Gondar; security measures around Gondar; patrolling and opinion of Italian positions; divisional headquarters use of donkeys; bombardment and assault; surrender negotiations and attitude of Italian general; placing guard on Banca d'Italia; Italian fear of Ethiopian Patriots; assessment of Italian intentions; problems compiling order of battle; communications with irregular bands of guerrillas; reasons for personal reconnaissance; performance of new troops; opinion of impact of Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Gun on campaign; degree of air reconnaissance used.
REEL 7 Continues: Italian Air Force activity; opinion of work of engineers; setting up road blocks; state of Italian intelligence; composition of advanced divisional headquarters; opinion of commander; Italian concern for etiquette; documents seized in Gondar; removal of Italian bishop from Addis Ababa; political views of Italian prisoners of war; reasons for Ethiopian suspicions; evacuation; blockade of Djibouti, French Somaliland; Special Operations Executive plans; use of agents; surrender of Djibouti, French Somaliland.
