Description
Object description
British volunteer served with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1939-1942; volunteer and NCO served with Auxiliary Territorial Service attached to Corps of Military Police in GB, North West Europe and Germany, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Thanet, GB, 1920-1939: memories of childhood on family estate including early education and effects of First World War on community; education including background of pupils, bullying and role of education; visits to Conservative Party Conferences in Margate; opinion of Munich Agreement; contact with Winston Churchill during childhood; joining of Auxiliary Territorial Service at Shorncliffe Barracks. Aspects of period as volunteer with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1939-1942: opportunities with Auxiliary Territorial Service; organisation of unit; relationship with cook sergeant; rifle training; outbreak of war; initial duties; accommodation; background of colleagues; treatment from officers; contact with troops returning from Dunkirk at Dover; air activity during Battle of Britain.
REEL 2 Continues: fear of invasion and morale; duties in stores; loss of troops to other services; contact with father; turnover of pilots; fear of gas attacks including precautions taken; discipline; description of uniform; attachment to The Buffs at Canterbury; duties in company office; attitude to service; period in ordnance depot including background to gaining posting with Military Police; attitude to women in services. Aspects of period as volunteer with Auxiliary Territorial Service attached to Corps of Military Police in GB, 1942-1944: details of Military Police training at Aldershot including football; opinion of reason for passing course; attitude to service with Military Police; posting to 1st Canadian Division at Brighton; details of patrols in town; attitude to rape complaints; behaviour of Canadian troops; contact and training with Canadian troops; memories of ATS troops from Glasgow.
REEL 3 Continues: closure of beach; training received for posting abroad; knowledge of Dieppe Raid; attitude to friendship during war; attitude of ATS to pregnancy; posting to Olympia with 21st Army Group; sleeping arrangements including relationship with civilians; duties including description of patrols around Piccadilly Circus and Brighton; stories of near attacks; self-defence and law training; talks from General Montgomery before and after D-Day; details of curfew in Olympia and period in camp at Portsmouth; background of troops used during invasion; father's work training troops from Borstal; details of ship and crew for voyage to Normandy; accommodation onboard; population of ship and activities during delay to voyage; details of voyage and landing. Aspects of period as volunteer and NCO with Auxiliary Territorial Service attached to Corps of Military Police in North West Europe and Germany, 1944-1945: details of camp and rations; washing of utensils; rum ration issued; living conditions; rations gained from Canadian troops; proximity to fighting.
REEL 4 Continues: initial duties; reaction to black US troops; football; state of Normandy; reaction of Guards Division to situation; proximity to frontline; attitude of men to women in services; duties of other women in Normandy; leisure activities; relationship with civilians; reception on arrival in Brussels; accommodation; relationship with civilians including reunion with school friends; duties; riding with Royal Army Veterinary Corps; rations available in Brussels; wet weather kit; knowledge of war; story of swastikas in Brussels; question of plans for evacuation; question of fear; reason for posting to Normandy; further details of duties in Normandy; length of period in Normandy; posting to Germany; dangers in area; duties; contact with cousin, Lieutenant John Cowden; details of posting to civil internment camp; population of camp; description of camp; problems with gaining rations; question of secrecy.
REEL 5 Continues: further details of camp near Bielefeld and prisoners including accommodation; problems with gaining rations and subsequent state of prisoners; work of Intelligence Corps troops; relationship with civilian worker; further details of prisoners; knowledge of Holocaust; earlier use of camp; British troops at camp including searches for ammunition; smells in camp including details of mass graves; clothing worn by prisoners; work of Intelligence Corps; attitude to and relationship with prisoners; contraction of tuberculosis; activities of Polish troops in area; suicide of female colleague; secrecy within camp; demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: story of visit to Czechoslovakia with communist group, 1946; reaction to 1945 General Election result; civilian work including with Allied Control Commission in Germany; relationship with German ex-cavalry troops; details of black market and work policing it.
REEL 6 Continues: relationship with civilians; attendance at session of Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal; attitude to evidence of Holocaust; reconstruction of Germany; preparations for potential war with Russia, 1945; duties at Paddington Station following Slapton Sands disaster, 1944; reflections on war service; involvement with Auxiliary Territorial Service Association; return visits to Normandy.
