Potter, Alan Keith (Oral history)

Australian NCO served with 2/28th Bn in Australia, Middle East and North Africa, 1940-1942; POW in Italy and Austria, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Background in Canterbury and Clairemont, 1922- 1939: family origins; father's military service in First World War; family; education; employment; degree of knowledge of political events in Europe; membership as scouts and military cadets; story of enlistment with militia; growing anticipation of war in Europe, 1938; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as NCO with militia and Australian Army, 1939-1940: enlistment, 12/1939; introduction of conscription; reaction to sight of troops moving to GB. REEL 2 Continues: family and patriotic ties to GB; attitude to war during Phoney War period, 1939-1940; pledge signed on enlistment with army; payment; promotion; method of dealing with recruits complaints; question of aims of army training; personal motivation; character of training; formation of 9th Division; attitude to overseas service; opinion of officers; attitude of family to his military service; train journey to Fremantle. Aspects of voyage from Australia to Egypt via Ceylon, aboard Acquitainia and Nieuw Zeeland, 1/1941: attitude to embarkation. REEL 3 Continues: initial reaction to being on board Acquitainia; question of attitude towards role as sergeant; accommodation on board Acquitainia; morale on troops; degree of knowledge of destination; daily routine; ashore in Ceylon and change of ship; amusing story of escorting commanding officer around ship; Australian soldier's characteristics in comparison to Germans; question of attitude to arrival in war zone. Aspects of period as sergeant with 2/28th Bn Australian Army in Middle East, 1941: arrival in Egypt; move to Palestine; contrast between Arab and Jewish communities in Palestine, 1941; visit to Jerusalem. REEL 4 Continues: attitude of Jews and Arabs towards Australian troops and each other; issue of equipment and training in Palestine; joining 9th Div. Recollections of operations as sergeant-major with 2/28th Bn Australian Army in Tobruk, 1941: move to Tobruk, 26/3/1941; equipment available to defend Tobruk; sight of retreating troops through Tobruk; characteristics of positions; problems of sand storms; shortages of water; character of rations available; initial attacks on positions by Axis forces, 4/1941; patrolling on perimeter; incident with German dispatch rider. REEL 5 Continues: initial reaction to being in action and subsequent reactions; reaction to death of comrades; question of married men having to go to war; attitude to life threatening situations; reconnaissance patrolling outside perimeter; attitude towards patrolling; question of luck during incidents which occurred during reconnaissance patrols; narrow escape from Axis shell; story of patrol in which Captain Johnston was wounded and capture of Italian POW; question of attitude of guards to their POWs. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Italian and German troops; question of behaviour of different nationalities in action, as POWs and as POW guards; morale in Tobruk; problems of defecating; birthday in front-line; unloading stores in harbour; swimming in harbour; effects of drinking alcohol; casualties caused by accidental discharge of Bren gun; attitude towards accidental woundings and deaths; bombing of hospital and evacuation from Tobruk with wounds. REEL 7 Continues: method of taking cover from Junkers Ju87 Stuka attacks; importance of contact with home; frequency of mail during Siege of Tobruk; attitude to leaving Tobruk. Aspects of hospitialisation in Egypt, 1941: conditions in British 66th General hospital; visit to Egyptian night club; transfer to Australian hospital; impressions of General Blamey; question of confidence in high command; leave in Alexandria; encounter with Egyptians; reaction to lack of relief during period in Tobruk; visit to Museum of Hygiene in Cairo; question of behaviour of Australian troops. Aspects of period with 2/28th Bn Australian Army in Middle East, 1942: move to Syria; opinion of South African troops who surrendered Tobruk; problems with Tate worms. REEL 8 Continues: threat of Germans taking over Middle East; character of training in Syria; visit to Syrian family; hospitalisation for Tate worms; story of journey from Lebanon to Egypt to rejoin unit. