Nicholson, Michael Thomas (Oral history)

British civilian war correspondent for ITN television in Nigeria, Biafra, Jordan, Pakistan, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, Vietnam, Cambodia, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Falkland Islands, the Gulf, Croatia and Bosnia, 1960s-2002

REEL 1 Recollections of life in Romford, Essex & in Somerset, 1939-1945: proximity of Romford to London docks; air raids in area; attitude towards war; father's service with Royal Engineers; evacuation to Theale, Somerset; attitude towards life in Somerset. Aspects of life in GB & Emden, Germany, post-war: education in Germany; accompanying father whilst supervising exhumation of British dead for reburial; relationship between British and Germans; desire to be a pilot; reaction to death of John Derry at Farnborough Air Show; call up for National Service with RAF, Air Traffic Control. REEL 2 Continues: impact of experience of evacuation during Second World War; attitude towards National Service; benefits of National Service; attitude towards survival courses laid on for war correspondents; refusal to wear flak jacket unless in total war situation; decision to study for A Levels and go to University; part time work; attending Leicester University; working on University newspaper 'Ripple'; political activity; work on Sunday Post newspaper; joining ITN, 1964; contrast between ITN and BBC News. REEL 3 Recollections of joining ITN and initial duties: contrast between ITN and BBC News; first duties with ITN; lack of formal training; learning from camera crews; Alan Hart's approach to reporting. Recollections of reporting for ITN from Nigeria and Biafra: posting to Nigeria, 1968; reporting on massacres in Nigeria; attempt to stop killing of Biafran soldier by Lieutenant Lamurde; smuggling film of killing of Biafran prisoner out of Nigeria; refusal to film execution of Lt Lamurde; dilemma for correspondents/cameraman over whether to film or not; attitude towards Col Adekunle; journey to Biafra; flight to Uli; story of how plane he should have travelled on crashed. REEL 4 Continues: background to war in Biafra; use of starving children by Caritas, Markham press and Biafran authorities as propaganda weapon; filming starving children in Umburu camp; MIG air attack on town of Umuhia; question of whether film and reports on famine in Biafra prolonged the war; question of fear; frustration with editing of films and increasing 'sanitization' of war; sensitive filming of Aberfan landslide disaster, Wales; possible reasons for increase in censorship today; attempts to et to Biafra at end of war; impact of Nigerian/Biafran experience on him; increasing frustration and cynicism with age. REEL 5 Continues: importance of getting to story first; speed of news today; impact of technology on reporting; building reputation as foreign correspondent; question of paranoia; Recollections of reporting for ITN from Jordan, 1970: covering activities of Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine, PFLP; kidnap by PFLP on route from airport to hotel; being held hostage in Philadelphia Hotel with 30/40 British holidaymakers; PFLP threat to blow up hotel if demand not accepted; disbelief of colleagues on his return to London as he had no film footage; terrorist methods of Palestinian groups; return to Amman to cover terrorism after imprisonment of hijacker Leila Khalad, 1970; reporting on hijacking of 4 aircraft at Dawson's Field airstrip by 'Black September Group'; filming of blowing up of aircraft after hostages released by member of PFLP; getting film out to London. REEL 6 Continues: getting Dawson's Field hostages story out to London; preparing film and script; return to Amman to cover war between King Hussein's Army and Palestinian forces; dangerous conditions in Intercontinental Hotel; shell shocked state of sound recordist; living conditions in hotel; journalists' methods of coping with situation; negotiating deal with Alan Hart over interview with King Hussein [PAUSE HERE]; experience of battle; end of war and witnessing deaths of two soldiers. REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of reporting for ITN on civil war in Pakistan, 1971: background to civil war; reaction of West Pakistan to disaster caused by cyclone in East Pakistan; attempts to get into East Pakistan; reporting on aftermath of massacre of Bengali inhabitants of Dacca and destruction of city by West Pakistani troops; development of guerrilla force Mukti Bahini; scale of killings in East Pakistan; evidence of rapes and other atrocities; filming columns of Bengali refugees; Indian