Howard, William Ashley (Oral history)

German private served with 88 Coy, Pioneer Corps in GB and France, 1939-1943; served with 220 Coy, PC in GB, 1943; served as special writer aboard HMS Tanatside, 1944; served aboard HMS Bellona, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Berlin, Germany, 1919-1938: family background, social circumstances and Jewish upbringing; education and sporting activities; effects of anti-Semitism and brief relief during Olympic Games, 1936; work as trainee fashion designer, 1936-1938; background to losing job, decision to leave Germany and father's illegal emigration to GB; story of increasing trouble with Gestapo and obtaining visa to US, 1938. Story of relationship with US woman during voyage to New York, 7/1938. Period in New York, US, 7/1938-9/1938: initial failure to make contact with uncle; conditions during confinement at Ellis Island; release on payment of deposit by uncle; question of securing affidavit to secure emigration. Voyage to Southampton, GB, 9/1938. Period in West Hampstead, London, 9/1939: reporting to US embassy and their rejection of affidavit supplied by uncle; orders from Home office to leave GBl extension of visa following Kristalnacht, 9/10/1938; work as trainee furrier, 1938-1939. REEL 2 Continues: social life; question of anti-Semitism; success in learning English; move of family to GB; awareness of approach of war; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; background to volunteering to join Pioneer Corps, 1/1940; volunteering to fill sandbags, 8/1939. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with Pioneer Corps, Richborough Camp, Sandwich, 2/1940-4/1940: reception, oath of allegiance and kitting out; hut accommodation; food rations; relationship with instructor; drill; gas mask drill; PT; relationship with recruits; ENSA shows; preparing for kit inspections; pay parade; visits to pub; clearing roads of snow. Recollections of period with 88 Coy, PC in France, 4/1940-6/1940: journey out to Le Havre Camp; duties working as dock labourers; German air raids; story of recall from beach to join unit, 21/5/1940; question of air gas attack; lorry journey towards front line; story of briefing from brigadier on situation and issue of rifles; question of rifle training. REEL 3 Continues: inadequate ammunition issue; situation; story of guard duty; renewed disarmed status as aliens; digging ditches; falling back via Rennes to St Malo; evacuation aboard transport ship to GB, 6/1940, including destruction of abandoned equipment, question of evacuation of aliens, reaction of French civilians and reception. Period at Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, London, 6/1940-7/1940: visit by mother; reaction to rumours of GB surrender and Churchill speech. Periods at various locations in GB, 1940-1943: preparations for inspection by Lord Reading at Westwood Ho; move to build Nissen huts; move to clear bomb damage in Mile End, London; German air raids; recreations including dance halls; move to Petersfield; forestry role and manufacturing pit props; desire for active service; clearance to join active service unit; successful application and training course with Special Operations Executive, 1943, including assault course, route marches, 'spy' placed in group, decision to drop out of course and return to PC. REEL 4 Recollections of period with 220 Coy, PC in Gloucester, 1943: forestry role; background to changing name from Horst Herzberg to William Ashley Howard; story of assault course; background to volunteering as German speaker to Royal Navy and passing translation tests; prior application to join Royal Armoured Corps; forestry duties. Recollections of attending course simulating translation of German wireless messages in naval code at Wimbledon, London, 12/1943. Period as special writer at Royal Arthur Shore Station, Skegness, 1/1944-2/1944: kitting out; general knowledge test. Period at Chatham Barracks, 2/1944. Period as special writer aboard HMS Tanatside, 2/1944-5/1944: initial monitoring by petty officer; hammock; operation of VHF wireless and initial failure to intercept U-Boat signals; operations against E-Boats; relationship with crew. Recollections of period aboard HMS Bellona based at Scapa Flow, 5/1944-5/1945: prior interview with naval intelligence officer; nature of ship as light cruiser; reception and interview with Captain Norris; copies of German naval code supplied by Admiralty; nature of Scapa Flow and visit to shore canteen. REEL 5 Continues: working up trials; role as support ship during D-Day operations, 6/1944, including prior ore leave, postponement, personal morale, special VHF wireless office, shore bombardment, absence of German wireless signals, attachment to US forces off Omaha Beach, US uncoded wireless signals, view of landings and personal morale during German bombing attack, 9/6/1944; messdeck conditions; success in intercepting German shipping wireless signals during operations off Norwegian coast, 7/1944-8/1944; success using HFDF wireless in interception of German shipping off Brest, France; change in status and increasing importance of HFDF; escorting Russian convoys to Kola Bay, Soviet Union, including effects of storms, cold conditions, impressions of visit ashore, success in intercepting U-Boat signals, story of zig-zagging to avoid torpedoes, claims in William Joyce broadcast that ship had been sunk, German air attack and convoy losses in Kola Bay. REEL 6 Continues: escorting Russian convoys to Kola Bay, Soviet Union, including attending concert party aboard Soviet ship in Kola Bay; story of being robbed during VE Day celebrations in Edinburgh, 8/5/1945; teaching German in preparation for 'showing the flag' visit to Germany; leaving ship, 5/1945. Period at Chatham Barracks, 5/1945-11/1945: decoding duties; celebrating VJ Day, 15/8/1945. Demobilisation, 11/1945. Post-war career: return to work in fur trade; career in family handbag manufacturing business; effects of wartime experiences; membership of North Russia Club.