Description
Object description
British NCO served with Glider Pilot Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1944; POW at Stalag XI B, Bad Orb, Germany, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1920-1939. Aspects of period as private with Berkshire Regt and Glider Pilot Regt, GB, 1940-1942: reasons for leaving reserved occupation; enlistment in Berkshire Regt; duties as Physical Training Instructor; volunteering for Glider Pilot Regt; initial training; flying training at Booker; glider training; move to operational drome at Keevil; practising day and nighttime landings; move to Tarrant Rushton for D-Day training; briefings. Recollections of operations as pilot with Glider Pilot Regt in North West Europe, 1944: glider to France 6/6/1944; difficulties encountered during flight; landing near Pegasus Bridge; setting up anti-tank gun; story of frightened Frenchman; repulsing of German attack; arrival of 6th Airborne Division; arrival of Lord Lovett and his piper Bill Millin; eturn journey back to Britain on landing craft.
REEL 2 Continues: cancellation of eight operations; briefing for Operation Market Garden; flight to Arnhem; landing; rescuing injured man; strength of German fire power; virtual annihilation of Glider Pilot Regt; wounding. Recollections of period as POW in Stalag XI B, Bad Orb, Germany, 1944-1945: lack of medical treatment; physical condition; conditions in camp; food rations; entertainment; liberation; helping with camp administration. Aspects of return to GB, 1945-1947: reception by Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel on arrival in GB; physical condition; two year period of recovery at Midhurst Sanatorium; medical treatment; obtaining employment; meeting future wife.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of operations as pilot with Glider Pilot Regt in North West Europe, 1944: reaction to deaths of comrades; attitude towards being under fire; question of mistakes made during Operation Market Garden; question of personal morale. Aspects of period as POW in Stalag XI B, Bad Orb, Germany, 1944-1945: story of how he stood up to camp guards; story of using bed boards as fire wood; Red Cross food parcels; adjusting to normal food after liberation; ensuring POWs remained in camp after liberation; problems with lice; POW deaths in camp and funerals.