Emery, Bryan (Oral history)

British NCO policeman specialising in security and counter-intelligence with RAF Police in GB, Egypt, Aden, Singapore and Cyprus, 1951-1976

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Caldicot, 1933-1951: family background and social circumstances; education; sporting activities; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; effects of war, 1939-1945, including German air raids, question of air raid shelters, food and clothes rationing and gas mask; training as cabinet maker at technical college, 1946-1947; interest in joining RAF; work as apprentice buyer for clothing manufacturer, 1947-1951; background to recruitment as policeman into RAF, 5/1951. Recollections of period at Recruit Receiving Centre, Cardington, 5/1951: reception and attestation; kitting out; hair cut; lecturer. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at No 7, School of Recruit Training, RAF, Bridgnorth, 5/1951-7/1951: reception; hut accommodation and cleaning; food rations; drill; PT and assault course. REEL 2 Continues: prior membership and training with rifle club; weapons training including rifle, Bren gun, bayonet, Sten gun and hand grenades; lectures on history of RAF; hygiene and VD; relationship with recruits and instructors; preparing fro kit inspections; canteen; pay; assessment; passing out parade. Recollections of period at No 1 Police Wing, RAF Police School, Pershore, 8/1951-10/1951: reception; state of camp; relationship with instructors; pay. REEL 3 Continues: lectures in civil and RAF law; assessment; story of special efforts in preparing for kit inspection to ensure selection for provost duties; self-defence and pistol training; training in basic police duties including patrols, manning guard room, passes and permits, convoy duties and aircraft security; relationship with cadets and national servicemen; passing out parade. Period at RAF Driving School, Netheravon, 10/1951-11/1951: conditions of service; training as police motorcyclist; passing motorcycle test. Attending advanced course at No 1 Police Wing, RAF Police School, 11/1951: review of organisation of RAF Police; nature of continuation training and status as provost; promotion as acting corporal. Recollections of period with 147 Flight, No 6 Police District, No 1 Police Wing, RAF, Innsworth, 12/1951-6/1952: prior report to Headquarters, at Filton; reception; composition of unit; daily routine. REEL 4 Continues: uniform; afternoon and evening foot patrols in local towns including beat card delineating route, liaison with civilian police, process of checking servicemen dress and possible charges resulting, checking for drunkenness, arrests and question of civilian intervention, entering pubs only at request of landlords and meal allowance; mobile patrols; duties on Swindon railway station; role as duty NCO; status as policeman. Period at Lytham St Anne's Transit Camp, 6/1952-7/1952: minimal duties; issue of tropical kit; posting to Egypt. Flight out to Fayid, Canal Zone, Egypt, 7/1952. Period at EL Hanna Transit Camp, 7/1952: first impressions; assisting in canteen. Period at Middle East Police School, No 3 Police Wing, RAF, Ismailia Camp, 7/1952: reception; briefing on situation and dealing with Egyptian civilians; volunteering for service in Aden. Flight to Aden, 7/1952. REEL 5 Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during period with 7 Police Flight, No 2 Police District, No 3 Police Wing, RAF, Steamer Point, Aden, 7/1952-7/1954: climate; reception; composition of unit; foot patrols around Steamer Point; raids on brothels; cooperation with Aden Police and role dealing with traffic accidents; story of investigation into charcoal theft in Cemetery Valley; motorcycle patrols; checking service vehicles; motorcycle of VIP guests including Queen Elizabeth; shortage of police drivers; leave in Kenya; hut accommodation; bed bug problem; showers and latrines; food rations; Christmas celebrations;. Voyage aboard Empire Halliidale to GB, 7/954-8/1954: role as ship's police; ban on crown and anchor; swastika symbol on bridge; leave on landing. Recollections of period at No 7 Police District at Castle Bromwich, 8/1954-11/1955: reorganisation of RAF police and changes in role; promotion to corporal; role as special investigator; and investigation into thefts from RAF maintenance unit; story of lighting office stoves; return to provost duties; story of arresting deserters. Recollections of period on police detachment at Llanduff, 11/1955-11/1956: story of chasing deserter. REEL 6 Continues: story of deserter who had murdered his baby; rejection on volunteering for service during Suez Crisis; escorting convoys during mobilisation for Suez; promotion to sergeant, 11/1956. Period at Marham, 11/1956-11/1957: role as shift commander of station police; story of police NCO asleep on duty. Period at Scampton, ca 11/1957-6/1960: background to posting and marriage, 12/1957; married quarters; role in charge of passes and permits; attending advanced course at RAF Police School, Netheravon, 8/1958-11/1958; presence of 617 Sqdn, RAF; question of irrelevance of advanced training and question of remustering; birth of daughter. Period at Tengah and Changi, Singapore, 6/1960-1/1962: units present; role as night shift commander; story of fatal traffic accident and subsequent arrest and trial of New Zealand NCO; move to Anti-Vice Section based at Changi; interviewing VD victims to identify infected prostitutes for treatment; inspection of bars; cases of service wives acting as prostitutes; rented accommodation and Chinese servant. REEL 7 Recollections of period with No 3 Police District, RAF, Spittelgate, Grantham, 1/1962-9/1965: question of move to security and counter-intelligence role; identifying cases of 'careless talk' in pubs; success in infiltrating CND; attending security and counter-intelligence course at RAF Police School, Debden, 1/1963-2/1963, including elements of physical security arrangements, handling of secret information, vetting procedures, surveillance techniques and story of arrest during training exercise, setting traps with dyed documents, photography and intelligence gathering; role on counter-intelligence investigations; question of lost secret documents; case of false attestation; investigations of disaffected and homosexual airmen. Recollections counter-intelligence role during period at Steamer Point, Aden, 9/1965-9/1966: lack of married quarters; prior attacks on counter-intelligence personnel; security checks of Adenese camp workers; learning Arabic; surveys of security arrangements of key points and services; unnecessary salt tablet stores; stories of attacks on vehicles. REEL 8 Continues: audit of top secret registry; story of shooting at Adenese sniper in Crater area; Adenese informants; awareness of insurgent organisations. Period at No 2 Police District, Linton on Oise, 9/1966-4/1967. Period at Kumaxa, Aden, 3/1967-6/1967: flight out; role on immigration duties and searching aircraft at adjoining civilian airfield; story of dispute with officer; spinal complaint and tests on return to GB. Period at Counter-Intelligence Office, No 2 Police District, RAF, Linton on Oise, 6/1967-1/1968: administrative office duties; application for overseas service. Period with Provost and Security Services, at Polimedia and Akrotiri, Cyprus, 1/1968-1/1971: role on special investigations; investigating question of sale of wireless equipment to Turkish Cypriots; married quarters and lifestyle; move to Akrotiri, 6/1969; role building up provost section; story illustrating security investigations into missing secret files; responsibility for improving security fences around camp. REEL 9 Continues: effects of tornado, 12/1969; role acting as town warden for police families; traffic and aircraft accidents, 12/1970. Period with No 3 Police District, RAF, Spittelgate, Grantham, 1/1971-9/1973: security survey of signals monitoring unit; checks for IRA sympathies; question of delayed promotion to flight sergeant. Period as flight sergeant at Cottishall, 9/1973-9/1976: reception; role as deputy security officer; role in charge of barrack block; running station youth club and success in reducing vandalism; relationship with officers; background to rejection of posting to Northern Ireland and leaving RAF, 9/1976. Post-service career: background to career as security analyst and manager for car manufacturer, 1977-2001; value of RAF Police experience; membership and roles with British Legion, 1992-2007.