Interview with John Murray McSwiney

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Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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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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Sound: © IWM (17528)

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 officer served with 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery, I Corps in France, Belgium and GB, 1940-1941; served with 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Support Group, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa, 3/1941-1/1942; served with 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery on Leros Island, Dodecanese Islands, Greece, 9/1943-10/1943; escaped from Leros Island, Dodecanese Islands, Greece to Egypt via Turkey, 10/1943-11/1943

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Weybridge, GB and India, 1920-1939: family; education; attending Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, 1939. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery, I Corps in France and Belgium, 1940: move to France, 2/1940; return to unit from course in GB during German attack on Belgium, 5/1940; arrival in Arras, France, 5/1940; aid received from staff officer to get back to unit; German Air Force attack on unit at Enghien, Belgium, 5/1940; shooting of Belgian Fifth Columnist, 5/1940; in action against German Air Force fighter aircraft attack, 5/1940; being placed in charge of group of troops from mixed units on beach at La Panne, Belgium, 5/1940; swimming out to destroyer and climbing on board; obtaining bone from ship's dog; return to GB. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery, I Corps in GB, 6/1940-2/1941: attitude to service; locations battery was stationed at; reaction to attending course REEL 2 Continues: prior recollection of awaiting embarkation during Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940; story of meeting future wife in Cornwall, 1940. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Support Group, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa, 3/1941-1/1942: arrival in Egypt, 3/1941; composition of 'Jock Columns'; role during Operation Crusader, 11/1941; orders to fight to the last man and subsequent withdrawal during Battle of Sidi Rezegh, Libya; sight of Second Lieutenant George Ward Gunn and Major-General John 'Jock' Campbell winning Victoria Crosses during Battle of Sidi Rezegh, Libya, 21/11/1941-22/11/1941; memories of during Battle of Sidi Rezegh, Libya; later retreat during Axis offensive, 6/1942-7/1942; his 'token action' at first Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, 1942. REEL 3 Continues: presence of his father in Western Desert, Egypt, 1942. Recollections of operations as officer with 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery on Dodecanese Islands, Greece, 9/1943-10/1943: background to campaign; landing of Bofors Guns by submarines on Leros Island; how Italian troops came under his command on Leros Island; party Italian gunners had after shooting down of German Air Force aircraft; German invasion of Leros Island; anti-aircraft role of unit during Battle of Leros; evasion from Germans after fall of Leros Island; awaiting arrival of George Jellicoe's Special Boat Service to rescue him; attempt to row small boat to Turkey, 10/1943; making landfall on Castellorizzo Island; arrival on coast near Bodrum, Turkey, 11/1943; return to Alexandria, Egypt from Turkey; hospitalisation with pneumonia; interview with Field Marshal Henry Wilson on return from Leros Island

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)
McSwiney, John Murray (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1997-07-04
Dimensions: whole: Duration 90, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 17528

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Interview with John Murray McSwiney

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