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with B Coy, 2/28th Bn Australian Army in Egypt, 1942: in action at Ruin Ridge, 27/7/1942; advance with 50th Royal Tank Regt; loss of platoon commander and Sergeant Bruce Hill; taking over 10 Platoon; situation at El Alamein, 7/1942; reaction to returning to unit; plan for attack on Ruin Ridge, 28/7/1942; execution of attack on Ruin Ridge, 28/7/1942; responsibility as company sergeant-major; dealing with German POWs; loss of supporting vehicles and anti-tank guns. REEL 9 Continues: German counter attacks on Ruin Ridge; situation on Ruin Ridge, 28/7/1942; wounding of adjutant, Jimmy Allen; actions on capture by German armoured unit. Aspects of period as POW in North Africa, 1942: fate of Jimmy Allen; reaction to becoming POW; move to transit camp at El Darba; distribution of water in camp; wounding by anti-aircraft shrapnel; reaction to arrival in Tobruk; transfer into Italian captivity at Benghazi; POWs fighting over rations; embarkation on Italian ship at Benghazi; question of escape in North Africa; relations with guards; role as warrant officer when a POW; importance of bodily and psychological health when POW. REEL 10 Continues: question of understanding rights as POW under Geneva Convention. Aspects of period as POW on board Italian ship in Mediterranean including torpedoing, 1942: precautions he took to ensure POWs could escape from hold; effect of torpedo hit on hold; panic amongst Italians abandoning ship; behaviour of the ship's captain; casualties during torpedoing of the ship; dealing with dead bodies; night on board ship after torpedoing; rations on board; disembarking in Greece; identification of dead; question of deaths by friendly fire in wartime; behaviour of Italian guards in Greece. Recollections of period as POW in Italy, 1942-1943: behaviour of Italian civilians in Brindisi; conditions in transit camp in Bari. REEL 11 Continues: move to PG 57 POW Camp aboard Blue Train; character of camp; mass escape from camp, 10/1942; character of solitary confinement; dealing with boredom; attitude of camp commandant towards POWs; frequency of Red Cross parcels; items confiscated by Italian guards during search; camp rations; method of supplementing rations; relations between POWs and Italian guards; change in attitude of Italian guards after British victory at El Alamein including night time checks; degree of security about escape; degree of mixing amongst different POW nationalities. REEL 12 Continues: dealing with incident of homosexuality in camp; question of how thoughts of sex change in length of captivity; story of obtaining Canadian beer in desert; infrastructure in camp; use of hidden radio; reaction of POWs and camp commandant to capitulation of Italy, 1943; reaction to Germans taking over of camp; march to railway station; German measures to stop POWs escaping from train; impressions of train journey to Germany; escapees from train. Recollections of period as POW in Austria, 1943-1945: arrival in Austria; literature read during captivity; interest in religion; question of importance of experiences during captivity; question of NCOs working. REEL 13 Continues: escape preparations; discussions with fellow POWs; focus of his reading in camp; opinion of Russian POWs; rations available; use of Italian dixies; method of dealing out rations; attitude of guards; distribution of Red Cross parcels; amusing encounter with German sergeant-major; dealing with low periods in personal morale; communication with home; effects of worsening diet; Australian sergeant-major's price for collecting Red Cross parcel; sight of Allied aircraft. REEL 14 Continues: change in attitude of POWs during winter 1944-1945; obtaining fuel for hut; ablution facilities; atmosphere in hut; question of escape from camp; Christmas entertainment, 25/12/1944; effect of concert parties; change in conditions as war progressed; relations with fellow NCOs and their method of dealing with sexual feelings. Aspects of liberation, 5/1945: dealing with guards after end of war, 5/1945; raiding German food store; reaction to watching German troops driving past; acquiring car; relations between ex-POWs and civilians; arrival of US troops and concentration of ex-POWs in former camp. REEL 15 Continues: relations with Austrian civilians; accommodation overnight near Salzburg airfield; reaction to leaving Austria; flight from Salzburg to Brussels; sunken stomach; arrival in GB and move to Eastbourne; meeting with relative in Sevenoaks; travels in Scotland; question of self-esteem; reaction to potential posting to Pacific. Voyage from GB to Australia aboard Mauritania, 7/1945: leave in Hawaii; duties raiding brothel in Wellington, New Zealand. Aspects of return to Australia, 1945: reception in Sydney harbour; two day period in Sydney; travelling across Australia by train; homecoming in Perth, VJ Day; demobilisation, 10/1945. REEL 16 Continues: question of the perceived priorities of civilian life; rejoining family business, 28/10/1945; telling story of patrol in Tobruk, 1941 during lecture on voyage from GB to Australia; effect on war on businesses in Australia; importance of military service; question of adjusting to civilian life; question of the bonds that exist between ex-servicemen.