Mitsides, Pearl (Oral history)

British civilian in Belgium, 1939-1940; escape to France, 5/1940; civilian interned in France, 1940-1941; release and journey to GB via Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, 1941-1942; civilian in GB, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Background in Belgium, 1930-1940: story of mother's escape from Belgium to GB during First World War; family; area lived in; education in Waterloo; languages spoken; awareness of approaching war; advice from grandfather to leave for GB; contact with British troops; mode of transport and preparations for departure. Aspects of journey from Belgium to France, 5/1940: make-up of party; departure from home; items left behind; attacks from Junkers Ju-87 Stukas; attempts to evacuate at Ostend and Dunkirk; lift from troops; details of journey south including scenes on roads; help from civilians; physical state; details of bicycles and problems faced by father; state of roads; arrival in Gan and accommodation; supply of meals; internment at Gurs. Aspects of period as civilian interned in France, 1940-1941: winter conditions including sleeping arrangements and rations; washing facilities and latrines; details of camp including brother's trips out of camp; guards; background of fellow internees; clothing situation and mail including censorship. REEL 2 Continues: length of period in Gurs; details of Spanish internees including learning of Spanish; activities in camp; clothing and question of keeping warm; supply of meals; health and physical state; train journey to Camp de Rivesaltes; living conditions; work in commandant's office; events leading to release; restrictions on movement; accommodation; details of life in France. Aspects of journey from France to Greenock, GB, 1941-1942: details of journey to Portugal; accommodation and visits to Embassy in Lisbon; wait in Cascais; voyage to and period in Gibraltar; boarding of MS Batory; population of ship; accommodation; rations; make-up of escort; voyage to Greenock. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1942-1945: visit to soldier's wife; journey to London; help gained from Salvation Army and Women's Royal Voluntary Service including accommodation in Mornington Crescent; civilian work gained with BBC French Section; details of work sorting through mail from France; lunch arrangements and bombing of office in Bush House; relationship with colleagues including Eileen Palmer; further details of work; air raids including shelter taken in Mornington Crescent underground station; work of father; courting of husband; VE Day celebrations. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian interned in France, 1940-1942: weather while at Camp de Rivesaltes; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; rations; further details of work in commandant's office; knowledge of Jewish inmates; contact with Jews in Belgium; details of journey through Spain. Reading from journal written in Gurs internment camp, France, 1940-1941: description of a meal including washing of utensils; washing facilities; population of camp; details of camp and duties; climate and terrain; work and leisure activities before internment; physical state and rations; story of collecting food including morale; attitude to Germans in camp; story of call to separate out Aryan internees; reflections on visit to commandant.