Grandfield, William John Edward (Oral history)

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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British marine and NCO served with S Composite Bn, Royal Marines, No 1 Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation in GB and on Crete, Greece, 1940-1941; served with Royal Marines in Egypt, 1941-1942; served with 1st Royal Marine Brigade in India and Ceylon, 1943; served with 33rd Bn Royal Marines in GB, 1944-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Ystradrhondda and Bridgwater, GB, 1918-1940: family; education; employment. Aspects of period a marine with S Composite Bn, Royal Marines, No 1 Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation in GB, 1940-1941: enlistment in Royal Marines, 2/1940; training with unit; coastal defence duties with S Composite Bn at Deal, summer 1940; move to Middle Wallop; move to Yelverton; searchlight duties in Plymouth. Aspects of voyage HMT Rangitata from GB to South Africa, 1941: embarkation on River Clyde, GB 2/1941; sight of 'bumboats' at Freetown, Sierra Leone. REEL 2 Continues: hospitality of civilians in Natal, South Africa. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Costa Rica from South Africa to Egypt, 1941: conditions on board; arrival in Egypt. Recollections of operations as NCO with S Bn Royal Marine Composite, Royal Marines, No 1 Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation on Crete, Greece, 4/1941-5/1941: voyage from Egypt to Crete aboard HMT Nieuwe Zeeland; arrival at Suda Bay; preparations for German attacks; German Air Force attacks; sight of German airborne assault; dealing with German paratroopers; move to Maleme; move to 42nd Street; retreat to Spharkia. REEL 3 Continues: assembly of troops at Spharkia; taking message to Lieutenant-Colonel Sargent, Royal Marines; attempt to evacuate wounded from Spharkia; prior recollection of digging anti-tank traps during defence of island; German Air Force attack on ambulance at Spharkia; evacuation from Spharkia aboard HMAS Napier; German Air Force attacks on HMAS Napier on route from Spharkia, Crete to Alexandria, Egypt; state of warships arriving in Alexandria, Egypt from evacuation of Crete. Aspects of period as marine with Royal Marines in Egypt, 1941-1942: recuperation; airfield defence duties; story of how Royal Australian Air Force pilot offered to fly him back to GB; attitude towards campaign on Crete, Greece. Aspects of period as marine with 1st Royal Marine Brigade in India and Ceylon, 1943: defence of Ceylon; joining brigade in Bombay, 1943. REEL 4 Continues: voyage aboard HMT Strathaird from Bombay India to Suez, Egypt, 12/1943. Aspects of period as marine with 33rd Bn, Royal Marines in GB, 1944-1945: arrival in GB, 3/1944; retraining and volunteering for signals work, spring 1944; medical reasons for missing D-Day, 6/6/1944; joining battalion at Margate; duties as signalman with battalion headquarters at Dalton-in-Furness; move of unit to Belgium and Germany, 1945.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Grandfield, William John Edward (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1997-07-23
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 17545

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Grandfield, William John Edward (Oral history)

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