Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with L Detachment, Special Air Service in North Africa, 7/1941-9/1942; NCO served with 1st Special Air Service Regt in North Africa, 9/1942-4/1943; served with Special Raiding Squadron in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943; served with 1st Special Air Service Regt, Special Air Service Bde in GB, North West Europe and Norway, 12/1943-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background to joining Special Air Service in North Africa, 7/1941: disbandment of No 8 (Guards) Commandos in Middle East, 8/1941; visit of Major David Stirling to depot and volunteering for Special Air Service at Geneifa, Egypt; story of joining No 8 (Guards) Commando and subsequent activities. Recollections of operations as NCO with L Detachment Special Air Service and 1st Special Air Service in North Africa, 10/1941-4/1943: unit officers; prior recollection of commando raids in Tobruk, Libya and French Syria; David Stirling's outlook on war; memories of Lieutenant John 'Jock' Lewes; background to joining L Detachment, Special Air Service at Geneifa, Egypt; setting-up of camp at Kabrit, Egypt; fitness; pattern of training including weapons training; parachute training at Kabrit, Egypt, including protective clothing issued and accident, 10/1941; parachute jumps including opinion of parachuting; memories of Lieutenant John 'Jock' Lewes; David Stirling and Robert Paddy' Mayne; creation of Lewes Bomb by Lieutenant John 'Jock' Lewes.
REEL 2 Continues: description and use of Lewes Bomb; clothing and equipment; name of unit; creation of Special Air Service insignia by Sergeant Robert 'Bob' Tait; berets worn; nature of exercise; security on Deutsches Afrika Korps airfields; opinion of ease of operations; final meal prior to first raid Operation Squatter, 16/11/1941-17/11/1941; description of parachute drop on during Operation Squatter, 16/11/1941; regrouping after landing; casualties left behind and problem with supplies; start of rainfall; cancellation of operation; return to camp at Kabrit, Egypt; results of raid; memories of Sergeant Ernest 'Ernie' Bond; move to Siwa Oasis, Egypt; reason for staying at Siwa Oasis, egypt; nature of small raids carried of; nature of raid with Lieutenant John 'Jock' Lewes at Agheila, Libya; story of civilian prisoner handed over at Kabrit, Egypt; lack of supporting units; visit to Cairo, Egypt.
REEL 3 Continues: supply of rations; details of pay scam; recruitment and increase in size of Special Air Service; older recruits; details of small raids carried out; nature of second raid with Lieutenant John 'Jock' Lewes; reaction to failure; visit from General Claude Auchinleck; description of attempted raid on Benghazi, Libya; introduction of armoured jeeps; details of raid using jeeps; further details of attempted raid on Benghazi, Libya, 12/1941, including evacuation; opinion of raid on Benghazi, Libya, 12/1941; use of armoured jeeps; aid from Long Range Desert Group; story of raid on airfield at Fûka, Egypt; movement across desert; journey across Qattara Depression, Egypt.
REEL 4 Continues: story of man shot outside cinema; story of raid to help Siege of Malta; memories of comrades including Sergeant David Kershaw; formation of 2nd Special Air Service Regt, 4/1943; nature of raids; details of comrades; reaction to death of Lieutenant John 'Jock' Lewes, 30/12/1941; reaction to capture of David Stirling in Tunisia, 1/1943; changes following capture of Major David Stirling and reorganisation of Special Air Service, 4/1943.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations as NCO with Special Raiding Squadron in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: arrival in Augusta, Sicily, 7/1943; raid on Cape Murro di Porco, Sicily, 7/1943 including opinion of briefing; landing on Italian mainland at Bagnara Calabra and Termoli, 9/1943-10/1943. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Special Air Service Regt, Special Air Service Bde in GB, 1/1944-2/1945: move to GB, 11/1943-12/1943; story of interview with Robert 'Paddy' Mayne; reason for not being posted to to France; memories of Major Alistair McGregor; posting to D Sqdn. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Special Air Service Regt, Special Air Service Sqdn in North West Europe and Norway, 2/1944-5/1945: crossing of River Rhine, Germany; opinion of troops; advance into Germany; sights witnessed at Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, Germany; arrival in Kiel, Germany; story of ship stopped from leaving harbour; return to Ostend, Belgium; VE Day celebrations in Brussels, Belgium, 8/5/1945; reaction to end of Second World War in Europe; journey to GB including story of bypassing customs; story of receiving visit from Robert 'Paddy' Mayne in Germany; position of regiment during advance into Germany; opinion of troops from other units; relations with civilians in Germany; story of German Navy officer.
REEL 6 Continues: story of German Air Force aircrew captured and their escape; story of subsequent German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka aircraft attack; opinion of Deutsches Afrika Korps and Italian Army troops in North Africa; story of Special Air Service personnel executed by German forces in France and trip to grave; memories of Trooper John Thompkins; flight to Norway, 5/1945: flight onto Stavanger, Norway, 5/1945; activities in and around Bergen, Norway including recreational activities; Nazi collaborators and nature of 'Battle of Bergen'. Reflections on service with Special Air Service: awareness of Lieutenant-Colonel David Stirling's capture; key events in North Africa; disbandment and reformation of Special Air Service including post-war activities of David Stirling; memories of Captain Anthony 'Tony' Greville-Bell; political involvement of David Stirling.
REEL 7 Continues: memories of Sergeant William 'Bill' Duffy and Corporal Thomas 'Ginger' Jones.
