DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1810

OtherNumber
92/14/1

ItemName
Private Papers of G W Scott

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms journal (57pp, 6 December 1941 - 10 March 1942) containing excellent and vivid descriptions of the scenes, atmosphere and morale in Singapore before and after war was declared, life during the bombing raids, war news and propaganda (he was a volunteer broadcaster with the Malayan Broadcasting Corporation, when not working with the Asiatic Petroleum Company), reactions to events - especially to the sinking of HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE - civilian evacuations, and his hazardous escape (14 February) on the launch MV MUTIARA to Sumatra, the route across Sumatra to Padang, and his escape to Ceylon from Emmahaven, Sumatra (1 - 10 March 1942) on the Dutch collier PELALEH; also a ts extract from a friend's letter (Peter Lucy; 2pp, 8 September 1945) describing conditions as a prisoner of war in Changi and on working parties on Blakang Mati, Singapore (February 1942 - August 1945), his feelings about the Japanese and the 1945 surrender.

MakerName
Scott

Forenames
G W

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
839

OtherNumber
91/14/1

ItemName
Private Papers of C Meadows

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts transcript (7pp) of an account, based on a contemporary diary, describing his service as a leading telegraphist RN in MTB10, the Senior Officer's boat of the 2nd MTB Flotilla, during the defence of Hong Kong against the Japanese in December 1941 and their escape in the boat to mainland China following Hong Kong's surrender on 25 December and subsequent journey, with the Chinese Admiral Chan Chak and other MTB crews and Army personnel from Hong Kong, across China and into Burma, January - February 1942.

MakerName
Meadows

Forenames
C

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
13/09/2007 05:50:06

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
841

OtherNumber
91/14/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J D Taylor

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Well written and very informative ms joint narrative (138pp) compiled in India between May 1942 and January 1943 by Taylor and three other former NCOs in 15 Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps (18th Division) and covering the unit's service and training in the United Kingdom (June 1940 - October 1941), their passage in convoy out to Singapore in the troopships DUCHESS OF ATHOLL and MOUNT VERNON via Canada, South Africa and Kenya (October 1941 - January 1942), their life and service in Singapore during the final stages of the Malayan campaign (January - February 1942), their selection for inclusion in an official escape party, their voyage in the tug SIONG AIK from Singapore to Sumatra and their evacuation from Padang to Ceylon in the cruiser HMAS HOBART (February - March 1942). The narrative is a particularly good account of conditions, as seen through other rank eyes, on board troopships and in South Africa and of the deteriorating morale in Singapore before capitulation.

MakerName
Taylor

Forenames
J D

Style
Lieutenant

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
843

OtherNumber
91/14/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J H Wagstaff

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
A vivid and detailed ms narrative (110pp), with ts transcript with maps (44pp), compiled in 1946 and describing how he and several fellow officers in the Signals Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force escaped from Singapore in an oarless sampan on the night following its surrender in February 1942, successfully made their way to the east coast of Sumatra by island hopping across the Rhio archipelago in the sampan and other small boats, were transported to Padang on the west coast and evacuated on 1 March in the PALIMA, a small coastal steamer, which safely completed the passage to Colombo, Ceylon on 10 March. The narrative contains some interesting comments on the behaviour and morale of other escapees whom they encountered (including Major General Gordon Bennett), the organisation of the escape route across Sumatra and the hazards and privations which they experienced during their journey.

MakerName
Wagstaff

Forenames
J H

Style
Major

RelatedIWMItems
See also the papers of Flying Officer S Y Turner (91/14/1)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
7931

OtherNumber
98/21/1

ItemName
Private Papers of J E Brearley

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Very detailed and interesting wordprocessor memoir (92pp), written in the 1990s but based on contemporary notes, describing how he and a fellow NCO stationed in Singapore Fortress HQ at Fort Canning escaped from Singapore a few hours after its surrender on 15 February 1942 by making their way to the waterfront and locating a native boat and, after a hazardous series of voyages from island to island in a variety of small boats in the company of other evaders, reached the Indragiri river on the east coast of Sumatra, travelled across Sumatra to the port of Padang by river transport, bus and train and obtained a passage on the small Dutch cargo ship DE WEERT, which completed the passage to Ceylon on 9 March 1942. Brearley, who had embarked for Singapore in August 1940 with a draft for the 2nd Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and had been posted the following year to Singapore Fortress HQ where he was transferred to the RASC, emphasises individual strokes of good fortune and the willing assistance of local people as among the key factors in their successful escape.

MakerName
Brearley

Forenames
J E

RelatedIWMItems
See also DPH (DOC 603-604)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
9566

OtherNumber
99/82/1

ItemName
Private Papers of N Flekser

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Well written ts memoir (112pp) of his Second World War service as a South African Air Force pilot flying Hurricanes with No 40 Squadron SAAF in the Western Desert in support of Eighth Army operations, being shot down by Luftwaffe ace Hans-Joachim Marseilles in May 1942, medical treatment at Derna before being taken to Stalag Luft III, Sagan, where he became part of the organisation which planned the 'Great Escape' in March 1944, describing his part in the devising of the tunnel lighting system and his relationship with some of the key personalities involved in the project, the failure of the plan (illness prevented him from participating in the breakout) and his removal to England via Sweden on grounds of sickness shortly afterwards; also colour copies of various official documents associated with Flekser's wartime service, and two photographs of him taken in 1941.

MakerName
Flekser

Forenames
N

Style
Flight Lieutenant

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
10357

OtherNumber
Misc 116 (1832)

ObjectType
Miscellaneous Documents

ShortSummary
Collection of forged and original passes and identity documents used by the Escape Committee at Stalag IVB prisoner of war camp, Muhlberg, Germany during the Second World War, together with a notebook and ms list of potential escapees, guidelines on procedure when caught by the enemy, names and addresses of prisoners who had especially aided the Committee and a series of hand-drawn and printed maps and plans including one of the camp and one of Lonnewiez Aerodrome and a technical drawing of the cockpit of a Ju-88.

RelatedIWMItems
See also DCAR (DEAF)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
10852

OtherNumber
P355

ItemName
Private Papers of H Champion

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts account (25pp) of his capture by the Germans, after having been shot down on a RFC patrol over the German lines in Belgium, his brief spell as a prisoner of war in Germany, and his subsequent escape to Switzerland with Herbert Ward, with whom he escaped from a train transferring them between prisoner of war camps and then walked over twenty miles to the Swiss border without being spotted, thereby carrying out the second successful British escape during the First World War. The account includes details of life in a prisoner of war camp and gives a full description of the escape, February - April 1916.

MakerName
Champion

Forenames
H

Style
Colonel

RelatedIWMItems
See also the papers of Herbert Ward

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
212

ProductionDate
1974

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Painting, Thomas H xxx
Pitcairn Campbell, William
Edward VII, King
Wolsley, (Field Marshal Lord)
Wilson, George <VC>

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Aldershot, Hants <Salamanca Barracks>
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants
GB, England & Salisbury, Wilts
GB, England & London
GB, England & Newcastle upon Tyne, Northd
FR
FR & Rouen, Seine Maritime
FR & Hautesvesnes, Marne
FR & Soupir, Aisne
FR & River Aisne, Aisne
FR & River Marne, Marne
FR & Verneuil, Aisne
FR & Lille, Nord
BE
BE & Ypres area, West Flanders
BE & Passchendaele, West Flanders
BE & Gheluvelt, West Flanders
BE & Mons, Hainaut
BE & Givry, Hainaut
DE
DE & Gustrow <POW camp>
DE & Kaltenkirchen <POW camp>
DE & Tinglev <POW camp>
DE & Osterterp <POW camp>
DK
DK & Gedtedbro
DK & Ribe <Hospital>
DK Copenhagen
EG
EG & Alexandria
EG & Alexandria <Ras el Tin Camp >
EG & Cairo
EG & Cairo <Kasr el Nir Barracks>

IndexUnits
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Bn 1
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Bn 3
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Bn 5
GB.A & King's Royal Rifle Corps, Depot, Winchester
GB.A & Royal Artillery & RFA & Bty, 70
GB.A & Bde, 6
GB.A & Div, 2
GB.A & Barracks, Salamanca, Aldershot
GB.A & Barracks, Kasr el Nir, Cairo, Egypt
GB.A & Camp, Ras el Tin, Alexandria, Egypt
GB.A & Command, Southern
GB.N & Sicilia
GB.O & Railway, London and North Western
DE.A & POW Camp Gustrow
DE.A & POW Camp Kaltenkirchen
DE.A & POW Camp Tinglev
DE.A & POW Camp Osterterp

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British NCO served with 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps in Egypt, GB and on Western Front, 1909-1914; POW in Germany, 1914-1915; escaped via Denmark to GB, 1915

