description
Object description
British private served with Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Parachute Regt in Palestine, 1946-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian living in Bournemouth and Winchester, 1926-1944: family; education; German Air Force attack on Winchester; German Air Force attack during visit to relatives in Islington; membership of Winchester Home Guard. Aspects of enlistment and training with Parachute Regt in GB, 1944-1945: call up, 12/1944; initial training at Northampton Barracks prior to volunteering for Parachute Regt early 1945; parachute training on Isle of Wight and Hardwick Hall; parachute jumping course at Ringway; parachute accidents at Ringway.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as NCO with Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Parachute Regt in Palestine, 1946-1947: joining unit at Nathaniya, 3/1946; raising money for families of NCOs murdered by Zionists; method employed by commanding officer to calm situation down after murders; move to Serona; searches in Tel Aviv for illegal arms including discovery of cache in synagogue; use of Citrus House Hotel as base; Zionist attack on Citrus House Hotel and retaliation by paratroopers in Tel Aviv; Zionist attack on Palestine Police vehicle.
REEL 3 Continues: aftermath of Serona bombing; patrols in Jaffa and comparison with patrols in Tel Aviv; danger of theft of equipment; move to Nahariya Camp, Haifa; guarding radio station at Mount Carmel; duties handling illegal immigrants; dealing with arrival of Exodus 47 refugee ship; sailing aboard Ocean Vigour from Haifa to Hamburg to return illegal immigrants; discovery of bomb aboard Ocean Vigour; poisoning of water supply on ship; attitude towards camp survivors; ashore in Hamburg; ambush of soldiers by immigrants aboard Ocean Vigour.
REEL 4 Continues: trips between Haifa and Famagusta accompanying immigrants to Cyprus; job taking body of executed Dov Gruner to sight of secret grave; incident in which Private Thorn won Military Medal during Acre Prison break; exercise with Trans-Jordan Frontier Force in Sinai Desert; degree of danger serving in Palestine; attending Jewish wedding at Mount Carmel; return to GB, 10/1947; attitude to having served in Palestine.
