Foote, Henry Robert Bowreman (Oral history)

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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.
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Description

Object description

British officer served with Royal Tank Corps in GB and India, 1925-1939; served as staff officer with War Office in London, GB, 1939-1941; served as staff officer with British Army Staff Mission in Washington DC, United States of America, 1941; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 10th Armoured Div in Middle East, 1942; commanded 7th Royal Tank Regt, 32nd Army Tank Bde in North Africa, 1942 including award of Victoria Cross; prisoner of war in Campo PG 29, Veano, Italy, 1942-1943; escaped to Switzerland, 1943-1944

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of period as officer with Royal Tank Corps in GB and India, 1925-1939: background to joining British Army, 1923; commissioning into Royal Tank Corps, 1925; state of tanks' equipment, 1925; inter-war debate about role of tanks; escorting food supplies during General Strike in GB, 1926; dealing with riots in Lahore, India, 1927; preparations for war at Aldershot, GB during Munich Crisis, 9/1938. Recollections of period as staff officer with War Office in London, GB, 1939-1941: diversion of 3rd Royal Tank Regt to Calais, France, 5/1940; Churchill Tank development discussions with Vauxhall Motors Ltd in Luton; discussions with Professor Frederick Lindemann about likely German landing sites, summer 1940. REEL 2 Continues: posting to 40th Royal Tank Regt, 1940. Aspects of period with British Army Staff Mission in Washington DC, United States of America, 1941: attending United States Army tank manoeuvres in Louisiana; impressions of American armour; problems during flight from Gander, Newfoundland to GB, 11/1941. Aspects of period as staff officer with 10th Armoured Div in Middle East, 1942: flight to Middle East via Malta; reconnaissance of lava belt on Iraq/Palestine border. Recollections of operations commanding 7th Royal Tank Regt, 32nd Army Tank Bde in North Africa, 4/1942-6/1942: taking command of unit, 4/1942; box system used in Western Desert, 5/1942; move into desert, 5/1942. REEL 3 Continues: pattern of operations in Western Desert including at Point 209, 6/1942; loss of his tank in action; attempt to allow Guards Bde to withdraw; numerous hits on his Matilda Tank Mk II; disarray of defences at Tobruk, Libya, 3/1942; abandoning of plans to breakout from Tobruk, Libya and attempt to evade capture after surrender; his capture with broken ankle. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Campo 29, Veano, Italy and escape to Switzerland, 1942-1944: evacuation from Libya to Italy by hospital ship, 7/1942; Italian capitulation and initial decision to stay in prisoner of war camp; escape from camp and evasion of German forces; aid recieved from Italian civilians; narrow escape from recapture; decision to make for Switzerland; train journey northwards. REEL 4 Continues: train journey to Milan; refuge in cotton broker's mansion, 11/1943; crossing into Switzerland, 4/1944. Aspects of operations commanding 7th Royal Tank Regt, 32nd Army Tank Bde in North Africa, 4/1942-6/1942: opinion of defensive box system; attitude towards surrender of Tobruk, Libya, 6/1942; superiority of German armour and 88mm Gun; British morale, 6/1942.

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)
Foote, Henry Robert Bowreman (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1989-08-14
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 10812

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Foote, Henry Robert Bowreman (Oral history)

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