Interview with Aubrey John Newell

British NCO served with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde in GB and Normandy, France, 8/1943-6/1944; prisoner of war in Frontstalag 153, Chartres and Frontstalag 194, Châlons-sur-Marne, France and Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 6/1944-4/1945

REEL 1 Background in High Wycombe, GB, 1923-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of period as civilian in High Wycombe, GB, 9/1939-3/1942: carpentry work he did; United States Army Air Force presence in area; membership of 7th (High Wycombe Borough) Bn, Buckinghamshire Home Guard; reasons for not wanting to enlist in British Army young soldiers' battalion; father's military service in First World War. Aspects of enlistment and training as marine with Royal Marines in GB, 3/1942-4/1942: call-up to Royal Marines, 21/3/1942; training at Lympstone Royal Marine Depot; German Air Force raid on Exeter, 4/1942; field training on Hayling Island; consequences of declining to become Royal Marine engineer; memories of Captain O'Leary. Aspects of period as marine with 5th Bn Royal Marines, 101st Royal Marine Bde, Royal Marine Division in GB, 6/1942-8/1943: drafting to battalion; reception at Carmarthen; Exercise Berwyn in Black Mountains; boat training at Inveraray. REEL 2 Continues: retribution taken by marines against enthusiastic officer; move to Hursley Camp, near Winchester; training at Hayling Island and Burley. Aspects of period as NCO with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde in GB, 8/1943-6/1944: volunteering for commandos, 8/1943; move to Hilsea Barracks, Cosham; stag hunting in Scotland; snipers' course at Lee-on-Solent; commando training at Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry; march to Spean Bridge; accommodation in Eastbourne, early 1944; landing craft work at Loch Sunnart; nature of voyage in St George's Channel; arrival in Liverpool after storm. REEL 3 Continues: use of Japanese death-lock in training; landing exercises in West Sussex; use of Bergen Rucksack; exercises on River Arun; memories of Lord Lovat and King George VI; story of effect of alcohol on marine; period in United States Army run holding camp, 5/1944-6/1944; hearing of postponement of D-Day landings at Warsash, 5/6/1944. Recollections of operations as NCO with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde in Normandy, France, 6/6/1944-10/6/1944: character of landing on Sword Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944; advance to Bénouville Bridge, Sallenelles and Ouistreham, 6/6/1944; orders to avoid Merville Battery; orders to clear Merville-Franceville-Plage; effect of fire on German counter-attack at Merville; wounding of officer at Merville-Franceville-Plage; how he became separated from comrades at Merville. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in France, 6/1944-7/1944: capture by German Army troops, 10/6/1944. REEL 4 Continues: move to Merville Battery; German precautions against prisoner of war escape; conditions in captivity in Normandy; attitude of towards German captors; period of captivity old school at Pont-l'Eveque; period in Frontstalag 153, Chartres, 6/1944; treatment of prisoners of war in Paris; period of captivity in Frontstalag 194, Châlons-sur-Marne, 1/7/1944; failure of German officer to get prisoners of war to join British Free Corps; rail journey from France into Germany. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Marlag and Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 7/1944-4/1945: arrival at camp, 7/1944; conditions in camp; preparations for forced march to Stettin; his avoiding of going on this march. Aspects of liberation of Marlag und Milag Nord, Westertimke, Germany, 4/1945: liberation of camp, 27/4/1945; looting around camp; revenge taken against German guard; liberation of German pig. Aspects of return to GB, 5/1945: flight from Germany to GB. REEL 5 Continues: return of ex-prisoners of war to Eastney Barracks; processing of ex-prisoners of war in GB; return to High Wycombe, 5/1945; problems of Royal Marines in handling returned prisoners of war at Havant; jobs he undertook on return to duty; last weeks spent in Royal Marines; memories of sniper work he carried out with Royal Marines.