Lawton, Thomas (Oral history)

British private and NCO served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1922-1929; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France and Belgium, 1939-1940; POW in Stalag XXI D, Stalag XXI A and Stalag 383, Germany, 1940-1944

REEL 1 Background in Birtley and Portobello, GB, 1906-1914: family; stories from childhood; customs and folktales of Portobello; education; Empire Day celebrations; effect of First World War on school life; opinion of education; story of Joe Mahone's father taking revenge. REEL 2 Continues: childhood leisure activities; aversion of foul language; Warwick Square; stone fights on slag heaps; accidents in village; sport; street fighting. Aspects of period as civilian in GB during First World War: concern over mouth organs; Battle of the Somme; memories of brother Billy; Belgian refugees; telegrams from post woman; military funerals; Elizabethville refugee camp; establishment of the Royal Ordnance Factory in Birtley; relationship with refugees; job selling newspapers; sister married a Belgian; organisation of camp; Belgian cemetery; reasons for animosity against Belgian refugees; restrictions on the refugees; story of near mutiny. REEL 3 Continues: food; animosity towards Germans. Aspects of period as civilian in 1920s and 1930s: involvement with the British Union of Fascists; reasons for joining the party; story of seeing Moseley in Dumfries; fight with Communists in Hyde Park; stories from POW Camp; jobs at colliery; journey to Dagenham; work with Ford; ordered back to Birtley August 1939; marriage; religion; family. Recollections from period as private and NCO with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1922-1929: reasons for joining Territorial Army; story of joining up; uniform; description of putting puttees on; equipment; rifle; unveiling of Birtley cenotaph; fix bayonets drill. REEL 4 Continues: basic drill; bayonet drill; rifle drill; stories of parades; drill and shooting point system; drilling as Lance Corporal; opinion of Territorial Army; training with Lewis and Bren Guns; make-up of B Company; Physical Training at Birtley Armoury; rivalry with Chester-le- Street half of coy; story of perfect guard; courses attended; encouragement from colliery to join Territorials; quality of officers; memories of B Coy officers. REEL 5 Continues: memories of Sergeant Major Fred Nell; memories of other B Coy NCOs; memories of other troops; training from schemes; memories of Joe McKenna on schemes; discussion of trench digging; gas precaution equipment and training; aspects of the annual camps; story of Captain "Dolly" Grey falling off horse; description of manoeuvres; opinion of troops; attitude towards regulars; opinion of Territorial Army and National Service; contact with regular army; opinions of different campsites visited; tent drill; camp bounty; journey to camp; story of first Christmas in Territorial Army. REEL 6 Continues: sports involved with at camp; prizes; story from camp for Cambridge University Students; organisation of Territorial Army; machine gun coy; schemes on weekend camps; route marches; problems from Union men; learning from 'betters'; stories from courses; relationship with officers; common sense helping to improve procedures; bayonet training; more on improving procedures; story of Colonel Fillingham asking about Regimental History; pride in Regiment. REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian in GB during the 1930s: reasons for moving to Dagenham; journey to London; arrival in London; details of work in London; family; drills with the Essex Regiment 4th Bn; differences with Durham Light Infantry; aircraft drill; recall to Birtley. Aspects of period as NCO with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1939-1940: field course; stories from map reading course; signs of coming war; reactions of public to war; reaction to war; attitudes towards Territorial Army; training Militia in Chester-le-Street; promotion to Warrant Officer and Platoon Sergeant Major. REEL 8 Continues: billeted to Empress Ballroom; story of initial reception; arrival of first recruits; story of first parade; change in first two weeks; opinion of militia men; duties of Platoon Sergeant Major; training given to Platoon; reason for establishment of Platoon Sergeant Major rank; memories of Brigade Major Fillingham; reasons for giving guard duty early; time with Militia; memories of Private Dunn; teaching Private Jones the Bren Gun drill; teaching philosophy. REEL 9 Continues: story of clash with Regiment Sergeant Major in France; opinion of what makes a good Sergeant Major; relationship with militia men; summary of training given to Militia recruits; what was expected of them; story of Fillingham's puttees; parade for American visitors. Aspects of period as NCO with 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1940: promotion to Company Sergeant Major; explanation of 11th Battalion; make-up of troops; part of 23rd Bde, Semi-Pioneer Bde; story of meeting Moscrop; clash with officer over leave for Irish soldiers; opinion of 2nd Lieutenant Edward Moscrop; opinion of 11th Bn; raising morale in 11th Bn; stationed at Gilesgate Drill Hall, Durham; dealing with organisation problems; send off for secret move to France; problems with 11th Bn; relationship with officers. REEL 10 Continues: memories of CQMS Ernie Miller; weapons and equipment; steel plates in battle dress; opinion of Boyes Anti-Tank Rifle; weapons in coy; arrival in France; reasons for going to France; duties of Bde; journey to Le Havre from Southampton. Recollections of operations as NCO with 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 4/1940-5/1940: opinion of French; memories of Colonel Bramwell; officers and NCOs in unit; relationship with Blondell family; description of billets and area; move to tented camp at Frevent; story of French workers; drinking in village; invasion of Belgium; duties in France; story of German aircraft; story of order to go north; journey to Canal du Nord; long wait for orders. REEL 11 Continues: weapons and equipment; experiences of sister among Belgian refugees; experiences of other family members; refugees seen on Canal; fear among troops; advice given later at Lillers; story of arrest; details of events following time on Canal du Nord; disappearance of 2nd Lieutenant Edward Moscrop; reason for getting lost; attempts to find way; help from Padre; rumours