Description
Object description
British civilian living in Amsterdam, Holland, 1938-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of period in Holland, 1938-1945: story of being appointed as English teacher with Dutch family in Amsterdam, 1938; reaction of Dutch to outbreak of war, 9/1939; description of employer's country estate and house near Arnhem; description of German paratroopers landing on square near house in Amsterdam, 10/May/1940; story of attempting to escape from Amsterdam in taxi following German invasion; use of password to go through Dutch lines; description of seeing Rotterdam on fire; story of staying with employer's sister; opinion of German governor Seyss-Inquart; listened to BBC news on clandestine radio; returned to Amsterdam; German officer billeted in house; moved to employer's country estate for duration of war; story of avoiding deportation to Germany due to being in hospital after falling off bicycle; story of employer hiding two Jewish children in house; description of secret room use for hiding Jewish children.
REEL 2 Continues: warnings from local police about German raids on house; story about being struck on foot by rifle butt during journey on tram; story of contracting rheumatic fever from Russian POWs on train; story of house burning down and moving to new accommodation in keeper's lodge; story of moving into garret on farm nicknamed the Pig Palace; reaction to German troops being billeted on farm; problem of theft of animals and bicycles; story of employer's sons making bicycle out of spare parts; story of learning to drive shooting brake; description of making light to use after curfew; use of food to barter for matches; story of killing rabbit for food; story of saving baby during air raid on house; story of hiding Jewish girl in laundry basket during German raid; description of Allied airborne forces dropping Arnhem, 9/1944; description of refugees leaving Arnhem; story of convicted murderers being released to work for Germans.
REEL 3 Continues: story of being arrested by Dutch collaborator and escape during Allied air raid; problem of living in last part of Holland to be liberated; story of being given an egg for birthday; problem of food shortages; story of giving German officer false directions in forest; repetition of material in Reels 1 and 2.
REEL 4 Continues: further description of German troops billeted on farm and problem of food shortages; earned money teaching English to members of the Dutch Resistance and the Burgomaster's daughter; story about having afternoon tea; story about seeing Herman Goering in Amsterdam; burning of lino and tram rails to provide warmth; problem of money being valueless; story of refusing to exchange eggs for bottle of Cognac with German officers; story of cycling with employer to store in Amsterdam to barter timber for clothing; story of being given tulip bulbs to eat; story of refusing to give way to German soldier crossing dyke on bicycle; taken by Red Cross van to hospital in Utrecht.
REEL 5 Continues: story of being treated for benign polyp in ear; problem of Dutch collaborators; description of bombing raids prior to Arnhem landings; reprisals against Dutch Resistance for death of German soldiers; problem of proving British nationality after war and suspicion of being a collaborator; description of flight back to GB and landing at RAF Northolt, 5/1945. Repetition of previous material.