Interview with Arsene Emile Georges Le Poittevin

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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Permitted use for these purposes:
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Description

Object description

French seaman served with French Navy in France and North Africa, 1940-1941; imprisoned for Free French sympathies in Casablanca, French Morocco, 1942-1943; escaped to GB, 2/1943; served aboard Junon and Surprise with Free French Naval Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1943-1944

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Valognes, France, 1922-1940: family; education; employment as fisherman and dock worker at Cherbourg, 1938-1939. Aspects of period as seaman with French Navy in France, 1940: enlistment, 1/1940; character of training at Lorient; abortive attempt to halt German forces advance near Lorient, 6/1940. Aspects of escape from France to French Morocco, 6/1940: escape in fishing vessel from Lorient to Gironde; escape from Gironde to Casablanca, French Morocco. Aspects of period with French Navy in North Africa, 1940-1942: continuation of training in French Morocco; problems he had with officers for Free French sympathies; plan to capture Simon and take her to Gibraltar; attitude to British demand for Vichy convoy to defect; effects of Operation Catapult, 7/1940; conditions for French Navy in North Africa, 1940-1942; distributing Free French leaflets; plan to escape from Dakar, French West Africa. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of imprisonment for Free French activities in Casablanca, French Morocco, 1942-1943: escape from arrest in Dakar, French West Africa; recapture in Senegal, French West Africa; period in chains en route to Casablanca, French Morocco; prison term in Casablanca, French Morocco; court martial; conditions for political prisoners in prison; release from prison after Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa, 11/1942; return to naval depot at Casablanca, French Morocco, 11/1942; how he was sent him back to prison; background to becoming wireless operator in French Army in Rabat; return to Casablanca to attempt to get to GB; reaction to anti-De Gaulle attitude of American military personnel. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of escape from French Morocco to GB, 1943: escape from French Morocco in rowing boat; arrest by Spanish patrol boat; attitude of Spanish authorities at Tangiers; dangers encountered on voyage from Gibraltar to GB; initial interrogation on arrival in GB. Aspects of period in GB, 1943: security checks he was subjected to by MI5; interview with Maurice Buckmaster; wireless course at Skegness and HF/DF course at Eastbourne. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard Junon and Surprise, Free French Naval Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1943-1944: drafting to frigate from submarine Junon at Newcastle upon Tyne, 1/1944; patrolling in English Channel, 6/1944; escort role of Suprise during Normandy Landings; mining of ship off Port-en-Bessin, Normandy, France; meeting future wife at Pembroke Dock, GB. Aspects of hospitalisation for tuberculosis in GB, 1944: contracting tuberculosis; period in sanatorium at Beaconsfield; prospects of survival; question of fate of parents in Normandy in Second World War. REEL 4 Continues: settling in Pembroke, GB and Rouen, France after Second World War; sentence received from Vichy regime for leaving French Morocco, 2/1943

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)
Le Poittevin, Arsene Emile Georges (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1999-11-06
Dimensions: whole: Duration 105, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 19864

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Interview with Arsene Emile Georges Le Poittevin

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