Curtis, Arthur Derek Edward (Oral history)

British officer served with 7th Field Coy, Royal Engineers in France and Belgium, 1939-1940; served as staff officer with 13th Corps, Royal Engineers in GB, 1940-1941; served with Number 1 Light Scout Car (Sonic Deception Unit) in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1944

REEL 1 Background in Karachi, India and GB, 1917-1939: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; sight of evacuee children at Chatham, 9/1939. Period with 7th Field Coy, Royal Engineers in France, 1939- 1940: move to France with 4th Div, late 9/1939; reinforcement system in unit; construction of Gort Line near Tourcoing; equipment used by unit; living conditions for unit; relations with French family and reception on his return, 1944; story of British NCO who stole money and worked for Germans during occupation; attitude towards French liaison officer; mine accident. Recollections of operations as officer with 7th Field Coy, Royal Engineers in France and Belgium, 5/1940: search for German parachutists near Lille, 10/5/1940. REEL 2 Continues: advance into Belgium, 11/5/1940; building bridge across Senne Canal at Grimbergen; destruction of bridge after used by retreating 3rd Div crossed; blowing of tunnel under Senne Canal; move to River Scheldt to blow bridges; mortaring of Lancashire Fusiliers on island in River Scheldt; use of sappers in infantry role at Halluin; reaction to having to blow up row of civilian houses; orders to move to Dunkirk; role of unit infantry battalion during attack on Commines Canal area; crossing into Dunkirk perimeter at Furnes; hazards of blowing bridge over Nieuwpoort Canal. REEL 3 Continues: German penetration of perimeter at Nieuwpoort Canal; wounding in side; medical treatment near La Panne; resting on broken glass on esplanade his evacuation from Dunkirk by paddle streamer; opinion of decoy work of K Class destroyer; processing at Margate; reception in Lewisham. Aspects of period as staff officer with 13th Corp, Royal Engineers on coastal defence duties in GB, 1940-1941: role liaising with civilian contractors; question of how defences deceived Germans; incident of civilian who refused to have his beach-hut demolished; the last bowling session before mining of bowling green; Molotov cocktail demonstration that started grass fire; narrow escape from RAF strafing during Battle of Britain. Aspects of period Sonic Deception Unit in GB, 1942-1944: recruitment, 1942. REEL 4 Continues: role of unit in producing sound effects; how sound equipment worked; cover name of unit - Number 1 Light Scout Car Coy; composition of R Force. Recollections of operations with Number 1 Light Scout Car Coy, R Force, 21st Army Group in North West Europe, 1944: voyage from Southampton to Arromanches c8/6/1944; deception work of unit during Operation Epsom; effect on German Air Force's lack of reconnaissance aircraft on visual deception during Operation Epsom; character of sound deception work carried out during Operation Epsom; question of degree to which Germans deceived by sound deception work; character of work carried out during Operation Goodwood. REEL 5 Continues: arrival in Rouen, 8/1944; advance from Rouen to Tournai, 8/1944; anxiety about German Tiger Tank in Tournai area; memories of liberation of Brussels, 9/1944; sound deception work in Elst area, 9/1944; attempts to induce Germans to surrender in Calais and Boulogne, autumn 1944; contact with French civilians known in 1940; abortive plan to use sound deception at Venlo, 11/1944-12/1944.