Dillon, Brian Edevrain (Oral history)

British officer served 2nd Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1940; served as motor contact officer with Headquarters, 1st Armoured Div in GB and North Africa, 1940-1941; served with L Detachment, Special Air Service in North Africa, 1941-1942; served with Special Operations Executive in Greece, 1943-1945; served with 1st Bn, RNR in Germany, c1946-1947; served as training officer attached to British Military Mission in Greece, 1947-1948; served with 1st Bn, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB and Egypt, c1948-1951; served with 1st Bn, RNR in Hong Kong, ca 1952-1954. Present during sinking of Empire Windrush off Algerian coast, 28/3/1954; period commanding RNR Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, 1957-1960

REEL 1 Aspects of background in Southern Ireland and England, 1919-1937: family circumstances; education and OTC training at Repton. Recollections of period at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, 1937-1938: lectures in military history and importance of imperial role; bicycle drill; relationship with cadets and question of 'rankers'; relationship with drill sergeant and officer lecturers; approach of war; interview with and stories illustrating character of with Major General Sir Peter Strickland prior to commission into Royal Norfolk Regt. Recollections of period with B Coy, 2nd Bn, RNR at Bawdon Camp, 1/1939-9/1939: reception in officers' mess; mess games; opinion of various officers. REEEL 2 Continues: opinion of various officers and Sergeant George Gristock; call up of reservists; relationship with ORs and mixed rank football matches; route marches; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. Journey out and billeting party duty on arrival in Le Mans sector, France, 9/1939. Period in Rumigues sector, 9/1939-3/1940: building breastwork defences; story illustrating opinion of French troops; breaking leg in car accident; evacuation to GB. Period at RNR Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, ca 4/1940-7/1940: failed attempt to rejoin unit; motor contact officer course at RMA, Sandhurst. Recollections of period as motor contact officer with Headquarters, 1st Armoured Div at Dorking, ca 7/1940-11/1940: opinion of cavalry officers; duties; opinion of Major General Willoughby Norris. Voyage aboard Empress of Australia to Durban, South Africa, ca 11/1940: conditions; recreations and hospitality of South African civilians at Durban. Voyage to Port Said, Egypt, ca 11/1940. Recollections of operations in Western Desert, 1940-1941: initial period in transit camp; lack of desert experience including importance of cleaning weapons and engine filters, problems of desert driving; opinion of Crusader tank. REEL 3 Continues: relief of Tobruk, 11/1941; story illustrating heavy casualties suffered by Gloucester Hussars; characteristics of Daimler Dingo Scout Car and relationship with driver; effects of desert conditions on elderly officers; composition of HQ staff; problems of transporting petrol and introduction of German jerry cans; state of division and reorganisation; opinion of Major General Herbert Lumsden; role commanding Lumsden's mixed escort troop; running over thermos mine in Dingo; situation and Lumsden's abortive plans during operations in Gazala Lines, 5/1942-6/1940; story of rearguard action and subsequent reception from Lumsden during retreat to EL Alamein area, 6/1942; opinion of Honey tank; opinion of South African troops on move into Tobruk, 6/1940; story of killing German spy misdirecting traffic during retreat; meeting New Zealand Div at Mersa Matruh; move into Canal Zone. Recollections of raid with L Detachment, Special Air Service on Benghazi, 1942: background to recruitment to drive tank; opinion of Major Stirling; story illustrating lack of security prior to raid; composition of force assembled at Kufri; loss of tanks in accident; nature and armament of adapted jeeps used in raid. REEL 4 Continues: plans for attacks on ships in Benghazi harbour; warning from local Special Operations Executive officer warning of German reinforcements; story of opening gate in defile containing convoy prior to German ambush; camouflaging jeep during retreat to avoid air attacks; rendezvous in desert; Italian air attacks; motivation for volunteering to wait for stragglers; rejoining retreating unit; capture of oasis in conjunction with Sudan Defence Force; air attacks; question of origins of breakdown in security. Recollections of mission to rescue Major Paddy Mayne missing in Western Desert, ca 1942: assistance from Senussi; use of sun compass and maps; navigational skills of Senussi; meeting Mayne. Recollections of raid west of Tripoli, ca 1943: security and desert rendezvous; composition of force; food shortage; role reconnoitring possible route south of Mareth Line; meeting with Wilfred Thessiger; attitude of local Arabs; night routine; story of breaking pelvis after overturning jeep on running into Mareth Line. REEL 5 Continues: makeshift repairs to jeep; evading German patrols during return to Tripoli. Period in hospital in Cairo, 1943. Pistol shooting course at Jerusalem, Palestine, 1943. Period attached to MTB 60, 1943: aspects of disbandment of Special Air Service and formation of Special Boat Service; opinion of Lieutenant Robert Keyes. Recollections of recruitment into Greek Section, Special Operations Executive at Cairo, 1943: briefing from Brigadier Keble; pistol and equipment; prior parachute training; familiarity with Lewis bomb used to destroy aircraft. Recollections of parachuting into Greece, 6/1943: role of conducting and despatching officers; flight in Halifax; dropping from height; story illustrating nervous state on landing; contacting Greek partisans; role of Captain Arthur Edmunds and Captain Harry MacIntyre; cell organisation; journey towards Athens. Period assisting SOE section operating in Mount Giona area, ca 6/1943-7/1943: meeting Captain Geoffrey Gordon-Creed; story of ruse employed to secure medical treatment of Captain Don Stott in German hospital; joining section to assist in diversionary Operation Animals; composition of force; importance of wireless operator and nature of codes. REEL 6 Continues: suitcase wireless set and wireless procedures; battery charging problems; Greek interpreters and question of learning Greek; operation to demolish Steno Gorge bridge; story