Woodhouse, John Michael (Oral history)

Sound: © IWM (11127)

469496281
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (11127)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80018085&media_id=243429" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
570796341
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (11127)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80018085&media_id=243430" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1123754550
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (11127)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80018085&media_id=243431" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
595320874
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (11127)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80018085&media_id=243432" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1473921313
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (11127)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80018085&media_id=243433" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
510683944
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (11127)

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.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80018085&media_id=243434" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Description

Object description

British officer served with 1st Bn East Surrey Regt, 11th Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Italy, 9/1943-3/1944; served with Malayan Scouts in Federation of Malaya, 1950-1952; served as selection officer with Special Air Service in GB, 1952-1955; commanded D Sqdn, 22nd Special Air Service Regt in Federation of Malaya, 1955-1957; served as second-in-command of 22nd Special Air Service Regt in GB, 1960-1962; commanded 22nd Special Air Service Regt in GB and in Borneo, Malaysia during Indonesian Confrontation, 1962-1965

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1922-1942: family; education; membership of Home Guard, 1940-1941. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn East Surrey Regt, 11th Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Italy, 9/1943-3/1944: background to joining unit in Tunisia; formation and activities of battle patrols; clash with German patrols near Termoli, 9/1943; opinion of stress, panic and camaraderie in action; value of intelligence gained from Italian civilians; capture by Germans, 3/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with Malayan Scouts in Federation of Malaya, 1950-1952: pattern of military service prior to joining unit; joining unit as intelligence officer; memories of Colonel Mike Calvert. REEL 2 Continues: Colonel Mike Calvert's appraisal of situation in Malaya and role Malayan Scouts; attitude towards operating in jungle; formation and training of Malayan Scouts from 8/1950; failure of first jungle operations, 1951; lack of detailed training and discipline; question of allowing men to grow beards; taking command of B Sqdn; arrival of Rhodesian C Sqdn and D Sqdn; opinion of unit, Colonel Mike Calvert and achievements in Malaya; changes in Special Air Service procedures from 1955. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as selection officer with Special Air Service in GB, 1952-1955: role assisting new selection process and training, 1952; selection and discipline of recruits; taking command of Z Reserve Sqdn. Recollections of operations commanding D Sqdn, 22nd Special Air Service Regt in Malaya, 1955-1957: changes in regiment on arrival in Malaya; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel George Lea; attitude to discipline in jungle; creation of operational procedures book and group debriefings; difficulty of recruiting officers; opinion of success of Special Air Service in Malaya. REEL 4 Continues: resettlement of indigenous population and gaining their co-operation and trust; importance of medical treatment; tree jumping operations. Aspects of period as second-in-command of 22nd Special Air Service Regt in GB, 1960-1962: posting to unit; training of unit for possible operations against Soviet forces. Aspects of operations with Malayan Scouts and D Sqdn, 22nd Special Air Service Regt in Federation of Malaya, 1950-1952 and 1955-1957: opinion of insurgents; Colonel Mike Calvert's attitude towards torture and killing of insurgents; opinion of tactics employed by insurgents. Recollections of operations as commanding officer of 22nd Special Air Service Regt in GB and in Borneo, Malaysia during Indonesian Confrontation, 1962-1965: opinion of insurgents; nature of conflict and prospects of success for insurgents; success of British forces; background to involvement of Special Air Service. REEL 5 Continues: arrival in Borneo, Malaysia; role of regiment; advice from Tom Harrison about indigenous populations; collecting intelligence from local population; start of offensive operations against Indonesians; question of crossing border; opinion of British press and their attitude towards Special Air Service; attitude to lack of publicity about regiment; opinion of 'shoot and scoot' policy used during Indonesian Confrontation. REEL 6 Continues: unit casualties and cautious policies; necessity of preparations for operations. Reflections of service with Malayan Scouts and Special Air Service in GB, Federation of Malaya and Borneo, Malaysia during Indonesian Confrontation, 1950-1965: opinion of unit image; retirement from Special Air Service and British Army, 1965; nature of service with Special Air Service; question of casualties during operations; exercises with American Special Forces at Fort Bragg in United States of America, 1962; attitude to medical and language skills in regiment; importance of helicopter support; giving advice to Commonwealth countries on counter-insurgency; opinion of ex-Special Air Service personnel becoming involved in mercenary activities.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), Second World War (association), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: Allen, Charles (Production company)
Allen, Charles (Recorder)
Woodhouse, John Michael (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1993-06-03
Dimensions: whole: Duration 165, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 11127

Object associations

Our collections information

We have over 1.7 million object records online, and we are adding to this all the time. Our records are never finished. Sometimes we discover new information that changes what we know about an object, such as who made it or used it. Sometimes we change how an object is interpreted. We sometimes make mistakes in our spelling, transcription or categorisation, or miss information out of our records.

Read more about our collections and the information we hold. Developing our collections information

If you have concerns about the language in this record, or you have information to improve it, please share your feedback.

We receive a lot of comments and can't respond to each one, but we do read them all and will respond where we can.

Woodhouse, John Michael (Oral history)

Description

Object description

Content description

Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated places

Associated themes

Our collections information

Related content

The Medics Who kept Duxford's Pilots in the Air During the Second World War