Morgan-Griffiths, John (Oral history)

British guardsman served with Headquarters Coy, 2nd Bn Irish Guards during expedition to rescue Dutch Royal Family from Hook of Holland, Netherlands and at Boulogne, France, 5/1940; served with 2 Commando and 11th Special Air Service in GB, 1941-1942; NCO served with 1st Bn Parachute Regt in GB, North Africa, Sicily and Italy, 1942-1943; served on mission for Special Operations Executive to France, 1/1944; NCO served with R Coy, 1st Bn Parachute Regt at Arnhem, Netherlands, 9/1944; POW in Germany, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Wolverhampton, 1911-1939: family; education; employment; reasons for joining British Army, 1930. Recollections of operations as guardsman with Headquarters Coy, 2nd Bn Irish Guards during expedition to rescue Dutch Royal Family from Hook of Holland and at Boulogne, 5/1940: character of expedition to rescue Dutch Royal Family; evacuation aboard HMS Wild Swan; move to Boulogne; character of street fighting; German shell hit on ship during evacuation by HMS Wild Swan; role of unit in Boulogne; behaviour of French drinkers during fighting; reaction on return to GB. Period with 2 Commando, 11th Special Air Service and 1st Bn Parachute Regt in GB, 1941- 1942: background to transfer to 2 Commando, 1941; training at Hardwick Hall; parachute training at Ringway; attitude towards discipline; role of 2 Commando as air landing unit; background to how 2 Commando became 11th Special Air Service and then 1st Bn Parachute Regt; attitude to parachuting from Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft; attitude towards balloon jumping. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations with R Coy, 1st Bn Parachute Regt in North Africa, 1942-1943: voyage to Algiers during Operation Torch, 11/1942; parachute drop at Souk el Aba, c14/11/1942; reception by French colonial troops and civilians; strafing by German Air Force; German christening of paratroopers as Red Devils; problems with water supply and contracting dysentery; contact with US troops; preparations for Sicilian landings in Algeria. Recollections of operations as platoon sergeant with Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Parachute Regt in Sicily, 7/1943: shooting down of his aircraft into sea by Allied ships; landing in sea; heading inland towards Primasole Bridge; amusing story of contact with German paratroopers; character of action at Primasole Bridge. Aspects of operations as platoon sergeant with 1st Bn Parachute Regt in Italy, 9/1943: landing by ship at Taranto; attitude of Italian civilians towards Allies. REEL 3 Continues: his parachute drop at Pescara to rescue British POWs on run. Recollections of Special Operations Executive mission to France, 1/1944: background to recruitment to mission; parachuting into Rouen area; meeting with reception committee; need to identify agent who turned out to be his fiancée; story of meeting his fiancée Eva Wantling; returning with fiancée in Westland Lysander; condition his fiancée was in on their meeting. Recollections of operations as platoon sergeant with R Coy, 1st Bn Parachute Regt at Arnhem, 9/1944: reaction to standing down of operations; landing in Oosterbeek-Wolfheze area; equipment carried; sight of inmates of asylum; company casualties; wounding during attempt to cross River Rhine. REEL 4 Continues: three day period at Hartenstein Hotel; contact with Dutch civilians. Memories of J.O.E. Vandeleur pre 1939. Recollections of period as POW in Germany, 1944-1945: short period in Fallingbostel POW Camp; escape attempt on train journey to Sagan POW Camp; recapture and punishment; arrival at Sagan POW Camp; lack of Red Cross parcels; POW treatment of POWs caught stealing; attempt to recruit him to British Free Corps. Aspect of march between Sagan POW Camp and Bad Soden POW Camp, 1/1945-3/1945: conditions on march; shooting of POWs who failed to rejoin march quickly enough; physical condition on completion of march. REEL 5 Continues: treatment of POWs by civilians in bombed town; escape attempt; arrival at Bad Soden POW Camp. Aspects of liberation and return to GB, 1945: disappearance of guards and arrival of US troops; processing of POWs and return to GB; reception at Little Missenden. Reflections of 1945 Election. Memories of period with 2nd Irish Guards, 1930s.