FullSummary
REEL 1: Background: employment in various capacities with London and North Western Railway in Midlands, 1899-1906: interest in Boer War, 1899-1901; father's career with railway. Recollection of enlistment with King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1907: parents' reaction. Story of fight with recruit during training at King's Royal Rifle Corps Depot, Winchester, 8/1906-11/1906. Aspects of period with 3rd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps at Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot, 11/1906-1/1907: conditions of service; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1906. Voyage aboard Sicilia to Alxandria, Egypt, 2/1907: conditions; exchange of garrison troops at Crete. Recollections of period with H Coy, 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps in Egypt, 2/1907-2/1909: joining part of unit at Ras el Tin Camp, Alexandria.
REEL 2 Continues: tent accommodation; swimming activities; reunification of unit in Kasr el Nir Barracks, Cairo; situation as part of Army of Occupation; relationship with British civilian tourists; sandstorms; relationship with Egyptian civilians. desert trek during course as mounted infantry including fatal accident, story of falling into Nile and horses used.
REEL 3 Continues: state of health; bed bugs; story of officer's servant's dog found in barrack room during day. Aspects of period at Portsmouth , 2/1909-2/1912: recreations; lining streets of during Edward VII's funeral in London, 20/5/1910. Aspects of period as lance corporal at King's Royal Rifle Corps Depot, Winchester, 1912-1913. Aspects of period with B Coy, 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps at Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot, 1913-1914: participation in funeral procession of Field Marshal Lord Wolsley; question of approach and length of war with Germany; mobilisation and arrival of reservists, 8/1914. Journey to Rouen, France, 12/8/1914-13/8/1914. Initial movements, 13/8/1914-21/8/1914: reception from French; learning French phrases; march to Mons, 21/8/1914. Recollections of operations in Mons area, 21/8/1914-23/8/1914: march to take up positions at Givry, German success in locating and shelling 70th Bty Royal Field Artillery using of aerial reconnaissance; beginning of retreat.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of events during retreat from Mons, 8/1914: route; view of French troops; food rations; acting as rearguard in rotation. Recollections of operations during Battle of Marne, 10/9/1914: successful attack advancing in sections of B and C Coys on German positions at Hautesvesnes, capture and evacuation of German POWs; rain storm; fire and movement tactics in advance in section; rate of rifle fire. Recollections of operations in Aisne, 14/9/1914-13/10/1914: attack in Soupir sector, 14/9/1914, including close escape from German machine gun fire whilst acting as company range finder, successful attack by Private George Wilson on machine gun for which he was awarded VC; relief and retirement to support positions.
REEL 5 Continues: relief and retirement to support positions; subsequent problem over loss of range finder; collection of wounded and burial of dead; casualties from German shellfire in Verneuil sector; nature of trenches; story of German shell bursting amongst group of men and minor shrapnel wounds received. Move to Ypres area, 10/1914. Aspects of operations in Ypres area, 20/10/1914-2/11/1914: initial movements and actions in support role; casualty from stray bullet; NCO's close escape; attack on Passchendaele, 27/10/1914.
REEL 6 Continues: attack on Passchendaele, 27/10/1914; makeshift dugout; role as platoon commander; rum ration; effects of German shellfire, 31/10/1914; story of visiting company commander's headquarters; story of providing story illustrating response of two soldiers to death of friend during exchange of rifle fire; situation and state of unit on being moved into line in Gheluvelt sector; circumstances of being captured following German breakthrough, 2/11/1914. Initial period as POW, 11/1914: story of coming under British shrapnel shellfire; personal morale.
REEL 7 Continues: retention of pay book; reaction to German casualties; move to Lille; reactions to German accusation of using dum dum bullets; train journey to Gustrow; attitude of French civilians during move to Lille; train journey to Gustrow; refugees during retreat from Mons, 8/1914. Recollections of conditions during period at Gustrow POW camp, Germany, 11/1914: kitting out; tent accommodation; food; latrines; mixed nationalities; separation of officers and other ranks; early contact with GB; theft of tobacco; tent accommodation; assistance from German NCO who had lived in GB.
REEL 8 Continues: assistance from German NCO who had lived in GB; working parties creating mounds of earth at camp entrance; rejection by Irish POWs of invitation from Sir Roger Casement to join Irish Brigade fighting for Germans; move into hut accommodation, 1/1915; lice problem; burial services; visiting friend in camp hospital; question of roll call; punishment of British POW for writing home complaining about food; story of being hit by German guard. Recollections of period in Tinglev camp, 2/1915-7/1915: incomplete nature of camp on arrival; administration based on huts; relationship with German officers.
REEL 9 Continues: raid on German food store; cold weather and story of lending clothes to men who subsequently died; work parties; improving conditions with warmer weather; forming band using impromptu instruments; collapse of German seating area during performance of play; band concerts and redistribution of entrance charges; question of planning for escape and importance of establishing geographical location; boxing bout; storing food for possible escape. Aspects of period at Kaltenkirchen Camp, Germany, 7/1915-8/1915: reception.
REEL 10 Continues: wet weather; story illustrating British POWs' state of morale; boxing match with French POW; sketching map during train journey to Osterterp. Period at Osterterp Camp, Germany, 8/1915-11/1915: layout of camp; working parties; story of dispute and beating from German NCO during working party digging drainage channels; period of solitary confinement.
REEL 11 Continues: period of solitary confinement; relationship with German NCO; failure of attempt to cut through barbed wire using file; escape with working party attending to camp acetylene lights, 11/1915. Recollections of journey to Denmark, 11/1915: meeting other escapees at rendezvous travelling at night; success in evading German frontier sentries.
REEL 12 Continues: Danish signs; visit to hotel and arrest by Danish authorities at Gedstedbro; washing; escort; discovery of frost-bitten foot during bath and subsequent recovery in Ribe hospital; relationship with Danish civilians; question of motivation for escape and subsequent award of Military Medal 1919; story of British POW working on German farm; Danish decision to repatriate them as civilians; question of alarm being raised on escape; reads letter illustrating Danish civilians attitude to escaped Allied POWs.
REEL 13 Continues: relationship with Danish civilians; journey to Copenhagen; issue of passport and documentation; voyage aboard Zito to Newcastle upon Tyne and reception in Newcastle, 12/1915: story of being given white feather for not wearing Derby armband; refusal of Railway Transport officer to advance Painting money; train journey to Winchester including overnight stay in Salvation Army hostel. Aspects of period in King's Royal Rifle Corps Depot Camp, Winchester, 12/1915-1/ 1916: disciplinary problem for leaving camp to visit donor of POW food parcels; interview with Lieutenant General Sir William Pitcairn Campbell at Southern Command, Salisbury.
REEL 14 Continues: interview with Pitcairn Campbell at Southern Command, Salisbury; death of mother and family situation; interview with press; problems with foot; marriage by special licence. Posting as musketry instructor with 5th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1/1916: story of trial and acquittal of conscientious objector; motivation for escape; opinion of POW welfare activities.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Prisoners Of War, 1914-1918

Duration
210

NumberOfParts
14

OtherFormats
Full : 85pp

MakerName
Painting, Thomas Henry

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
000212S01.mp3
000212S02.mp3
Painting-prisoners.mp3
Painting2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
25 June 2007

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
315

ProductionDate
1974

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Mitchell-Fox, Thomas xxx
Gribble, Julian R <VC>

IndexPlaces
GB, Scotland & Glasgow, Lanark <City Hall Recruiting Office>
GB, England & Blandford, Dorset, <Camp>
TR & Helles, Gallipoli
FR & Welsh Ridge, Pas de Calais
FR & Gavrelle, Pas de Calais
DE & Rastatt, /// <POW Camp>
DE & Mainz, /// <Citadel POW Camp>
DE & Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
DE & Rhine, River

IndexUnits
GB.A & Div, 63
GB.N & Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
GB.N & Royal Naval Div, Bn Benbow
GB.N & Depot, Crystal Palace
GB.N & Camp, Blandford
DE.O & Soldiers' Councils

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British seaman served with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division at Gallipoli, 1915; officer served with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division on Western Front, 1914-1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recruitment underage with Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at City Hall Recruiting Office, Glasgow, 10/1914. Aspects of training with Victory III section and Benbow Bn Royal Naval Division at Crystal Palace Depot and Blandford Camp, 10/1914-5/1915: formation of Royal Naval Division; inadequately trained troops used on Antwerp expedition; formation of battalions; maintenance of naval traditions; composition and equipment of Royal Naval Division.
REEL 2 Continues: drumming out ceremony for court martialled soldier. Aspects of operations as seaman with Hood Bn Royal Naval Division at Gallipoli, 1915, and as officer with Hood Bn on Western Front, 1917: efforts to make Royal Naval Division into conventional army division; use of chloradyne and chocolate to treat dysentery at Gallipoli; treatment of shrapnel wound in leg received at Gavrelle, 4/1917; situation and conditions of service at Gallipoli. Recollections of capture during operations at Welsh Ridge, France, 12/1917: story illustrating comparison between British and German cigarettes; ersatz coffee; German NCO's efforts to take boots; question of quality of German troops. Aspects of period as POW at Rastatt Camp, Germany, 1918: Russian POWs.
REEL 3 Continues: food ration. Aspects of period as POW at Citadel Camp, Mainz, Germany, 1918: barrack accommodation; daily routine and conditions; story illustrating effects of starvation diet; forcible vaccination programme and resulting deaths including Julian Gribble VC; camp concert party activities; educational courses; techniques to distract German guards during escape attempts; successful escape of POW in laundry van; German newspapers; contact with German civilians and store of civilian clothing acquired by bartering Red Cross parcels; signs of unrest amongst German soldiers and eventual formation of Soldiers Councils; story of mass unopposed escape and first news of armistice during journey aboard Dutch barge down Rhine to Cologne, 11/1918.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Western Front, 1914-1918
Military Operations, 1914-1919: Gallipoli, 1915
Prisoners of War, 1914-1918
Naval Operations, 1914-1919: Royal Naval Division, 1914-1918

Duration
45

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
Full : 30pp

MakerName
Mitchell-Fox, Thomas

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (1918) in typescript

RelatedSoundFile
000315S01.mp3
000315S02.mp3
MitchellFox-prisoners.mp3
Mitchellfox2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
InTheBag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
6095

ProductionDate
1982

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
aircraft, British: Vickers Wellington

IndexPeople
Foinette, Eric Norman xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
FR
FR & Boulogne
DE
DE & Hamburg
DE & Sylt
DK