invasion, 11/1971; reporting on tank/artillery battle; air attacks in area. REEL 8 Continues: air raid and direct hit on orphanage; difficulties of getting film out; communication difficulties; pool system; West Pakistani system of censorship; attitude towards press briefings given by West Pakistanis; evacuation of British and American civilians by RAF; conditions in Intercontinental Hotel; end of war and formation of Bangladesh; revenge killings of West Pakistanis; sight of bodies of Bengali elites massacred in the dykes; refusal to film execution of West Pakistani prisoners; ability to shut out harrowing experiences on return home. REEL 9 Recollections of reporting for ITN on Yom Kippur War, Middle East, 1973: sight of young Israelis travelling to fight for Israel; background to war; journey with cameraman, Brian Calvert, to Sinai by car; filming Israeli convoy on route for counter attack; processing and sending of film by satellite in time for 10.00 ITN news; Israeli reaction to attack by Egyptian forces; reporting on Sinai front; covering Golan Heights front; MIG attacks on area; sustaining injury to neck during car crash; description of battles on Golan Heights. REEL 10 Continues: filming destruction of Syrian convoy; meeting Don McCullin at scene and learning of death of Nick Tomalin; refusal of Prime Minister Edward Heath to provide spares for British Centurion tanks sold to Israelis; story of coming under heavy fire in Armoured Personnel Carrier leading tank attack; memories of end of war; question of censorship; question of maintaining objectivity; importance of the overview. Recollections of reporting for ITN on civil war in Beirut, Lebanon, 1973: PLO presence in Lebanon; impressions of Beirut pre-war; reaction to gradual destruction of Beirut. REEL 11 Continues: reaction to destruction of Beirut; factions within Beirut; complex nature of civil war; attitude towards war; description of the Commodore Hotel; story of attempting to get film out of Beirut via Israel; witnessing PLO attack on Syrian tanks at Sidon who they thought were Israelis; loss of film; end of period in Beirut; refusal to return to Beirut. Recollections of reporting for ITN from Cyprus, 1974: memories of first trip to Cyprus; build up of National Guard; return to GB and learning of coup in Cyprus; attempts to get back to Cyprus via Tel Aviv. REEL 12 Continues: interrogation by Turkish Army on refuelling stop; signs of destruction on entry into Cyprus; interviewing new Greek President of Cyprus; telephone warning from Peter Snow that Turks would be entering Cyprus; filming arrival of Turkish troops; interviewing Turkish paratrooper; transporting of film by colleague to Akrotiri and then on to RAF aircraft. REEL 13 Continues: Greek ultimatum issued to Turks; story of being shot at by sniper and rescue by UN British troops; filming evacuation of civilians and holiday makers from the island; success of Turks in achieving Atilla Line; account of death of BBC sound recordist in minefield; leaving Cyprus for Greece; receiving bill from hotel Ledra Palace, Cyprus; continuing division of Cyprus today. REEL 14 Recollections of reporting for ITN on war in Vietnam, 1969-1975: arrival in Saigon on first anniversary of the Tet Offensive (1968); accompanying River Marine Patrol on patrol in Mekong Delta area; use of drugs by Marines to calm nerves; filming tank operation led by Colonel Patton, 2/1969; story of how US unwittingly set up camp on top of Vietcong underground tunnel complex; death of 'Tunnel Rat' sent down tunnel complex; bulldozing of tunnels and unearthing of Vietcong bodies; memories of meeting American Colonel 'Cong'; impressions of Saigon; visit to Hue. REEL 15 Continues: fighting in Hue; freedom for journalists and cameramen during Vietnam war; press briefings or '4-o-clock follies'; attitude towards the war; attitude towards US tactics; environmental damage caused by US tactics; reporting on Paris Peace Talks, 1973; filming release of US POWs at Subic Bay; low morale in South Vietnamese Army, 1973; change in situation for press after US withdrawal; direct hit on car when filming with Marvin Farkus up Highway 1; return to Vietnam 1975 to cover last weeks of war; filming flight of Vietnamese civilians and soldiers. REEL 16 Continues: sight of refugees; situation in coastal ports; filming situation at port of Vung Tau; organisation of 'mercy flights' by west to get babies and children out; crash of last mercy flight; evacuation of mixed race children (US/Vietnamese); arrival of Sandy Gall; filming last battle of war, New Port Bridge, Highway 1; reads entry from diary on fall of