Description
Object description
British private and NCO with West Yorkshire Regt in GB and France, 1939-1940; POW in France and Germany, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Co Durham and Yorkshire, GB, 1917-1939: family; money; civilian work; life on farms and work of father; memories of mother; religion; food; clothing situation; family life; description of home; leisure activities and education; description of civilian work on farm as horseman including pay; reason for leaving farm work; details of civilian work on aerodromes; marriage; signs of approaching war and call-up; reaction to call-up. Aspects of period as private with West Yorkshire Regt in GB, 1939-1940: journey to and arrival at Gibraltar Barracks in Leeds; pattern of training; uniform issued; accommodation and sleeping arrangements.
REEL 2 Continues: relationship with fellow recruits; posting to Riseley Hall near Ripon; accommodation; reveille; washing facilities; learning of drill; settling into army life; NAAFI break; details of route marches; breakfast; lunch; sports; end of working day; tea; evening activities including details of pay; cleaning of boots and equipment; kit inspections; punishments; relationship with troops and NCOs; contact with officers; question of homesickness; postings to Shepshed and Scotland; posting in anti-tank gun platoon; details of gun and crew; make-up of platoon; transport and storage of ammunition; firing of gun; voyage to Calais. Aspects of operations as NCO with West Yorkshire Regt in France, 1940: scenes and situation on arrival, 26/5/1940; period in position on bridge including attacks from Junkers Ju-87 Stukas; use of guns including against tanks.
REEL 3 Continues: activities of Canadian Navy; action in docks and dunes including casualties; reactions to situation including shelter taken from attacks; approach of Germans and surrender including suicide cases. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 5/1940-12/1940: wife's knowledge of capture; events following capture including treatment from and background of guards; escape from column; period in woods including rations; stays on farms and details of journey to Saint-Malo; story of re- capture including wounding from bayonet; medical treatment received; interrogation and processing; conditions on train journey to Thorn. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 12/1940-1/1945: description of Stalag XX A; division of bread, accommodation and need to take care of possessions; memories of Clive Sanderson; details of guards; morning procedures; walking around camp; camp defences.
REEL 4 Continues: rations; supply of meals; leisure activities; length of time in camp; division and contents of Red Cross parcels; items taken by Germans; frequency and importance of Red Cross parcels; medical staff; organisation of camp; roll call including tricks played; bartering with Polish civilians; camp band; news of war; escape attempts; details of working parties on farms including rations and clothing. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1945: march away from farm; rations; sleeping arrangements and casualties from march; details of guards; events leading up to first contact with US Army; night in nearest town; food; flight to GB; processing on arrival; reunion with family; medical problems; first meeting and relationship with son; final postings with army, 1945-1946; process of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: medical problems; details of army pay; civilian work.