of ambushing truck to take German POW and prisoners need for medical treatment for VD; methods of identifying German reinforcement units; use of exploding mule excrement left on roads; question of divisions between Greek partisans. Recollections of period in command of Lillian Section, SOE in Mount Alikon and Athens areas, ca 7/1943-11/1944: situation; story of gold sovereigns dropped in error; review of section personnel; story of feigned death of Greek interpreter; Polish deserters from German Army; relationship with ELAS partisans; ignorance of deception element of Operation Animals and preparations with ELAS for attack on Athens; background to German attack led by British renegade on base at Kyriaki. REEL 7 Continues: emergency evacuation caused by German attack on base at Kyriaki; period living rough and eventual provision of hut accommodation; role rescuing bailed out and Allied airmen; role of Greek agents including establishment of early warning system and payment in gold; question of post-war compensation for Greek agents and partisans; disseminating news of D Day, 6/1944; story of close escape in boat from Germans troops at Dhesfina and circumstances of subsequent German retaliatory massacre of Greek villagers at Dhistomon; collection of details of German officers responsible for massacres; evacuation of wireless operator with mental problems and replacement with escaped British POW; story of failure of attempted escape by Captain Warren and party of Russians across Adriatic and their subsequent execution on authority of Lieutenant Kurt Waldheim; execution of Greek traitor; conditions of service; story of failed attempt to persuade local German commander based at Levadhia to surrender. REEL 8 Continues: story of failed attempt to persuade local German commander based at Levadhia to surrender including question of position of ELAS; Dakota crash in dropping zone; arrival of Lieutenant Stanley Legge and his mission reconnoitring airfields in Athens area for possible parachute drops; story of success in establishing British meteorological officer in Athens observatory; arrival of reinforcement officers; move in conjunction with 2nd ELAS Div into Athens area; situation and effects of parachute landing at inappropriate Megara airfield; attempt to prevent demolition of important facilities. Recollections of Greek Civil War in Athens area, 11/1944-1/1945: situation; story of witnessing interview between General Mundricas Arrestes of ELAS and Royalist General Spilotopolos; question of political situation; British establishment reactions to SOE warnings of imminent ELAS revolt; commencement of ELAS revolt; continued maintenance of contacts with ELAS; death of SOE soldier; continuation of role as SOE agent; background to meeting Miriam Preston; situation and arrival of British reinforcements; successful negotiations with ELAS to secure release of British prisoners; British establishment attitude to SOE and ELAS; recall to Cairo, 1/1945; debriefing and psychoanalysis. REEL 9 Background to establishment of Greek 'Sacred' Coy attached to Special Boat Service at Kabrit, Egypt, 1943. Return to GB, 1945. Period with 1st Bn, RNR at Neuhaus, Padderborn and Berlin, Germany, ca 1946-1947: awareness of lack of experience in modern warfare as regimental officer; opinion of various officers and National Service officers; reason for prior failure of staff course at Staff College, Camberley, ca 1945; story of Sergeant major Jessup holding illicit guest night in officers' mess while unit was absent on training exercise; battle drill course; shooting game; control of movement of farm animals; drinking habits; question of black market activities; unit morale; story of boxing competition; story of NCO shooting pheasant; relationship with Soviet personnel in Tiergarden sector, Berlin; recreations; perimeter guards at Spandau Barracks; relationship with German civilians. Recollections of period with 4th Bn, RNR at Patras, Greece, ca 1945-1946: prior reformation of unit in GB; role with advance party; situation. REEL 10 Continues: internal security role; patrols; relationship with Greek civilians; invitation from Colonel Peter Barclay to join 1st Bn, RNR whilst on paternity leave in GB. Recollections of period as training officer attached to British Military Mission in Greece, 1947-1948: background to posting; role in rebuilding Greek Army; origins of Greek Civil War and re-emergence of Greek Communist forces; situation; briefing; attachment as liaison officer with 46th Infantry Bde, Greek Army in Gramnos Mountains; state of unit; guerrilla tactics employed by Communist forces; liaison role; horse and groom; patrolling activities; attitude of Greek civilians; view of retreat of Communist forces into Albania; role as staff officer visiting Greek Army units across Greece; period establishing Infantry Training Centre for Greek Army. REEL 11 Period with 1st Bn, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB and Egypt, ca 1948-1951: acting as demonstration battalion at School of Infantry, Warminster; internal security role on move to Ismailia, Canal Zone; preparations for re-occupying Egypt; decision not to volunteer for service in Korea. Period with 1st Bn, RNR in Hong Kong, ca 1952-1954. Recollections of sinking of Empire Windrush off Algerian coast, 28/3/1954: captain's awareness of engine problems; engine failure; forming up on deck; failure of lifeboat davits without electrical power; makeshift methods of lowering boats; amusing stories of evacuation including story of Regimental Sergeant Gilchrist; securing lifeboats near ship; badly damaged lifeboat; rescue by Dutch steamer; reception at Algiers, Algeria; voyage board HMS Triumph to Gibraltar; reception at Gibraltar. Period in command of RNR Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, 1957-1960: role of depot; training of national servicemen; officers on staff; stories of Regimental Sergeant Major Bert Fitt and Sergeant Harnett; social importance of regimental ball. REEL 12 Continues: organisation of regimental ball; introduction of regimental tent at Royal Norfolk Agricultural Show; story of visit by Elizabeth II; background to acceptance of early retirement. Post-service career: career with brewery; territorial service as officer of 4th Bn, RNR and decision to refuse offer of becoming colonel due to work commitments; membership of RNR Regimental Assoc and SOE Club.