van Maurik, Ernest Henry (Oral history)

British officer served as training instructor with STS 21, Arisaig House, Special Operations Executive in GB, 1/1941-9/1941; served with Air Liaison Section and as staff officer to General Colling Gubbins at Headquarters, Special Operations Executive, Baker Street, London, GB, 9/1941-12/1943; served as Head of Special Operations Executive station in Berne, Switzerland, 1/1944-9/1944; served with X Section and ME42 Mission, Special Operations Executive in GB and Germany, 9/1944-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1916-1939: father's Dutch origins and cigar business in London; employment in tea industry. Aspects of enlistment as officer cadet with British Army in GB, 1939: call-up for military service as officer cadet, 28th Bn County of London Regt (Artist Rifles), Territorial Army, 2/9/1939; train journey to No 146 Officer Cadet Training Unit (146 OCTU), St Mary's Bay. Aspects of period as officer with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt, 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 1939-1940: commisioning; unit's coastal defence role in defence of in Kent; incident of platoon firing on RAF aircraft at Folkestone Harbour and subsequent punishment of machine gunner in military prison; autumn, 1940. Recollections of period as instructor with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1/1941-9/1941: summoning to recruitment interview at Horse Guards Parade, London, 1/1941; recruitment as weapons instructor; friendship with Harry Hale; training at Commando Special Training School, Lochalilort including attending training session intended only for Spanish-speaking trainees; becoming instructor of F Section agents at STS 21 Arisaig House; forming instructional team with Harry Hale; arrival of head of training, Major Jimmy Young; Captain Michael Trotobas' salmon poaching activities using plastic explosives. REEL 2 Continues: memories of Peter Churchill; amusing story of jettisoning King George VI's oranges from plane to accommodate Peter Churchill returning to GB, 1941; training of Czechoslovakian personnel for assassination of Reinhard Heydrich and receiving news of later successful assassination in 6/1942; decision to experience parachute training at No 1 Parachute Training School, RAF at RAF Ringway. Aspects of period as officer with Air Liaison Section, Special Operations Executive, Baker Street, London, GB, 1941-1942: transfer to post in Air Liaison Section, Special Operations Executive, Baker Street, 9/1941. REEL 3 Continues: initial impressions on arrival at Baker Street, 9/1941; story of meeting future wife driving back from despatch station at Audley End; attitudes towards RAF in Air Liaison Section; flight to Malta in Armstrong Whitworth Whitley to assist drops of wireless operators to Chetnik forces in Yugoslavia, 12/1941; loss of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft in air attacks on RAF Luqa, Malta; reporting to General Collin Gubbins after Malta trip; air liaison duties including taking agents to RAF Tangmere. Aspects of period as staff officer with Special Operations Executive at Baker Street, London, GB, 1942-1943: plans to form Jedburgh Teams; volunteering for first teams. Aspects of parachute drop into France for insertion into Switzerland, 1/1944: need to be inserted into Switzerland by French Resistance. REEL 4 Continues: drop into Marksman Circuit, France for insertion into Switzerland, 4 /1/1944; view from aircraft prior to parachute drop; reception; Maquis use of parachute silk for neck ties; Maquis enthusiasm to show extent of organisation; Maquis camps; Maquis flying of Union Flag and singing British national anthem; Maquis request for heavier weaponry; arranging for improved weapons from GB; journey to Haute Savoie, France; crossing Swiss frontier at Annemasse, France; traversing barbed wired bridge. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as Head of Special Operations Executive Station in Bern, Switzerland, 1/1944-9/1944: reception in Geneva; interrogation by Swiss Intelligence at Berne; cover story of being RAF airman escapee; problems meeting contact at British Embassy, Bern; security aspects of insertion into France; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Nicholls; period with 'other' RAF officers in Switzerland; duties at Special Operations Executive office, Berne, 1944 including running lines into France; how he was sent sections of George Millar's memoirs; memories of International Socialist Kampfbund member René Berthollet who acted as courier between France and Switzerland; meeting with Harry Rée during his convalescence in Switzerland. REEL 6 Continues: return to GB, 9/1944. Aspects of period with German Section and ME42 Mission, Special Operations Executive in GB and Germany, 9/1944-5/1945: posting to X Section, 9/1944; Gerald Templer's demand for 50 agents to be sent into Germany, 10/1944; memories of Major Hugh Hunt; background to becoming second-in-command to ME42 Mission attached to Headquarters, 21 Army Group in Germany; meeting Wing Commander Forest Yeo-Thomas off aircraft in GB after period of captivity; change in Forest Yeo-Thomas' demeanour; story of acting as interpreter for Wing Commander Forest Yeo-Thomas in cross-examination of German who ultimately saved his life in Buchenwald Concentration Camp; reaction to stories emanating from Wing Commander Forest Yeo-Thomas' discussions with ex-fellow inmate.