Wheeler, Roy (Oral history)

British civilian worked as builder in GB, 1939-1942; private served with 118 Special Wireless Section, Y Service in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Exeter and Topsham, 1914-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of period as builder in GB, 1939-1942: sketch of building career as woodworker, 1939-1942; effect of outbreak of war on building industry, 1939; degree of direction of labour and subsequent artificial skilled labour shortage; first contact with trade unionism at Honiton c1939-1940; work at nut and bolt factory at Paulton; use of green card for craftsmen and misuse of them by unskilled workers; general decline in workmanship after outbreak of Second World War. Recollections of operations with 118 Special Wireless Section, Y Service in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945: recruitment to Y Service at Slaithwaite, 1943; move to Douglas, Isle of Man to train as special wireless operator; recognition of national character of Morse transmission. REEL 2 Continues: first operational work listening to German wireless traffic at Eastbourne, 1944; journey to Normandy, 6/1944; setting up unit in Tuileries area; use of 'Elephant Book' to monitor German call signs changes; providing potential target intelligence to 2nd Tactical Air Force; living conditions and coping with electrical storm; move to Brussels; setting up wireless station at Leende in Netherlands c10/1944; effect of providing operators to cover operations in Ardennes; story of aiding correspondence between nun and relative in GB, 2/1945; presents he gave to Dutch civilians, 2/1945; posting to Harpenden for Japanese intercept work. REEL 3 Continues: hunting for German Werewolf propaganda stations in Leatherhead from 5/1945; character of Japanese wireless transmissions and the Kana Code. Period of army education work at Dalton, 1945-1946 and subsequent emergency training as teacher. Recollections of period as civilian during Exeter Blitz, 1942: taking shelter in family home at Topsham at start of raid; bicycle ride during bombing to check on family members; attempt to rescue furniture from burning house; loss of old buildings in city centre; effect on public morale. Aspects of period as civilian living in Exeter, 1939-1942: sight of dead German Air Force pilot; under fire from German aircraft at Woodbury Common; duties with Auxiliary Fire Service during incendiary raids. REEL 4 Continues: abortive calls with Auxiliary Fire Service to Plymouth and Bristol; German Air Force attacks on RAF Exeter; character of RAF pilots at RAF Exeter; supplies obtained from US camp; question of racial segregation of US troops in Exeter. Memories of VE Day in Luton, 5/1945. Story of drinking bout on his birthday in Eastbourne, 2/6/1944. Memories of General Election, 1945. Question of effects on attitude of Second World War and problems of relating to his five year son. National unity in Second World War. Question of political motivation in Second World War. Consequences of bad workmanship in building industry during Second World War.