Chrisp, John (Oral history)

British bosun and officer served aboard HMT Jasper in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 6/1939-6/1940; served on boom defence duties on Crete, Greece, 3/1941-6/1941; prisoner of war on Crete and Dulag 183, Salonika, Greece, Marlag X-B Compound, Stalag X-Sandbostel and Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle in Germany, 6/1941-4/1945

REEL 1 Background in Stanley, GB, 1908-1939: family; education; enlistment in Royal Navy, 1924. Recollections of operations as bosun and officer aboard HMS Jasper in GB coastal waters, English Channel and during Dunkirk Evacuation, 6/1939-6/1940: anti-submarine warfare training role based at HMNB Rosyth, 1939; patrol work in Firth of Forth; initial experience of German Air Force attack in Firth of Forth, 1939; sinking of mine; convoy escort work; duties in English Channel; role of ship protecting vessels from German submarines and E-boats,during Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940; method of repairing asdic set; commanding armed party evacuating French seamen from French Navy warships at HMNB Chatham, 6/1940. Aspects of taking passage aboard HMS Illustrious from GB to Mediterranean, 8/1940-9/1940: Italian Air Force attack on ship. REEL 2 Continues: passage through Straits of Sicily on route to Malta; job taking confidential message from Malta to Alexandria, Egypt. Recollections of period as officer on boom defence duties in Suda Bay, Crete, 3/1941-6/1941: arrival aboard HMS Protector; duties at Suda Bay; harbour defences at Suda Bay; German Air Force attacks at Suda Bay; German Air Force bombing of accommodation and sheltering in cave; sight of German gliders; orders to head for Sphakia; trek towards Sphakia; arrival at Sphakia after evacuation completed, 1/6/1941; failure of attempt to board caique in harbour at Sphakia. REEL 3 Continues: capture by Germans during attempt to escape from island; reasons why Italian's were able to sink HMS York in Suda Bay, 26/3/1941. Aspects of period as prisoner of war on Crete and Dulag 183, Salonika, Greece, 6/1941-7/1941: move to Maleme, Crete; how he was caught by German taking food at Maleme, Crete; conditions in Dulag 183, Salonika; train journey from Greece to Germany. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Marlag X-B Compound, Stalag X-B, Sandbostel, Germany, 7/1941-8/1942: arrival at camp; attempts to escape from camp. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle, Germany, 8/1942-4/1945: arrival at camp, 8/1942; possibilities of escape from camp; job as ropes officer; memories of Lieutenant Michael Sinclair; attempt to escape through drains; interrogation by security officer; German attempt to fine escapers for damaging drains; memories of Captain Tommy Elliott and his attempt to destroy woodwork with insects. REEL 4 Continues: use of false keys to break into Kommandatura; visit by Swiss inspection team; thwarting of German attempts to take thumb prints; cases of psychological breakdowns; escape tunnels; escape materials sent from GB; liberation of camp, 4/1945; reception on return to GB; readjusting to civilian life after 1945.