Camplin, Leonard Edward (Oral history)

1720884272
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1002224116
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
300133017
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
937026002
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1368846266
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1512642209
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1833493844
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
458510064
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1619566586
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
191857900
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
334257930
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1510607195
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1702498430
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1812278047
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
76343910
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
295762684
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
133287144
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
357495437
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1707641140
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
2042058778
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
1687061350
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British boy soldier and signaller served with 56th (1st London) Infantry Divisional Signals in London, GB, 1936-1939; signaller served with Signal Troop, 1st Regt, Royal Horse Artillery, 51st (Highland) Div in France, 1/1940-6/1940; prisoner of war in Stalag XXI-B, Schubin and Stalag-344, Lamsdorf, Germany, 7/1940-2/1945; prisoner of war in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia, 1945; served with Czechoslovak Partisans in Susice, Czechoslovakia, 4/1945-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1920-1936: family; education. Aspects of period as boy soldier and signaller with 56th (1st London) Infantry Divisional Signals in London, GB, 1936-1939: joining Territorial Army as boy soldier, 1936; attitude towards service with Territorial Army; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; question of patriotism; his father's relative wealth; his estimate of chances against Germany at start of war and how those views were modified during fighting in France, 1940; initial duties. Recollections of period as signaller with Signal Troop, 1st, Regt, Royal Horse Artillery, 51st (Highland) Div in France, 1/1940-6/1940: superior attitude of territorials to conscripts. REEL 2 Continues: gradual adjustment of reservists and territorials; relations with French civilians; question of presence of Fifth Column during retreat in 1940; signal line work, 1939-1940; period in Maginot Line; impressions of French Army. Aspects of operations as signaller with Signal Troop, 1st Regt, Royal Horse Artillery, 51st (Highland) Infantry Div in France, 1/1940-6/1940: retreat across northern France, 5/1940; German Air Force attacks and reasons for lack of response; disorganisation of retreat; his exhaustion on arrival in Saint-Valery-en-Caux; Bofors Gun hits on lorry; witnessing incident of rape. REEL 3 Continues: capture by Germans. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in France, 6/1940: initial treatment by captors; pro-British attitude of his captors; opinion of professionalism of German Army; confinement in field; conditions on march to Germany; attitude of troops to prospect of escape. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Stalag XI-B, Schubin, Germany including escape attempts in Germany, Poland and Belgium, 7/1940-2/1944: question of tying down German manpower; question of advantages to prisoners of war in co-operating with Germans; collapse of escape committee at Fort Rauch after his departure, 1943. REEL 4 Continues: making contact with Polish civilian Lodzia Walkowska; construction of escape boat by prisoners of war; account of third escape attempt, 6/1942. REEL 5 Continues: clarification of why escape attempt of 6/1942 was his third not his fourth escape attempt; continuation of account of his third escape attempt, 6/1942; his recapture by Germans; help received from professional burglar whilst he was in solitary confinement; contact with Pole willing to help him escape; exchange of his prisoner of war number with another prisoner of war, 12/1942; his stealing of Nazi Party member's wallet and passport. REEL 6 Continues: preparations of false papers using stolen passport, 8/1943; his striking guard to prevent discovery of incriminating evidence, 1/11/1943; German preparation of court martial against him; secret code arranged with his fiancée in GB; information he sent to GB; arrival of escape materials from GB; British intelligence officer who handled escape materials poorly; help given to escapees by Polish woman Frau Bailey. REEL 7 Continues: his fourth escape attempt, 2/1944; method of escape; refuge with Frau Bailey; his false papers; German efforts to find him; refuge with Walkowska family; securing contacts from Walkowska family; document check on Posen-Stettin train, 3/1944. REEL 8 Continues: attempt to recruit help from prostitute in Stettin; reasons for leaving Stettin, 3/1944; sight of devastation of Berlin, 3/1944; train journey west across north Germany; soliciting help from German farmer's daughter; her motivation for helping an escaped prisoner of war; arrest on the express train to Brussels, Belgium; accusation that he was a spy. REEL 9 Continues: his failure to deceive his interrogators; strip search by Gestapo; plan to escape from Eupen Prison, Belgium, 4/1944; discovery of prison escape attempt; removal to Aachen Prison; conditions in cells at Aachen Prison; question of MI9's awareness of his imprisonment in Aachen Prison; Royal Air Force air raid on Aachen, 9/4/1944; civilian hostility towards him in bombed Aachen on route to railway station, 4/1944. REEL 10 Continues: train journey between Aachen and Posen; transfer to Gestapo Headquarters in Posen, 4/1944; wall tapping contact with Pole in next