Beckerley, Edward George (Oral history)

British driver served with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in France and Low Countries 1939-1940; served with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953

REEL 1 Recollections of period with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1939: enlistment, 1939; British propaganda about German tank quality; question of preparedness of tank units for war; tank training at Bovington Camp; transfer to 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry; contrast in discipline between regulars and territorials. Recollections of operations with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in France and Belgium, 1939-1940: places unit was based in France, reconnaissance role within 51st Highland Division; move into Belgium, 5/1940; initial contact with Germans at Ath, Belgium; direct hit on tank by German tanks; withdrawal and stand at Mount Cassel. REEL 2 Continues: morale of Welsh Guards at Mount Cassel; orders to make way to Dunkirk; German Air Force attack on York and Lancaster Regt; arrival Bray Dunes; evacuation process in rowing boat; transfer to trawler; Channel crossing to Ramsgate; reception in GB; opinion of RAF inactivity over beaches; help given to trawlers by Sunderland flying boats during Channel crossing; morale on return to GB; reaction to Stuka attacks on Mount Cassel. Aspects of period with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in GB, 1950: reaction to recall as reservist, 8/1950; posting to unit at Tidworth, 8/1950; opinion of reconnaissance role in unit. Aspects of voyage from GB to Korea aboard Empire Fowey, 1950: accommodation; organisation on board; reaction to going back to war. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 10/1950-1/1951: reception in Pusan; journey north by train into North Korea; formation of screen for retreating US Army; abandoning Centurion tank in mud; loss of brakes on his tank and transfer of tank to transporter; halt north of Seoul, end 1950; opinion of Lieutenant Alexander; formation of Cooperforce tank squadron; early 1951; action against Chinese, 1/1/1951-2/1/1951; capture of Chinese POW; exposure of left flank with retreat of US Army, 2/1/1951. REEL 4 Continues: retreat with Royal Ulster Rifles on tanks; mortar hit on tank; running over Chinese wounded; suicide attack by Chinese soldier; unit casualties; abandoning tank; pursuit on foot by Chinese; capture 3/1/1951. Recollections of POW march into North Korea, 1951: treatment by Chinese on capture; march into Chinese rear; Chinese respect for POWs' personal possessions. REEL 5 Continues: effect of climate on POWs; initial interrogation; suffering from frost-bite on march; contrast in attitudes of Chinese and North Korean guards; conflicts with North Korean guards; sight of Chinese Army on march; attitude towards Chinese troops; Chinese sensitivity to disrespect; attitude towards Korean War. Recollections of period as POW in Camp 5, Pyuktong, North Korea, 1951-1953: US POWs' attitude to camp life; camp diet; methods employed by British POWs to maintain morale; character of Turkish POWs. REEL 6 Continues: nature of Chinese indoctrination; role as monitor during 'discussion' on indoctrination; how indoctrination affected his views; opinion of Andrew Condron; western communists visits to camp including Alan Winnington, Wilfred Burchett and Monica Felton; morale about prospects of release; arrival of POWs from Gloucestershire Regt; contrast between Beckerly's imprisonment and Anthony Farrar-Hockley's experiences as portrayed in his book 'The Edge of the Sword'; prospects of escape; Chinese misconceptions of life in the West; instruction and education in camp.