as to fate of Moscrop (died 21/5/1940) and War Office investigations; plan for remaining men; advice from officer; troops split up; lift from truck; reason for him and Sergeant Tingle giving up seats; advice given at Bethune; champagne with refugees; in field with POWs; pretending to be Irish civilians to be released; story of first capture; origin of civilian clothes; work party in Arras; joins German tank column in retreat. REEL 12 Continues: time with column; escape from column; picked up by British Armoured Car; taken to defensive perimeter at Dunkirk; disposed of civvies; units present; taken POW. Aspects of period as POW in transit to Germany, 1940: story of German officer; interrogation; marched to field; effect on morale during march around France, Belgium and Luxembourg; food; sleeping arrangements; state of feet; more on food; latrines; opinion of guards; stories from march; entrained to Trier; parade in Trier; conditions on journey to Schubin, Poland; story of Welsh soldier; description of trucks; stories from journey; reception at transit camp; scenes at camp; meeting of Regiment Sergeant Major Goddard; description of camp; memories of commandant; treatment; movement around camps. REEL 13 Continues: Recollections of period as POW in Stalag XXI D, Germany, 1940-1943: moved to Sommerlager; commandant; memories of Chicago Bill; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; address of commandant; race; bread; punishment for thief; memories of the camp doctor; story of delousing; clogs; story of an escape; food; reasons for not escaping; duties in camp; relationship with Germans; problems with camp; senses of humour in camp; opinion of Germans. REEL 14 Continues: discipline; team built around him as man of confidence; relationship with guards; methods for improving morale and keeping discipline; effect on morale of war news; further method of boosting morale; mail and Red Cross parcels; keeping discipline; morning procedures; washing facilities; roll call; trouble at Sommerlager; keeping mind active; health in camp; attempts to improve camp; move to Warter Lager; reason for move; accommodation; resourcefulness of prisoners. REEL 15 Continues: army and POW numbers; Christmas tree; Christmas show; memories of the camp's Lagermeister; camp radio; organisation of stores; weight; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; stoves; keeping warm; comparison with Sommerlager; latrines; washing facilities; work in camp; wire perimeter; Polish people in camp; church at later camp; first Red Cross issue; entertainment; preoccupation with food; first Christmas; memories of commandant; propaganda; camp guards. REEL 16 Continues: hut inspections; spies; hiding radio; spreading information from BBC News; attempts to get Irish to join Freiwillige Corps; reason for not trying to escape; classes; helping each other with letters; intelligence of POWs; march through Posen; German treatment of Poles; taken to Fort 8; process of moving; search on arrival; underground parts of camp; exercise yard; sleeping arrangements; work parties; church and memories of priest; Christmas concert party. REEL 17 Continues: dispute over the water; result of dispute; bartering inside and outside camp; smuggling items into camp; work in meat factory; sabotage of food for Eastern Front; working party system; stories from work parties; more on bartering and bribery; camp money; food; mail; story from earlier course; helping men with problems at home; censorship of mail; problems with receiving mail; story of Marshall's death. REEL 18 Continues: visits from protective powers; trouble for early issue of Red Cross parcels; effects of Red Cross visits; death of man crossing wire. Aspects of period as POW at Schildberg in 1942: opinion that waste of time escaping; storage of radio; getting caught with radio; story of leaving Schildberg; march through Groteshin; camp conditions; first morning; request for materials; strike; meeting with commandant; time at Graz punishment camp. Aspects of period as POW at Stalag 383, Germany, 1943-1944: reason for being sent to Stalag 383; journey to Stalag 383; Eastern Front stories from guards. REEL 19 Continues: Freiwillige train; soup; German soldiers bound for Russia; arrival at Stalag 383; accommodation; entertainment hall; sports; parades; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Richards; using firewood from buildings; story of skilled prisoner; punishment for Dieppe raids; story written about life as POW; troops at Stalag 383; organisation of camp; description of hut interior; home-made Monopoly; nosh-up night. REEL 20 Continues: reality of nosh- up night; joshing between commonwealth troops; stories from Geordie entertainment nights; items sent by Red Cross; courses; German amazement at dancing classes; health; story of illicitly gained parcel; spiritual food parcel; different types of Red Cross parcels; stage show costumes. Aspects of attempted escape from Stalag 383 to Budapest with Jack Tingle, 7/1943: bribery of Germans for information; root of plan in play, Charlie's Aunt; process of escape committee's organisation and rehearsals; escape from camp; train journey to Budapest. REEL 21 Continues: difficulties of blending in; impressions of civilians on train; Gestapo search at Munich; arrival in Budapest; journey to address given; time at safe house; visit of policeman; night time arrest; journey to cells; reaction to situation; interrogation; transferred to compound and split up; time in solitary confinement; eventual journey back to Stalag 383; punishment at Stalag 383; compromise of safe house; popularity upon release. Recollections of time as POW in Germany, 1944: effect of bombing on guards; warning to not leave camp; organisation of move to Munich. REEL 22 Continues: reason for move; rumours spread by POWs; guards becoming scared; story of uniforms given to guards; civilians from Budapest; splitting of troops on march; story of Bavarian farmer; time on farm; arrival of American army; impression of Americans; breaks on march; humour; food; fears of German civilians; dysentery on farm; American medics left on farm; story of injured woman; allied aircraft during march; accident on march; men dropping out; physical condition of troops; relationship with guards; transport away from farm; teasing of Germans by Americans; reaction to this; given money; story of bank robbed by Americans; food at American compound.