Guthrie, Duncan Dunbar (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British civilian served as adjutant with British Contingent to Finnish Army in GB and Finland, 10/1939-3/1940; escaped from Finland to GB via United States of America and Canada, 8/1940-12/1940; officer served with 30th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB and Scilly Isles, 1941-1943; trained with Special Operations Executive in GB and Palestine, 1943-1944; served with Jedburgh Team Harry, F Section, Special Operations Executive in France, 6/1944-8/1944; served with Force 136, Special Operations Executive in Burma, 3/1945-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1911-1939: family; reaction to boarding school education; memories as schoolboy in Ovingdean of Armistice Day 11/11/1918; failed attempt to join Royal Navy, 9/1939. Aspects of period as volunteer adjutant with British Contingent to Finnish Army in GB and Finland, 10/1939-3/1940: arrival in Finland after cessation of hostilities, 3/1940; problems getting out of Finland via Petsamo, 1940; abortive attempt to escape via Kirkenes, Norway by trekking across frontier; being sent back to Finland by Norwegian Army troops, 3/1940; character of recruits to British Contingent to Finnish Army. REEL 2 Continues: second attempt to leave Finland; journey to Petsamo; attempt to escape by Norwegian merchant vessel to Norway. Aspects of escape from Finland to GB via United States of America and Canada, 8/1940-12/1940: obtaining passage aboard USAT American Legion from Finland to United States of America, 16/8/1940-31/8/1940. REEL 3 Continues: method of gaining entry to United States of America; coping without money or possessions in New York, United States of America; making contact with friend in New York, United States of America; attempt to find role in war with help of Mrs Belle Roosevelt; crossing United States of America border into Canada; enlistment in 5th Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Canadian Artillery at Montreal, Canada with purpose of getting posting to GB; arrival at River Clyde, GB, 25/12/1940; declining commission in Canadian Army, 1941. Aspects of period as officer with 30th Bn Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry in GB, 1941-1943: transfer to British Army; character of 30th Bns of British Army; period with unit on Scilly Isles, 1942-1943. REEL 4 Continues: attitude to life in officer's mess and hearing of recruitment for special operations. Aspects of period as officer with Special Operations Executive in GB and Middle East, 1943-1944: reasons for allocation to Greek Section; training in Palestine. Recollections of operations with Jedburgh Team Harry, F Section, Special Operations Executive in France, 6/1944-8/1944: reasons for reallocation to teams being trained for operations in France; composition of Team Harry; composition of team and personal codename of 'Denby'; parachute drop from Lockheed Hudson with two members of Special Air Service, into Morvan area, 6/6/1944; loss of equipment in drop; use of BBC personal messages to establish credentials with French Resistance; execution of Belgian member of group by Maquis; reaction to lack of successful signals communications with GB; opinion of poor location of French field hospital in country house; ambushing German unit at field hospital; German reprisals for ambush; question of whereabouts of two Special Air Service troopers; rations. REEL 5 Continues: story of execution of French teenager believed to be member of Fascist French Popular Party (Parti Populaire Francais) opinion of achievements of Team Harry; impact on war of Maquis and opinion of members of French Resistance; arrival of Special Operations Executive officer Stephen Hastings and his teasing for having plastic surgery to reinvent cover; teaching French Resistance in use of weaponry including Sten Gun; story of blowing up German tank; attempt to induce German surrender by telephone at Château-Chinon; visit to Paris on liberation, 8/1944; financing of Team Harry and story of being asked to return unspent funds. Aspects of operations as officer with Force 136, Special Operations Executive in Ceylon and Burma, 1945: posting to Special Operations Executive in Far East and last minute change of destination from Thailand to Burma. REEL 6 Continues: contrast between Special Operations Executive operations in France and Burma; breaking ankle on drop into Karenni Hills, Burma, 4/3/1945; sheltering with headman Saw Paw Do in Karen village for three months; seriousness of ankle injury; background to leaving Burma, 22/5/1945.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Guthrie, Duncan Dunbar (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1991-12-02
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 12354

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Guthrie, Duncan Dunbar (Oral history)

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