Allom, Jean (Oral history)

British wife of RAF pilot Wing Commander Howard Burton in GB, 1940-1943; worked for Malcolm Clubs in GB, North West Europe and Far East, 1944-1946

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1919-1940: family; father's service with Royal Navy and RAF; father's work as Superintendent of Croydon Airport; education; question of male dominance of family life; death of brother Flying Officer Duncan Maxwell Robertson killed in action 10/1940; character of other siblings; attitude towards Germany; activities on leaving school; meeting first husband Squadron Leader Howard Burton; marriage, 1940. Recollections of period as wife of RAF officer Howard Burton in GB, 1940-1943: work with mobile canteens; death of husband in Bay of Biscay, 3/6/1943 REEL 2 Continues: prior recollection of declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; squadrons based at RAF Tangmere; how husband had to return from honeymoon to RAF Tangmere after German air raid 16/8/1940; story of attempting to obtain news of missing husband, 6/1943; memories of Wing Commander Douglas Bader; relations between husband and Wing Commander Douglas Bader; opinion of threat from Germany and Italy; husband's service in North Africa; how husband was posted missing over Bay of Biscay, 3/6/1943. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period with Malcolm Clubs in North West Europe and Far East, 1944-1946: background to joining organisation; move to Belgium, 1944; story of move to Far East; arrival in Japan; witnessing trial of Japanese war criminals in Tokyo, Japan; question of Labour Government's refusal to fund welfare organisations in Germany; degree of training received for field work; background to leaving organisation; flight to Hiroshima, Japan, 1945; problems lobbying military authorities for facilities for troops in Singapore, Malaya. REEL 4 Continues: reads note attached to piece of Adolf Hitler's desk taken from the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, 6/1945; describes being escorted by Polish officers in Berlin, Germany, 6/1945; discussion of family matters.