Description
Object description
British NCO served with 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Berlin, Germany, 1949-1950; served with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 4/1951; prisoner of war in Camp 1, Choksong, North Korea, 1951-1953
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1931-1947: family; education; German Air Force attacks on Belfast, 5/1941; public morale during bombing; children collecting shrapnel; effect of smoke pots; sight of father forming up troops to go to France, 1939. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in GB and Germany, 1948-1950: background to enlistment, 1948; move to Germany, 1949; volunteering for train guard duties between western Germany and Berlin, 1949; duties guarding Nazi war criminals at Spandau Prison in Berlin, 1949; items stolen by Soviets from Spandau Prison; treatment of prisoners in Spandau Prison; lack of contact with prisoners in Spandau Prison; impressions of Rudolf Hess and other prisoners.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO on draft with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Japan, 3/1951: reasons for volunteering for service with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea; equipment issued; voyage from GB to Japan; character of training in Japan especially weapons familiarisation; patrolling in Japanese villages; move to American transit camp at Osaka; ferry journey from Japan to Pusan, South Korea; United States Marine Corps marines' opinion of Lee Enfield No 4 Rifle. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 1951: disembarkation at Pusan; dumping of tin helmets; nature of road journey from Pusan; sight of dead bodies in River Han.
REEL 3 Continues: train journey; reaction of British troops to behaviour of United States Army military policeman; behaviour of British troops towards Korean civilians; question of infiltration of North Korean regulars amongst refugees. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde during Battle of Imjin River, South Korea, 22/4/1951-25/4/1951: joining unit in front line at River Imjin, 4/1951; sight of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops killed by napalm; assignment to A Coy; daily routine and night-time bombardments; Chinese sniper fire; use of grenades to dissuade infiltration from Chinese People's Volunteer Army; start of Battle of River Imjin, 24/4/1951; use of heavy machine gun to suppress Chinese presence, 25/4/1951; capture of Chinese prisoner of war, 25/4/1951; withdrawing from positions, 25/4/1951; discovery of deserted British positions; sight of Centurion Tanks firing at Chinese People's Volunteer Army positions; method of withdrawing; effect of bullet hitting his pack and loss of section.
REEL 4 Continues: attempt to obtain lift on ambulance; wounding by mortar fragments; giving his ammunition to Bren Gun operator firing at Chinese People's Volunteer Army mass attack; attempt to escape on Main Supply Route; technique of crossing ravine under Chinese fire; attempt to use Centurion Tank for cover; sight of demobilised Centurion Tanks on fire; Centurion Tank crew's method of clearing road of burning tanks; wounding by Chinese People's Volunteer Army machine gunners; Chinese People's Volunteer Army use of British wounded troops to protect their position; capture by Chinese People's Volunteer Army; Chinese People's Volunteer Army's firing on heavily laden Centurion Tank. Recollections of period as prisoner of war on march from River Imjin, South Korea into North Korea, 4/1951-5/1951: prisoners of war burying of bayonets; question of role of unit in gaining time for defence of Seoul; initial treatment by Chinese guards; clothing worn; sight of Allied aircraft destroying disabled Centurion Tanks; role checking wounded; first night's accommodation in Korean farmhouse.
REEL 5 Continues: arrival of Chinese officer; fear of being shot; discovery of Chinese intentions and speech by Chinese officer; trek to Main Supply Route; sight of mass of Chinese People's Volunteer Army dead in ravine; description of three day detention in dugout; nature of interrogation by Chinese captors; composition of prisoner of war column on march north; sight of dead American prisoners of war at side of road; night marches; effects of his wounds and dysentery; rations and water available on march; aircraft attack on prisoner of war column.
REEL 6 Continues: problems with footwear on march; eating cattle feed; behaviour of Korean civilians towards prisoners of war. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Camp 1, Choksong, North Korea, 1951-1953: arrival in camp; description of camp; accommodation; prisoner of war rations; burial of dead prisoners of war; reaction to being sent to hospital hut suffering from dysentery; segregation of nationalities in camp; attitude of American prisoners of war; organisation of British section of camp; Chinese camp interpreters; initial Chinese attempts at indoctrination; reaction of prisoners of war to Chinese indoctrination.
REEL 7 Continues: state of Chinese medical facilities and his treatment for dysentery; foraging for supplies of wood; behaviour of guards on his refusal to work; solitary confinement in pit; confession for supposed crimes; reaction of other prisoners of war to his confession; character of work parties; clothing and equipment; use of makeshift razor; delousing procedures; characteristics of dysentery; attempts to keep huts warm in winter.
REEL 8 Continues: reasons for bruising of prisoner of war hips; issue of padded jackets; winter conditions; reasons for lack of adequate winter clothing; sight of air battles overhead; method of obtaining light for cigarettes; incident when United States Air Force aircraft attacked prisoner of war; Chinese reaction to air raids and air identification; question of escaping from camp; anticipation of liberation by United Nation's forces; question of Chinese allegations of biological warfare; attempts by Chinese to improve conditions for prisoner of wars, winter 1951-1952; Chinese cook's method of killing pig.
REEL 9 Continues: amusing incident of prisoners of war attempt to kill cow; Chinese catering staff; visit by Red Cross and curing of his dysentery; reaction of prisoners of war to break down of peace talks; reaction of Chinese to problems in American run Koji-do Prisoner of War Camp in South Korea; Chinese attitude towards Americans and Geneva Convention. Recollections of repatriation from North Korea to GB, 1953: anticipation of prisoners of war to release from captivity; change in camp atmosphere; growing tomatoes; announcement to join repatriation party; truck journey southwards.
REEL 10 Continues: repatriation process including escort by United States Army military police; treatment by American personnel on repatriation; sight of Chinese ex-prisoners of war throwing away of clothing at prisoner of war exhange; debriefing; move to Japan; confusion over his status; voyage from Japan to GB; suicide of ex-prisoner of war on voyage to GB; suspicions amongst ex-prisoners of war during voyage home; activities on return to GB; effects of prisoner of war experiences.
REEL 11 Continues: reasons for leaving British Army. Reflections of period as prisoner of war in North Korea, 1951-1953: attitude towards Communism; Chinese segregation of black and white American prisoners of war; character of Chinese propaganda.