Description
Object description
British marine served with 41 (Independent) Commando, Royal Marines in North Korea, 10/1950-12/1950; prisoner of war in Camp 5, Pyoktong, North Korea, 1951-1953
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bognor Regis, GB, 1928-1946: family; education; employment; enlistment in Royal Marines, 8/1946. Aspects of period as marine with 41 (Independent) Commando, Royal Marines in Japan, 1950: light from GB to Japan, 1950; contact with British war correspondents; training with American weapons, Camp McGill, exercises on Mount Fuji Recollections of operations with 41 (Independent) Commando, Royal Marines on North Korean coast, 10/1950: use of submarine USS Perch; use of American equipment; opinion of United States Marine Corp and United States Army; role in charge of wireless; operation to destroy railway line on east coast of North Korea.
REEL 2 Continues: NCO casualty in raid; leave in Tokyo, Japan, 11/1950 including British Embassy reception and attitude towards Japanese civilians. Recollections of operations with 41 (Independent) Commando, Royal Marines attached to 1st Marine Div, United States Marine Corps in North Korea, 11/1950-12/1950: arrival in Hungnam; issue of winter equipment; opinion of American rations; move northwards towards Koto-ri; forming up of with American units for Operation Drysdale to relieve Hagaru; ambush of column on route; United States Air Force close support using napalm; heroism of unit doctor; Chinese pressure on column; escape from vehicle under fire and meeting with Marines Andrew Condron and Edward Curd; Chinese People's Volunteer Army tactics including use of bugles; Chinese People's Volunteer Army use of different types of ammunition; use of pistol; lack of air support in latter stages of operation.
REEL 3 Continues: firing pistol at Chinese soldier; American officer's attempts to urge troops to continue fighting; Chinese demand for surrender; surrender to Chinese. Recollections of prisoner of war march in North Korea, 1950-1951: reaction to initial treatment by Chinese; return of seriously wounded to United Nations' lines; march north including sight of airdrops to 1st Marine Div, United States Marine Corps at Hagaru; effects of United States Air Force attacks; sight of Chinese People's Volunteer Army moving south and opinion of Chinese troops; treatment of prisoners of war by North Korean guards; fraternisation with Chinese guard; exchanging watch with Korean civilian for food.
REEL 4 Continues: teasing Chinese guard; incident when British prisoners of war expected execution that did not occur; resuming march; quality of rations; indiscipline of American prisoners of war; meal of dog meat; Chinese promise of release; death of prisoners of war. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Camp 5, Pyoktong, North Korea, 1951-1953: arrival and meeting with Marine Edward Curd; rations; punishment for demolishing huts for fuel; improvement in camp conditions after Chinese takeover; onset of dysentery; nature of Chinese lectures.
REEL 5 Continues: question of effectiveness of Communist lectures; improvement in diet; Chinese investigation of prisoners of war social background; prisoner of war strike and refusal to go on roll call; nature of Chinese interrogations; literature supplied to prisoners of war; visits by western Communists including Alan Winnington and Wifred Burchett; visits by left-wingers Jack Gaster and Monica Felton; opinion of Andrew Condron; question of prisoner of war collaboration with captors.
REEL 6 Continues: hearing American prisoner of war propaganda broadcasts; lack of physical punishments; relations with guards; baiting of Chinese guards; Chinese attitude to stealing; escape attempts; reaction to germ warfare propaganda campaign; opinion of use of napalm. Aspects of release from captivity in North Korea,, 1953: sight of devastation on train journey southwards; emotional scenes on release; reception in GB, 1953.
REEL 7 Continues: Reflections of period as prisoner of war in North Korea, 1951-1953: attitude towards Chinese and Koreans; opinion of Turkish prisoners of war and other nationalities during captivity in Korea.