O'Sullivan, Patrick (Oral history)

British private served with Lincolnshire Regt Depot in GB, 1942; served with 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regt in GB, 1942; served with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB and North Africa, 1942-1943; POW in Italy and Germany, 1943-1945; private and NCO served with Royal Army Pay Corps in GB and Italy, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Frodingham and Scunthorpe, GB, 1923-1942: family; details of Frodingham; education and memories of childhood; civilian work; details of pay; leisure activities; further details of civilian work and pay; knowledge of events in Europe and approaching war; reaction of father to war; father's immigration to GB; Catholic upbringing. REEL 2 Continues: community; local man who fought in Spanish Civil War; political involvement of parents; attitude toward war; outbreak of Second World War; departure of first local lads; reaction of mother; attitude to army service; brother joining navy; effect of rationing and war on work; further effects and details of rationing including gaining extra food; more on attitude towards war; civilian work at steelworks including details of pay; reaction to Dunkirk and to appointment of Winston Churchill as Prime Minister; involvement with Local Defence Volunteers. REEL 3 Continues: reaction to possibility of invasion; air activity; arrival of call-up papers; medical in Grimsby; posting to Lincoln; reaction to situation and friends joining forces at this time; reaction to American entrance into war. Aspects of period as private with Lincolnshire Regt Depot in GB, 1/1942-4/1942: arrival at Lincoln Barracks; first meals; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; issue of kit; swapping of items; welcome lecture from Sergeant Smith and Corporal Pickering; memories of Private Clemence and help given to him; army number; issue of pay book; details of pay; memories and background of fellow recruits; learning of foot drill; recruits with previous experience; morning procedures; barrack room and kit inspection by Lieutenant Kent; help from older soldiers; morning break; dinner; discipline and punishments. REEL 4 Continues: Private Jagger and his attitude to discipline; language of NCOs; afternoon activities; training with Lee Enfield rifle; route marches including equipment carried; problems with feet; softening of boots; sock repairs; replacement of lost kit; storage of kit; use of razor; relationship among recruits; polishing of boots; guard duties; selection of stickman and his duties; ensuring Private Clemence would be stickman; opinion of officers; details of Lincolnshire Regiment; songs sung on route marches; visits to Lincoln and inspection before departure from barracks; relationship with civilians; firing of rifle on range including proficiency with rifle and gambling over results; opinion of Lee Enfield; firing of Bren gun. REEL 5 Continues: sights on Lee Enfield rifle and Bren gun; learning to estimate distance; involvement with sports; church parades; opinion and details of rations; provision for complaints; grenade training; description of Boyes anti-tank gun; transport of weapons and ammunition during route marches; mortar training; gas precautions and training; field craft training in Burton; exercise in Caistor; navigation training; cook duties during exercise; recruits desiring promotion; memories of Sergeant Major; opinion and memories of Sergeant Smith. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of uniform; passing out parade; contact with commanding and platoon officers; feeling following parade; request for RAF Regiment volunteers; departure of Private Clemence; posting to 6th Battalion. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regt in GB, 4/1942-8/1942: arrival with unit in Great Yarmouth; accommodation; welcome talk from Captain Feeny; route march and fitness training; story of opportunity to volunteer for Parachute Regiment; fates of fellow recruits; inoculations at Lincoln; posting in A Company; spread of battalion; story of cross country run; memories of Captain Feeny; troops in platoon; selection and training as sniper; morning procedures including physical training; fitness training including swimming lessons. REEL 7 Continues: exercise on River Yar; posting to Salthouse and coastal defence duties; memories of platoon members; opinion of RAF; memories of Captain Feeny; contact with tanks; details of assault course; description of Vickers machine gun and training received; make-up of platoon; weapons in platoon; training with sten gun; air activity including story of plane shot down; visit to anti-aircraft site; opinion of anti-aircraft troops; married troops; leisure activities; daily routine at Salthouse; communications; discipline; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; rumours of attempted invasion. REEL 8 Continues: gambling; parcels received from home; story of soldier dismissed from army; bayonet training including opinion; posting to Sherwood Foresters. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 8/1942-12/1942: fitness of battalion; posting in Hawkhurst; split-up of Lincoln troops; memories of officers and NCOs; background of platoon troops; posting to cookhouse; staff in cookhouse including memories of Corporal "Piggy" Bacon and issue of meals; details of tea drunk in cookhouse; cooking of meal for guard; accommodation; leisure facilities in Hawkhurst; details of a brigade scheme. REEL 9 Continues: opinion of General Montgomery; contact and relationship with Canadian troops; unit morale; opinion of unit as troops; memories of Joe Summers and treatment of troops not up to standard; inspection from King George VI in Camberley; accommodation; routine; embarkation leave; story of Private Watson returning late from leave; memories of Sergeant Horn; acceptance of posting to Sherwood Foresters; rumours of destination; reaction of mother to posting abroad; war service of brother; own reaction to posting abroad; accumulation of kit; food taken home by cooks; items gained for swill; cookhouse use for troops on jankers; working day; work of company clerk. REEL 10 Continues: leisure activities before movement abroad; story of self-inflicted wound; NCOs who didn't go abroad; details of train journey from Aldershot to Liverpool. