Description
Object description
South African civilian photographer in Spain, 12/1936-1/1937 and London, GB, 1937-1939; worked for Political Warfare Executive at Woburn Abbey, GB, 1939-1940; NCO and section officer served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force attached to Y Service, RAF in GB and Germany, 1941-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in South Africa, GB, Germany and Switzerland, 1908-1928: family origins; family visit to London, GB and Hamburg, Germany, 1914; staying in Germany during early stages of First World War; move with brother to Switzerland; impressions of Switzerland during First World War; continuing education in Germany; step father's family; return to South Africa after end of First World War; education in South Africa; return to Hamburg, Germany; living conditions in post-war Hamburg, Germany; cosmopolitan character of family friends; story illustrating inflation in post-war Germany.
REEL 2 Continues: background to career in photography; attitude to attending school in Bedford, GB. Aspects of period as photographer in Berlin, Germany and Johannesburg, South Africa, 1929-1933: photography training in Berlin; atmosphere in Berlin; photographic and film work in Johannesburg; story of colouring black and white photographs of Prince of Wales to be screened in cinemas; personal financial situation in Johannesburg; question of racial situation in South Africa during 1930s; impressions of Afrikaners.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as photographer in London, GB, 1933-1936: journey to London; incident of meeting cousin in street who had been beaten by Nazis in Germany; work with refugees at Woburn House; visit to Germany, 1935. Recollections of period as photographer in Spain, 12/1936-1/1937: joining British ambulance unit going to Spain, 12/1936; reaction of ambulance drivers to her show of emotion at abdication of King Edward VIII at Newhaven, GB, 12/1936; funding to photograph International Bdes; journey from GB to Spain, 12/1936; arrival at Albacete; story of being protected from Russians by Peter Kerrigan and Wilfred Macartney; journey in lorry to Madrid via Valencia; in hostel in Madrid; filming work of Canadian Blood Transfusion Unit; reaction of different nationalities to blood transfusions; contact with JBS Haldane; character of Dr Norman Bethune; rations.
REEL 4 Continues: obtaining bath in Madrid; nature of fighting in Madrid, 1/1937; memories of Frank Ryan; photographing in trenches; hospitality of Spaniards; memories of journalists and medical personnel; question of ideology; class origins of International Bde personnel and journalists; filming; reasons for return with party of walking wounded to GB; flight to GB; her search by MI5 on arrival at Croydon Airport. Aspects of period as photographer in London, GB, 1937-1939: showing film to gain funds for Republican Spain; question of Nationalist sympathies of British establishment; description of photograph 'Madonna and Child' taken in Spain; attitude towards sight of casualties in Madrid.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of photographic work done in Spain; impressions of Madrid; photographic work at St Bartholomew's Hospital; work with refugees at Woburn House; photographing Kindertransport children for parents; opinion of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at time of Munich Crisis, 9/1938. Aspects of period with Political Warfare Executive at Woburn Abbey, GB, 1939-1940: producing counter-propaganda for Netherlands; reaction of Jewish friends to internment, 6/1940; photographic work for First Aid book aimed at children; attempts to enlist in armed services. Aspects of enlistment and training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Harrogate in GB, 11/1940-1/1941: background to appearing before selection board, 7/1940.
REEL 6 Continues: reasons for delay in call-up until, 11/1940; question of personal hygiene amongst recruits at Harrogate. Recollections of period as NCO and section officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force attached to Y Service, RAF in GB, 1941-1945: posting to No 26 Group, RAF at Headquarters, Y Service, Hollywood Manor, West Kingsdown; story of exchanging experiences with German opposite number in Hamburg, Germany after the Second World War; Y Service duties including watches worked and tuning into Axis frequencies; story of receiving signals about German invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; various postings; commanding Y Service section at Montrose; attending Women's Auxiliary Air Force Officer Training School at Bowness-on-Windermere.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude towards drill and supervising squad; opinion for reasons for failing course; death of pet dog; memories of administrative officer Jean Conan Doyle; visit by officers from No 26 Group, RAF to Women's Auxiliary Air Force Officer Training School at Bowness-on-Windermere; obtaining commission; abortive plan for her to join Special Operations Executive; posting to RAF Gorleston, Gorleston-on-Sea; posting to RAF White Waltham. Aspects of period as section officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in Germany, 1945: intelligence work on documents at Bad Nauheim; meeting with Christabel Bielenberg; opinion of defeated Germans; research into effects of mass bombing of Germany; opinion of rebuilding of Hamburg.
REEL 8 Continues: lack of involvement in denazification work; opinion of work war and attending post-war Women's Auxiliary Air Force reunion; brother's attitude towards period as prisoner of war in Far East; attending VE Day celebrations outside Buckingham Palace, London, 8/5/1945; story of making wartime radio broadcast to South Africa and being taught protocol prior to meeting Queen Elizabeth; post-war visit to South Africa; second hand stories of husband Henry Morley's wartime experiences with No 100 Group, RAF.
