Description
Object description
British civilian conscientious objector served with Auxiliary Fire Service in GB, 1939-1940 and with London Fire Volunteers in Finland, 1940-1941; served with Pioneer Corps and Bomb Disposal Unit, Royal Engineers in GB, 1942-1943; served with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North West Europe and Palestine, 1944-1946, including Normandy Landings, 6/1944.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1911-1939: family and social background in Scotland; story of father's death during the First World War; attitude to sport and military activities; membership of OTC during time at Charterhouse School; reasons for developing pacifist beliefs during 1930s; opinion of League of Nations' role during Abyssinian crisis; story of friend Charles Kimber founding the Federal Union; reaction to some members of Federal Union converting to Catholicism; reasons for joining the Peace Pledge Union; opinion of Dick Sheppard; reasons for leaving the Peace Pledge Union at outbreak of war, 1939; further comments on the Federal Union; description of experiences in Ethiopia prior to Italian invasion, 1935; attitude to the Spanish Civil War; reasons for anti-Communist stance.
REEL 2 Continues: description of Oxford Union and activities; reaction to Oxford Union Debate, 1933; literary career after leaving Oxford University; further comments on the Peace Pledge Union and opinion of newspaper 'Peace News'; opinion of Sybil Bedford and other scientific rationalists; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; attitude to possible German invasion; reasons for deciding to be an 'active' conscientious objector; basis of pacifist beliefs; story of shooting a lion in Ethiopia; reaction of fellow pacifists to decision to volunteer for Auxiliary Fire Service. Aspects of period with Auxiliary Fire Service in GB, 9/1939-4/1940: description of training; attitude to the Phoney War period.
REEL 3 Continues: relations between Auxiliary Fire Service and professional firemen; attitude to discipline and routine in Auxiliary Fire Service; relations with working class colleagues; story of cousin organising fire engine and team to go to Finland; role of non-military personnel and senior fire officer; reasons for volunteering to help Finns and reaction of mother. Aspects of period with London Fire Volunteers in Finland, 3/1940-8/1941: role of London Fire Volunteers; description of arrival following armistice; funding from Finland Fund and Home Office; description of special training; story of send-off by Finnish Ambassador's wife; description of journey to Finland via Sweden; problem of ship being stuck in ice; reaction to signing of Armistice; nature of work with evacuation operation in Hanko area; story of receiving food from local Lottas population.
REEL 4 Continues: relations with Swedes; reason for acquiring nickname the 'Black Gang'; problem with Finnish language; reaction of Finns to aid operation; description of bombed areas; problem of fire engines being delayed; reasons for not going to Norway; description of Karelian refugees; nature of work with Finnish Fire Service in Helsinki; story of cousin nearly being killed in fire; question of pro-German attitude of some Finns; reaction to news of London Blitz; opinion of Churchill's speeches; contribution of British in Finland; role of British Ambassador; problem of leaving Finland by ship via Russia and obtaining visa; reasons for Germans disbanding London Fire Volunteers, 1941; story of obtaining teaching post in Turku; reason for refusing to spy on Germans for British Legation; role of Field Marshal Mannerheim in preventing internment of British nationals; opinion of Mannerheim.