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, Algeria, aboard the HMT Derbyshire, 12/1942-1/1943: details of ship; background to work in galley; food wasted due to seasickness; accommodation and storage of kit; sleeping arrangements; restrictions to smoking on deck; Christmas 1942; details of corned beef; units on ship; tipping food into sea; availability of food; duties of troops during voyage; leisure activities; army attitude to gambling; contact with officers; guard duties; fear of U-Boats; details of escort; knowledge of destination; arrival and disembarkation in Algiers. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, 1/1943-2/1943: first impressions of civilians; description of camp; impressions of American troops. REEL 11 Continues: American rations and weapons; relationship with American troops; morale; problems with local fruit; relationship between American officers and other ranks; visits to Algiers including queuing system for brothel and reason for not visiting brothel; non-British troops in camp; details of train journey to frontline. Aspects of operations as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, 2/1943-3/1943: Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attack following disembarkation; march to frontline; description of terrain and positions taken; Stand To; supply and contents of compo rations; water ration; activities during day including maintenance of weapons. REEL 12 Continues: reaction to and details of German mortaring; artillery presence; cover taken from sustained fire; story of reprimand; details of first patrol; selection of troops for patrol; memories of Private Hudson; further details of first patrol; contact with civilians including suspicion of their activities and using kit of other troops to trade; methods of dealing with lice; replacement of ruined kit; base camp facilities; other troops at base camp; make-up and other details of patrols; length of time in positions; details of Boyes anti- tank rifle position; story of firing from anti-tank position; memories of Private Hudson and Corporal Barker; repercussions of firing Boyes anti- tank rifle; process of threatening NCOs. REEL 13 Continues: opinions of Corporal Barker including conditions in trenches; use of binoculars; casualties; air activity; mail; knowledge of wider situation; attitude to situation; final Stand To; situation in bren gun trench and attempt to retrieve water bottle; subsequent action; German taking of hilltop; details of bayonet charge; capture; items confiscated; march to road; length of action and distance of bayonet charge; use of bren gun; other details and discussion of action including opinion of German troops; casualties; initial treatment; discussion on bayonet charge; actions of Sergeant Major; lack of supporting units; earlier reunion with Lincolnshire Regiment. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 3/1943: events during truck journey away from Sedjenane. REEL 14 Continues: background of POWs in truck; sounds of battle during journey; German knowledge of unit; interrogation in Bizerte; handover to Italians and journey to docks; bread received from civilians; morale and discipline; memories of Captain Curly; weapons carried by officers during bayonet charge; burial party sent back to battle area; POWs travelled with; conditions and rations during wait for voyage to Italy including discussion among POWs about battle; fear of Allied attack during voyage. Aspects of period as POW in Italy, 3/1943-9/1943: disembarkation at Palermo; march to camp including filming of POWs and reception from civilians; attractiveness of civilian women; description of camp; population of camp; reunion with American soldier; details of working party; morning procedures; supply of rations; further details of working party. REEL 15 Continues: mail sent home; story of commandant's dog; treatment of dysentery sufferers; memories of American POWs; protection of boots from theft; trading items among POWs; weather; church services; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; journey to mainland; rations issued and train journey through Italy; reception on arrival at PG59; accommodation; morale and help received from Hugh Kendall; daily routine; issue of rations; varying morale of POWs; issue and contents of Red Cross parcels; sharing of and bartering with contents; gambling and other leisure activities including defences around camp; memories of Hugh Kendall; memories of POW who wore drag. REEL 16 Continues: homosexuality among POWs; climate; description of items made by POWs; availability of books; news of war; period of depression; rations; regularity of Red Cross parcels; records played in camp; clearance of field; details of mail; morale of POWs; officers in camp; help gained while depressed and news of Sicily Invasion; disappearance of guards; POWs leaving camp; arrival of German guards; preparations of serious escapers; orders from British Command; fate of escapees; activities of less serious escapers; initial treatment from and arrival of Germans; issue of rations; bartering attempts and contact with German guards. REEL 17 Continues: fear of German guards; items taken to Germany and processing on arrival in camp; details of train journey to Germany including rations and latrines; treatment of Italian POWs; opinion of treatment from Germans; relationship with guards; morale. