Interview with Brian Edeveain Dillon

British officer served 2nd Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in GB and France, 1/1939-3/1940; serve with Royal Norfolk Regiment Regimental Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 4/1940-7/1940; served as motor contact officer with Headquarters, 1st Armoured Div in GB and North Africa, Headquarters, 1st Armoured Div in GB and North Africa, 7/1940-6/1942; served with 1st Special Air Service in North Africa, 8/1942-4/1942; served with Force 133, Special Operations Executive in Greece, 1943-1945; served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Germany, 1945-1946; served with 4th Bn Royal Norfolk Regt at Patras, Greece, 1946-1947; served as instructor with British Military Mission in Greece, 1947-1948; served with 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB and Egypt, 1948-1951; served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Hong Kong, 1952-1954; survived sinking of HMT Empire Windrush in Mediterranean off Cape Caxine, French Algeria, 28/3/1954; commanded Royal Norfolk Regiment Regimental Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 1957-1960

REEL 1 Aspects of background in Dublin, Ireland and GB, 1919-1937: family circumstances; education; membership of Officer Training Corps at Repton School. Recollections of period as officer cadet at Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1937-1938: lectures in military history and importance of imperial role; bicycle drill; relations with fellow officer cadets and question of those who had been promoted from the ranks; relations with drill sergeant and officer lecturers; approach of Second World War; interview with and stories illustrating character of with Major-General Sir Peter Strickland prior to commission into Royal Norfolk Regiment. Recollections of period as officer with B Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div at Bordon Camp, GB, 1/1939-9/1939: reception in officers' mess; mess games; opinion of various officers. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of various officers and Sergeant George Gristock; call-up of reservists; relations with Other Ranks and mixed rank football matches; route marches; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div at Rumigies, France, 9/1939-3/1940: journey from GB to France; duties on arrival at Le Mans, 9/1940; building breastwork defences; opinion of French Army troops; breaking leg in car accident; medical evacuation to GB. Aspects of period as officer at Royal Norfolk Regiment Regimental Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 4/1940-7/1940: failed attempt to rejoin battalion; attending motor contact officer course at Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley. Recollections of period as motor contact officer with Headquarters, 1st Armoured Div at Dorking, GB, 7/1940-11/1940: opinion of cavalry officers; duties; opinion of Major-General Charles Norrie. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empress of Australia to Durban, South Africa, 11/1940: conditions on board; recreational activities and hospitality of South African civilians at Durban; continuing voyage from Durban, South Africa to Port Said, Egypt, 11/1940. Recollections of operations as officer with Headquarters, 1st Armoured Div in North Africa, 12/1940-6/1942: 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, Libya, 11/1941; story illustrating heavy casualties suffered by 1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars; characteristics of Daimler Dingo Scout Car and relations with driver; effects of desert conditions on elderly officers; composition of headquarters staff; problems of transporting petrol and introduction of German jerry cans; state of division and reorganisation; opinion of Major-General Herbert Lumsden; role commanding Major-General Herbert Lumsden's mixed escort troop; incident of running over thermos mine in Daimler Dingo Scout Car; situation and Major-General Herbert Lumsden's abortive plans during operations on Gazala Line, Libya 5/1942-6/1940; story of rearguard action and subsequent reception from Major-General Herbert Lumsden during retreat to El Alamein Line, Egypt, 6/1942; opinion of M3 Honey Tank; opinion of South African troops on move into Tobruk, Libya, 6/1942; story of killing German spy misdirecting traffic during retreat; meeting 2nd New Zealand Infantry Div at Mersa Matruh, Egypt; move into Canal Zone, Egypt. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Special Air Service during Operation Bigamy, the raid on Benghazi, Libya, 9/1942: background to recruitment to drive tank; opinion of Major David Stirling; story illustrating lack of security prior to operation; composition of force assembled at Kufra Oasis, Libya; loss of tanks in accident; nature and armament of adapted Willys Jeep used in Operation Bigamy, 9/1942. REEL 4 Continues: plans for attacks on ships in Benghazi Harbour, Libya; warning from local Special Operations Executive officer of Deutsches Afrika reinforcements; story of opening gate in defile containing convoy prior to Deutsches Afrika Corps ambush; camouflaging jeep during retreat to avoid Axis air attacks; rendezvous in desert; Italian Air Force attacks; motivation for volunteering to wait for stragglers; rejoining retreating unit; capture of oasis in conjunction with Sudan Defence Force; further Axis air attacks; question of origins of breakdown in security. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Special Air Service in North Africa, 9/1942-4/1943: start of mission to rescue Major Robert 'Paddy' Mayne missing in desert, 1942: assistance received from Senussi people; use of sun compass and maps; navigational skills of Senussi people; meeting Major Robert 'Paddy' Mayne; security and desert rendezvous for raid west of Tripoli, Libya; composition of force; rations shortage; role reconnoitring possible route south of Mareth Line, Tunisia; meeting with Wilfred Thesiger; attitude of local Arabs; night routine; story of breaking pelvis after overturning jeep on running into Mareth Line, Tunisia. REEL 5 Continues: makeshift repairs to Willys Jeep; evading Deutsches Afrika Korps patrols during return to Tripoli, Libya, 2/1943; hospitalisation in Cairo, Egypt, 1943; pistol shooting course at Jerusalem, Palestine, 1943; attachment to MTB 60, 20th Motor Torpedo Flotilla at HMS Mosquito, Alexandria, Egypt, 1943; division of 1st Special Air Service and formation of Special Boat Squadron, 4/1943; opinion of Lieutenant Roger Keyes. Aspects of period with Force 133, Special Operations Executive at Cairo, Egypt, 1943: recruitment to Force 133 and briefing from Brigadier Cleveland Keble; pistol and equipment; prior parachute training; familiarity with Lewis Bomb used to destroy aircraft. Recollections of parachute drop into Greece, 6/1943: role of conducting and despatching officers; flight in Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax