Interview with Alastair Stevenson Pearson

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Description

Object description

British officer served with and commanded 1st Bn Parachute Regt, 1st Parachute Bde in North Africa, 11/1942-5/1943; commanded 8th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Parachute Regt, 1st Parachute Bde in GB, 1942: background to joining battalion including interview with Major-General Richard Gale; character of unit; incident when injuries occurred during parachute jump. Recollections of operations as second in command and commanding officer of 1st Bn Parachute Regt, 1st Parachute Bde in North Africa, 11/1942-5/1943: nature of parachute drop at Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia; attending burial of lone casualty of drop; move to Béja, Tunisia; attack on German tanks in which Lieutenant-Colonel James Hill and his adjutant were wounded; patrolling in area around Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia; move to Algiers then by boat to Bône, French Algeria, 1/1943. REEL 2 Continues: German use of fixed lines of fire; capture of Djebel Mansour, Tunisia, 3/2/1943; 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards attack on Djebel Alliliga, Tunisia, 4/2/1943; withdrawal from Djebel Mansour, Tunisia, 5/2/1942; tactics employed during defence of Tamera Railway Station, Tunisia; visit by Brigadier Ernest Down and story of him taking message; defence of battalion headquarters by Sergeant Clements; mobile defence technique; story of former conscientious objector Lance Corporal Hewitt's saving of Sergeant-Major Richards and Pearson's subsequent attempt to get him awarded Victoria Cross; reaction to orders to take Sidi Bou Della, Tunisia and subsequent attack; crossing River Medjerda, Tunisia; opinion of Major Rudolf Witzig who commanded German airborne troops. REEL 3 Continues: planning attack on boundary of German/Italian troops; character of long night approach; capture of objective; Lieutenant Anderson's capture of German Army officer; move to Algiers, French Algeria. Recollections of operations commanding 8th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB and Normandy, France, 1943-1944: story of background to taking command of battalion including encounter with Major-General Richard Gale; opinion of Alan Jefferson's book and feasibility of plan to capture Merville Battery by 9th Bn Parachute Regt; amusing story of his marriage being set for 8/6/1944; attitude of aircrew who carried paratroopers to Normandy. REEL 4 Continues: parachute drop and number of men available on drop zone, Normandy; prior recollection of lack of ammunition available during campaign in North Africa; problems with resupply; question of replacement of Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Lindsay and politics within the 6th Airborne Div; conversation with Major-General Richard Gale about 6th Airborne Div's breakout of Normandy; plan for 6th Airborne Div's breakout from Normandy; nature of German resistance during advance towards Pont-l'Eveque, Normandy, 8/1944; effect of German multi-barrelled mortar fire; reasons for going out on patrol; story of troops looking after dog; method of dealing with soldiers claiming battle fatigue; visiting troops at night. REEL 5 Continues: question of effects of battle fatigue; background to being asked to return to 1st Bn Parachute Regt from 8th Bn Parachute Regt, 3/1944; opinion of 6th Airborne Div; opinion of Operation Market Garden; opinion of brigadiers serving in 1st Airborne Div.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Thompson, Julian Howard Atherden (Recorder)
Pearson, Alastair Stevenson (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1989
Dimensions: whole: Duration 150, Number Of Items 5
Catalogue number: 21033

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Interview with Alastair Stevenson Pearson

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