Saigon, 28/4/1975; description of last day of war, 49/4/1975; nature of US evacuation plans. REEL 17 Continues: decision of Sandy Gall to stay in Vietnam; chaos of evacuation; fighting way through crowds to get into US Embassy; boarding helicopter and last sight of US Embassy and fire on New Port Bridge; being searched for drugs on board Okinawa. Recollections of reporting for ITN on war in Cambodia, 1970-1975: background to war; witnessing battle between Cambodian Army and Kymer Rouge; impressions of Phomn Penh pre-war; getting stories through censor who couldn't read English; contrast between reporting in Cambodia and Vietnam. REEL 18 Continues: contrast between reporting in Cambodia and Vietnam; dangers of reporting in Cambodia; fate of journalists whose jeep was ambushed, Highway 3; fate of Sean Flynn and Dana Stone; US involvement in war in Cambodia, 1973/1947; reporting on arrival of Kymer Rouge in Phomn Penh, New Years Eve, 1974/1975; nature of KR regime; concern for safety; question of superstition; story of cannibalism during siege of Kompong Seila; bombardment of Phomn Penh; number of casualties; attitude towards Cambodian Army; decision to cover last battle of the war, Highway 1; sight of monks symbolically releasing turtles. REEL 19 Continues: sight of monks symbolically releasing turtles; beginning of battle, Highway 1; coming under fire and escape during heavy rainfall; Kymer Rouge bodies lining Highway 1; leaving Cambodia 1975. Recollections of return to Vietnam, 1985: Vietnamese business of salvaging remains of US personnel; meeting blind Vietminh sniper; contrast between north and south of Vietnam; reporting on situation of black children fathered by black GI's; touring Vietnam with Niep, a Vietnamese refugee who had left behind a son. REEL 20 Continues: filming reunion of Niep with his son; arrival of Niep's son in Wales and how he was named David; assessment of press and TV coverage of Vietnam war; difficulties of covering stories in Vietnamese villages during war; attempts to get to Hanoi; lack of journalists covering both sides of Vietnam war; attitude towards Hollywood films on Vietnam war; decision to continue reporting from war zones. Recollections of reporting for ITN from Angola, 1975: Portuguese evacuation from Angola; political situation; independence celebrations; behaviour of UNITA forces; relations with UNITA soldiers. REEL 21 Continues: question of South African involvement in Savimbe's forces; attempts to get film proof of South African involvement; filming aftermath of Portuguese evacuation; filming South African troops; contacting Reuters' Fred Bridgeland and telling him what he had seen; dilemma over revealing South African support for Savimbe; confronting Savimbe with evidence of South African support; filming Portuguese evacuation from Mozambique, 1978; invitation from Savimbe to review troops; journey in lorry with UNITA troops for rendevous with Savimbe; ambush by MPLA forces and Cubans. REEL 22 Continues: reasons for ambush; escape from ambush; walking across sandy terrain; arrival at rendevous and receiving news that Savimbe had fled North; beginning of MPLA offensive; continuing journey; morale; coping with harsh weather conditions and lack of water; developing survival techniques; problem with flies; relations with colleagues Tom Phillips and Micky Doyle and UNITA troops; story of killing snake and scorpion with stick; physical condition; attempting to treat Micky Doyle's infected blisters; treatment of Micky's rotting feet by medicine man. REEL 23 Continues: arrival at Savimbe's camp in North; welcome by singing female soldiers; interviewing Savimbe and filming UNITA camp and troops; embarking on walk south to border with South Africa; story of how South Africa refused the entry; reaction to marching north again; description of pygmy convoy; lack of contact with outside world; concerns that UNITA would kill them; his wife Diana's reaction to his disappearance; ITN arrangements for their rescue; sending coded message to prove he was alive; problem with flies; waiting for rescue plane at 'Hyena' camp; rescue arrangements. REEL 24 Continues: rescue by aircraft, 25/11/1978; welcome by ITN; story of how his wife did not recognise him on his return; welcome home party; reaction of his children to his return; return visits to Angola to cover effects of civil war; reaction to hearing of Savimbe's death, 2/2002; opinion of Savimbe; question of South African support for Savimbe; Cuban presence in Angola. Aspects of period with ITN in South Africa: establishment of ITN bureau in South Africa, 1976; working as head of ITN