IndexUnits
GB.F & Sqdn 12
DE.O & POW Camp, Spangenburg
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag Luft III, Sagan
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag III, Luckenwalde
DE.O & POW Interrogation Centre, Dulag Luft, Frankfurt

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British officer served as navigator with 12 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; POW in Spangenburg, Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Stalag III, Luckenwalde, 1942-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1940-1941: background to call up, 1940; character of navigators training; behaviour of instructors; opinion of operating in Vickers Wellington. Recollections of operations as navigator with 12 Sqdn, RAF, 1941-1942: joining squadron, 8/1941; character of Merlin engined Vickers Wellington; wartime history of squadron; initial raid on Boulogne; navigation problems during raid on Hamburg; anti-aircraft damage over Sylt; bailing out over Denmark. Aspects of capture and interrogation at Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, 1942: handing over to Germans by Danish Police; question of missing opportunity to escape; removal to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt; attempts to gain information at Dulag Luft.
REEL 2 Continues: question of negligible effects o bombing on Germany. Aspects of period as POW at Spangenburg, 1942: POW morale; relations between new RAF POWs and long standing army POWs; character of POW castle; escape attempts; relations with French POWs. Recollections of period as POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 1942-1945: appearance of camp; German precautions against escape from huts; accommodation in huts; ablution facilities; layout of camp; confining aircrew to camps; news of war's progress; corruption of German guards; punishment of German civilian contractor after contact with POWs; organisation and discovery of Great Escape.
REEL 3 Continues: reaction of POWs to execution of Great Escapers; German attitude towards POWs behaviour; effect of execution of Great Escapers on escape attempts; selection of those to be executed; RAF investigations of executions; baiting of German over Nazi salute; incident of stealing of German officer's pass; camp organisation; character of Foodacco scheme; disposal of camp money; efficient working of Foodacco scheme; lack of conflict between POWs.
REEL 4 Continues: question of discipline; POW gambling; lack of sexual problems; POW activities; female roles in plays; acquisition of theatre equipment; personal studying and effect on his later career; contact with home; use of RAF code to send intelligence; receiving escape materials from GB; German photography; his comfortable POW room; German treatment of Russian POWs; attitude towards approach of Russian Army.
REEL 5 Continues: evacuation of camp, 27/1/1945; character of journey from Sagan to Stalag III, Luckenwalde including problems with prolapse. Aspects of period as POW at Stalag III, Luckenwalde, 1945: appearance and character of POWs; favoured treatment of officer POWs; liberation by Russians, 5/1945; impressions of Russian troops; fight to take control of former German officers camp; food supply problems; problems between Americans and Russians over repatriation; promotion during period as POW; attitude towards German guards; effect of imprisonment on his attitudes; cases of psychological breakdown.

ContextDescription
Prisoners of War in Europe, 1939-1945
Air Operations, 1939-1945: Bomber Offensive, 1939-1945

Duration
150

NumberOfParts
5

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Foinette, Eric Norman

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
006095S01.mp3
006095S02.mp3
006095S03.mp3
Foinette1-prisoners.mp3
Foinette2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TheCamps
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
8276

ProductionDate
1984

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
book: The Great Escape

IndexPeople
Nelson, Thomas Robert xxx
Bushell, Roger
Long, 'Cookie'
Brickhill, Paul

IndexPlaces
GB, England
DE
DE & Gorlitz

IndexUnits
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag Luft III, Sagan
DE.O & Geheime Staats Polizei <Gestapo>
DE.O & Prison, Gorlitz

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British officer POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan in Germany, 1942-1945 including participation in Great Escape, 3/1944

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of period as POW during tunnelling preparations for Great Escape at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 1943- 1944: move to new compound; potential for escapes; how he was selected for working with X escape committee under Squadron Leader Roger Bushell; German counter tunnelling activities; incentives for tunnelling; tunnel dimensions; construction of tunnels and half way houses; discovery of tunnel 'Dick'; removal of excess sand; use of trolleys; design and use of air pumps and ventilation system.
REEL 2 Continues: tunnel lighting system; selection of escape date; selection of escapers and their order of escape; categories of escapers; method of dispersing of tunnel sand; fate of three tunnels; length and direction of 'Harry' tunnel. Recollections of escape during Great Escape from Stalag Luft III, Sagan, 3/1944: assembling of escapers, 24/3/1944; problems with exit of tunnel; method of escape from tunnel exit; method of hauling escapers in tunnel.
REEL 3 Continues: lighting problems during escape; collapse of tunnel during Cookie Long's escape; exiting tunnel; discomforts of season; decision to seek shelter after two days; capture by civilians; removal to Gorlitz Prison; conditions on imprisonment; conduct of interrogations by Gestapo; disappearance of escapers from prison; return to Stalag Luft III and punishment; attitude of POW's to solitary confinement; German announcement of fate of escapers; opinion of Paul Brickhill's book 'The Great Escape'; fate of escapers.
REEL 4 Continues: second hand account of German discovery of tunnel; POWs reaction to execution of escapers; opinion of reasons for German execution of POWs; question of what part his surname played in his survival; reasons for planning such a large escape; conduct of Gestapo interrogations and his response; conditions in Gorlitz Prison, 3/1944-4/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: POW lack of respect for Gestapo as result of earlier camp searches; explanation of term 'Hard Arser'; conduct of lottery to choose escapers.

ContextDescription
Prisoners Of War In Europe, 1939-1945

Duration
150

NumberOfParts
5

OtherFormats
Full : 42pp

MakerName
Nelson, Thomas Robert

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
008276s01.mp3
008276s02.mp3
008276s03.mp3
008276s04.mp3
008276s05.mp3
Nelson-prisoners.mp3
Nelson2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TheCamps
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
10643

ProductionDate
22/Mar/1989

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
aircraft, British: Vickers Wellington
glider, British: Colditz Glider

IndexPeople
Welch, Patrick Palles Lorne Elphinstone xxx
Bushell, Roger

IndexPlaces
GB, England
NL
NL & Amsterdam
DE

IndexUnits
GB.F & Operational Training Unit 25
GB.F & Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag Luft III, Sagan
DE.O & POW Camp, Oflag IV C, Colditz
DE.O & POW Interrogation Centre, Dulag Luft

ShortSummary
British NCO served as flying instructor in GB, 1938-1942; officer served as pilot with 25 Operation Training Unit, RAF in GB, 1942; POW at Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1943-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of period as sergeant flying instructor with RAF in GB, 1939-1941: background to enlistment in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1938; attitude towards Nazi Germany; reaction to outbreak of Second World War; role as flying instructor in GB, 1939-1941. Recollections of operations as officer with 25 Operational Training Unit in GB, 1942: acting as second pilot during Thousand Bomber Raids, 1942; flying Vickers Wellington; shooting down over Netherlands, 1/8/1942. Aspects of capture and interrogation at Dulag Luft in Germany, 1942: capture by Germans; escape attempt in Amsterdam.
REEL 2 Continues: interrogation at Dulag Luft; train journey to Stalag Luft III at Sagan. Recollections of period as POW at Stalag Luft III at Sagan, 1942-1943: role making escape equipment; memories of Roger Bushell; details of his escape from camp; escape equipment carried; attempt to steal aircraft; recapture by Germans on airfield attempting to start aircraft. Recollections of period as POW at Oflag IV C, Colditz, 1943-1945: reasons for being sent to camp; physical setting of castle.
REEL 3 Continues: account of his involvement in construction of Colditz Glider; question of myth and accuracy of presentation of Colditz story; friends he had in camp; POW mentality; access to radio; liberation by US Army; question of adjusting to daily life after period as POW; attitude towards Germans. Question of how his aircraft was shot down over Netherlands.

ContextDescription
Air Operations, 1939-1945: Bomber Offensive, 1939-1945
Prisoners Of War In Europe, 1939-1945

Duration
90

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Welch, Patrick Palles Lorne Elphinstone

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
010643s01.mp3
010643s02.mp3
010643s03.mp3
Welch-prisoners.mp3
Welch2-prisoners.mp3
Welch1-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
TheCamps
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Educational use only

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
15336

ProductionDate
1/May/1995

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Wilson, John Carson xxx
Harris, Arthur
Sinclair, Michael
Bader, Douglas

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Felixstowe, Suffolk
PI
DK
LY

IndexUnits
GB.F & Sqdn 6
DE.O & POW Interrogation Centre, Dulag Luft
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag Luft 1, Barth
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag Luft III, Sagan
DE.O & POW Camp, Oflag IV C, Colditz

ShortSummary
British officer served as pilot with 6 Sqdn, RAF in Palestine, 1938-1939 and in North Africa, 1940-1941; POW in Stalag 1, Barth, Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1941-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Felixstowe and Brighton, 1916-1938: family; education; securing short service commission with RAF, 1937. Recollections of period as staff officer with RAF and 6 Sqdn, RAF in Palestine, 1938-1940: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; background to taking over staff job at King David Hotel in Jerusalem; potential Arab threats to life of Air Vice Marshal d'Albiac; memories of Arthur Harris and his wife; posting to 6 Sqdn, RAF; character of air pin operations, 1939; aircraft types used; use of Westland Lysanders for army co- operation; lack of personal contact with civilians. Aspects of operations as officer with 6 Sqdn, RAF in Western Desert, 1940- 1941: move from Palestine to Western Desert, late 1940; German Air Force harrissing attacks, from 3/1941; reconnaissance mission to Gulf of Sirte when aircraft was hit by flak.
REEL 2 Continues: setting fire to his Hawker Hurricane; initial treatment by Italian and Germans, 3/1941. Aspects of period as POW in North Africa and Germany, 1941: reaction to capture; flight from North Africa to Munich aboard Junkers Ju 52; how German officer sent letter to his parents; reaction to being sent to German sergeant mess; interrogation at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre; period as POW in Stalag Luft I Barth, 1941-1942: removal to camp, 1941; his escape attempt from train taking POWs from Barth to Sagan, c1942; first escape from camp; escape to Denmark and recapture.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan in Germany, 1942-1944: teaming up with Czech officer Haloupla for escape attempts; method of confusing appel count; capture with Haloupla whilst cutting through camp's wire perimeter; collusion with Austrian guard for a second escape attempt and recapture attempting to get under wire; decision to send Wilson and Haloupla to Colditz; question why he attempted to escape; how he and Haloupla were put high on list for Great Escape but did not go. Recollections of period as POW in Oflag IV B, Colditz, 1944-1945: receptions from inmates; effect of being in Colditz; premonition he had about living conditions and extreme cold; reaction to viewing television drama about Colditz; how he became RAF representative on escape committee; glider project in attic space; look out system; memories of Michael Sinclair.
REEL 4 Continues: Michael Sinclair's escape attempt and shooting by German guards; story of disrespect for commandant and potato assault on guards; relations between different nationalities; level of fitness; corruption of guards; opinion of prominentes; German infiltrator; code system using German-English dictionary to pass information; use of illicit radio; liberation of camp by US troops; foraging for food in countryside; memories of Douglas Bader.

