Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with Middlesex Regt Depot in GB, 1939-1940; officer served with Cheshire Regt Depot in GB, 1940-1941; served with 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in North Africa, 1941; POW in Italy, 1941-1943; escape and period in transit from Italy to GB, 1943-1944; officer served with Enemy Documents Unit Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and British Army of the Rhine in North West Europe, Denmark and Germany, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bath, Norwich and London, GB, 1915-1939: family; education including at London School of Economics; civilian work; awareness of events in Europe; joining of army and reaction of father. Aspects of period as private and NCO with Middlesex Regt Depot in GB, 10/1939-1/1940: barracks at Mill Hill; winter conditions including latrines; treatment from sergeant; memories of fellow recruits; promotion to lance corporal and selection for officer training. Aspects of period as officer with Cheshire Regt Depot in GB, 7/1940-2/1941: details of depot including rations; formal dinners in officers' mess; morale; leisure activities; story of invasion scare, 9/1940, including opinion of and changes made to defences; story of taking draft to Northern Ireland. Aspects of period in transit from GB to North Africa, 1941: details of journey to Port Suez including activities in Cape Town and onboard Duchess of Atholl; health problems while in transit camp; guard duties at POW Camp; background to gaining posting with Northumberland Fusiliers.
REEL 2 Continues: background to gaining posting with Northumberland Fusiliers; visits to Cairo including bombing of officers' brothel; voyage to Tobruk. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in North Africa, 1941: situation in Tobruk; arrival with unit; description of area and positions around Tobruk; details of own positions; travelling through minefield at night; story of trick played on Langley by Australian infantry including clothing worn; role in Operation Crusader; opposition faced during period at Tobruk; description of attack made on German lines; rest period before Operation Crusader including song sung to platoon; memories of commanding officers; spread of unit; story of not being used by Buffs; briefing from Black Watch officer; story of calamitous journey to start line in armoured cars; reception on arrival.
REEL 3 Continues: plan for attack on German position; results of attack; subsequent position held and supporting units; period in position; description of attack from 17th Panzer Division; destroying of guns; attempt to withdraw and capture; message received from Erwin Rommel; opinion of Afrikakorps troops; journey to and period as POW in Italy; Italian capitulation and news of move to Germany; preparations for escape and arrival of German guards. Aspects of period in transit from Italy to GB, 1943-1944: description of escape from camp during German guard singsong; march during first night; details of journey north including help gained from civilians; train journey to Como including search by German troops and help gained from Italian policeman; situation on arrival; approach from English woman and assistance gained; walk into Switzerland; accommodation during winter; journey via France to GB; intelligence training and interview. Aspects of period as officer with Enemy Documents Unit Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and British Army of the Rhine in North West Europe, Denmark and Germany, 1944-1945: make-up of unit.
REEL 4 Continues: make-up and activities of unit; reason for not knowing about the German advance through the Ardennes; interrogation of German POWs; work studying Gestapo files in Denmark; memories of US officer; leave with brother in Northern Italy; story of return journey from leave; accommodation and duties in Bad Oeynhausen with British Army of the Rhine; discovery of civilian method of dodging sentries.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as POW in Italy, 1942-1943: conditions in camp; relationship with Italian guards; rations; contents of Red Cross parcels; sports; classes available including relationship with camp doctor; bridge; medal awarded by Pope Pius XII; description of camp located in monastery; discipline among POWs; description of camp outside Bologna.
REEL 6 Continues: US POWs in camp; news of movement to Germany; experiences of fellow POWs in Italy; escape committee in camps including fake identification made; souvenirs from Germany. Aspects of period in transit from Italy to GB, 1943-1944: question of trusting Italian civilians during escape; relationship with civilians in Switzerland; details of health farm; Swiss food; honeymoon in Switzerland. Aspects of period as officer with Enemy Documents Unit Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and British Army of the Rhine in North West Europe, Denmark and Germany, 1944-1945: relationship between troops of different nationalities; memories of colleagues; liaison with US Army including clearance of liberated villages; contact with German civilians during advance including in Ruhr and description of refuse vehicles.
REEL 7 Continues: translation of German Government papers including plans for Operation Sea Lion; comparison of work of Allied Control Commission with German plans outlined in Operation Sea Lion; attitude to Germans during war including troops faced; further details of Operation Sea Lion plans for occupation of Britain; details and firing of Vickers machine-gun including dismantling and re-assembly; pattern of officer training. Aspects of period as officer with Cheshire Regt and Northumberland Fusiliers in GB and North Africa, 1940-1941: relationship with Cheshire Regiment troops; change in character of officers during course of war including comparison of German and British officers; relationship between Germany and Russia; results of campaign in Greece.
REEL 8 Continues: award of Victoria Cross to and memories of Captain James Jackman. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: details of civilian work; leisure activities; problems with insomnia after demobilisation; story of case against Tesco.