Interview with John Miles

British volunteer with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1942-1943; served with Anti-Typhus Research Team, Friends' Ambulance Unit in North Africa and Italy, 1943; civilian welfare officer served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Italy, 1943-1945; served with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Italy, 1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period as welfare officer with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Italy, 1944: introduction; background of Italian civilians; effects of German forces' withdrawal; Allied bombing; destruction in and around Monte Cassino; cover taken by civilians through winter of 1944; liberation and evacuation of civilians by United States Army; role in Avera Refugee Camp; tours of refugee camps; bodies of civilians found around Cassino; stories relating to Italian civilians in refugee camps; state of civilians found around Cassino; difference between seeing disasters from a distance and up close; refusal of refugees to go to Sicily; group of civilians taken to Cassino. Recollections of period as volunteer with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1942-1943: initial desire to register as conscientious objector and reason for not doing so; suggestion he could use poor eyesight to avoid front line service; joining Friends' Ambulance Unit; eagerness for overseas service; pattern of training at London Hospital, Mile End, London; cooking duties in London; posting in Pershore; posting at Middlesex Hospital, London prior to overseas posting; physical training period in Failand including story of drinking cider during night route march; reasons for wait before moving overseas; posting to and role with Anti-Typhus Research Team, Friends' Ambulance Unit in French Algeria; voyage from GB to Algiers, French Algeria. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as volunteer with Anti-Typhus Research Team, Friends' Ambulance Unit in French Algeria and Italy, 1943: arrival and initial impressions of Algiers, French Algeria; events during time in Algiers, French Algeria; discovery of typhus outbreak in Naples, Italy and journey there; situation on arrival in Naples, Italy; accommodation; work with typhus patients; opinion of reason for typhus outbreak; state of Naples, Italy; civilian prostitution of girls; confiscation of items from civilians by Allied troops; break-up of Anti-Typhus Research Team. Recollections of period as civilian welfare officer with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Italy, 1943-1945: posting to Aversa Refugee Camp; background of commanding officer; nature of work; movement of refugees to Southern Italy and Sicily; civilians returning to camp; scenes at hospital in Sesso; stories relating to Italian civilians at Aversa; story of accidentally crossing German lines; memories of a Polish driver and death of an interpreter; story of drunk United States Army troops visiting girlfriends; posting in Rome and setting up refugee camp and it's role; visit to Pisa; eruption of Mount Vesuvius, evacuation of San Sebastiano al Vesuvo and Massa di Somma and taking in refugees. REEL 3 Continues: inspection of a lava-covered village; movement of lava during night; move to Salerno; relationship with civilian; Rocigno Refugee Camp; employment found for Italian civilians at United States Army camp; bingo evenings; organisation of school and outings for children and mothers; rations; refugees; posting to Forli; refugees arriving from Austria; results of liaison with Allied forces; description of Forli Refugee Camp; arrival and sending-on of refugees; latrines; daily march to railway station and working day; temporary emptying of Forli Refugee Camp; reaction to arrival of refugees; death of colleague; collapse and hospitalisation; activities of final year in Italy; return of refugees to provinces; posting to Frosinone; composition of team; location of refugee camp; state of Cassino; activity in Frosinone; state of houses; co-operation of Italian mayors; use of blackmail and help received from United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA); employment of building firms; visits to communes and thanks received from Italian civilians; attitude to work; accommodation in Frosinone; memories of secretary; monthly reports and daily work; communications; continuing contact with secretary; story of organising clothing factory; end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; silver stars worn by civilians; reactions at end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; end of service with Friends' Ambulance Unit. Aspects of period as civilian with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in Italy, 1945: obtaining job with organisation and attitude towards work; details of pay; attendance at inauguration ceremonies; opinion of organisation's work. REEL 4 Continues: desire to remain in Italy; reasons for returning to GB; opinion of time in Italy; desire to see end to war.