ContextDescription
Prisoners Of War In Europe, 1939-1945

Duration
120

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Wilson, John Carson

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
015336s01.mp3
015336s02.mp3
Wilson-prisoners.mp3
Wilson2-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
15557

ProductionDate
5/Jul/1995

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Temple, Guy xxx
Miller, Loris B
Lombard, Chris
Morah, George
Farrar-Hockley, Anthony

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Weymouth, Dorset
KR
KR & Hill 327
KR & Pusan
KR & River Imjin
KR & Solma-Ri
KP
KP & River Yalu

IndexUnits
GB.A & Gloucestershire Regt, Bn 1, Coy C, Platoon 8
KP.O & POW Camp, Bean Camp , North Korea
KP.O & POW Camp, Mining Camp, North Korea
KP.O & POW Camp, Pak's Paradise, North Korea
KP.O & POW Camp, Camp 2, North Korea

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British officer served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1928-1950: family; education. Recollections of operations with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 12/1950-4/1951: attitude towards war; reception on arrival in Pusan, 12/1950; attitude of South Koreans to United Nations' troops; role as signals officer during capture of Hill 327, 1/1951; cold weather conditions and effects of cold on equipment; positive effect of Ridgway taking command; lack of United Nations' control; taking up positions on River Imjin, spring 1951; taking over as commanding officer of 8 Platoon, C Coy; composition of 8 Platoon. Recollections of the Battle of the Imjin River, 4/1951: patrol towards River Imjin; calling down artillery onto Chinese crossing of River Imjin; opposition to Chinese crossing and withdrawal.
REEL 2 Continues: question of number of Chinese casualties; question of personal morale during engagement; reaction to engagement; disposition of other companies; amalgamation of remnants of B and C Coys, with Temple being made second-in-command; taking positions to south of Solma-Ri; physical condition after three nights without sleep, c24/4/1951; 'Battle of the Bugles'; Chinese assault on L-shaped ridge of Solma-Ri, c25/4/1951; orders to break out of encirclement; attempted break-out, 26/4/1951. Recollections of period as POW in North Korea, 1951-1953: capture by Chinese; initial Chinese treatment of POWs; eating 'bug dust', Chinese soldiers combat rations; view of Chinese soldiers.
REEL 3 Continues: question of escape on trek north; account of first escape attempt and recapture; treatment by North Koreans who recaptured him; period in North Korean gaol with North Korean Christians; period in Bean Camp then Mining Camp; attempt of Chinese to get POWs to make a radio talk; decline in POW morale; second escape attempt and recapture; punishment in stockade in Bean Camp; contrast in attitude between white and black US troops; contracting gangrene through being tied up and how maggots ate gangrene.
REEL 4 Continues: medical and physical condition in camp; move to 'Pak's Paradise', interrogation centre; demands made on POWs; interrogation by 'The Professor'; role with US POW Loris B Miller as cooks for work party; teaching Korean NCOs English with South African, Chris Lombard; different attitude of North Korean and Chinese armies to officer status of POWs; orders to evacuate 'Pak's Paradise'; conditions in 'Traitor's Row'; memories of US POW Sergeant George Morah; death rate from dysentery and 'give-up-itis'; move to Camp Two on River Yalu, 1/1952; gradual recovery and timber unloading duties, summer 1952; improvement in conditions, winter 1952-1953; availability of literature.
REEL 5 Continues: nature of literature; state of health during last yearin captivity; Anthony Farrar- Hockley's show performed in camp; coded messages to War Office; plan to escape which never came off; delayed release as 'reactionary'; viewing of film of Coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second; question of insistence on trying to escape. Effects on him of POW experience and of talking to his family after captivity.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1945-1975: Korea 1950-1953

Duration
135

NumberOfParts
5

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Temple, Guy

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photo (1956) in file

RelatedSoundFile
Temple-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
16910

ProductionDate
6/Nov/1996

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Hoggard, John Wellesley xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Catford, London
MI
AC, North
DE
DE & Travemünde
DE & Lübeck
DE & Wilhelmshaven
DE & Cuxhaven

IndexUnits
GB.N & Voltaire
DE.N & Thor
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag X B, Sandbostel
DE.O & POW Camp, Marlag Nord
DE.O & POW Camp, Oflag IV C, Colditz
DE.O & Newspaper, Völkischer Beobachter

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British officer served aboard HMS Voltaire in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1939-1941 including sinking by German raider Thor, 4/4/1941; POW in Stalag X B, Sandbostel, Marlag Nord and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1941-1942

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1919-1936: family; education; joining Merchant Navy, 1936. Recollections of operations as officer aboard armed merchant cruiser in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1939-1941: appointment to ship, 1939; contraband control in Mediterranean, 1939-1940; convoy escort work in Atlantic, 1940-1941; sinking of ship by German raider Thor off Cape Verde Islands, 4/4/1941; period in sea and rescue by crew of Thor. Recollections of period as POW at Stalag X B, Sandbostel in Germany, 1941-1942: arrival at Cuxhaven and propaganda photograph for Völkischer Beobachter; how news of sinking of HMS Hood was announced by German commandant of the camp; German treatment of Russian POWs, summer 1941; role in tunneling escape attempt, 11/1941-4/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: escape from Stalag X B, 4/1942; method of obtaining Reichsmarks in camp; attempts to get to Sweden via Lübeck and Travmünde; recapture in Baltic area; treatment by Gestapo at Travmünde. Period as POW at Marlag Nord, 5/1942-7/1942: reasons for transfer from Marlag Nord to Colditz including initial impressions of Colditz; transfer of Merchant Navy POWs from Stalag X B to Marlag Nord, 5/1942; prior recollections of interrogation by Germans at Wilhelmshaven, 1941. Recollections of period as POW at Oflag IV C, Colditz, 1942-1945: friends, accommodation and cooking facilities; German rations for POWs; role during escape attempts.
REEL 3 Continues: German response to call of 'Goons up'; the Colditz glider; blackmail of German guards; escape equipment that arrived from GB; German investigation of contents of Red Cross parcels; coping with loss of freedom; liberation of camp, 4/1945; readjusting to freedom in GB and re-joining Royal Navy in Pacific; opinion of Germans.
REEL 4 Continues: behaviour of Germans in charge of Colditz especially during liberation, 4/1945. Story relating to treatment of German security officer at Marlag Nord.

ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1945
Prisoners of War in Europe, 1939-1945

Duration
100

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Hoggard, John Wellesley

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Booklet about Colditz in file, includes photograph of Hoggard

RelatedSoundFile
016910S01.mp3
016910S02.mp3
Hoggard-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
18735

ProductionDate
11/Mar/1999

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Edlmann Ernest Lorne Campbell xxx
Bader, Douglas

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Cheltenham, Glous
GB, Wales
GB, Wales & Pembroke Dock
DE
DE & Munich
DE & Thier
FR
FR & Cassel
BE
BE & River Escaut
BE & Oudenaarde
BE & Bastogne
BE & Petegem
IN
PI
KE
KE & Thompson Falls

IndexUnits
GB.O & Public School, Wellington
GB.A & Royal Military Acedemy, Sandhurst
GB.A & BA, Shorncliffe
GB.A & BA, Borden
GB.A & Command, Aldershot
GB.A & Div 44
GB.A & Kent Regt, East (The Buffs), Bn 2, Coy Headquarters
GB.A & Kent Regt, East (The Buffs), Bn 1, Coy A
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag 7 C, Laufen
DE.O & POW Camp, Stalag 18 A, Wolfsberg
DE.O & POW Camp, Oflag 7 B, Eichstaett
DE.O & POW Camp, Oflag 9 A/Z , Rotenburg

ShortSummary
British cadet with Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, GB, 1933-1934; officer served with 2nd Bn The Buffs in GB and Palestine, 1934-1939; served as intelligence officer with Headquarters Coy, 2nd Bn The Buffs in France and Belgium, 1940; POW in Germany, 1940-1945 including escape, 4/1945; commanded A Coy, 1st Bn The Buffs in Kenya, 1953-1954

