Beckerley, Edward George (Oral history)

British driver served with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, 1st Light Reconnaissance Bde, 51st (Highland) Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 9/ 1939-6/1940; served with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 10/1950-1/1951; POW in Camp No 5, Pyuktong, North Korea, 1/1951-8/1953

REEL 1 Aspects of period as trooper 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, 1st Light Armoued Reconnaissanc Bde, 51st (Highland) Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 9/1939-6/1940: places unit was based in France, reconnaissance role within 51st (Highland) Infantry Div; move into Belgium, 5/1940; initial contact with Germans at Ath, Belgium; direct hit on his tank by German tanks; withdrawal and stand at Cassel. REEL 2 Continues: morale of 1st Bn Welsh Guards at Cassel; orders to make way to Dunkirk, France; German Air Force attack on 6th Bn York and Lancaster Regt; arrival Bray Dunes, France; evacuation process in rowing boat; transfer to trawler; crossing English Channel to Ramsgate, GB; reception in GB; opinion of RAF inactivity over beaches; aid given to trawlers by Short Sunderland Flying Boats during crossing of English Channel; morale on return to GB; reaction to Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks on Cassel. Aspects of period with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in GB, 8/1950-9/1950: reaction to recall as reservist, 8/1950; posting to unit at Tidworth, 8/1950; opinion of reconnaissance role in unit. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Fowey from GB to Korea, 1950: accommodation; organisation on board ship; 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, 12/1950; opinion of Lieutenant Alexander; formation of Cooperforce; early 1951; in 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 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles riding 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, 1/1951: 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 during 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 No 5, Pyuktong, North Korea, 1/1951-8/1953: American 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 Marine Andrew Condron; western Communists visits to camp including Alan Winnington, Wilfred Burchett and Monica Felton; morale about prospects of release; arrival of POWs from 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt captured at Battle of River Imjin; 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.