Shortell, Peter Ronald (Oral history)

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Permitted use for these purposes:
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Description

Object description

British junior technician served as Chinese linguist and interpreter with 367 Signals Unit, 90 Group RAF in GB and Hong Kong, 1958-1959

Content description

REEL 1: Background in GB, 1938-1957: family; childhood in Bedford; education; effects of war on daily life; rationing; VE Day celebrations, 5/1945; hobbies; interest in languages; left school, 1957; called up for National Service, 1957. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 1957-1958: induction at RAF Cardington; uniform and kit; previous experience as RAF cadet; posted to RAF West Kirkby; assigned to Churchill Flight; accommodation; kit inspections; opinion of food; description of basic training; drill; trade test and selected for training as Chinese linguist; aptitude test; posted to Joint Services School for Linguists, RAF Pucklechurch; accommodation in Nissen hut; opinion of NCOs; off-duty activities; opinion of food and camp facilities; description of learning Chinese orally; teaching method and instructors; weekly tests. REEL 2 Continues: attitude to learning Chinese; opinion of instructors; amusing story of kit inspection; daily routine; structure of course; facilities; use of romanised characters in writing; increased vocabulary; peculiarities of Chinese language; first exercises in monitoring military traffic; translation tests; failure rate on course; knowledge of China and government; posted to RAF Innsworth; description of flight to Hong Kong via Singapore, 1958. Aspects of period as Chinese linguist with 367 Signals Unit, 90 Group RAF in Hong Kong, 1958-8/1959: landed at Kai Tak airport; taken by coach to RAF station at Little Sai Wan; first impressions of Hong Kong; description of station and accommodation; laundry facilities; shift system; opinion of food; off-duty activities and social life.. REEL 3 Continues: story of leave in Japan; transport in truck; description of Batty's Belvedere operations room on top of The Peak; radio receivers and headphones; number of personnel; work station; use of numbers to log map co-ordinates; method recording information on forms and in duty log; question of recognising Chinese voices; processing and routing of reports; attitude to work; story of visit by Duke of Edinburgh; rank; description of flight on Comet back to GB, 8/1959; demobilisation at RAF Innsworth. REEL 4 Continues: Civilian life and employment: graduated from Cambridge University; obtained post at GCHQ, Cheltenham, 1962; summary of career and work at GCHQ; use of Chinese language; re-unions with National Service colleagues.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Atkinson, James (Recorder)
Shortell, Peter Ronald (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2012
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 33620

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Shortell, Peter Ronald
Royal Air Force, Group, 90
Royal Air Force, Signals Unit, 367
Associated items

Training and Exam Papers for No 5 Chinese Course, Joint Services School for Linguists, 1957 - 1959
Associated places

GB, England
China
Hong Kong
Associated keywords

Cold War

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Object Details

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

Associated items

Associated places

Associated keywords

Our collections information