Ross, John Hugh (Oral history)

British gunner served with Royal Artillery in GB, 1940-1941; officer served with 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Iraq and North Africa, 1941-1943; served with Military Operations 4 in Middle East, 1943-1944; served with Military Operations 4 attached to No 1 Special Force, Special Operations Executive, in Italy, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1920-1940: family; education in Shrewsbury and Cambridge including registration for Royal Artillery; period in Home Guard at Beaconsfield; call-up to anti-aircraft unit near Aldershot. Aspects of period as gunner and officer with Royal Artillery in GB, 1940-1941: background of gunners; equipment situation; opinion of training; attempts to leave unit; pattern of training; selection for officer training; living conditions; gun training at Bude; Christmas 1940; details of officer training including leisure activities; gaining of commission and joining of 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Oswestry; training; opinion of troops; period at Wakefield; journey to Iraq; accommodation and rations during voyage; duties onboard. Aspects of period as officer with 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in Iraq and Lebanon, 1941-1942: posting in Basra; accommodation; health problems; journey to RAF Habbaniya; duties and details of base; problems with civilians; posting in Northern Iraq; duties and relationship with civilians; period in Iraq; winter conditions; details of posting in Northern Iraq; details of period in Beirut; journey to Tobruk. Aspects of period as officer with 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt Royal Artillery in North Africa, 1942-1943: activities in Tobruk; scenes in harbour; air raids; intelligence course taken in Cairo; posting to General Headquarters; duties; reasons for volunteering for Military Operations 4. REEL 2 Continues: interview and release; other reasons for wanting to leave General Headquarters. Aspects of period as officer with Military Operations 4 in Middle East, 1943-1944: posting in Cairo; make-up of unit; posting to Mount Carmel; details of training received; memories of fellow officers; return to Cairo; posting and journey to Italy. Aspects of operations as officer with Military Operations 4 attached to No 1 Special Force, Special Operations Executive, in Italy, 1944-1945: arrival in Taranto; journey to Monopoli and attachment to No 1 Special Force; accommodation; training including parachute training at Brindisi; posting with Bill Tilman training Italian agents; No 1 Special Force activity in Northern Italy; make-up of team gathered for drop; opinion of briefing at Monopoli; journey to and meal at Brindisi; loading of planes; aborted flights before drop; parachute drop; awkward landing; memories of John Wilkinson; walk to camp; reaction to being behind Germna lines; scenes in area; splitting up of British agents. REEL 3 Continues: journey to operational area; details of Belluno area and Partisan unit; arrival at stately home; freedom of movement in area; discussion with Partisans and decision to operate in Feltre; details of Partisan unit joined; request for arms; weapons carried by Partisans; training given to Partisans; movement around area; German capture of Partisans; equipment shortages; German surrounding of area; attempt to persuade Partisans to withdraw; fight against Germans including opinion of Partisan leader Bruno and chances against Germans; preparations for evacuation and equipment lost; details of evacuation and period hiding in mountains; activities with Partisans; memories of Bill Tilman; opinion and work of Italian resistance. REEL 4 Continues: further memories of Bill Tilman; story of journey in wood truck in "coffin"; work with Military Government and transporting troops; journey to GB; return to Cambridge.