aircraft; dropping from height; story illustrating nervous state on landing; contacting Greek Partisans; role of Captain Arthur Edmonds and Lieutenant Harry McIntyre; cell organisation; journey towards Athens. Recollections of operations as officer with Force 133, Special Operations Executive in Greece, 6/1943-7/1945: meeting Captain Geoffrey Gordon-Creed; story of ruse employed to secure medical treatment of Captain Donald 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: use of suitcase wireless set and wireless procedures; battery charging problems; Greek interpreters and question of learning Greek language; operation to demolish bridge in Athamania Gorge; story of ambushing truck to take German prisoner of war; prisoner of war's need for medical treatment for venereal disease; methods of identifying German reinforcement units; use of exploding mule excrement left on roads; question of divisions between Greek partisans of Greek Democratic National Army (EDES) and Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS). Recollections of operations as officer with Force 133, Special Operations Executive in Mount Helicon and Athens areas, Greece, 7/1943-11/1944: situation; story of gold sovereigns dropped in error; review of station personnel; story of feigned death of Greek interpreter; presence of Polish deserters from German Army; relations with ELAS partisans; ignorance of deception element of Operation Animals and preparations with Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) for attack on Athens; background to German attack led by British renegade at Kyriaki. REEL 7 Continues: emergency evacuation caused by German attack at Kyriaki; period living rough and eventual provision of hutted accommodation; role rescuing bailed out and evading 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 landings, 6/1944; story of narrow escape in boat from German forces at Desfina and circumstances of subsequent German forces' retaliatory massacre of Greek villagers at Distomo; collection of details of German Army officers responsible for massacres; evacuation of wireless operator with psychological problems and replacement with escaped British prisoner of war; story of failure of Operation Conjugal with attempt by Captain David Warren and party of Soviet ex-prisoners of war to cross Adriatic Sea and their subsequent execution on authority of Lieutenant Kurt Waldheim, 15/5/1944; execution of Greek traitor; conditions of service; story of failed attempt to persuade local German commander based at Livadia to surrender. REEL 8 Continues: story of failed attempt to persuade commander of local German forces at Livadia to surrender including question of position of Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS); Douglas Dakota aircraft crash on makeshift airfield, 10/1943; arrival of Lieutenant Stanley Legg 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 Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) forces into Athens area; situation and effects of parachute landing at inappropriate Megara Airfield; attempt to prevent demolition of important facilities. Recollections of operations as officer with Special Operations Executive in Athens area, Greece, 11/1944-1/1945: situation; story of witnessing interview between General Aris Velouchiotis, Aris of Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) and Royalist Major-General Panagious Spiliotopolous; question of political situation; British military authorities' reaction to Special Operations Executive warnings of imminent Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) revolt; commencement of Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) revolt; continuing to maintain contacts with Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS); death of Special Operations Executive operative; continuation of role with Special Operations Executive; background to meeting Miriam Preston; situation and arrival of British military reinforcements; successful negotiations with Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) to secure release of British prisoners of war; British military authorities attitude to Special Operations Executive and Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS); recall to Cairo, Egypt, 1/1945; debriefing and psychoanalysis. REEL 9 Continues: prior recollection of establishment of Greek Sacred Heart Regiment company attached to Special Boat Squadron at Kabrit, Egypt, 4/1943; return to GB, 1945. Aspects of period as offier with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Germany, 1945-1946: awareness of lack of experience in modern warfare as regimental officer; opinion of various officers and National Service conscript officers; reason for prior failure of staff course at Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1945; story of sergeant-major 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; battalion morale; story of boxing competition; story of NCO shooting pheasant; relations with Soviet military personnel in Tiergarten, Berlin; recreational activities; perimeter guards at Spandau Barracks; relations with German civilians. Recollections of period as officer with 4th Bn Royal Norfolk Regt at Patras, Greece, 1946-1947: prior reformation of unit in GB; role with advance party; situation. REEL 10 Continues: internal security role; patrols; relations with Greek civilians; invitation from Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Barclay to join 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt 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 Gramos 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 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB and Egypt, 1948-1951: acting as demonstration battalion at School of Infantry, Warminster; internal security role on move to Ismailia, Canal Zone; preparations for re-occupation of Egypt; decision not to volunteer for service in Korean War and period with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Hong Kong, 1952-1954. Recollections of sinking of HMT Empire Windrush in Mediterranean off Cape Caxine, French Algeria, 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-Major William Gilchrist; securing lifeboats near ship; badly damaged lifeboat; rescue by Dutch steamer SS Mentor; reception at Algiers, French Algeria; voyage board HMS Triumph from Algiers, French Algeria to Gibraltar; reception at Gibraltar. Aspects of period commanding of Royal Norfolk Regiment Regimental Depot, Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 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 Show; story of visit by Queen Elizabeth II; background to acceptance of early retirement. Post-service life and career: career with brewery; Territorial Army service as officer of 4th Bn Royal North Regt and decision to refuse offer of becoming colonel due to work commitments; membership of Royal Norfolk Regiment Association and Special Forces Club.