Cadbury, Michael H (Oral history)

British civilian served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB and France, 1940-1945

REEL 1: Background in GB, 1915-1935: Quaker family upbringing in Birmingham and links with Cadbury chocolate firm; story of father refusing to convert factory to munitions during First World War; education at Leighton Park Quaker School, 1928-1933; early pacifist influences; family's service as pacifists in First World War; left school at 17 and went into business. Aspects of period in Germany, 1935-1936: reason for studying in Germany; various memories of Munich, Freiberg and Berlin; attitude to Nazi regime and anti-Semitic policies; story of landlord being sent to Dachau concentration camp; description of journey through Eastern Germany and Czechoslovakia; reaction to German occupation of Rhineland and British appeasement policy; popularity of Hitler and the Nazis; opinion of Nazi journal 'Der Sturmer'; story of seeing Hitler, Goebbels and Goering at Winter Olympics; charismatic effect of Hitler; prevalence of Nazi ideology in universities; comparison of daily life in Munich, Freiberg and Berlin; story of visit to Jewish family in Hamburg; problem of pacifist approach in confronting Hitler and Nazis. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 1936-1940: pacifist position on invasions; opinion of armed forces; description of work with Cadbury firm; involvement with anti-war movement; story of father being interviewed by police; reason for turning down offer to work for Special Service; marital status; reason for registering as conscientious objector on outbreak of war, 1939; story of joining Friends Ambulance Unit and role in setting up first camp, 1940. Aspects of period with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1945: history of Friends Ambulance Unit; recruitment; structure and organisation; role on Friends Ambulance Unit Council; description of Manor Farm training camp; syllabus; training instructors; work in hospitals; relations between Friends Ambulance Unit and Society of Friends; opinion of non-Quaker contribution to Friends Ambulance Unit; opinion of conscientious objectors in First World War; differences between Absolutist and political viewpoints; role of women in Friends Ambulance Unit; democratic principles in Friends Ambulance Unit; discipline; role of personnel officers; government help through free travel; working relations with Ministry of Labour, National Service and War Office. REEL 3 Continues: story of registration as conscientious objector and tribunal in Birmingham, 1940; joined 5th training camp at Manor Farm, 7/1940; description of camp and living conditions; daily routine and training; route marches; work squads; social background of unit members; comradeship; attitude of some Quaker members to militaristic nature of training; question of creating common identity; relations with local inhabitants; support from Quakers and Cadbury family; description of work at Manor Farm; role of 7th and 9th camps; attitude to nature of work; description of air raids on Birmingham and Coventry; work of unit members in hospitals including Gloucester City General; attitude to class divisions in hospital; relations with hospital staff; menial nature of work; description of work at other hospitals; story of starting gym classes for nurses; story of car accident; description of work at Friends Ambulance Unit HQ, Gordon Square London; privileges given to unit members working in hospital; importance of hospital training for work overseas. REEL 4 Continues: further comments on importance of hospital work; transfer of personnel to shelters during Blitz; duties as hospital officer in London; relations between unit members and hospital personnel; served on Friends Ambulance Unit Executive Committee; medical research work in hospitals; work of overseas units; description of ambulance and mechanics training at Failand, Bristol; opinion of Commandant Ronald Joynes; organisation and hierarchy within Friends Ambulance Unit; description of work at China and India desks at Gordon Square HQ; planning and preparations for China Convoy; nature of Friends Ambulance Unit work in India and China; Quaker attitudes to politics; attitude to Friends Ambulance Unit assisting Communist and Nationalist sides in China; origins of the Ethiopian Friends Ambulance Unit. REEL 5 Continues: work of Friends Ambulance Unit in Ethiopia and Syria; formation of the Hadfield Spears Unit and work with French 2nd Armoured Div; relations with General de Gaulle; assessment of Friends Ambulance Unit's overseas operations. Aspects of period with Friends Ambulance Unit in France, 1945-1946: description of work with returning refugees; relations with French Army and Entre Aid Francaise; use of food wagons; food rations; reason for Friends Ambulance Unit joining American Relief for France organisation; vehicles and fuel; relations with British Army and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA); problem of conflict between French political factions; story of Russian émigré; work of Friends Ambulance Unit in Saint-Die-des-Vosges; clothing supplies; nature of daily life in post-war Paris; care of Jewish refugees; attitude of French towards Germans; attitude to treatment of collaborators; story of journey with Hadfield Spears Unit to Saint-Die-des-Vosges. REEL 6 Continues: story of mental breakdown and death of Friends Ambulance Unit member; living conditions in Saint-Die-des-Vosges and continuing work of Friends Ambulance Unit; relations with local inhabitants; work of Friends Ambulance Unit in Metz; political situation in France; work of Friends Ambulance Unit in Dunkirk; importance of transport work; relations with American agencies; opinion of success of work in France; changes in leadership; weekly reports to Friends Ambulance Unit HQ in Gordon Square, London; comparison of French and German attitudes to post-war reconstruction and relief; description of French refugees; question of post-war relief work reinforcing pacifist viewpoint; story of Rockefeller Director returning to office in France, 1945; relations with other relief agencies; opinion of Gerald Gardiner; use of army telephone lines; role of HQ team in Paris; work of Hadfield Spears Unit and Friends Ambulance Unit in Ethiopia and China. REEL 7 Continues: further comments on work of Ethiopia, Hadfield Spears and China sections; reflections on achievements with Friends Ambulance Unit in France and hospital work in GB. Aspects of period in GB, 1946-1987: employment as senior traveller with Cadbury's at Bourneville; post-war experiences of Friends Ambulance Unit members; reunions; attitude to war work carried out by Cadbury firm; role in rationing and setting standards for chocolate sent to troops; description of navy chocolate; attitude of Quakers to supplying troops with chocolate; role of Cadbury's in wartime rationing and points system. REEL 8 Continues: further comments on wartime and post-war rationing; importance of chocolate in diet; social background of Friends Ambulance Unit members; religious basis of pacifism; connection between social class and pacifism; importance of family support; role of women in Friends Ambulance Unit; attitude to homosexuality; casualties in Friends Ambulance Unit during war; purpose of Members' Assistance Fund; comparison of conscientious objectors in First and Second World Wars. REEL 9 Continues: Reflections on current (1987) anti-war movements and methods; opinion of Greenham Common women.