REEL 5 Continues: story of being interned for three months at Malung on way back to GB, 8/1941; description of landscape; relations between Finns, Swedes and Norwegians; story of accompanying British Legation to Portugal to arrange prisoner exchange; description of journey through Germany and occupied France in guarded train, autumn 1941. Aspects of period in Portugal, 1941-1942: description of arrival in Portugal via Irun; daily life in Lisbon; nature of work as teacher for British Council in Cintra; reason for remaining in Portugal longer than required; description of flight back to GB, spring 1942; attitude to work with London Fire Volunteers and as teacher in Finland; opinion of British Legation.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 1942: story of refusing offer to work for intelligence services; attitude of army officers to stance as conscientious objector; reasons for deciding to be a conscientious objector; reaction to death of Louis Masefield; story of obtaining testimonies for Tribunal; reaction of mother and family to stance as conscientious objector; description of Tribunal, summer 1942; attitude of board members to statement of beliefs; opinion of questioning; reaction to being recommended for service with the Royal Army Medical Corps and carrying a weapon; problem of assessing matters of conscience; opinion of British Government's treatment of conscientious objectors in First and Second World Wars; question of Finland having no conscientious objectors; attitude to killing in defence of family; reads own poem written in 1942; story of being called up to the Non-Combatant Corps, 1942. Aspects of period with Pioneer Corps in GB, 6-8/1942: opinion of other recruits; comparison of various types of pacifists in camp at Denbigh, North Wales.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to obeying rules during war; opinion of sincerity of some conscientious objectors; attitude to bayonet practice; description of uniform and Non-Combatant Corps badge; attitude to military training; relations with NCOs; story of incident involving Irish contingent and NCOs; opinion of commanding officers; relations between regular soldiers and conscientious objectors; story of volunteering for Bomb Disposal Unit. Aspects of period with Bomb Disposal Unit, Royal Engineers in GB, 8/1942-1943: posted to camp at Bedford; different types of conscientious objectors in camp; description of training; relations with Commanding Officer and Staff Sergeant; opinion of religious conscientious objectors; story of religious conscientious objector being accused of rape; problem of lack of bombs.
REEL 8 Continues: description of tasks and skills required for bomb disposal; question of only officers defusing bombs; attitude to danger and nature of work with bomb disposal; various memories of friends; relations between conscientious objectors and Royal Engineers; reasons for transferring to Royal Army Medical Corps, spring 1943; reason for volunteering to join newly formed Parachute Field Ambulance unit. Aspects of period with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB, 1943-6/1944: relations between Royal Army Medical Corps trainees and conscientious objectors; role of 224 Parachute Field Ambulance with 9th Parachute Bn; attitude to physical training; problem of strained Achilles tendon after route march; story of pacifist group volunteering to transfer from Bomb Disposal to Parachute Field Ambulance units; memories of friend Tony Bass; description of medical training.
REEL 9 Continues: blood transfusions; description of parachute training and drops; question of safety and accidents during training; problem of parachute drops carrying medical kit; description of battle training and rehearsal for Normandy landings; objective for 9th Parachute Bn on D-Day; amusing story of civilian watching rehearsal through binoculars; story of Commanding Officer being replaced after breach in security; opinion of General Gale's pre-invasion speech to troops; description of briefing from Brig. Hill; opinion of training in Parachute Field Ambulance; relations between conscientious objectors and other troops; attitude to being armed; description of briefings for D-Day; opinion of maps and compasses; atmosphere prior to D-Day; amusing story about Sgt. Crisp; nature of role following landing in Normandy.
REEL 10 Continues: further comments on replacement of Commanding Officer for security breach and civilian watching rehearsal through binoculars; story of football match between Commandos and Airborne Forces; attitude and behaviour of troops prior to departure; story of NAFFI manageress; memories of artist Phil ('Duke') Hutton; description of final briefing for attack on German battery; opinion of plan and role in operation; amusing story about Cpl. Jock Cranna; further comments on General Gale's pre-invasion speech to troops; story of dedication ceremony for 3rd Airborne Div banner; reaction to postponement of D-Day; story of Phil Hutton quoting speech from Shakespeare's 'Henry V'; description of pre-flight preparations and take-off parade; kit; story of moral support from friend Riland Gant; question of non-combatants being indistinguishable from other troops.
REEL 11 Continues: Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Normandy, France, 6/1944: description of flight to Normandy and parachute drop in flooded area, 5-6/Jun/1944; problem of initial confusion after landing; opinion of accuracy of drop; description of crossing marshes in dark and arriving at farmhouse; drill for approaching farmhouse; reception from family; problem of German troops nearby; story about two drunken paratroopers; description of journey to Varaville and arrival at dawn, 6/Jun/1944; story of finding officer in tree with group of Canadian paratroopers; description of journey to Robehomme and setting up dressing station; use of horse and cart to transport wounded; reaction to dealing with seriously wounded men; description of night march to Brigade HQ and main dressing station at Le Mesnil; opinion of paratroopers in action; role as interpreter with local civilians; story of meeting with Col. Young.
REEL 12 Continues: casualties in 224 Parachute Field Ambulance; attitude to being called a 'sheep in wolf's clothing' by friend Tony Bass; opinion of qualities of conscientious objectors in battle situation; description of Brigade HQ and main dressing station in farm at Le Mesnil; relations with farm owner Mde. Gourdin and daughter Mde. Barberot; story about decaying corpse of German soldier; description of German bodies in meadow.
