Roberts, Elisha (Oral history)

British private served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, North West Europe and Egypt, 1939-1941; served with 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry in Syria, North Africa and Malta 1941-1942; served with Special Air Service and Commandos in Mediterranean area and made raids in North Africa, Crete, Greece and Italy, 1942-1943. POW in Italy and Germany, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Washington, GB, 1918-1939: area grew up in; family; education; work in colliery; conditions in pit; accidents; comradeship. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, France and Egypt, 1939-1941: call-up to army; posted to Chester-le-Street; medical; drill with wooden rifles; issue of uniform; rations; journey to France; marching around France; action at Vimy Ridge; retreat to beaches; air activity on beach; boarding of coal boat; description of boat; arrival in Southend; train journey to Wrexham; reaction on return to GB; morale; leave and reception from family; marriage; rejoined battalion at Colchester; time in Cape Town; impressions of Egypt; transfer to 1st Battalion. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Syria, North Africa and Malta, 1941-1942: memories of Syria; posted to C Company; reason for transfer to 1st Battalion; reactions to transfer; journey to Tobruk; positions taken up in Tobruk; story of patrol his friend killed on; preparations for patrols; size of patrol; role of patrol; rations; water; Polish Division; movement during day; posted to Malta; civilians living in caves; work on airfields and air activity; opinion of Malta; damage to ships; relationship with civilians; rations; request for SAS volunteers; reason for volunteering. Aspects of period with 3rd Regt Special Air Service and Commandos in North Africa, 1942-1944: background of officers; journey to Philippeville; training; disbanding of unit; joined Commandos; raid on power station in Crete; raid on artillery battery in Greece; journey to Greece; weapons and equipment carried by unit; description of detonating plastic explosives. REEL 2 Continues: training in unarmed combat; carrying of knife; fitness training; boots worn; transfer back to Special Air Service. Aspects of period with 3rd Regt Special Air Service in Italy, 1944: arrival in Bari; flight to Rome; troops on mission; landing outside Rome; destruction of military train; communications; training jumps; march back to base; diversion to Anzio; capture by Germans. Aspects of period as POW in Italy and Germany, 1944-1945: camp near Florence; initial treatment and interrogation; train journey to Germany and brief escape after bombing; arrival at Stalag Luft III; reason for placement in Stalag Luft III; opinion of treatment; problems with lice. Aspects of period with 3rd Regt Special Air Service in North Africa and Italy: opinion of SAS officers and sergeants; relationship with officers and NCOs; troops refusing to jump on courses; methods of survival on raids; help given by Italian civilians; picking up of language; make-up of troops and opposition on raids; relief after raids. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1944-1945: liberation of camp; flight to GB; interrogation; leave; demobilisation at Aylesbury; condition on release from camp; rations; details of march from Posen to Rhine; released from Stalag XVIII; treatment from Americans; enjoyment of parachute jumping; civilian work following war.