Brough, William (Oral history)

214900432
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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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

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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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.
185173389
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.
1998922141
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.
2070620600
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.
1217949168
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.
2113129900
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.
1114510635
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.
2048659535
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.
1194041536
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 civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1941 and with Friends' Ambulance Unit and US Army Medical Corps in Burma and China, 1939-1944; officer served with US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Detachment 101 in Burma, 1944-1945.

Content description

REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1919-1939: working class family background in Northumberland; various memories of the General Strike and the Depression; effects of First World War; education; father's anti-war stance; employment; attitude to leaving school at 14; awareness of Spanish Civil War; opinion of Versailles Treaty; attitude to authority; importance of Methodist Church in developing pacifist views; ability as boxer; effect of mother's death on family. REEL 2 Continues: further comments on Methodist Church and Christianity; question of doubt over beliefs; story of registering as a conscientious objector after conscription, 1939; reaction of family; nature of objection and willingness to serve in non-combatant role; reaction of local community to stance as conscientious objector; story of further pacifist contacts including Quakers; description of Tribunal under Judge Richardson and verdict of conditional exemption; first contacts with Friends' Ambulance Unit; voluntary hospital work in Newcastle. Aspects of period with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1941: description of training at 3rd Camp, 1/1940; opinion of Friends' Ambulance Unit members and question of working class being underrepresented in Friends' Ambulance Unit. REEL 3 Continues: pay and financial situation of Friends' Ambulance Unit members; problem of isolation from family; advantage of having practical skills; description of hospital work in London and relations with medical staff; opinion of VADs at Weymouth Hospital; description of training for China Convoy; value of previous training as Boy Scout; attitude to positive effect of war on future career as doctor. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period with Friends' Ambulance Unit and US Army Medical Corps in Burma and China, 1941-1943: story of journey to Burma, late 1941; description of Burma Road prior to Japanese invasion; opinion of missionaries; story about German missionary with picture of Hitler on desk; problem with missionaries over delivery of bibles; sings Friends' Ambulance Unit song 'Members of the League of Purity'; description of getting supplies and lorries out of Rangoon following Japanese invasion and subsequent retreat; morale of British troops; story of being offered water by young woman; description of medical work in Burma; story of first meeting with US Gen. Stilwell. REEL 5 Continues: description of work with Dr. Gordon Seagrave's mobile medical unit attached to Chinese Army; attitude of soldiers to conscientious objectors; description of military situation in Burma, 1942; treatment of Chinese casualties; story of Japanese ambush on ambulance; attitude of Japanese to Red Cross; problem of bandits; comparison between Friends' Ambulance Unit personnel and soldiers; role of Chinese in unit; attitude of Americans to Chinese; story about defection of Lu Hsiung's; further comments on Gen. Stilwell. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Gen. Stilwell and dislike of nickname 'Vinegar Joe'; reaction to Gen. Stilwell's opinion of Chiang Kai-Shek; problem of disagreements over military strategy between Stilwell and Chiang Kai-Shek; story about Stilwell's concern for welfare while serving as private in US Army; attitude of US military to British forces and losses in Arakan; problem of being only Englishman in US unit; reaction to tasteless joke about British told by relative of Madame Chiang; question of pro-Japanese and anti-British attitudes in Burma; story of persuading unit from pro-Japanese Burmese National Army to defect to allies; problem of culture clash with Chinese forces. REEL 7 Continues: description of Japanese advance through Burma, 1942; description of journey by train and on foot after contracting dysentery; opinion of system of pairing; description of five day train journey to Myitkyina and flight to Calcutta, India; story of contracting cerebral malaria and being anointed by priest; death rate and state of health among Friends' Ambulance Unit personnel in China and Burma; story about death of Doug Hardy; description of further work in China following recovery, 1942-1943; story about role in aborted plan to attack Hong Kong on Christmas Day, 1942. REEL 8 Continues: story of adopting young Chinese girl intended for slavery; attitude to being a conscientious objector in war zone; story of leaving Friends' Ambulance Unit to join US Army as private, 3/Nov/1944; opinion of Japanese; value of previous experience in jungle against Japanese; reaction to Japanese acts of cruelty; reasons for deciding to join US Army. Aspects of operations with Office of Strategic Services Detachment 101in Burma, 11/1944-8/1945: description of role including parachuting behind enemy lines and involvement with guerrilla warfare. REEL 9 Continues: further description of guerrilla warfare; story of meeting author Roger Hilsman in medical capacity; role in operations with Merrill's Marauders; description of Dr. Seagrave's mobile medical unit in Burma; opinion of Dr. Seagrave and failure to provide adequate protection for young nurses; opinion of Merrill's unit; description of Chinese Army tactics; further comments on decision to join Office of Strategic Services Detachment101 Unit; attitude to being awarded medals; REEL 10 Continues: further comments on medals; attitude to killing men during war; reasons for wanting to be a doctor; question of war providing opportunities for medical career; value of war service and medals in gaining place at medical school after war; reflections on wartime experiences and post-war medical career. REEL 11 Continues: Aspects of post-war life in GB: story of being awarded the US Presidential Medal for Merit, 1946; attitude to current issues of war and peace including Gulf War, 1991; reason for maintaining anti-war stance; further reflections on service with Office of Strategic Services Detachment101 in Burma; question of doubt over pacifist beliefs; story about decision not to kill Japanese soldier.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: Second World War (production), Second World War (content)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Smith, Lyn E (recorder)
Brough, William (interviewee/speaker)
Production date: 1991-05-28
Dimensions: whole: Duration 320, Number Of Items 11
Catalogue number: 12103

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Brough, William
Richardson (Judge)
Stilwell, Joseph Warren
Seagrave, Gordon Stiffler
Jones, Brian
Lu Hsiung
Flynn, Lou
Hardy, Douglas J
Ma Sai Moi
Hilsman, Roger
Merrill, Frank Dow
Relief Organisation, Friends' Ambulance Unit
United States Army, Medical Dept
United States Army, Office of Strategic Services & Unit 101
Associated events

31/4(41).8
31/5(41).6 [Medical]
31/5(41).8
31/5(51).6 [Medical]
31/5(51).8
31/5(591).6 [Medical]
31/5(591).8
01/5(591)
Associated places

GB, England
BU
CN
Associated subjects

song: Members of the League of Purity
Associated keywords

Pacifism
Medical Services
Associated themes

Cassette

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Brough, William (Oral history)

Description

Object description

Content description

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated events

Associated places

Associated subjects

Associated keywords

Associated themes

Our collections information

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