cell; his securing pencil and paper in cell; method of transferring written messages in prison; his embroidering escape details in belt; an unwise plan of escape; behaviour of Germans in Gestapo Headquarters, Posen; information Gestapo wanted. REEL 11 Continues: interrogation techniques used by Gestapo; transfer to military prison in Posen; treatment received from German prisoners; use of four guards to transfer him; his befriending guard; transfer to military prison in Torgau, 7/1944; contact with agents in Torgau military prison; story of passed onto him by American agent; contact with Dutch Resistance prisoner; the condemned squad. REEL 12 Continues: fate of Torgau prisoners; German demand for him not to reveal any secrets of Torgau, 9/1944; presence of prisoners from Peenemunde rocket site at Torgau; how he was last prisoner in Fort Rauch; sight of British Free Corps recruit. Recollections of period as POW in Stalag-344, Lamsdorf, Germany, 10/1944-2/1945: transfer to camp; encounter with Norman Rubenstein; arrangements for prisoner of war escapee 'safe house' in Posen; in punishment cell, autumn 1944; receiving visit from Red Cross and protest on his behalf. REEL 13 Continues: description of punishment compound; plans for escape by tunnel; a corruptible guard; nature of tunnel plans and hiding entrance; intention of Germans to court martial him, 12/1944; disposal of sand from tunnel; spoof escape attempt as means of hiding him in main camp, 12/1944. REEL 14 Continues: methods of hiding prisoners of war in camp; intensive search of camp for him, 23/12/1944; his contracting diphtheria, 12/1944; appearance of Soviet Air Force fighter aircraft over camp; guards firing on 'hidden' prisoners of war; opinion of leniency of guards; plan to escape through camp wire, 2/1945; foiling of escape attempt. Aspects of escape from train to Czechoslovakia, 2/1945: escape from train. REEL 15 Continues: taking refuge in barn; narrow escape during German search; aid received from Czech farmer; need to move when Germans billeted on farmer; farmer's betrayal to Germans; recapture. Aspects of period as inmate in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, Czechoslovakia, 1945: entry in camp; prior recollection of activities of razor gangs in Stalag-344, Lamsdorf. REEL 16 Continues: his contact with razor gang members in concentration camp and on later march through Czechoslovakia; futile attempt by razor gangs to stop their heads being shaven in camp; living conditions in camp; conditions for Soviet prisoners of war; memories of inmate nicknamed 'Tel Aviv'; inmates 'crate' punishment; nature of anti-lice treatment. REEL 17 Continues: death of Jewish inmates under punishment; visit to camp doctor; treatment of Soviet inmate's ulcers; sight of punishment cell; second hand story of German killing of inmate who did not work quickly enough; removal from Theresienstadt Concentration Camp by rail. Aspects of journey away from Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, Czechoslovakia, 1945: orders to work on damaged railway and refusal to work; raid to obtain food; joining column of prisoners of war marching westwards. REEL 18 Continues: his role in attempts to acquire food from Czechs; case of bullying German guard; knifing of British prisoner of war by Italian and how he was taken to hospital; making contact with Czechoslovak Partisans and decision to join them; escape from prisoner of war column. Aspects of period with Czechoslovak Partisans at Susice, Czechoslovakia, 4/1945-5/1945: arrival at partisan headquarters; plan to disarm German garrison; how he dealt with sentry; rounding up garrison. REEL 19 Continues: mission to take message to advancing Americans; his 'promotion' to sergeant; journey to contact Americans; liberation of Soviet prisoner of war column; encounter with American tanks; return to Susice with American tanks; news that Germans had retaken Susice; refusal of Germans to surrender at Susice; his safe conduct back to American lines; mopping up at Susice. REEL 20 Continues: gifts to children in Mokrosuky; vengeance against German guards by prisoners of war. Reflections of period as prisoner of war in Germany and Czechoslovakia, 1940-1945: his attitudes towards Germans; friendships he made with Germans; effects of captivity on his character; question of British capacity for cruelty being no different than Germans; sight of hanged German prisoner near Maginot Line area, France, 1940; threat to bring charge against him for supposedly masquerading as a sergeant; award of Military Medal. REEL 21 Continues: award of Military Medal and presentation.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Interwar (association), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (recorder)
Camplin, Leonard Edward (interviewee/speaker)
Production date: 1989-07-12
Dimensions: whole: Duration 630, Number Of Items 21
Catalogue number: 10710

Object associations

Our collections information

We have over 1.7 million object records online, and we are adding to this all the time. Our records are never finished. Sometimes we discover new information that changes what we know about an object, such as who made it or used it. Sometimes we change how an object is interpreted. We sometimes make mistakes in our spelling, transcription or categorisation, or miss information out of our records.

Read more about our collections and the information we hold. Developing our collections information

If you have concerns about the language in this record, or you have information to improve it, please share your feedback.

We receive a lot of comments and can't respond to each one, but we do read them all and will respond where we can.

Camplin, Leonard Edward (Oral history)

Description

Object description

Content description

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated places

Associated subjects

Associated keywords

Associated themes

Our collections information

Related content

How Europe Went To War In 1939

How Britain Hoped To Avoid War With Germany In The 1930s

Continuing Conflict: Europe after the First World War