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 9/1943-5/1945: haircut and delousing on arrival at Stalag IV B; problems with sleeping arrangements; heating plates made by POWs; issue and contents of Red Cross parcels; processing and issue of identity disc; population and organisation of camp; accommodation; nationalities of POWs; friendship with Johnny Hiley; story of POWs cutting their own hair; separation from friends; delousing; routine; selection of troops for working party; scenes on journey to Bad Schmiedeberg. REEL 18 Continues: arrival in and description of village; accommodation; German authorities; first meal; memories of guard; accommodation and latrines; first day in brickyard; Sunday activities; selection for council work; leadership of "Dickie" Dunster; details of POWs at Bad Schmiedeberg; relationship among POWs; daily routine and details of work including civilian colleagues and learning of German; departure of POWs to work in cookhouse and issue of rations. REEL 19 Continues: method of sharing out meals; rations; details of pay and cigarettes; details of dartboard made by "Frankie" Rolfe; playing Battleships; reasons behind posting in cookhouse; details of and visits to bathhouse; freedom of movement around town; talk with South African; memories of employer and German authorities; local Jewish population; air activity; British women in Bad Schmiedeberg; hiring of POWs by civilians at weekend; discussion on jobs worked by POWs; details of Russian, French and Sikh POWs. REEL 20 Continues: attitude toward foreign POWs; collection of bread and local cheese; freedom of movement; attitude of and relationship with civilians; clothing including POW markings; visit from Red Cross; first Red Cross parcel received; scavenging of food; mail; local women mentioned in letters home; talk among POWs; Christmas 1943; arrival and issue of Red Cross parcels; contents of parcels; story of cigarettes received by Private Davey; details of mail; party on arrival of first Red Cross parcels; relationship among POWs; bartering with French POWs and items gained from employer; reason for stealing potatoes; bartering with Germans and Russians. REEL 21 Continues: new arrivals; card games and gambling; story of escape from Bad Schmiedeberg during an air raid and its discovery; opinion of chances of escape; story of Tom Tunney's attempt to form choir; memories of Ray Smith; items received from Red Cross; memories of employer's husband including German fear of Russians; opinion of German civilians; absence of dogs and cats; air activity; story of jet plane flying over during football session; memories of new guard; accommodation; memories of landlord; change in German morale and news received of D-Day. REEL 22 Continues: listening to BBC for news of war in Europe and fear of employer's family; civilian attitudes and fears; POW access to radio; German propaganda and news of war; air activity; news of bomb plot against Hitler and reaction of civilians; dental treatment received in Wittenberg; visit to Lutheran church; smart uniform worn out of camp; contact with of civilians in Wittenberg; story of argument between civilians; relationship with Bad Schmiedeberg policeman; story of talk with first guard about swearing; attempts of guard to learn English; teaching swear words to German children; comedians among POWs; story of argument lighting human gas. REEL 23 Continues: memories of Tom Tunney and "Georgie" Gent; married men among POWs; Dear John letter received by Johnny Hiley; other examples of POWs receiving bad news; cigarettes received by Private Davey; health problems of Private Britton; sharing of Red Cross parcels; discipline; knowledge of war and morale; news of Battle of the Bulge; increased contact with burgomaster; relationship of Ben Lewis and Tom Tunney with landlords; Nazis in village; reflections on vengeance weapons, radio news and jet planes; air activity and raids; story of visit to cinema and dinner with Sikh POWs; distance between accommodation and work; 21st Birthday celebration. REEL 24 Continues: change in food situation; capture of employer's husband; German fear of Russians; German attitude to war; family of coal merchant including visits of Ben Lewis and Tom Tunney to see them; reaction of other POWs to visits; fear of communicating news; uniforms received from Red Cross; clogs issued by Germans; problem with boots; bartering with civilians including haircuts; work making sausages; Christmas 1944; background and memories of second guard; condoms coming out of military hospital. REEL 25 Continues: plans for civilian life following war; background of fellow POWs; food parcels received during home leave following liberation; morale of civilians toward end of war; Allied propaganda leaflets dropped in area; photograph taken of British POWs in Bad Schmiedeberg; selection of POWs for transfer to Stalag 4 C in Silesia and reaction to his escaping draft; illness of "Dickie" Dunster and transfer to hospital in Wittenberg; change of bedding and story of run-in with Hitler Youth including reaction to situation; air attack against Hitler Youth group the following day; changes in area before departure; own fear of Russians; sound and sight of gunfire and artillery; reaction of civilians; details of Gestapo officer sent to takeover from burgomaster. REEL 26 