Interview with William Anthony Fox

British NCO served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea and North Korea, 11/1950-4/1951; prisoner of war in North Korea, 4/1951-6/1953

REEL 1 Background in Manchester, GB, 1928-1945: reaction to outbreak of Second World War; evacuation to Clayton-le-Moors; sight of German Air Force attacks on Manchester, 1940-1941; reaction to call-up for military service, 12/1945; sketch of period of National Service, 12/1945-1/1948. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde in South and North Korea, 11/1950-4/1951: background to re-enlistment in British Army, 6/1950; attitude of reservists towards prospects of posting to Korea; initial impressions of Korea; reception in Pusan, South Korea; train journey from Pusan, South Korea; how Americans took battalion to see dead North Koreans; move into North Korea; guard duties at food depot in Pyongyang, North Korea; retreat southwards, 11/1950; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1950; move into front line on River Imjin, South Korea, 1/1951; sight of Korean refugees. REEL 2 Continues: giving rations to refugees; deployment into front line on River Imjin, South Korea; hearing Chinese People's Volunteer Army bugles; anticipation of Chinese People's Volunteer Army attack; manning machine gun during Chinese People's Volunteer Army 'human wave' attack on unit's positions; death of Corporal Derek Ball; Centurion Tank's shelling of positions; decision to escape from positions; hiding from Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in North Korea, 4/1951-6/1953: surrendering to Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; threat from United States Air Force aircraft dropping napalm; effect of captivity on normal bodily functions; relations with Chinese People's Volunteer Army guards; removal of his group of prisoners of war to hut; problems with lice; quality of water supply; speech given by Chinese People's Volunteer Army officer; problems of dysentery; nature of trek to prisoner of war camp. REEL 3 Continues: nature of prisoner of war camp; death rate amongst American prisoners of war; winter conditions; improvement in conditions once peace talks started; importance of contact with home; issue of kapok clothing; lack of new prisoners entering camp; start of sporting activities in 1953; impressions of North Korean children singing; description of hutted accommodation; incident of receiving extra rations; story of sharing amusing incident with elderly North Korean civilian; speech by camp commandant at time of cease-fire; Chinese captors' attempts to brain wash prisoners of war. REEL 4 Continues: prisoner of war exchange at Panmunjom, South Korea; question of treatment of American returning prisoners of war; return to GB; question of not making visit to South Korea; opinion of importance of Korean War; reasons for joining Merchant Navy after military service.