Bonner, Iain (Oral history)

British NCO served with Glider Pilot Regt in GB and Arnhem, Netherlands, 1943-1944; POW in Germany, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in London and Carbis Bay, 1923-1942: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; relations between evacuees and local populace in Carbis Bay, from 1939; volunteering for British Army, 1942. Recollections of period as NCO with Glider Pilot Regt in GB, 1943-1944: background to volunteering for unit; army's attitude to special forces; importance of soldierly role of glider pilots; arrival at Fargo Camp; character of discipline imposed on trainees by Guards instructors; creation of unit identity; flying training at RAF Booker and glider training at RAF Stoke Orchard; role as air liaison sergeant with US forces at RAF Exeter; practised snatch take offs with gliders at RAF Exeter; posting to Airborne Headquarters at Moor Park. REEL 2 Continues: posting to D Sqdn, Glider Pilot Regt at RAF Keevil. Recollections of operations as NCO with D Sqdn, Glider Pilot Regt at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden, 9/1944: character of third lift to Arnhem; load carried on flight from GB to Arnhem; sight of German flak; acquiring motorcycle on trek to Wolfheze; in action at Wolfheze; effects of lack of sleep; house to house fighting in Wolfheze-Oosterbeek area; surplus of weapons but lack of ammunition; reaction to sight of first German tank; receiving splinter wound; food and water supplies; opinion of German opposition. Recollections of period as POW in Netherlands and Germany, 1944-1945: treatment on capture; German who captured him; behaviour of Dutch civilians on capture; reception at transit camp at Oberursel; how he received his possessions back later in POW experience; move to Stalag Luft VII at Vankau; initial accommodation at Stalag Luft VII. REEL 3 Continues: character of rations at Stalag Luft VII; trek westwards from Vankau to Luckenwalde POW Camp, early 1945; behaviour of Irish guardsmen captured at Dunkirk ain Luckenwalde; state of Russian POWs at Luckenwalde; method used by POWs to get rest period on march; danger of crossing iced over River Oder. Recollections of liberation by Russian troops, 5/1945: Russian order not to feed Germans; how POWs gave food to children; lack of communication in last months of POW life; impressions of Russian troops; Russian attitude towards POWs; exchange of POWs on bridge over River Elbe; how Russians had turned back US ambulance convoy; Russian shooting of POWs trying to cross River Elbe; contact with Displaced Persons; German fear of Russians. REEL 4 Continues: contrast between behaviour of front-line and second line troops; prior recollection of German troops behaviour towards Polish civilians; memories of VE day broadcast; handling of POWs by US forces and flight to GB; period in repatriation camp at Morpeth. Memories of Victory Parade in London, 6/1946. Question of counselling and effects of experience in Second World War.