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in India and GB, 1914-1933: father's death in First World War, 1915; return to GB, 1916; nature of education in Cheltenham and Wellington School; origins of family name; reasons for enlistment in army, 1933 . Period as cadet at Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, 1933- 1934: opinion of officers and instructors; character of education and training; learning to ride a horse; social divisions within college; weapons training; length of terms; reasons for lack of promotion; character of accommodation; emphasis on infantry tactics; teaching of military law and military history.
REEL 2 Continues: story of interview with Duke of Wellington regiment. Period as officer with 2nd Bn The Buffs in GB, 1934-1939: interview to join regiment; joining unit at Shorncliffe, 1934; understrength character of unit; attitude of officers in unit who had served in First World War; training at Borden Camp, Aldershot Command; effect of Hore-Belisha's changes to army structure, 1937-1938; visit by Brigadier Alexander; learning to handle troops; awareness of German tactics and growing militarism; degree of integration with armour and air support during training exercises.
REEL 3 Continues: aspects of leave trips to Germany during 1930's including attitude of German immigration official, sight of German alpine troops training, story of seeing Adolph Hitler at opera, returning photographs to dead German soldiers family for fellow Buffs officer and sight of anti-Semitic exhibition in Munich; role as battalion intelligence officer and weapons training officer; introducing Bren gun to unit; operating PIAT gun; use of Bren gun in unit; change in role of unit to infantry pioneer battalion at Pembroke Dock, 1938; engineering courses; flight in Short Sunderland flying boat. Recollections of brief period with 2nd Bn The Buffs in Palestine, 1936: reasons for move to Palestine; length of service in Palestine.
REEL 4 Continues: weekend leave breaks; construction of sangars; issue of tropical kit. Reaction to declaration of war, 3/9/1939. Story of finding suicide case, 4/9/1939. Recollections of period with 2nd Bn The Buffs in France, 1939-1940: arrival in France; role of unit guarding supply dumps in western France; death of soldier in ammunition dump; relationship with French civilians; move to Belgian border; guard duties; construction of defences on Gort Line; short period as staff office, early 1940; weather conditions, winter 1939-1940; role as horse transport officer; attachment with Sherwood Foresters in the Maginot Line, 11/1939; opinion of French Army. Recollections of operations with 2nd Buffs in Belgium and France, 5/1940: sight of British Hurricane attacking German bomber.
REEL 5 Continues: move across Belgian border; transfer of unit into 44th Home Counties Div; role as intelligence officer; meeting with Duke of Norfolk who had been ordered home. Recollections of action at Oudenaarde, Belgium, 5/1940: taking up positions at Oudenaarde on River Escaut; finding British battledress left by German fifth column; removal of Belgium population; degree of RAF and German Air Force activity; sight of withdrawing 2nd Corps troops; start of German attack, 20/5/1940; battalion headquarters at Petegem; problems with communications; reconnaissance patrol and limit of German penetration over River Escaut; unit counter-attack; loss of company commanders; using Bren guns against advancing Germans; condition of unit after battle; orders to withdraw Dunkirk:
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of retreat towards Dunkirk, 5/1940: withdrawal of unit; German Air Force attacks and loss of battalion transport; reading from German propaganda leaflet dropped on unit; question of possibility of being capture; lack of evasion training; orders to remain and fight south of Cassel, France; surrounding of unit by Germans; carrying wounded man; orders from commanding officer to 'push on'; wounding of adjutant and taking over role as adjutant; refusal to leave commanding officer; flagging down British truck and filling it up with wounded; capture by German troops; reaction to capture;. Recollections of period as POW in France,5/1940- 6/1940: initial treatment by Germans; effect on personal morale of capture; march across France; separation of officers and other ranks; British troops attitude towards officers on surrendering; question of lack of escape training; joining up with survivors of Calais garrison; sharing rations; daily routine on march to Bastogne, Belgium.
REEL 7 Continues: opinion of advice on escape given by senior British officer; treatment by German railway official in Bastogne. Period as POW in Trier Their, Germany, 1940: short stay in castle at Their; sight of captured French general; nature of rations. Recollections of period as POW in Stalag 7 C, Laufen, 1940-1942: character of Polish POWs; story of German shooting of British officer; working on escape tunnel including provision of air and electricity, role collecting wood for tunnel, story of consequences of not saluting German commandant, and role during digging of tunnel; improvement in camp conditions, 1940-1942; rations and relaxation; question of having to expect long period in POW camp; baiting German guards; incident of British officer who escaped from camp disguised as German officer.
REEL 8 Continues: Recollections of period as POW in Stalag 18 A Wolfsberg, 1942: nature of camp; account of escape from camp and recapture including aid given by Douglas Bader, 4/1942. Period of confinement in German civilian prison, 6/1942 including second escape attempt and meeting with German panzer officer. Recollections of period as POW in Oflag 7 B, Eichstaett, 1942-1943: winter conditions and contracting chilblains; move to hospital. Recollections of period as POW in Oflag 9 A/Z , Rotenburg, 1943-1945: camp commander Brigadier Nicolson' s suicide.
REEL 9 Continues: sight of Allied air armadas; reaction of German civilians to bombing; role providing news service for POWs; changing treatment of German guards. Recollections of escape from POW column, 4/1945. Liberation by US troops in middle of attack against German forces, 4/1945. Journey from Germany to GB via Brussels, 4/1945 including reception in GB. Recollections of operations as commander of A Coy, 1st Bn The Buffs in Kenya, 1953-1954: flight to Kenya, 4/1953; move to Thompson Falls; arrival of family, 1954; Mau Mau tactics and role of unit; relations with civilians; opinion of Kenya; degree of success of unit against them; organisation of operations against insurgents; role of King's Africa Rifles in operations; acting role as battalion commander including planning operations.

ContextDescription
Military Operations, 1939-1945: France And The Low Countries, 1939-1944

Duration
270

NumberOfParts
9

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Edlmann, Ernest Lorne Campbell

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
018735S01.mp3
Edlmann-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Educational use only

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
20308

ProductionDate
9/May/2000

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Garrad, Sidney Arthur xxx
Edward MacKnight-Kaufer

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Fulham, London
GB, England & Colchester, Essex
IT
IT & Capua
IT & Maturata
IT & Bari
EG
EG & Cairo
GR
GR & Larissa
GR & Crete
LY
LY & Tobruk
LY & Derna
LY & Benghazi

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Artillery
GB.A & Royal Artillery, Survey Training Regt 4
GB.A & Popski's Private Army
IT.O & Hospital, Caserta

IndexConcepts
POW

ShortSummary
British artist served as gunner with 4th Survey Regt, Royal Artillery in North Africa and Greece, 1940-1942; POW in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943; escaped and evaded capture in Italy, 1943-1944

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Fulham, 1916-1939: family; education; memories of Edward MacKnight-Kaufer; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Period with Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1940: character of training at Colchester, 5/1940; posting to 4th Survey Training Regt, Royal Artillery; attitude of commanding officer to non-Geordies getting promotion, c10/1940. Period with 4th Survey Training Regt, Royal Artillery in Egypt, 1940-1941: arrival in Egypt; recreational activities in Cairo; attitude towards Egyptians; coaching boys to play cricket in Cairo; relations with commanding officer; sound ranging in desert. Recollections of operations with 4th Survey Regt, Royal Artillery in North Africa and Greece, 1941-1942: attempt to rescue barbed wire supplies under Stuka attack at Larissa, Greece; obtaining rations supplies at Larissa; Greece; role spotting aircraft in North Africa; attitude of Greeks to British soldiers.
REEL 2 Continues: memories of Sergeant-Major Boss; destruction of equipment during evacuation from Greece; story of shooting down of German Air Force during relief of Tobruk; conditions in Crete; evacuation from Crete; opinion of commanding officer; opinion of Italian Bersaglieri troops; sight of Italian POWs at Gazala. Aspects of period as POW in North Africa, 1942: opinion of South Africans garrisoning Tobruk; capture at Tobruk, 6/1942; wrecking his rifle before capture; transfer into hands of Italians; Mussolini's inspecting of POWs at Derna; story of how Mussolini was manhandled by German NCO to get him to show respect for British dead; contracting dysentery and hospitalisation in Benghazi; hearing Italian classical music in Benghazi; interest Italians showed in his artistic skills; commission from Italians to paint a morgue; transfer in hospital ship to Naples, Italy. 10/1942.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as POW in Italy, 1942- 1943: recovering in Caserta Hospital; reasons why POW meat rations ended up in Church funds; attitude toward religion; punishment for Italian doctor who sold POWs' mustard and pepper; counter-acting theft from Red Cross parcels in camp at Capua; different attitude of Italian and German guards to POWs; providing entertainment; swapping items for bread; character of camp interpreter; baiting Italian guards; escape at Maturata c8/1943. Recollection of evading capture in Italy, 1943-1945: aid from civilians; disagreement among escapees about what to do.
REEL 4 Continues: civilian who wanted intimate relations with him; evader who was a thief; decision to leave group; civilian who wanted to shelter him; living with Italian family; contact with one- eyed South African officer; relations with optician; attempt to round up officer evaders to help with RAF drop to partisans; narrow escape from re-capture by Germans; partisans' relations with civilians; precautions against re-capture; how he was freed by Popski's Private Army; sight of German retreat; treatment of ex- POWs at Bari. Attitude to authority in army. Effects of death of his wife in V1 raid, 1944.

ContextDescription
British Prisoners Of War In Europe, 1939-1945

Duration
120

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Garrad, Sidney Arthur

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Garrad-prisoners.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 809

ItemName
shaving brush, with concealed information, British

ObjectType
escape equipment

IndexPeople
Shaw, J W (Major)

IndexPlaces
Germany & Holzminden

IndexUnits
GB.A & Royal Flying Corps

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
Shaving brush (modified to contain documentation useful for escapees) associated with the First World War experiences of Major J W Shaw as a prisoner of war in Holzminden Camp, Germany.
During the First World War Major Shaw served with 2nd King Edward's Horse, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Royal Flying Corps. He was taken prisoner at Messines in 1917 and held at Freiburg. He escaped from this camp and when recaptured was imprisoned in Holzminden POW camp. While there he assisted in the construction of the famous 'Holzminden Tunnel' through which 29 officers escaped. Major Shaw was the 31st in the queue and the tunnel subsided and collapsed on the man in front. During the Second World War he served as Assistant Military Liaison Officer, No 6 (Southern) Region, Reading December 1939-August 1945.

