Etches, William Whitson (Oral history)

British officer served with No 3 Commando in GB, 1940-1942, during Operation Claymore, the raid on the Lofoten Islands Raid, Norway, 4/3/1941, Operation Archery, the raid on Vaagso Island, Norway, 27/12/1941 and Operation Chariot, the raid on Saint-Nazaire, France, 28/3/1942; prisoner of war in Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Lazaret 1249, Obermaasfeld, and Oflag IX-AH, Spangenburg, Germany, 4/1942-4/1945; commanded 3rd Bn Queen's Own Nigeria Regt, Nigerian Army with United Nations Operations in the Congo (ONUC) in Congo, 1961-1963

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Recollections of operations with No 3 Commando in GB, 1940-1942 and during Operation Claymore, the raid on the Lofoten Islands, Norway, 4/3/1941 and Operation Archery, the raid on Vaagso Island, Norway, 27/12/1941: background to volunteering for commandos, 1940; training in Plymouth area; selection for Operation Claymore; accidental dropping of phosphorus flare by Royal Air Force into landing craft during Operation Archery, 27/12/1941; demolition work he did during Operation Archery, 27/12/1941; German prisoners of war taken; removal of Norwegian civilians during Operation Archery, 27/12/1941; slight wounding during Operation Archery 27/12/1941. Recollections of operations as officer with No 3 Commando during Operation Chariot, the raid on Saint-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 prisoner of war in Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Lazaret 1249, Obermaasfeld, 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 prisoner of war hospital Lazaret 1249 at Obermaasfeld; attempts of Germans to march prisoners of war to Bavaria; liberation by United States Army troops, 4/1945; flight from Germany to GB via Paris, France. REEL 3 Continues: procedure for handling prisoners of war at Chesham, GB, 5/1945; danger from Waffen-SS and Hitler Youth in Germany, 1945; dependence of prisoners of war on Red Cross parcels and disruption to their supply. Recollections of commanding 3rd Bn Queen's Own Nigerian Regt, Nigerian Army 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.