Newcomb, Victor Noel (Oral history)

British civilian conscientious objector served with Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal in GB, 1941-1943 and with 224th Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North West Europe and Palestine, 1944-1946, including Normandy Landings, 6/Jun/1944.

REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1916-1939: family background in Stoke Newington, London; education at grammar school; development of social awareness; attitude to activities with OTC; religious beliefs and connections with Baptist Church; awareness of anti-war movement during 1930s; effect of the Spanish Civil War on political stance; attitude to the British Union of Fascists; description of Donald Soper's weekly meetings on Tower Hill; main influences on anti-war stance; story of signing the Peace Pledge and joining the Peace Pledge Union; activities with Peace Pledge Union including selling 'Peace News'; comparison of anti-war movement in the 1930s and current CND; question of being open to different ideas and beliefs. REEL 2 Continues: humanitarian basis of pacifist beliefs; influence of Gandhi; nature of own 'activist' pacifism; membership of Independent Labour Party; opinion of Jimmy Maxton; activities with anti-war movement; employment as office boy; activities with local Peace Pledge Union; importance of public meetings during 1930s; reasons for considering joining the British Union of Fascists; description of British Union of Fascists meetings and level of support in East End; reaction to events in Europe during 1930s; attitude to effectiveness of civil disobedience. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 9/1939-1/1941: reaction to outbreak of war; employment with tyre manufacturer in Dorking; attitude of work colleagues to pacifist beliefs; comparison of treatment of conscientious objectors in First and Second World Wars; story of registering as a conscientious objector; attitude to preparing for Tribunal; reaction of family and friends to stance as conscientious objector; Tribunal in Reading, 3/1940; nature of case for exemption; attitude to verdict of tribunal and possible imprisonment; story of resigning from employment and moving to London. REEL 4 Continues: Appeal Tribunal; reaction to verdict and classification as non-combatant; attitude to contributing to war effort; question of understanding own motives. Aspects of period with Non-Combatant Corps in GB, 1941: attitude to being in Non-Combatant Corps; opinion of army life and discipline; daily routine and duties at Bulford Camp; importance of support from other conscientious objectors; method of recruitment into Pioneer Corps; attitude of regular soldiers and civilians to conscientious objectors; relations with other conscientious objectors; opinion of Army Bureau of Current Affairs; contacts with anti-war movement during war. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period with Bomb Disposal, Royal Engineers in GB, 1941-1943: reasons for volunteering for bomb disposal, summer 1941; attitude to danger of work; description of training and other duties; nature of bomb disposal work in Bedford area; question of compromising pacifist beliefs; story of being put on a charge; relations between conscientious objectors and Royal Engineers; attitude of media to conscientious objectors; story of football match between conscientious objectors and Royal Engineers, 1943; opinion of self-image as conscientious objector; attitude to being called a 'conchie'; description of billets in Bedford; interest in classical music; attitude to bomb disposal work with the Royal Engineers; story of conscientious objectors being encouraged to join the Royal Army Medical Corps as Parachute Medical Orderlies. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period with 224th Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB, 1943-1944: reasons for volunteering to join the Parachute Field Ambulance, autumn 1943; description of basic training in Derbyshire; reason for conscientious objector component in Parachute Field Ambulance units; description of parachute training at Ringway aerodrome, Manchester; attitude to danger; story of taking parachute packing course; description of medical training and parachute drops with medical supplies; opinion of training and selection process; organisation of 224 Parachute Field Ambulance; attitude to serving with military unit; story of conscientious objectors refusing to be armed; question of conscientious objectors not being treated differently to combatants. REEL 7 Continues: relations between officers and men in 6th Airborne Div and 224 Parachute Field Ambulance; role of Army Bureau of Current Affairs; description of training at Broadwell Camp for D-Day landings; secrecy and censorship regulations; description of models of drop zone and maps; opinion of planning and preparations; briefings; description of special training for night drop; opinion of air crews; reaction to postponement of D-Day, 4-5/Jun/1944; nature of combined air and sea landings; description of clothing, medical equipment and night flight aboard Dakota to Normandy, 5-6/Jun/1944; awareness of historic importance of D-Day and danger of mission; attitude to participating in major military operation as conscientious objector. