Interview with Alan Tate

British officer served with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Commando Bde in North West Europe, 12/1944-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Sunderland, GB, 1925-1943: family; education; enrolling at University of Newcastle, 1941; evacuation to Northallerton, 1939; expectations of German Air Force bombing, 3/9/1939; German Air Force attacks on Sunderland; supply of fish and chips; public morale and attitude towards Germans; experiences with 9th (Sunderland) Bn Durham Home Guard. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Marines in GB, 1943-1944: reasons for wanting to join Royal Marines; method of recruitment; basic training at Royal Marine Depot, Deal; behaviour of instructor Lieutenant Ashurst and hospitalisation received due to his actions; story of how Lieutenant Ashurst received what he deserved; officer training; commando training at Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry, 11/1943-12/1943; preparations to go to Netherlands, 12/1944. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with E Troop, No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Commando Bde in North West Europe, 12/1944-5/1945: arrival in Ostend, Belgium, 12/1944; move to positions on River Maas, Netherlands, 1/1945; unit casualties; character of soya links; march to Maasbracht during advance to Linne, Netherlands, 23/1/1945; crossing of Montfortebeeck Dyke near Linne, Netherlands, 1/1945; night raid across River Maas at Belle Island, Netherlands, 27/1/1945-28/1/1945; receiving coffee and doughnuts from American civilians; problems with climbing abilities of LVT-4 Buffalo Amphibian; story relating to effects of exhaustion; crossing River Maas at Gennep, Netherlands; push southwards through mined area towards Well, Netherlands; crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; accidental Royal Air Force attack on unit at Wesel, German, 3/1945; opinion of Allied heavy bombing attacks on towns; loss of commanding officer at Wesel, 3/1945. REEL 3 Continues: value of low-level air support; move to toilet factory at Wesel, Germany, 3/1945; opening fire on group of German Army troops in Wesel, Germany, 3/1945; technique for distinguishing German Army troops from United States Army troops in half-light; arrival of United States Army airborne forces; use of prams to transport equipment; crossing River Weser, Germany, 4/1945; incident of having to sign for compass he lost at Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry on River Weser, Germany, 4/1945; clearing woodland on eastern bank of River Aller, Germany, 4/1945; attack on Osnabrück, Germany, 4/1945; his accidental shooting of NCO; contact with German civilians in Osnabrück, Germany, 4/1945; capture of police force at Lauenburg on River Elbe, Germany, 4/1945. REEL 4 Continues: construction of Bailey Bridge on River Elbe, Germany, 4/1945; reaction of British Army troops to German Air Force airman's attack on Bailey Bridge on River Elbe, Germany, 4/1945; importance of capturing Lübeck, Germany, 5/1945; reasons for German resistance at Lütow, Germany, 5/1945; mining of Universal Carrier at Lütow, Germany, 6/5/1945. Recollections of period as officer with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Commando Bde in Far East, 1945-1946: calling off proposed role in Operation Zipper, 8/1945; opinion of Lord Louis Mountbatten; role as garrison commander of Pingchow Island; question of snobbishness in Singapore, Malaya; attitude of Chinese to British authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore, Malaya; attempt to stop rice smuggling in Hong Kong; treatment of paddy sores; period in Ceylon on return voyage to GB; war crimes trials in Hong Kong. REEL 5 Continues: theft of court clock during war crimes trial in Hong Kong; theft of Admiralty wrist watches; providing rations at Diocesan School in Hong Kong. Reflections on service with Royal Marines: attitude to having served with Royal Marines during Second World War; question of settling down in civilian life after Second World War; story of encounter with German civilian in Germany, 1945; after effects of military service; question of attitude towards casualties.