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 810-838

RelatedImageFile
EPH_000809.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
24/05/2007 05:50:24

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
shaving brush, two sections of which unscrew to reveal a hollow interior containing escape documentation: a hand-drawn map of the Aachen area and train timetable for rail services between Holzminden and Aachen.

Access
On display at IWM London

IndexPlace
Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany

Theme
Prisoners of War 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 2206

ItemName
hairbrush, escape

ObjectType
escape equipment

IndexPeople
Humphreys, William Edward

IndexUnits
GB.O

FullSummary
Made by William Edward Humphreys of G.B. Kent Ltd., London Road, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. According to Charles Fraser Smith, MI9 asked him if escape equipment could be concealed in hairbrushes as they were natural items for prisoners of war to have with them. He wrote: 'I took the problem to G. B. Kent & Sons at Hemel Hempstead. Their experts came up with a wonderful brush for me in no time at all. It appeared to be all in one piece but could be opened - rather like a Chinese puzzle - in such a way that nobody who did not know its secrets could possibly have come upon them by accident. The back was hollowed out to hold a compass, a large map and a nine-centimetre ridged, double-edged saw. The joint was hidden by a coating of dandruff. It was a most ingenious gadget but, unfortunately, had to be hand-made. Production was therefore restricted to only one or two a week.' See 'The Secret War of Charles Fraser-Smith: The Q Gadget Wizard of World War Two' by Charles Fraser-Smith with Gerald McKnight and Sandy Lesberg (Exeter: The Paternoster Press, 1981), p. 57.

ProductionCompany
G.B. Kent Ltd

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 2207

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
rectangular hairbrush, with concealed silk map and compass

Access
On display at IWM North

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 2722

ItemName
belt

ObjectType
personal equipment

IndexPeople
Vrba, Rudolf (Walter Rosenberg)
Unglik, Charles

IndexPlaces
PL & Auschwitz

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
The belt was worn by Charles Unglik at the time of his foiled escape attempt from Auschwitz. After his death in 1944 Rudolf Vrba took possession of the belt. He wore it as a good luck memento when he escaped, with Alfred Wetzler, from Auschwitz on 7 April 1944, and when he fought as a partisan with the Slovaks against the Germans.
See Rudolf Vrba's book 'I cannot forgive' (London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1964) in DPB 23(=437)/5 [ Vrba, Rudolf]

RelatedImageFile
EPH_002722.jpg

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
19/12/2007 05:50:19

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
leather belt (L 112mm x W 35mm). The following contemorary inscriptions are inscribed in ink on the inside of the belt: 'AU-BI
25.1.1944' (signifying the date of Unglik's death); 43(645?) (denoting Unglik's prisoner number)

Access
Access by prior appointment

IndexPlace
Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland

IndexEvent
Holocaust

Theme
Holocaust

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Film

IDNO
NTB 318-2

ProductionDate
29/9/1917

ItemName
WAR OFFICE OFFICIAL TOPICAL BUDGET 318-2 [Main]

IndexObjects
engineering, military, British: road building
supplies, British, movement [FA] - misc
transport, British military - animal
transport, British military - truck
ceremonies, French - event-related: commemoration of Captain Guynemer
ceremonies, British - event-related: investiture, VC
aircraft, Italian - combat: SIA 7B & [-]
recreation, Italian air civil - general: Turin to London flight, 1917

IndexPeople
Guynemer, Georges M L J
George V, King
Insall, Gilbert S M
Edwards, Alexander
Ackroyd, Harold
Laureati, Giulio (Marquis)
Tonzo, Michael Angelo

IndexPlaces
GB, England & London, SW <Buckingham Palace>
GB, England & Hounslow, Middx

IndexUnits
FR.A & Air Corps
GB.A & Royal Army Medical Corps
GB.A & Royal Flying Corps
GB.A & Seaforth Highlanders
IT.A & Air Corps

ShortSummary
I. A motorised transport column on the Western Front.
II. Commemoration of French air ace Captain Guynemer.
III. King George V holds a public investiture at Buckingham Palace and decorates eight VCs.
IV. Italian aviator Giulio Laureati flies from Turin to London.

FullSummary
I. 'DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORT. Some of the troubles to be overcome by the transport to keep in touch with the advancing troops.' Wagons, carts, 18-pounder artillery and a convoy of motor lorries pass left and right along a muddy road. A column of troops also pass along the far side. Despite the heavy traffic, men are at work widening the road, and trying to keep it clear of mud and fill in holes.
II. 'CAPT. GUYNEMER VICTOR OF 53 FIGHTS. Capt. Guynemer who has brought down 53 German machines, is reported to have fallen into the sea while attacking a German squadron.' French military band leads march past of troops. Watched by the men of his squadron the already medal-bedecked Captain Guynemer is received into the Legion of Honour.
III. 'INVESTITURE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. HM. the King held a Public Investiture at the Palace and decorated eight V.C.'s. Lieut. Install (sic) V.C. the airman who escaped from Germany.' Soldiers of the Reserve Battalion Grenadier Guards present arms as the King enters the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Lieutenant Insall comes forward and receives his VC. Sergeant Edwards of the Seaforth Highlanders receives his VC, followed by Private Ratcliffe (?) and Skinner (?). In the background, an Army photographer covering the ceremony sets up his camera on a tripod. 'POSTHUMOUS V.C. The widow and son of the late Capt. Ackroyd receive the Victoria Cross and Military Cross, awarded that gallant officer.' The widow, dressed in black, and her small son, wearing a white sailor's suit with black armband, are each given one of Ackroyd's medals. Cut to MS pan over the VC winners as they wait their turn before the King: right to left they are John Skinner, King's Own Scottish Borderers (unimpressed by the proceedings, he is chewing gum), William Ratcliffe, South Lancashire Regiment, Sergeant Ivor Rees of the South Wales Borderers, Sergeant Alexander Edwards, Seaforth Highlanders, Sergeant Edward Cooper, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Sergeant Robert Bye, Welsh Guards, and Lieutenant Insall. Mrs Ackroyd stands with her son in the background. Bye steps forward to receive his award. Cut to the men departing after the ceremony - most walk straight off, one to be embraced by his mother, but Lieutenant Insall is introduced to some French officers.
IV. 'ITALY TO ENGLAND IN SEVEN HOURS. This was the time taken by Capt. Laureati to fly from Turin to London, a distance of 683 miles.' Italian officers stand on airfield pointing up at the arriving aircraft - they are part of a small crowd that has gathered to greet the Marquis on his arrival. LS as the SIA 7B touches down. MS of the pilot, Captain the Marquis Giulio Laureati, and his passenger, Air Mechanic Michael Angelo Tonzo, surrounded by the Italian party.

ContextDescription
Summary (item II): Guynemer was shot down on 11 September. No trace of his body or aircraft was ever found.
Summary (item IV): early part of this sequence was subject to nitrate deterioration and the centre of the picture has gone

Duration
3 mins

Format
P 2/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
272 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office

ProductionCompany
Topical Film

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
None

LanguageSubtitles
English

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion
MythsAndHeroes

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
RMY 64

ProductionDate
2/11/1944

ItemName
PATHE GAZETTE [Main]

IndexEvents
17/5(144).7 [1944.2.18 Amiens]

IndexObjects
aircraft, British - combat: De Havilland Mosquito
aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Typhoon
casualties, British dead - graves, formal
combat, British - air raid
destruction, French military - aimed: bomb
operations, British air - preparation

IndexPeople
Pickard, P C

IndexPlaces
France & Amiens, Somme <prison>

IndexUnits
GB.F & Sqdn, 21
AU.F & Sqdn, 464

ShortSummary
"The Jailbreakers." Newsreel item on the Mosquito raid on Amiens Prison in 1944.

FullSummary
Eighteen Mosquitos (including planes of 464 RAAF Squadron and 21 Squadron) under the command of Group Captain Pickard (seen adjusting his parachute harness) prepare for the raid on Amiens prison on 18 February 1944. Map traces the approach route and a model of the prison shows walls which must be breached to enable French Resistance workers under sentence of death to escape. Typhoons join the Mosquitos crossing the Channel in a snowstorm. Camera plane films the prison after it has been bombed while smoke is still pouring out. Arrows over slow-motion film reveal damaged prison outlined against the surrounding snow-covered fields. A high percentage of the prisoners are reported to have escaped with the loss of only two Typhoons and two Mosquitos. Pickard however was killed and film shows his grave with a wreath upon it. Release of film was delayed for security reasons.

Duration
5 mins

Format
P 1/35/N

Colour
B&W

Sound
comopt

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
421 ft

ProductionCompany
Pathe

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
None

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
06/10/2008 05:50:19

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
NON-IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
A70 288-10

ProductionDate
2/4/1945

ItemName
[SCENES IN GRONAU-IN-WESTFALEN, GERMANY, AFTER ITS OCCUPATION BY 53RD (WELSH) DIVISION] [Allocated]

ShortSummary
Knocked out 88mm gun. Escaped French and Dutch prisoners of war who had been shielded by the local people.

