Interview with Sidney Frank Capon

British private and NCO served with 9th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Mortlake, GB, 1924-1942: family; education; memories of declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; German Air Force attacks on Mortlake and Brockley; listening to radio. Aspects of enlistment and training with Parachute Regiment in GB, 1943: call-up for military service, 12/1942; background to volunteering for Parachute Regiment, 1943; initial training at Chesterfield; parachute jumps at No 1 Parachute Training School, RAF at RAF Ringway; penalty for refusing to jump; posting to C Coy, 9th Bn Parachute Regt at Bulford Camp; preparations for attack on Merville Battery at Inkpen, 4/1944. Recollections of operations as private with C Coy, 9th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: plan to attack Merville Battery, 6/6/1944; nature of parachute jump on dropping zone; move to renderzvous point; Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Otway's decision to attack Merville Battery. REEL 2 Continues: attack on No 1 Gun at Merville Battery, 6/6/1944; casualties during attack; reasons for not attacking radar station at Sallenelles; move to Le Plein, 6/6/1944; arrival of Lord Lovat and 1st Special Service Bde, evening, 6/6/1944. Aspects of operations as private with C Coy, 9th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Normandy, France, 7/6/1944, 20/7/1944: reconnaissance of German positions near Château Saint-Come, 8/6/1944; fate of troops from 5th Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt), 51st (Highland) Div attacking Château Saint-Come, 12/6/1944; milking cows on battlefield; burying ammunition; German sniper near Le Mesnil; opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel James Hill; unit in casualties in Bois de Bavant, 20/7/1944; wounding by artillery fire, 20/7/1944; medical evacuation to GB and return to unit, 1944. Recollections of operations as NCO with C Coy, 9th Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in North West Europe, 12/1944-5/1945: move to Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944; clearing up after German atrocity against Belgian civilians at Bande, Belgium, 12/1944; move to Horn, Netherlands, 1/1945; skirmish with Germans; dealing with case of cowardice. REEL 3 Continues: character of landing during Operation Varsity, the crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; action near Wesel on River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; personal morale; incidents during advance across Germany; dealing with German sniper; impressions of Soviet Army and American former prisoners of war in Wismar, Germany, 5/1945; items obtained from Germany; posting to India. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Palestine, 1945: role and duties at Qastina; attitude towards Jewish insurgents; attitude to having served with 9th Bn Parachute Regt; prior recollection of animals serving with unit in Normandy, France, 6/1944-7/1944.