Description
Object description
British officer served with Auxiliary Units in GB, 1940
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as officer with Auxiliary Units in GB, 1940: background and opinion of troops; reluctance of some landowners including story of interview with old Cambridge master; right-wing involvement of Cambridge masters; listing of untrustworthy people; memories of Norman Field; reactions to letters written between Auxiliary Units staff and memories of Gemmill; memories of officers; opinion of reasons for little documentation from Auxiliary Units existing; involvement of Auxiliary Units with Lovat Scouts; construction of hideouts including demonstration hideout at Highworth; opinion of later organisation of unit; reaction to memo about First Aid kits; communications.
REEL 2 Continues: memories of Peter May; instructions given to patrol leaders in the event of an invasion; training given to Auxiliary Units; story of invasion scare; listing of untrustworthy people; work chasing possible collaborators; organisation of Auxiliary Units; liaison with army including intelligence; relationship with senior officers including General Martel; opinion of use of Auxiliary Units; discussion on possible use of Auxiliary Units in France; details of Auxiliary Units exercises; introduction of Thompson sub-machine gun.
REEL 3 Continues: background to joining Auxiliary Units; formation of Auxiliary Units and recruitment of troops; details of 12 Corps and its relationship with Auxiliary Units; security and role of Auxiliary Units; urgency training and recruitment; officers appointed to each area operated within; recruitment of patrol members including problems faced; relationship with senior officers including General Bernard Montgomery; weapons including .30 Springfield rifles received from America; explosives; writing and publication of explosives handbook; details of booby traps.
REEL 4 Continues: details of training school founded at Coleshill House, Highworth; spread of Auxiliary Units through GB; communications; story of attempt to build underground army; loss of enthusiasm and decision to leave Auxiliary Units; posting to Special Operations Executive. Aspects of period as officer with Special Operations Executive in GB from 1940: opinion of replacement and changes to Auxiliary Units; officers recruited from Auxiliary Units for Special Operations Executive; lessons learned in Auxiliary Units that were taken on to Special Operations Executive.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with Auxiliary Units in GB, 1940: further details of weapons; reaction to use of assault boats; concerns about Ireland; vulnerable areas; reflections on European resistance; discussion about help from America; question of suicide contingency plans; opinion of Colin Gubbins; opinions of Auxiliary Units.