Description
Object description
British marine served with Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation in GB, Egypt and Crete, 1940-1941; POW in Greece and Germany, 1941-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bristol, GB and Canada, 1918-1939: family; education; employment; membership of Sea Scouts. Aspects of enlistment and training as marine with Royal Marines in GB, 1940: background to joining Royal Marines, 2/1940; training at Lufton Barracks at Yeovil; training on 3.7 inch anti-aircraft guns; move to Exton then Dover. Aspects of operations as marine with Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation in GB and Egypt, 1940-1941: anti-aircraft work in Folkstone area; firing of 3.7 inch guns; fatigue during Battle of Britain, 1940; move to Horndean, 10/1940; embarkation on board Rangatata at Gourock, 1/1941; voyage from GB to Egypt via South Africa, 1941.
REEL 2 Continues: in tented accommodation at Port Tewfik. Recollections of operations as marine with Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation on Crete, 5/1941: voyage from Egypt to Crete; arrival at Suda Bay, 10/5/1941; loading 3 inch guns; German Air Force attacks on island; degree of success on anti-aircraft fire; role of unit officers; casualties from German aircraft, 20/5/1941; wounding by aircraft fire, 20/5/1941; medical treatment in aid post. Aspects of period as POW in Greece, 1941: evacuation by German aircraft to Athens.
REEL 3 Continues: conditions on board hospital ship from Athens to Salonika; treatment by German troops. Aspects of period as POW in Stalag VIII B in Germany, 1941-1945: removal to Germany; light working duties in camp; accommodation and rations; POW activities; Red Cross parcels; fear of guards being sent to Eastern Front; work in market garden; contact with family; removal from camp, 1/1945; train journey to Bavaria; march westwards, 4/1945. Aspects of liberation and return to GB, 1945: liberation by US troops; flight to GB; in barracks at Deal.
REEL 4 Continues: return to home; demobilisation process; return to civilian life; opinion of POW war films; question of religious convictions during POW life; latrines in Stalag VIII B.