description
Object description
British officer served with No 3 Commando in GB, 1940-1942, during Lofoten Islands Raid, Norway, 4/3/1941, Vaagso Raid, Norway, 27/12/1941 and St Nazaire Raid, France, 28/3/1942; POW in Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke and Oflag IX-AH, Spangenburg, Germany, 4/1942-4/1945; commanded 3rd Bn Queen's Own Nigeria Regt with United Nations Operations in the Congo (ONUC) in Congo, 1961-1963
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Recollections of operations with No 3 Commando in GB, 1940-1942 and during Lofoten Islands Raid, Norway, 4/3/1941 and Vaagso Raid, Norway, 27/12/1941: background to volunteering for commandos, 1940; training in Plymouth area; selection for Operation Claymore, the Lofoten Islands Raid, 4/3/1941; accidental dropping of phosphorus flare by RAF into landing craft during Vaagso Raid, 27/12/1941; demolition work he did on Vaagso Raid, 27/12/1941; German POWs taken; removal of Norwegian civilians during Vaagso Raid, 27/12/1941; slight wounding during Vaagso Raid, 27/12/1941. Recollections of operations as officer with No 3 Commando during St Nazaire Raid, France, 28/3/1942: preparations for Operation Chariot at Rosyth and Southampton Docks, 2/1942; embarkation at Falmouth, 26/3/1942; composition of raiding force.
REEL 2 Continues: objective of Operation Chariot; question of chances of personnel returning from raid; arrangement of personnel on deck of HMS Campbeltown; his wounding on deck of HMS Campbeltown; role during Operation Chariot; Lieutenant Colonel Charles Newman's plan to escape from docks; his capture in cellar with Lieutenant Colonel Charles Newman; nature of his wounds; treatment for wounds at La Baule and Rennes. Recollections of period as POW in Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke and Oflag IX-AH, Spangenberg, Germany, 4/1942-4/1945: arrival at Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, 4/1942; imprisonment at Oflag IX-AH, Spangenberg from 7/1942; treatment at POW hospital at Obermaasfeld; attempts of Germans to march POWs to Bavaria; liberation by US troops, 4/1945; flight to GB via Paris, France.
REEL 3 Continues: procedure for handling POWs at Chesham, GB, 5/1945; danger from SS and Hitler Youth in Germany, 1945; dependence of POWs on Red Cross parcels and disruption to their supply. Recollections of commanding 3rd Bn Queen's Own Nigerian Regt with United Nations Operations in the Congo (ONUC) in Congo, 1961-1963: posting to unit in Congo; role preventing release of popular leader by mob, 1962; orders to intervene in chaotic situation in north Katanga at Kongolo, 9/1962; problems crossing River Congo against Katangese opposition; question of absurdity of orders from United Nations Headquarters in New York; taking surrender of Katangese, 1/1963; calibre of Nigerian troops; drug and voodoo problems among his troops.