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Normandy, France, 6-9/1944: description of approaching French coast and parachute drop, 6/Jun/1944; problem of missing drop zone; description of movements and rendezvous with other members of unit; story of friendly reception at local farmhouse; problem of confusion and achieving objectives; moved to Varaville; duties as stretcher-bearer and medical orderly; story of being captured by Germans while bringing in a casualty; attitude of Germans to Red Cross symbol; impartial treatment of German and civilian casualties; attitude to Germans; description of medical centre at Le Mesnil; casualties in 224 Parachute Field Ambulance and successful capture of main objective; story of being captured again by Germans while bringing in a casualty; story of contravening order not to carry armed men on Red Cross vehicles. REEL 9 Continues: attitude of Germans to Allied invasion and opinion of Russians; story of journey in German staff car to medical centre at Bagnoles-de-L'Orne; nature of medical duties; problem of working with Germans; story of journey to POW hospital in Rennes; description of hospital, patients and French medical team; story of French nurses smuggling in food for POWs; opinion of security and guards; roll calls; discipline in hospital; by German doctor; problem of shortage of medical supplies. REEL 10 Continues: opinion of role of Professor Marquis and French staff in hospital; problem of professional jealousies; opinion of French nurses; description of patients and hospital routine; misuse of bidets by British; nature of military activity in Rennes area; attitude of local civilians to Allied air raids; story of liberation of hospital by American troops, 1944; description of celebrations in Rennes; patients transferred from POW hospital to tented US hospital; story of repatriation; attitude to work at POW hospital in Rennes; reaction to death of friends. Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in the Ardennes, 12/1944: description of experiences and reason for withdrawal of unit to GB. REEL 11 Continues: Aspects of period with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance in GB, 1-3/1945: description of training and preparations for invasion of Germany; opinion of training and comparison with Operation Overlord; briefings; description of airborne forces and gliders; public speculation about possible landings; opinion of Arnhem campaign; description of airborne forces formation; morale. Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Germany, 3/1945: description of parachute drop in wooded area; problem of men being caught in trees; nature of German resistance; casualties; story of conscientious objector Pte. P.M. Lenton being awarded Military Medal for rescuing wounded under fire; description of gliders landing and crashes; plasma and blood supplies; evacuation of serious casualties to rear; description of advancing with troops over plains; nature of German resistance; description of refugees and POWs; memories of ruined town of Minden. REEL 12 Continues: story of meeting with Russians on the River Elbe; relations with Russians; story of concerts being arranged for British troops; attitude of Germans to Russians; story of incident involving British officer; opinion of effects of war on human behaviour; description of VE Day celebrations, 5/1945; reason for 224 Parachute Field Ambulance being withdrawn to GB. Aspects of period with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance in GB, 5-8/1945: description of jungle training for intended deployment to Singapore; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; reason for refusing to carry weapon; further comments on German attitude to Red Cross. Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Palestine, 1945-1946: role in policing duties; political situation in Palestine; story of group of 224 Parachute Field Ambulance veterans writing book about experiences ('Red Cross Devils'). REEL 13 Continues: Aspects of post-war life in GB, 1945-1986: reflections on participation in Second World War; reaction to Pte. Lenton's accepting Military Medal; reason for not applying for service medals; attitude to treatment of conscientious objectors during war; opinion of role of conscientious objectors in Parachute Field Ambulance; question of change in public attitude towards conscientious objectors; opinion of media coverage of Parachute Field Ambulance units in Normandy; attitude to patriotism; importance of group support during war; relations with other conscientious objectors. REEL 14 Continues: question of social class and pacifism; mental and physical effects of wartime experiences; reflections on duties with Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal and 224 Parachute Field Ambulance; attitude to term 'pacifist'; effect of learning about concentration camps on anti-war stance; attitude to use of terrorism and violence to achieve political aims. REEL 15 Continues: opinion of Jewish/Arab conflict while serving in Palestine, 1945-1946; attitude to post-war improvements and Labour victory in 1945 General Election; question of social reforms resulting from war; opinion of unsympathetic feelings towards Germany after defeat; attitude of British Army towards Russians; comparison of treatment of conscientious objectors and German Jewish refugees by British Government; opinion of Tribunal system for conscientious objectors; reason for entering the teaching profession; activities with current peace movement; opinion of CND.