REEL 13 Continues: story of being sent to 'Bomb Alley' in Bois de Mont sector; description of living conditions and treatment of wounded; opinion of German and Allied propaganda; story of treating wounded German soldier; question of German POWs being shot by Allied troops; morale; problem of lack of medical supplies; description of triage system for wounded; attitude to treatment of German wounded; opinion of padres during battle; attitude to death and suffering; reason for lightly wounded being more difficult to treat; opinion of fighting troops; attitude of Royal Army Medical Corps to conscientious objectors; reason for Royal Army Medical Corps choosing to discard weapons.
REEL 14 Continues: description of return to Le Mesnil; story of death of Mde. Barberot during bombing raid; reason for lack of protection of Red Cross; attitude to treatment by British doctors of dying German soldier; story of attending ENSA concert; morale at Le Mesnil; increase in numbers on sick parade; definition of term 'bomb happiness'; further memories of friend Tony Bass; story of death of Mde. Gourdin during bombing raid; reaction to death of friend Tony Bass; returned to camp at Bulford, GB, 9/1944. Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB and the Ardennes, 12/1944-2/1945: story of collaboration in writing history of unit 'Red Cross Devils'; role in operations in the Ardennes, 12/1944.
REEL 15 Continues: further comments on operations in the Ardennes; story of smashing antique furniture for firewood; description of preparations for Operation Varsity Plunder; reasons for codename being altered to Operation Varsity; problem of press publicity compromising secrecy; opinion of strategic plan; reads out Brig. Hill's pre-operation speech; objectives of Operation Varsity; attitude to dropping over wooded area. Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Germany, 3/1945: description of boarding aircraft, flight, parachute drop and movement to rendezvous point, 24/Mar/1945; opinion of accuracy of drop.
REEL 16 Continues: description of gliders crashing; role in clearing woods of Allied and German wounded; movement and treatment of wounded; story of practicing euthanasia on wounded in 'Bomb Alley', Normandy; question of immunity as conscientious objector; story of being taken prisoner by German paratroopers. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 3-5/1945: question of being shot if carrying weapons; attitude to Red Cross symbol; reason for not revealing pacifist beliefs to Germans; attitude of Germans to Parachute Regt; opinion of size of Red Cross symbol on uniform.
REEL 17 Continues: description of interrogation by German officer; status as non-combatant in battle; attitude to patriotism; attitude to treating German wounded; story of persuading Germans to leave hideout under protection of Red Cross; attitude of Germans to Geneva Convention; story of recovering personal belongings from drop zone; story of war artist killed during advance over Rhine; story of Daily Mail publishing article about conscientious objectors in Parachute Field Ambulance.
REEL 18 Continues: description of living conditions and medical facilities in captivity; story of advance to Wismar on Baltic; memories of refugees and slave labourers fleeing from Russians; question of protecting German nurses from Russians; story of helping to deliver baby; attitude to Russians and post-war relations; opinion of Cossacks; story about wounded Luftwaffe pilots; attitude of German civilians towards Allies; reaction to hearing reports about gas chambers and Belsen concentration camp; effect of war on pacifist beliefs; opinion of rational pacifist arguments.
REEL 19 Continues: importance of family background on pacifism; attitude to nuclear weapons; nature of relationship between conscientious objectors and military personnel. Aspects of period with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in GB, 6-8/1945: description of jungle warfare training for deployment to Burma; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; attitude to serving in Burma against Japanese; question of being willing to compromise pacifist principles; posted to Palestine, 8/1945. Aspects of operations with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in Palestine, 1945-1946: completed writing unit history; daily life in Palestine; story of writing autobiography 'The Unfinished Man'and role of Cecil Day-Lewis as editor; nature of source material for Brigade histories.
REEL 20 Continues: attitude to Arab-Jewish conflict; demobilised, 1946. Aspects of post-war life and work: employment with British Council in Helsinki, Finland; attitude of Foreign Office to Finland; reflections on experiences during Second World War and pacifist beliefs: opinion of UN; reason for calling autobiography 'The Unfinished Man'.
