Description
Object description
British officer served as signals instructor with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1941-1944; served with Z Special Unit in Australia, Morotai and Borneo, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Cooper Angus, GB, 1917-1941: family including father's involvement with radio and service during First World War; details of early radios; education and civilian work in Glasgow; outbreak of war while on holiday in Scarborough; call-up into army; application to join signals. Aspects of period as private with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, 1940-1941: signals training at Catterick; period as instructor's assistant; posting to Salisbury; signals tests; work searching for troops still in France; postings at Chester and Birmingham; duties; details of posting at Droitwich Spa; story of making contact with British troops in Northern Ireland; special course attended at Harrogate; post volunteered for and interview; interview with commanding officer. Aspects of period as signals instructor with Special Operations Executive in GB, 1941-1944: story of reporting to War Office; train journey to Grendon Underwood; accommodation at Grendon Hall; interview with Captain Key; wireless training given to agents; story of getting agents of different nationalities to socialise; memories of agents; length of time at Grendon Hall and move to Thame Park; staff at Grendon Hall; further memories of agents; training in area around Thame Park; First Aid Nursing Yeomanry staff including story of exercise.
REEL 2 Continues: memories of agents and instructors; details of Special Operations Executive; security; background of agents; story of female agent; stations in GB; details of wireless training given to agents; morale of agents; story of agent arrested in France; changeover to one-time pad including story of agent who was unable to lie; visit from Brigadier Nicholls; changes to procedure including use of BBC; contact with American forces; story of visit from Norwegian agents.
REEL 3 Continues: posting to Henley-on-Thames and gaining of commission; staffing of signals office; story of adjutant's visit to untidy signals office and subsequent changes; story of talks with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Ensign and chief instructor; story of the commanding officer forcing the adjutant to drink beer; story of adjutant's next inspection of the signals office; discussion of use of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry staff and relationship with commanding officer's secretary; background to being posted in London; arrival and details of post; story of WAAF officer; story of first Special Forces Club meeting attended; contact with agents and daily routine; story of problems from First Aid Nursing Yeomanry staff during extended shift.
REEL 4 Continues: details of local pub; V2 raids and Special Operations Executive attempts to find launch sites; problems arising from faulty use of security checks in Netherlands; memories of Scottish wireless operator called McGaskill; offer of posting in Australia; leave; journey to Melbourne including stay in America; stories of various flights. Aspects of period as signals instructor with Special Operations Executive in Australia, Morotai and Borneo 1944-1945: activity of boat unit; posting in Queensland; details of agents; staff in Australia; posting in and flight to Melbourne; accommodation; problems with fleas; duties; visits into Melbourne; relationship with Australian staff and civilians; talks with boat parties.
REEL 5 Continues: duties and accommodation during visit to Morotai; story of unit met there and background to being dropped into Borneo; preparations for drop; knowledge of Malay language; flight to Borneo; description of parachute drop and landing; first contact made with civilians; journey to landing stage; contact made with unit; problems with communications and adjustments made including relationship with unit and testing of equipment; later problems with communications; offer and details of extended posting; details of journey to outpost; arrival; sleeping arrangements; problems with ants; discoveries made at outpost; time spent at outpost.
REEL 6 Continues: story of return journey; activities and events following invasion; story of ambush against Japanese forces and escape from scene; following night; details of POW camps. REEL 7 Continues: details of local drink; rations and supply drops; story of visitors including accommodation and sleeping arrangements; story of call for air raid; story of chicken eaten; physical state; further details of rations; latrines; story of man firing rifle before action against Japanese; description of blowpipes used by Japanese; headhunting and executions; use of blowpipes; more on executions; story of civilian rituals involved in as guest; story of later talk about rituals; return to Australia and journey to GB; story of pass through customs at Southampton; leave; debriefing; story of journey from London to Cooper Angus.