Format
35mm

Colour
B&W

Sound
Mute

ProductionCompany
Army Film and Photographic Unit

ProductionTeam
Walker, G J (Sergeant): cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
None

LanguageSubtitles
None

OtherReferences
dopesheet
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
13/01/2009 05:50:21

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
A70 294-5

ProductionDate
10/4/1945

ItemName
[ESCAPED BRITISH PRISONER, PRIVATE ALEXANDER SMITH OF 1ST BATTALION THE BLACK WATCH, WITH THE 22ND ARMOURED DIVISION AT OKEL, NEAR BREMEN, GERMANY] [Allocated]

Format
35mm

Colour
B&W

Sound
Mute

ProductionCompany
Army Film and Photographic Unit

ProductionTeam
Blakeley, Albert (Sergeant): cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
None

LanguageSubtitles
None

RelatedIWMItems
Smith, Dennis M (Sergeant): photographer

OtherReferences
dopesheet
press report by Captain J H Jeffers
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
13/01/2009 05:50:21

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
INR 57

ProductionDate
14/4/1944

ItemName
INDIAN NEWS PARADE NO 57 [Main]
INDIAN NEWS PARADE [Series]

FullSummary
I. "ARMY TRUCKS RALLY TO RAILWAY RESCUE" Film depicting use of Army lorries to ease railway congestion. Scenes of procession of lorries transporting people waiting for a train.
II. "OFFICER CADETS FOR THE INDIAN AIR FORCE" Air Commodore Vincent presides over the passing out parade for cadets for the Indian Air Force. Officer Cadet Jebb receives the Sword of Honour for being the best cadet of the course, another receives a silver bowl. The notability, the Raja of Jawhar, is present as a flight lieutenant although the commentary states, "every boy of the two hundred who were in the march past had high hopes of being a notability in his own right".
III. "A BUMPER CROP" Film commentary juxtaposes India's "wonderful natural resources" with the "permanent wealth" of the peasants. Scenes of Indian harvest, peasants working and bullock carts. Commentary notes that "a new India looms in the background...a great white bridge, a sign of the machine age.". Threshing machines beating corn are shown as "only machines can make the pace" in feeding India's burgeoning population.
IV. "I.A.M.C. ANNIVERSARY" Flag is raised to commemorate the first anniversary of the year old Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC) as General Board and Colonel Basu inspect the parade. Colonel Thapar reads out a tribute from the Commander-in-Chief in Urdu. Commentary notes importance of the IAMC in terms of the threat of disease from tropical jungle warfare.
V. "DARING ESCAPE FROM A JAPANESE PRISON" Recounts story of escape by Havildar Major Allah Dad from the Japanese whilst building a jungle road as a prisoner. Commentary describes Havildar's sufferings in a Japanese prison and then how "he escaped into the jungle, swam the Salween river... and now he's home with an IDSM [Indian Distinguished Service Medal] and a wonderful story to tell".
VI. "WINGATE'S PHANTOM ARMY" Louis Lord Mountbatten leads tribute to General Wingate, "this war's Lawrence of Arabia". Scenes of Wingate amongst his men and commentary describing his past actions. Like Lawrence "he liked the wild places of the earth", and "like T E Lawrence, he knew the deadly power of the small weapon accurately handled". Mountbatten inspects parade of Wingate's men, including Colonel Philip Cochran.

ContextDescription
Summary: film not viewed; synopses based on commentary sheets.

Duration
7 mins

Format
35mm

Colour
B&W

Sound
Comopt

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
599 ft

ProductionSponsor
Department of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India

ProductionTeam
Moylan, William J (FRGS, FRSA): producer
Moylan, William J (FRGS, FRSA): editor
Ghatak, S C: cameraman (item I)
Khopkar, A M: cameraman (item II)
Rao, D P: cameraman (item III)
Khopkar, A M: cameraman (item IV)
Mani, T S: cameraman (item V)
SEAC Photographic Unit: cameraman (item VI)

ProductionCountry
GB
India

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
None

OtherReferences
Original commentary sheets

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
20/02/2009 05:50:26

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM
To be established

DeptName
Film

IDNO
ADM 1179

ProductionDate
5/1940

ItemName
[OPERATION DYNAMO - THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK] [Allocated]
[the ROYAL NAVY IN NORTHERN AND ATLANTIC WATERS] [series, allocated]

IndexEvents
Second World War & Operation Dynamo & 5/1940

IndexObjects
ships, British naval - destroyer: Icarus (D.03)
ships, British naval - destroyer: Winchelsea (D.46)
ships, British naval - destroyer: Cossack
industry, British - ships
prisoners of war, British - repatriation: Altmark prisoners
operations, British naval - evacuation: Dunkirk
prisoners of war, German - reception

IndexPeople
George VI, King
Gort, John S S P V

IndexPlaces
France & Dunkirk, Nord

IndexUnits
GB.N & Sturgeon
GB.N & Icarus
GB.N & Winchelsea
GB.N & Cossack
GB.N & Sunfish
DE.N & Altmark

ShortSummary
Newsreel items including the evacuation from Dunkirk and the return of prisoners from the «Altmark».

FullSummary
I. "His First Command". Shots of the officers and men of the submarine «HMS Sunfish». The CO says a few words.
II. "Adding to the Bag". Two Luftwaffe NCOs and a Lieutenant are marched along the quayside to a waiting truck. A prisoner has his injured hand disinfected and bandaged. The men are issued with bags - presumably for personal belongings. The wounded man removes his boots and wipes his feet - presumably wet after immersion in the sea.
III. "The King at a Naval Base". King George VI leaves a County Class cruiser («HMS Cumberland» ?) to the cheers of the crew. He enters an underground HQ. He inspects the crew of a Walrus flying boat fell in before their aircraft.
IV. "Ship Launched By A Typist". A typist launches a ship - a dull, impoverished ceremony for a undistinguished merchant hull. As soon as the ship is off the stocks the first plate is laid for the keel of a new vessel.
V. "Submarine Sinks Nazi Transport". Officers and men on the deck of the submarine «HMS Sturgeon». (The sinking referred to in the title is presumably that of the 3624-ton transport «Pionier», torpedoed in Danish waters on 2 September, 1940.)
VI. "Designs for Battle Bowlers". The crew of a merchantman paint their own designs on steel helmets - a skull and crossbones, a caricature head of Hitler about to be hit by a bullet, Hitler on a gibbet, etc. Final sequence is a demonstration of metal cowlings which are thrust through the ship's scuttles to provide ventilation while running darkened.
VII. "Evacuation of B.E.F. - Greatest Epic of the War". Opening shot at night - a Halcyon Class minesweeper flashes a signal. Cameraship at sea in company with an auxiliary paddle AA vessel and a trawler, both of which are crowded with men. CU of ship's radio operator in his shack - he is wearing steel helmet and life-jacket. «HMS Icarus» (D.03) steams past (she is seen here as a Long Range Escort). MS off the port quarter of «HMS Winchelsea» (D.46) - a ferry passes left to right in the background. XLS across the anchorage - Hunt Class sloop (?) in centre screen. A raider passes high overhead, pursued by flak. Ferry steams out to sea - in the background a pall of smoke hangs over the coast, and in lower frame is a sunken ship, mast and funnel breaking the surface. The cameraship closes on the beach and crewmen help troops onto the focsle deck - a boat rows out from the shore - one man helped onboard is wearing only pants, another is naked from the waist down. CUs of rescued men on deck - in the background is a Lewis gun on an AA mounting. The cameraship departs. Cut to MS of «HMS Icarus» back in harbour. Onboard the cameraship men lie exhausted on the focsle around the 4-inch gun - one scratches himself. HA onto afterbody of a ship crowded with mostly French troops. British troops pass the camera as they disembark - they are crossing the focsle of a destroyer alongside from a smaller ship (possibly a minesweeper) outboard. French troops come ashore. On the quayside, men clean up, some write letters. New clothing is issued. Final LS to the beach at Dunkirk, and view past the 4-inch gun on the focsle to the lines of men wading out to the cameraship.
VIII. "British Navy Releases Hell Ship Prisoners". «HMS Cossack» enters port of Leith on Saturday 17 February 1940 - the liberated prisoners from the German supply ship «Altmark» (previously transferred from «Admiral Graf Spee») wave from the deck, and make gestures imitating a cameraman at work. They disembark. Interview with a grizzled ex-prisoner.

ContextDescription
Summary VII: another version of Martin's film of the Dunkirk evacuation is held under ADM 417
Summary V: German ship sunk by Sturgeon (Lieutenant G D A Gregory) with loss of four hundred lives was former fruit transport «Pionier», located in 1999 by divers in Danish waters.
Summary VIII: Photograph in The Scotsman of 19/2/1940 shows cine cameraman in foreground, identifiable as Ronnie Jay of British Paramount News.

Duration
10 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Mute

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
914 ft

ProductionSponsor
[Admiralty]

ProductionCompany
Pathe Gazette
British Paramount News

ProductionTeam
[Martin, Charles]: cameraman
[Jay, Ronnie]: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
English

LanguageSubtitles
None

RelatedIWMItems
ADM 417

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/01/2009 05:50:10

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
AMY 492

ProductionDate
1954

ItemName
ESCAPE [Main]

ShortSummary
A film on methods of escape for captured soldiers.

FullSummary
The film begins by pointing out that it is a soldier's duty to escape. A sergeant prisoner of war recalls in a series of flashbacks the opportunities for escaping from the moment of capture to the arrival in the prison camp. Other examples of escapes are shown. The final part of the film follows the successful escape of the sergeant and two companions, and their trouble free journey back to the border.

ContextDescription
Remarks: although a number of the escapes shown seem pretty far fetched, the film claims that they are all based on genuine cases.

