Jarrett, Claude Stephen (IWM interview)

German civilian emigrated from Germany to GB, 1934; served as private with 165 Coy, Pioneer Corps in GB, ca 1940-1941; attached to Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1941-1942; service as officer with Royal Engineers in GB and India, 1943-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Bouthen, Breslau and Berlin, Germany, 1922-1934: family background and social circumstances; Jewish family background; education; question of anti-Semitism including impact of Hitler Youth and suspension of father's architectural practice; background to father's emigration to GB, 9/1933; period staying with family friends in Bouthen; emigration to GB, 14/5/1934. Recollection of period living in Hampstead, London, 1934-1940: education at boarding school, 1934-1936; learning English and French; study at School of Architecture, 1936-1940; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; absence of anti-Semitism; registration as 'enemy alien'; work on farms in Reading area; call up, 15/8/19440. Period at Pioneer Corps Depot, Westwood Ho, Devon, 8/1940-9/1940: reception and kitting out; basic training; origins of recruits. REEL 2 Period with 165 Coy, Pioneer Corps in GB, 1940-1941: forestry duties in Cirencester area; question of volunteering to assist farmers; move to Bridestow; detachment to drawing anti-aircraft and coastal defence plans for Royal Engineers in Plymouth area; question of transfer as draughtsman to RE. Period with Royal Army Service Corps, Headquarters, Scottish Command, Leith, Edinburgh, 1941-1942: role in charge of tyre store; barrack accommodation; presence of Japanese 'enemy alien'; background to acceptance for commission at War Selection board, 1942, including various tests and interviews; background to prior change of name from Jarezki to Jarrett. Period training at Officers Cadet Training Unit, Royal Engineers, Northampton, 1942-1943: guard duty; learning to drive motorcycle and MT; bridging, demolition and weapons training; commission, 6/1943. Period building ammunition depots with RAF units at Leamington Spa, 1943. REEL 3 Period at officers' depot, 1943: question of posting to India; preference for service in Europe; Voyage aboard Otranto to Bombay, India, 1/1944-2/1944: conditions; role as ship's messing officer; route. Initial period in Bombay, 2/1944: sun burn problem; dental treatment; background to posting to unit. Period was RE staff officer at General Headquarters, New Delhi, 1944-1946: question of prior posting to Northern Assam; promotion to lieutenant; role running engineering stores; relationship with Indian staff; officers' mess accommodation and lifestyle; question of acclimatisation to climate; preparations for landing at Rangoon, 8/1945; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; relationship with British civilians; membership of civilian club; relationship with Indian civilians and question of their attitude to British; VJ Day celebrations, 15/8/1945; story of explosion of ammunition ship Fort Stikine in Bombay harbour. REEL 4 Continues: role supervising closure of RE depots. Period at Deolali Transit Camp, 4/1946-5/1946. Flight back to GB, 5/1946; demobilisation, 6/1946. Post-war career: resumption of architectural studies; question of army sponsorship; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; dental problems; career as architect and emigration to Canada, 1950; visit to Germany, ca 2000.