bureau, Johannesburg; attempts to maintain unbiased view; question of censorship; memories of death of Steve Biko; filming Biko in his coffin. REEL 25 Recollections of reporting for ITN on Rhodesia (Zimbawe): commuting from South Africa to Rhodesia to cover stories; question of censorship; war situation; work of journalist Richard Cecil; story of being fired on by Mugabe's guerrillas; story of how farmer ensured road clear of mines; story of farmer who used mercenaries as bounty hunters; complex nature of war; atrocities committed on both sides; protected villages; failure of Peter Dodds' birth control scheme in village; interviewing Ian Smith, Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo; lead up to independence; filming peaceful disarmament of guerrillas by British troops; death of Jack Mallock in his renovated Spitfire. REEL 26 Continues: return visits to Zimbabwe, 2002; beginning of Mugabe's campaign against white farmers; Mugabe's drive to be re-elected; deterioration of situation in Zimbabwe today; situation for white farmers and families today; Mugabe's refusal to allow him to cover elections, 3/2002; physical condition of Mugabe. REEL 27 Recollections of reporting for ITN on war in Falklands, 1982: hearing of beginning of war; boarding HMS Hermes; attitude of Navy towards media; media on board Hermes including Brian Hanrahan and cameraman Bernard Hesketh; send off from Portsmouth; message sent to starve the press of information; delays on voyage due to breakdowns of Invincible; shaving beards in expectation of gas attacks; Harrier attacks on Stanley Airstrip, 1/5/1982; origins of Brian Hanrahan's line 'I counted them out and I counted them all back again'; story of Harrier pilot who was sent home; interviewing top scoring pilot, David Morgan, post-war; sinking of Belgrano; reasons for delaying of press reports by MOD; destruction of HMS Sheffield; treatment of journalists by Royal Navy; arrival of injured Captain Sam Salt on Hermes. REEL 28 Continues: treatment of injured Captain Sam Salt; being forbidden to film burials at sea; attitude of military towards the media; support from Lt Cmdr Rupert Nichol; difficulties transmitting news reports; attitude of naval personnel towards media; story of how he was threatened with the sack by Admiral Woodward; transfer to HMS Fearless for landings on San Carlos; receiving news of 18 SAS killed on route to Chile; example of censorship; awaiting signal to land; story of how Michael Nowaks relieved tension; unopposed landing in San Carlos Water; role of Major Ewen Southby Tailyour in selecting landing spot; story of how troops would steal warm clothing from dead argentines; decision to stay close to transmission ships to get out daily radio reports; memories of Max Hastings; attitude towards radio reporting. REEL 29 Continues: attitude towards radio reporting; impact of his news reports; flying out to mainland to get news; government priority with breaking news; Argentine attacks on ships in San Carlos Water; unexploded nature of many Argentine bombs; air attack on Sir Galahad; reads radio report he sent on the attack on Sir Galahad and rescue of survivors; filming a legless man; belief that people must be shown consequences of war; treatment of Sir Galahad survivors by Rick Jolly and his team at Field Hospital, Ajax Bay; information on attack on Goose Green; visiting monument to Colonel H Jones, 2002; death of Colonel H Jones. REEL 30 Continues: debate on Colonel Jones' action and death; attending burial of Colonel H Jones and others; witnessing battles on Tumbledown and Mount Harriet; tape recording at scene; receiving news of surrender; sight of retreating Argentines; General Moore's refusal to allow filming of surrender; reaction to being denied scoop of announcing end of war; state of Port Stanley at end of war; reads his last report to camera; relations between journalists; attitude of other journalists towards Max Hastings; story of how Max Hastings was attacked by fellow journalist in Upland Goose pub; return to Falklands 2002; being criticised by ITN for bias. REEL 31 Continues: story of how Brian Hanrahan and himself received misinformation from Navy; use of journalists by military to aid war effort; description of system of censorship; support from Lt Cmdr Rupert Nichol on HMS Hermes; contrast between British and Argentine troops; treatment of Argentine POWs; conditions for civilians on Falklands; impressions of Falklands on return, 2002; economic situation of Falklands; attitude towards Falklands war; decision to take a break from war reporting. REEL 32 Recollections of reporting for ITN on