Description
Object description
British civilian schoolchild in Nottingham, GB, 1939-1945; NCO served as linguist with RAF in GB and with 367 Signals Unit in Hong Kong, 1951-1961
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Nottingham, GB, 1933-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Nottingham, GB, 1939-1945: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; effect of outbreak of war on education; father's RAF service in Middle East; use of air raid shelter; school air raid shelters; following progress of war; rationing. Recollections of period as aircraftsman with RAF in GB, 1951-1952: background to choosing RAF for National Service; aptitude test for Chinese language; call up for National Service, 1951; attending Cantonese course with School of Oriental Studies in London from 10/1951.
REEL 2 Continues: method of language instruction; learning Cantonese written characters; study time during journey between School of Oriental Studies, London University and RAF Uxbridge; question of knowledge of staff as to reason for RAF personnel studying Cantonese; taking Civil Service examination; accommodation at RAF Uxbridge; degree of discipline; social activities; rations; posting to RAF Wythall for technical training; nature of technical training; degree to which Chinese used Cantonese for military communication; degree of knowledge as to future role and Hong Kong.
REEL 3 Continues: preparations for Far East service at Lytham St Annes; description of flight from GB to Singapore, 10/1952. Recollections of period as NCO linguist with 367 Signals Unit, RAF in Hong Kong, 1952-1953: arrival aboard troopship in Hong Kong; description of Batey's Belvedere listening station on Victoria Peak; shift system worked; staff at Batey's Belvedere; taking down list of Chinese numbers; description of workstation; intelligence gleaned about Chinese Air Force; conversion of station; conversation with Chinese workman's daughter.
REEL 4 Continues: nature of messages listened to; transfer to RAF Little Sai Wan; work transcribing Cantonese coded messages; importance of Chinese weather reports; method of sorting out Chinese characters; description of RAF Little Sai Wan; accommodation; barrack servants; opinion of rations and their provision.
REEL 5 Continues: shift work and time off. married quarters provided on second tour; visit to Chinese family whilst off duty; leave in Macao; navigating around Hong Kong by smell; use of trams; restrictions on visits to border; use of ferries; pattern of career. Aspects of period as linguist with 367 Signals Unit, REEL 1 Background in Nottingham, GB, 1933-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Nottingham, GB, 1939-1945: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; effect of outbreak of war on education; father's RAF service in Middle East; use of air raid shelter; school air raid shelters; following progress of war; rationing. Recollections of period as aircraftsman with RAF in GB, 1951-1952: background to choosing RAF for National Service; aptitude test for Chinese language; call up for National Service, 1951; attending Cantonese course with School of Oriental Studies in London from 10/1951.
REEL 2 Continues: method of language instruction; learning Cantonese written characters; study time during journey between School of Oriental Studies, London University and RAF Uxbridge; question of knowledge of staff as to reason for RAF personnel studying Cantonese; taking Civil Service examination; accommodation at RAF Uxbridge; degree of discipline; social activities; rations; posting to RAF Wythall for technical training; nature of technical training; degree to which Chinese used Cantonese for military communication; degree of knowledge as to future role and Hong Kong.
REEL 3 Continues: preparations for Far East service at Lytham St Annes; description of flight from GB to Singapore, 10/1952. Recollections of period as NCO linguist with RAF in Hong Kong, 1952-1953: arrival aboard troopship in Hong Kong; description of Batey's Belvedere listening station on Victoria Peak; shift system worked; staff at Batey's Belvedere; taking down list of Chinese numbers; description of workstation; intelligence gleaned about Chinese Air Force; conversion of station; conversation with Chinese workman's daughter.
REEL 4 Continues: nature of messages listened to; transfer to RAF Little Sai Wan; work transcribing Cantonese coded messages; importance of Chinese weather reports; method of sorting out Chinese characters; description of RAF Little Sai Wan; accommodation; barrack servants; opinion of rations and their provision.
REEL 5 Continues: shift work and time off. married quarters provided on second tour; visit to Chinese family whilst off duty; leave in Macao; navigating around Hong Kong by smell; use of trams; restrictions on visits to border; use of ferries; pattern of career. Aspects of period as linguist with RAF in GB, 1954-1955: return to GB; learning Mandarin Chinese at School of Oriental Studies, London University.
REEL 6 Continues: how some of language to remove military vocabulary from language training; learning numbers; story of obtaining projectionist training at RAF Tangmere. Aspects of period as NCO linguist in Hong Kong, 1957-1960: flight from GB to Hong Kong including crash landing at Calcutta, India; continued flight to Hong Kong; watch duties as NCO; amusing story of officer's misinterpretation of intercept; daughter's visit to Hong Kong and attitude to prospect of revisiting Hong Kong; route taken up Victoria Peak.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO linguist instructor at RAF Tangmere in GB, 1960-1961: character of RAF Tangmere; background to leaving RAF; civilian employment in Hong Kong after leaving RAF; attitude towards service with RAF in Hong Kong; friendships with fellow RAF linguists.
RAF in GB, 1954-1955: return to GB; learning Mandarin Chinese at School of Oriental Studies, London University.
REEL 6 Continues: how some of language to remove military vocabulary from language training; learning numbers; story of obtaining projectionist training at RAF Tangmere. Aspects of period as NCO linguist in Hong Kong, 1957-1960: flight from GB to Hong Kong including crash landing at Calcutta, India; continued flight to Hong Kong; watch duties as NCO; amusing story of officer's misinterpretation of intercept; daughter's visit to Hong Kong and attitude to prospect of revisiting Hong Kong; route taken up Victoria Peak.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO linguist instructor at RAF Tangmere in GB, 1960-1961: character of RAF Tangmere; background to leaving RAF; civilian employment in Hong Kong after leaving RAF; attitude towards service with RAF in Hong Kong; friendships with fellow RAF linguists.
