Description
Object description
British marine served with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Palestine, 1948, Federation of Malaya, 1948-1949 and British Somalia, 1949; served with 41 (Independent) Commando, Royal Marines in North Korea, 1950-1951; prisoner of war in Camp 1, Choksong and Reactionary Camp, North Korea, 1951-1953
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Leiston and Bury St Edmunds, GB, 1930-1947: family; education; German Air Force attacks on area; enlistment in Royal Marines, 1947. Aspects of operations as marine with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Palestine, 1948: duties manning roadblocks outside Haifa; attitudes towards Arabs and Jews. Aspects of operations as marine with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1949: use of Iban trackers in Ipoh area; leech problem in jungle; unit successes against insurgents; ambushing insurgent group; atrocity committed by insurgents against villagers. Aspects of operations with 45 Commando, Royal Marines during disturbances in Mogadishu,Somalia, 1949: reason for sending HMS Birmingham; dispersal of crowd with fixed bayonets. Recollections of operations as NCO with 41 (Independent) Commando, Royal Marines in North Korea, 1950-1951: formation of unit and its role, 8/1950; basing in Yokosuka, Japan from 9/1950; attachment to 1st US Marine Div, United States Marine Corps.
REEL 2 Continues: nature of relations with United States Marine Corps personnel; opinion of United State Marine Corps; listening patrol behind North Korean lines in Wonsan Bay area; trading American for Royal Navy rations, 6/1951; listening patrols; attitude towards going on operations; capture by North Korean troops after boat accident during typhoon in Wonsan Bay, 8/1951. Recollections of period as prisoner of war on march in North Korea, 8/1951-11/1951: prisoner of war shooting masquerade carried out by North Korean captors.
REEL 3 Continues: initial treatment on capture; trek through Wonsan; attack on vehicle he was travelling in by American aircraft; aid given by prisoners of war to wounded North Korean soldier; presentation of horse's head by villagers to prisoners of war as reward; dysentery problem; aid given to prisoners of war by North Korean women; story of North Korean guard charging one cigarette to Chinese soldiers to view Peskett; nature of answers given to questionnaire and subsequent beating; protection received from North Korean civilian; relations with ex-University of Seoul guard; period in North Korean hospital; meeting with United States Marine Corps pilot Captain Gerry Fink; treatment he received during interrogation from Major Pak; first meeting with Captain Anthony Farrar-Hockley; forming up for march north, 11/1951; carrying of Captain Anthony Farrar-Hockley and Captain Ronald Washbrook on ox-cart; death of Captain Ronald Washbrook, 21/11/1951. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Camp 1, Choksong and Reactionary Camp, North Korea, 1951-1953: special Chinese meal for Thanksgiving at Camp 1, Choksong, 22/11/1951; developing beri-beri at Camp 1 Choksong.
REEL 4 Continues: treatment of beri beri including intravenous vitamin injections; bathing in rivers; reason for his being sent to Reactionary Camp; prank played on Chinese guard; resistance to Communist indoctrination; his attitude towards captors; imprisonment in hole for unco-operative behaviour; story of prisoner of war who claimed to be member of Irish Republican Army (IRA); prisoner of war takeover of cookhouse; recreational activities; Red Cross visit; release to Panmunjom, South Korea, 1953; two escape attempts; Chinese 'freechat' system with prisoners of war to gain information; arrest for chasing prisoner of war with cleaver; methods used in interrogation camp; sight of North Korean chain gang; character of three month period in interrogation camp; beatings received during interrogation; attitude towards Chinese, North Koreans and Communism; effects of period as prisoner of war in North Korea.