war in Gulf, 1990/1991: reporting on sea blockade of Iraq; posting to HMS Gloucester 1991; precautions against gas and chemical/biological attack; refusal to take NAPs tablets; witnessing firing of first Tomahawk missile; use of satellite telephone to send reports; attitude of Captain Philip Wilcox towards his presence; reads extracts from diary 14th-19th February; receiving misinformation from military used as propaganda; dealing with mines planted by Iraqis; damage caused to US ship Princetown by mine; difficulties of getting film back to Bahrain; story of appealing to First Sea Lord to get good film back to base. REEL 33 story of appealing to First Sea Lord; sight of black smoke from oil well fires; reading last report of war, 23/2/1991; narrow escape from attack by silkworm missile; accidental firing on Missouri by HMS Gloucester; contrast between experiences in Gulf and Falklands; obtaining Iraqi visa in case of new Gulf war, 2002/2003; role of oil; attitude towards war reporting; psychological impact of war on journalists; reaction to being under fire; role of war reporters. REEL 34 Continues: research into link between Depleted Uranium and Gulf War Syndrome; dangers of DU; denial of link by military and governments; attempts to play down risk of DU; high rate of cancer in Bosnian village near factory bombed using DU; interviewing Iraqi doctors re findings; attitude of MOD towards his research; situation for Gulf war veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome; other possible factors in Gulf War Syndrome; radioactivity in Southern Basra; continued use of DU. Recollections of reporting for ITN on war in Balkans, 1991-1993: visiting Zagreb to report on declaration of independence; witnessing Serb invasion of Croatia; siege of Vukovar; reaction to scenes of destruction in Vukovar; sight of dead bodies; massacre of walking wounded; sight of refugees. REEL 35 Continues: end of siege of Vukovar; sight of refugees; relations between Serbs and Croats; visiting Second World War concentration camp where Serbs massacred by Croats; mixed population of Bosnia; declaration of independence by Bosnia; pre-war Bosnian/Serb propaganda; journey to Sarajevo, 6/1992; living conditions in Holiday Inn; dangers of travelling along 'sniper alley' difficulties for British Army as part of UNPROFOR; night time bombardments of city; bread queue and market massacres; Penny Marshall's reports on Serb 'concentration camps'; story of meeting emaciated man from TV report on concentration camps; evidence of ethnic cleansing; complexity of Balkans war; attitude towards Serbs. REEL 36 Continues: question of 'rape camps'; question of mercenaries; dangers of life for journalists in Sarajevo; refusal to wear protective clothing; use of armed vehicle; disfigurement of CNN camerawomen, Maggie Moth, by sniper; attitude towards Cristiane Amanpour; deaths of journalists; attitude towards women TV reporters hired today; memories of Claire Hollingworth in Vietnam. REEL 37 Continues: cramped nature of Lion Cemetary; filming children in hospital injured by mortar bomb in playground; visit to Ljubic Ivezic orphanage; living conditions in orphanage; appealing for children to be airlifted to safety; first meeting with Natasha Mihaljcic. Recollections of smuggling Natasha out of Bosnia to live with his family in Surrey, GB: decision to take Natasha out of Bosnia until end of war; refusal of UN Commander McKenzie and Bosnian Government to allow him to take Natasha; children's convoy organised by Equilibre L'Enterprise; getting Natasha's name on list of children for convoy; journey to Split; journey by car to Zagreb with Natasha; forging Natasha's name on passport; passing through immigration successfully; tense journey on aircraft; confessing to immigration officer at Heathrow Airport; reaction of Natasha to life in GB; decision to adopt Natasha after 1 year; attempts of Natasha's natural mother to prevent her adoption. REEL 38 visiting Natasha's mother, Melica; her eventual agreement to sign adoption papers; adoption procedure; Natasha's adaption to life in Britain; legacy of life in orphanage; rebuilding of orphanages including Ljubic Ivezic by Colonel Mark Cook; adopting Brazilian street child Anna; question of neutrality as journalist; question of objectivity in journalism; attitude towards culture of aid dependency in Africa. REEL 39 Continues: cultural differences between Europeans and Africans. Further recollections of reporting from Bosnia: complex nature of Balkans war; press sympathy for Bosnian Muslims; story of doorstepping Arkan with the question 'Are you Arkan the killer?'.