Ellis, John William (Oral history)

British civilian worked in aircraft production at General Aircraft Ltd at Feltham and Chrysler's at Kew, GB, 1940-1942; NCO served as wireless operator with Jedburgh Team 'Minaret', Special Operations Executive in GB and France, 1943-1944 and in Malaya and India 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Bedfont and Feltham, GB, 1921-1940: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; story of bombing out with family of home in Bedfont, 1943; German Air Force attacks in Bedfont and Feltham areas, 1940-1941. Aspects of period as worker with General Aircraft Ltd, Feltham; incidents of industrial sabotage and reactions to management of Chrysler car plant at Kew; faliure to be accepted for RAF due to eye problem; opinion of management incompetence at Chrysler's over manufacture of aircraft fuselages. Recollections of period as wireless operator with Jedburgh Team Minaret , Special Operations Executive in GB and France, 1943-1944: transferring from Royal Armoured Corps to be wireless operator with Special Operations Executive, 7/1943; training, 1943-1944; relations between wireless operators and FANYs on radio training course;camaraderie among Jedburgh team trainees; formation of own Jedburgh team. REEL 2 Continues: formation of Jedburgh team including Major Sharpe and Captain Mutin; problems experienced on parachute training course, RAF Ringway; decision to be taken into France via Algiers; repeated abandoning of team's missions at Algiers; Major Mutrin's accident ruling him out of team; argument over accommodation in Algiers; drop into Bar de Sevan, lower Pyranees, France, 14/7/1944; problem of Major Sharpe's drowsiness during parachute drop; transfer to Les Paroux and Vellarogue in Rhone valley; working to both London and Algiers; local reaction's to Sharpe's Parisian manner; problems with type of radio set; moves to La Salle and Hyppolyte la Four; using Fiat car to carry equipment; narrowly escaping hanging by Communist resistance. REEL 3 Continues: attacks by Fleet Air Arm on Route 9; repatriation of shot down pilot; adventures during journey back to GB via Le Bourget, 16/9/1944; opinion of debriefing in London; 'laissez passer' shown to Communist resistance in south of France; change of attitude of French towards British Jedburgh members once personnel transferred from GB to Algiers; opinion of golden rules of resistance work of avoiding involvement in politics or with women; 'petticoat rule' in Maquis. Recollections of operations as wireless operator with Force 136, Special Operations Executive in India and Malaya, 1944-1945: transfer to Force 136; contracting denge fever in north Ceylon. REEL 4 Continues: retraining as wireless operator after illness; recouperation at hill station in Ceylon; being sent by Consolidated B 24 Liberator to work with Major Hislop in Malaya; Consolidated B 24 Liberator flight from Mineriya to Perak, 6/1945; making contact with Major Hislop; prior recollections of incidences of brutality towards female collaborators in France in 1944; Andrew Croft's reaction to treatment of female collaborators in Montpellier, 1944; starvation of Balkan prisoners and atrocities against them perpetrated by members of French Resistance at Vals, 9/1944; story of joining Gurkha group for training scheme in Ceylon; accidental killing of Gurkha on scheme; successful drops arranged in area. REEL 5 Continues: Japanese attempts to shoot down Consolidated B 24 Liberators making drops; wounding and gangrene of Major Latham's leg; saving of Latham's leg; Hislop's lack of activity against Japanese; parachuting in of physician and debilitated state of team; degree to which Japanese tried to pursue team; story of Japanese captive being tortured to death by guerrillas; opinion of behaviour of local guerrilla groups; circumstances of effecting Japanese surrender; background to Hislop's arranging of Gurkha operation against local guerrilla forces; exchanges of fire bewteen Jedburh team and local guerrillas; relations with Japanese after VE Day; local hostility in Baling towards guerrillas; conflict with Hislop over luxuriant rations; joining Major Travers and Gurkhas at Tappah, Ipoh after VJ Day. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period in India, 1945-1946; reasons for lack of debriefing after India; period at Meerut, India before returning to GB: opening fire on group attacking First Aid Nursing Yeomanry compound near Meerut; orders for riot control dutiesin Poona at time of Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, 1946; story of conflict with senior officer over other ranks' use of hotel in Colombo and personal instructions received from Winston Churchill.