Bint, Bruce Frederick (Oral history)

British cadet served with Merchant Navy aboard MV Dunster Grange in North and South Atlantic, 9/1939-5/1940; served aboard SS Duquesa in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 9/1940-12/1940 including capture by Admiral Scheer, 18/12/1940; prisoner of war aboard Admiral Scheer and MV Sandefjord in North Atlantic, 12/1940-1/1941; prisoner of war in Frontstalag 221, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, France, Stalag X-B, Sandbostel and Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 1/1941-4/1945

REEL 1 Background in Newhaven and Kilburn, GB, 1922-1938: family; education. Aspects of period as cadet with Merchant Navy aboard SS Marquesa, 1938-1939: nature of ship's trade; conditions on board; duties and treatment of cadets; explanation of term 'suji muji'; hierarchy among cadets. Aspects of period as cadet with Merchant Navy aboard MV Dunster Grange in North and South Atlantic, 9/1939-5/1940: painting ship grey in Argentina, 3/9/1939; torpedo attack on ship by German submarine U-37, south of Ireland, 22/5/1940; sight of Admiral Graf Spee at close quarters in Montevideo, Uruguay, 12/1939. Aspects of period as cadet with Merchant Navy aboard SS Duquesa in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 9/1940-12/1940 including capture by German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer, 18/12/1940: unexploded German bomb on ship in London Docks, 9/1940; advantages and disadvantages of sailing in convoy. REEL 2 Continues: encounter with Admiral Scheer off Freetown, Sierra Leone, 18/12/1940; capture of ship and placing of prize crew aboard. Aspects of period as prisoner of war aboard Admiral Scheer and MV Sandefjord in North Atlantic, 12/1940-1/1941: transfer from Admiral Scheer to MV Sandefjord, 18/1/1941; arrival in Bordeaux, France and abortive plans to escape; treatment of prisoners of war by Germans at sea. Aspect of period as prisoner of war in France, 1/1941-3/1941: train journey from Bordeaux; later reception by women in Charleroi, Belgium, 3/1941; character of transit camp Fronstalag 221, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, near Bordeaux, 2/1941-3/1941. Aspects of period as prisoner of war at Stalag X-B, Sandbostel, Germany, 3/1941-2/1942: treatment of prisoner of war who did not keep himself clean; prisoner of war who fell into camp cesspit. Recollections of period as prisoner of war at Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 2/1942-4/1945: transfer to camp, 2/1942; conditions in camp; question of morale of prisoners of war; rise of commodity market. REEL 3 Continues: Continues: price determination; making alcohol; Red Cross parcel supply; bartering with Germans; reaction to Allied bombing in area; prisoner of war entertainments and quality of performances; escape attempts; contrast between his imprisonment and that of service personnel; liberation by Guards Armoured Div, 27/4/1945.