Description
Object description
British officer served with 9th Field Coy Royal Engineers (Airborne) in GB, 1942; served with 1st Airborne Division Headquarters in North Africa, Italy, GB and North West Europe, 1942-1944; served with 9th Field Coy Royal Engineers (Airborne) in GB, Norway and Palestine, 1944- 1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1920-1942: father's service during First and Second World Wars; education; joining of Royal Engineers; pattern of sapper and officer training; duties as 2nd Lieutenant. Aspects of period as officer with 9th Field Coy Royal Engineers (Airborne) in GB, 5/1942- 11/1942: joining of airborne forces; posting to and knowledge of Operation Freshman, 1942; selection of troops for operation; training in Snowdonia; explosives training; weapons training including knives; briefings with model factory; snow shoe training; story of accident and removal from operation; hospitalisation; posting to 1st Airborne Division. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Airborne Division Headquarters in North Africa and Italy, 1943-1944: building and dispersal of dummy parachutists over Sicily; casualties among parachutists including subsequent relationship with Americans; landing at Taranto; work in mine clearance and railway operation; positing to Foggia; situation in Italy; contact with Vladimir Popski Peniakoff; return to GB with advance party.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Airborne Division Headquarters in GB and North West Europe, 1944: planning of landings in North West Europe including Operation Market Garden; concerns about landings at Arnhem; details of glider flight to and landing at Arnhem, 18/9/1944; disembarkation; journey to and location of Divisional Headquarters; patrols sent out; communications and other problems faced; description of withdrawal to Nijmegen including help received from civilians and pass through German lines; arrival and interrogation at American lines; contact and interviews with British senior officers; return journey to and evacuation from Arnhem; reformation of division. Aspects of period as officer with 9th Field Coy Royal Engineers in GB, Norway and Palestine, 3/1945-5/1945: role and activities of unit in Norway; relationship with civilians; jungle warfare training in GB; details of posting in Gaza; demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: period with Territorial Army, 1946- 1955; continued involvement with Airborne forces and writing about experiences; desire to become engineer; details of mulberry harbours.
REEL 3 Continues: awareness of events in 1930s Europe; reaction to outbreak of war; reasons for joining army; civilian morale including father's service during Second World War and air activity witnessed. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Engineers during Second World War: details of Bulford Camp; coastal defence duties near Dover; training received at Bulford; details of parachute training; opinion of unit; reasons for joining airborne forces; selection for officer training; reflections on period as sapper and NCO; taking to officer responsibilities; promotion during and after war; opinion of help gained from service in ranks; opinion of plan for Operation Freshman; training in Snowdonia for Operation Freshman; kit issued for operation; morale before and reaction to missing operation.
REEL 4 Continues: activities and morale during summer 1944; leave before Operation Market Garden; role in planning for Operation Market Garden; awareness of German presence in Arnhem; description and use of PIAT gun; visits to cemetery at Arnhem; duties with convoys in North Africa; civilian work in Saudi Arabia after war; details of posting in Gaza; further education; atmosphere in GB after war; details of posting in Norway after war; services attended in Arnhem; treatment of German POWs; reflections on Second World War and recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; service with Territorial Army, 1946-1955.
