Description
Object description
British officer served as meteorological officer on various postings with RAF in GB, Trinidad and West Africa, 1939-1941; torpedoed aboard SS Nigerian in Atlantic, 8/12/1942; POW in Germany, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Grimsby, 1917-1939: social circumstances; education; studying mathematics at Cambridge University, 1935-1928; question of approach of war; recruitment into Meteorological Branch, RAF Volunteer Reserve, 8/1939; work as trainee actuary in London, 1938-1939; call up, 9/1939. Attending meteorological course at Berkeley Square House, London, 9/1939-10/1939. Period at meteorological office, Coastal Command, RAF Thornaby, 10/1939-12/1939: ignorance of weather over Europe; plotting weather maps; taking weather observations; question of accuracy of predictions. Various aspects of postings at RAF Waddington, RAF Witton and Balloon Barrage Units at Sheffield and Brockworth, 1/1940-12/1940. Period at Meteorological Station, Piarro, Trinidad, 12/1940-7/1941.
REEL 2 Period at Meteorological Station, Piarro, Trinidad, 12/1940-7/1941: role as advanced party setting up met station; loss of main party in torpedoed ship; minimal role; flights in aircraft; social life. Period with meteorological stations in West Africa, 7/1941-11/1942: voyage out; climate; personnel; role providing weather reports for air cover of convoys and ferrying aircraft; question of accuracy of reports; flight to Khartoum, Sudan; posting back to GB, 11/1942. Story of being torpedoed during voyage aboard Nigerian back to GB, 8/12/1942: prior route; torpedo hit; entering lifeboats; sinking of ship; circumstances of capture by crew of U508. Recollections of voyage as POWs aboard U508 to L'Orient, France, 12/1942-1/1943accommodation in torpedo room; personal morale; relationship with Captain Georg Staats ad Lieutenant Alkemade; pattern of travelling on surface; relative freedom of movement; food; killing shark; swimming in sea; reactions to distant depth charge attacks.
REEL 3 Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1942; reception on arrival at U Boat pens, L'Orient, 3/1/1943. Initial period as prisoner in France and Germany, 1/1943: hotel accommodation; recording message for family; train journey to Wilhelmshaven. Period at Dulag Luft, Oberusal, Frankfurt and Wilhelmshaven, 1/1943-2/1943: solitary confinement; nature of interrogation; period in naval interrogation centre, Wilhelmshaven; story of providing out of date answers to detailed questions on RAF operations based on West Africa; train journey to Sagan. Recollections of conditions on service, lifestyle and daily routine in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 2/1943-1/1945: reception from Sergeant Major Glenmitz on arrival in East Compound; opinion of Group Captain Herbert Massey; hut accommodation; latrines; food and Red Cross parcels; roll calls; education programme including giving lectures on meteorology and French and German lessons; reading and library; move into Block 104, North Compound.
REEL 4 Continues: theatrical productions; 'X' organisation run by Squadron leader Roger Bushell; lookouts to counter activities of German 'ferrets' and night hut searches; briefings on 'Tom', 'Dick' and 'Harry' tunnels; acting as 'penguin' to disperse soil; awareness of escape preparations; personal attitude to question of escape and failure to win place in ballot for escape places; effects of discovery of 'Tom' tunnel; visit down 'Harry' tunnel; opinion of various tunnelers; opinion of Squadron Leader Roger Bushell and Wing Commander Harry Day; account of 'Great Escape', 24/3/1944, including story of providing prior weather forecast, giving lectures to cover final preparations, move to Hut 120 and German reactions on discovery of escape.
REEL 5 Continues: German reactions to Great Escape, 25/3/1944; reaction to news of executions of escapers and subsequent commemoration; opinion of Hauptman Pieber; question of continuation of escape attempts; clandestine wireless and German news reports; preparations fro move out of camp, 28/1/9145. Recollections of move west, 1/1945-2/1945: winter weather conditions; overnight stops; fatigue; sledge and kit carried; overnight stop at glass factory; cattle truck train journey; risk of RAF attacks; arrival at Tarnstedt. Period at Marlag und Mailag Nord, 2/1945-4/1945: lectures; conditions and dysentery attacks; question of Red Cross parcels and food. Recollections of march north towards Lubeck, 4/1945: spring weather conditions; crossing River Elbe; story of close escape in clash with SS officer; situation and attitude of German guards. Arrival at Wulmenau.
REEL 6 Continues: reaction to liberation by British tanks, 2/5/1945. Period prior to return to GB, 2/5/1945-9/5/1945: move in trucks; burning effigy of Hitler; flight back to GB, 9/5/1945. Leave prior to demobilisation, 6/1945. Post-war career: question of career in meteorology with RAF; return to work as actuary; mental and physical effects of war service; membership of Ex-POWs Assoc.