Continues: preparations for march away from Bad Schmiedeberg including parcels received; reaction to Ben Lewis and Tom Tunney staying behind; march to and stay in hospital; decision to escape; return to Bad Schmiedeberg; news from Ben Lewis and Tom Tunney; march to River Mullada including brief re-capture. Aspects of period following end of time as POW in Germany and GB, 1945: arrival in American lines; offer of loot taken from German soldiers; rations issued; talk with American troops; American propaganda leaflets seen; last meeting with employer; plan of Ben Lewis and Tom Tunney in staying in Bad Schmiedeberg; story of employer's buried valuables and her plan for escape; civilians attempting to reach River Mullada; story of Russian POW taking revenge; disappearance of burgomaster; continuation of Ben Lewis and Tom Tunney's wait in Bad Schmiedeberg; journey to and stay at Halle Airfield including visit into town; story of American and German pistol; state of Halle. REEL 27 Continues: story of American patrol in Halle; rations; Douglas Dakota flight to GB; POWs stayed with and met in Halle; reception on arrival at Northolt; delousing and bathing party; issue of new uniform and loss of personal items; story and playing of musical box; activities while at Northolt; VD warning given; journey home; avoiding reception on arrival at station and reasons for it; physical state; rations in Bad Schmiedeberg; mail; reaction of mother to physical state; state of other POWs at Halle; opinion of treatment on arrival in GB; pay issued; medical grade; reactions to situation in Scunthorpe during leave; reaction to Atom bomb. REEL 28 Continues: VE Day celebrations; rations during leave; activities and events during leave; posting to Beaconsfield; pattern of training; posting to Royal Army Pay Corps; medical grading; background of troops; posting to Foots Cray. Aspects of period as private with Royal Army Pay Corps in GB, 1945-1946: staff; accommodation in Blackfen; reaction to 1945 General Election; daily routine and duties; return of brother from Italy and compassionate leave; volunteering for posting in Rome; inoculations; journey to Italy. Aspects of period as private and NCO with Royal Army Pay Corps in Italy, 1946: arrival in Rome; duties; Italian staff; commanding officer. REEL 29 Continues: story of guard duty; food shortage; accommodation; canteen; uniform; relationship with Italian staff; opinion of treatment while POW in Germany and Italy; work and treatment of German POWs in Rome; visit to Vatican City; leisure activities; inquiry following incident during guard duty; posting to Trieste; scenes on arrival in station; accommodation; duties including counting of church collection; organisation of bank; promotion to corporal; swindle in exchanging money; items illicitly exported to Austria; change of Lira valuation; accommodation. REEL 30 Continues: story of money stolen; colleagues in Trieste; relationship with officers including memories of Jimmy Smith and stories of General Harding's visits to bank; memories of Special Investigation Branch Officer Michael Hesseltine; further memories of Jimmy Smith; opinion of black market; reason for not signing on for extra seven years; items sent home; learning to drive; story of visit to brother in Venice; make-up of unit; reason for not trading army kit; story of goods sold off by driver; petrol swindle and black market; story of riot among Italian and Yugoslav civilians; morale; army and personal involvement with prostitutes; impressions of Italian women. REEL 31 Continues: ENSA and NAAFI presence including Pay Corps box in theatre; near posting to Vienna; superior officers; more on reason for not signing on for extra seven years; story of soldier not wearing Military Medal ribbon; change to uniform and story of charge for being improperly dressed; story of audit and departure from Pay Corps; story of armed robbery; last night in Trieste; story of journey to GB and Arnhem veterans; visit to pay office in Dover; process of demobilisation; clothing issued and civilians attempting to buy suit; reaction to demobilisation; pay issued; reading of testimonial in release book; return to civilian work; transfer to Pay Corps. REEL 32 Continues: demobilisation in Aldershot. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: civilian work in steelworks and insurance company; opinion of luck during army service; work available in Scunthorpe and ability to return to job after war service; illness among returning servicemen; formation and details of POWs Association; talking about POW experiences; reason for not joining an Old Comrades Association; contact with comrades; contact with people from Bad Schmiedeberg; Russian involvement in town and civilians converted to Communism; memories of Bad Schmiedeberg civilians including problems they had with dialects and slang of some POWs. REEL 33 Continues: fates of various civilians in Bad Schmiedeberg and Russian rule of Bad Schmiedeberg area; loss of contact with civilians in East Germany; move of couple West; visit to Hamburg in mid-1950s; fate of "Dickie" Dunster; discussion of "enemies" while POW in Italy and Germany; Russians in Bad Schmiedeberg; discussion on division of Germany; story of Alfie Granger during an air raid; damage from raid; POWs refusing to learn German and own proficiency with language. REEL 34 Continues: story of attempted suicide of a POW following capitulation of Italy; commentary on Army Film Unit footage made at Sedjenane including details of involvement in Battle of Sedjenane; story of singing Lincolnshire Regiment song at Bad Schmiedeberg 1944 Christmas Concert; memories of Tom Tunney; opinion of how war changed him.