Description
Object description
British marine served with Royal Marines aboard HMS Newcastle in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1939-1940; served aboard Prince of Wales in Far East, 1941 including sinking 12/1941; served on shore duties in Singapore, 1941-1942; POW in Singapore and on Burma Thailand Railway, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Devon, GB, 1921-1938: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Marines in GB, 1938- 1939: background to recruitment; training at Deal Barracks; gunnery course at Plymouth Barracks. Aspects of operations as marine aboard HMS Newcastle in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1939-1940: drafting to ship; messing arrangements; role of marines on board; duties on board; patrolling in North Sea; duties on anti-aircraft gun; German bombing of Portsmouth. Recollections of operations as marine aboard HMS Prince of Wales in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1940-1941: drafting to ship, 1/1941; reception on arrival on board; work on 14 inch guns during working up period in Scapa Flow; action station in shell room; start of pursuit of Bismarck, 5/1941; hits on ship during action against Bismarck; coming up from below after action.
REEL 2 Continues: return to Rosyth; presence of Winston Churchill on board during passage to Canada; return to GB; participation in single Mediterranean convoy. Recollections of operations as marine aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Far East, 1941 including sinking 12/1941: ashore in Cape Town, South Africa during voyage from GB to Singapore, late 1941; ashore in Singapore; attack by Japanese Air Force; torpedo hits on ship; abandoning ship; sight of HMS Repulse sinking; rescue by HMS Express; return to Singapore; casualties amongst marines. Aspects of operations on shore duties in Singapore, 1941-1942: formation of 'Plymouth Argyles'; Japanese attack on Singapore; captured by Japanese. Recollections of period as POW in Singapore and on Burma Thailand Railway, 1942: initial impressions of Japanese; clothing and personal possessions.
REEL 3 Continues: question of escape; morale in camp; move to Thailand, 6/1942; conditions during railway journey; work on railway cutting; conditions during work on railway; nature of work; effects of injuries; working conditions on railway; working in railway workshops after completion of railway; working hours and rest periods; weight loss during captivity; question of survival; rations in camp; POWs who were friendly with Japanese; supplementing rations; behaviour of Japanese guards; degree of contact with outside world.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction to end of war; liberation of camp; return to GB, 9/1945; story illustrating attitude to having been a POW in Far East. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Marines from 1950-1966: return to service with Royal Marines; length of time taken to get physically fit; nature of service from 1945-1950; participation with 42 Commando, Royal Marines in Suez landings, Egypt, 1956 duties with Headquarters, Commando Bde after Suez operation; duties as NCO with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Aden, 1962-1964; retirement from Royal Marines, 1966.