Format
F 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
comopt

NumberOfParts
5

Dimensions
3700 ft (ca)

ProductionSponsor
US War Office

ProductionCountry
USA

Language
English

LanguageMainTitles
English

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

DeptName
Film

IDNO
COI 236

ProductionDate
1944

ItemName
BON VOYAGE [Main]

IndexObjects
propaganda, British - inspirational
propaganda, French - inspirational

IndexPlaces
France

ShortSummary
A short Hitchcock thriller.

FullSummary
1943: RAF Sergeant Dougall tells a Free French Deuxième Bureau officer in London the story of his escape through France (film alternates between the interview and the events described). A fellow escapee, Stephan, contacts the resistance in Rheims; the two are passed through various contacts to a farm where Dougall wins (amicably) the only available place in a plane pick-up; the entire escape passes impressively smoothly. The officer surprises Dougall by knowing Stephan had asked Dougall to post a letter in London, and asks for the address; Dougall is reluctant to "break a confidence". The officer then reveals that 'Stephan' was in fact a Gestapo agent, willing to use a true escape (and indeed to kill a minor collaborationist SOL agent) to establish credentials and so uncover real Resistance agents. Telling the other side of the escape, the officer finally reveals that Stephan himself shot the farmer's daughter (for whom Dougall felt some attraction). The Resistance is now in control again in France, but only Dougall knows the address of Stephan's London contact: he willingly hands it over.

ContextDescription
Credits: only credit besides Hitchcock reads "avec la collaboration des auteurs, artistes et techniciens de langue Francaise en service en Grande Bretagne."
Remarks: a long way from Hitchcock's best, but a fair realisation of quite a good idea.

Duration
25 mins

Format
P 1/35/N

Colour
B&W

Sound
comopt

NumberOfParts
3

Dimensions
2343 ft

ProductionSponsor
Ministry of Information

ProductionCompany
Phoenix (London)

ProductionTeam
Hitchcock, Alfred: director

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
French

LanguageMainTitles
French

LanguageSubtitles
None

OtherReferences
COI Files in Production Office - miscellaneous production information

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion
OccupationAndResistance

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 148

ProductionDate
(?) 1918

ItemName
REFUGEES FROM VILLAGES ON THE CAMBRAI FRONT [Main]

IndexEvents
01/3(4-15).7

IndexObjects
refugees, French - settlement

IndexPeople
Copin, Jules

IndexPlaces
France

ShortSummary
The family of Jules Copin, and a baby born after evacuation from the Cambrai area, Western Front, November 1917.

FullSummary
A nursing home behind the lines with Jules Copin, his wife and child, and two blind aunts, led by two nurses. Copin was a French soldier captured by the Germans in September 1914 who escaped and was hidden by his wife in his own home at Masnières near Cambrai until the village was captured by the British in November 1917. Also shown is a baby born one day after its mother was evacuated by the British from a captured village, posed with its mother, three other children, and two nurses at the home.

ContextDescription
Title: the title and some of the details of the film have been taken from the shotsheet.
Remarks: a useful example of the basic British principle of 'the propaganda of facts' when dealing with the enemy.
Series continuity: there is no film held as IWM 149.

Duration
2 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
115 ft

ProductionSponsor
War Office Cinema Committee

ProductionCompany
Topical Film Company

ProductionTeam
McDowell, J B: cameraman

ProductionCountry
GB

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
None

LanguageSubtitles
None

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Film

IDNO
IWM 508-59

ProductionDate
27/4/1918

ItemName
ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 59 [Main]

IndexEvents
First World War, Salonika Front & 4/1918
31/3(44)
01/3(4-15).8
01/3(4-15).8
01/3(4-15).8
01/3(4-15).8

IndexObjects
aircraft, French - combat: Breguet Type 14
delegations, French national - military
transport, French civilian - agricultural: motor cultivator
recreation, French military - sport: athletics
recreation, French military - sport: football
recreation, French military - sport: wrestling
operations, Italian military - movement: march
ceremonies, French - event-related: investiture

IndexPeople
Henrys (General)
Di Robillant (General)
Mellieur, Georges
Deloche (Sergeant-Major) (?)

IndexPlaces
Greece & Salonika area, Macedonia
France
France
France
France
France

IndexUnits
FR.A
FR.A & Artillery Regt 178
IT.A
FR.A & Chasseurs, Bn 2
FR.A

ShortSummary
I. French newsreel item of General Henrys, commanding French forces, arriving by Breguet Type 14 aircraft to visit his men on the Salonika Front, April 1918.
II. French newsreel item of motor-cultivators removed from the battle zone for safety, on display, Western Front, April 1918.
III. French newsreel item of a sports meeting of 178th Artillery Regiment (?), including hurdling, wrestling, high jump, long jump, sprint and football. Behind the lines, Western Front, April 1918.
IV. French newsreel item on an Italian contingent led by cyclists and commanded by General di Robillant on the march through a French village, April 1918.
V. French newsreel item of Commandant Georges Mellieur of 2nd Battalion, Chasseurs, showing the camera a citation won by his battalion for distinguished conduct on 22nd April. Western Front, April 1918.
VI. French newsreel item on Sergeant-Major (or Maréchal de Logis) Deloche (?), who escaped after being held prisoner with his tank for two days, receiving the Médaille Militaire, Western Front, April 1918.

ContextDescription
Title: this is taken from the shotsheet
Production etc: see Notes to IWM 508-10
Summary: the original caption lists indicate that as it stands this film is missing several items and in a confused state

Duration
7 mins

Format
P 1/35/A

Colour
B&W

Sound
Silent

NumberOfParts
1

Dimensions
397 ft

ProductionCompany
Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française

ProductionCountry
France

Language
None

LanguageMainTitles
None

LanguageSubtitles
French

OtherReferences
shotsheet

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:20:43

URLEncodedDeptName
Film

Access
IWM

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
9603

ProductionDate
1921

ItemName
The escaping club

SubTitle
4th. ed.

IndexPeople
[ Evans, Alfred John]

IndexPlaces
Great Britain
UK
Great Britain
Germany
Germany
UK
Great Britain
Turkey
Great Britain
UK
Western Europe
Israel
Palestine (to 1948)
Turkey
[ Gütersloh Prisoner of War Camp]
[ Clausthal Prisoner of War Camp]
[ Ingolstadt Prisoner of War Camp]
[ Afion Prisoner of War Camp]

IndexConcepts
prisoners of war, escapees
prisoners of war, evaders
civilian internees, escapees
civilian internees, evaders
british prisoners of war, escapees
british prisoners of war, evaders
prisoners of war, general works
individual german prisoner of war camps
british prisoners of war held by the turks
british prisoners of war held by the germans
military life, air force, events of service life in action, being captured, western front
military life, air force, events of service life, being captured, israel
military life, air force, events of service life, captivity, israel
individual turkish prisoner of war camps
turkish prisoner of war camps, individual
prisoners-of-war
military life
autobiography, individual
personal experiences
biographies
autobiographies
diaries
letters

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]

NumberOfParts
ix, 267p., 8 leaves of plates
ill., frontis., 4 maps, port.

Dimensions
20

MakerName
by A.J. Evans (late Major, RAF)

MakerInfo
EVANS, A.J. (ALFRED JOHN)

ProductionCompany
John Lane the Bodley Head

ProductionCountry
London

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
00 / 181

OtherNumber
1-901172-04-X (pbk.)

ProductionDate
1997

ItemName
The Anarchist Pimpernel
Francisco Ponzin Vidal (1936-1944)
the Anarchists in the Spanish Civil War and the escape networks in World War II

IndexPeople
[ Vidal, Francisco Ponzan]
[ Manero, Agustin Remiro]

IndexPlaces
Spain
Spain
Europe
Spanish Republican armed forces 1936-1939

IndexConcepts
political history
revolutionary activity
rebellion, insurrection, revolution, terrorism
political history
spanish politics, events
spanish civil war 1936
political theory, political ideology
anarchism, nihilism
army, political groups, communists
biography, individual
political history
political theory
ideologies
military unit histories
armed forces in general
armies
biographies
autobiographies
diaries
letters

IndexHistPeriod
1919 to end of August 1939
Second World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
Spiral binding

ContextDescription
pages238-239

NumberOfParts
ix, 239 pages

Dimensions
30

MakerName
by Antonio Tellez Sola
with the collaboration of Pilar Ponzan
translated by Paul Sharkey

MakerInfo
SOLA, ANTONIO TELLEZ
PONZAN, PILAR

ProductionCompany
Meltzer Press

ProductionCountry
Hastings

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

FormatDescription
p.238-239

ISBN
1-901172-04-X (pbk.)

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
00 / 603

ProductionDate
1960

ItemName
Official secret
the remarkable story of escape aids
their invention, production and the sequel

IndexPlaces
Great Britain
Great Britain
UK

IndexConcepts
prisoners of war, escapees
prisoners of war, evaders
civilian internees, escapees
civilian internees, evaders
air force stationery
air force forms
british prisoners of war, escapees
british prisoners of war, evaders
autobiography, individual
personal experiences
prisoners-of-war
air force administration, organisation and law
[ Hutton, Clayton]
biographies
autobiographies
diaries
letters

IndexHistPeriod
October 1945 to end of Vietnam War, 1975
Second World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]

NumberOfParts
[6], 196p., 10p. of plates
ill., facsim., frontis., port.

Dimensions
20

MakerName
Clayton Hutton

MakerInfo
HUTTON, CLAYTON

ProductionCompany
Max Parrish

ProductionCountry
London

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
89 / 2006

OtherNumber
K

ProductionDate
No date

ItemName
Account of escape made on 19th April 1943 from prisoner of War Camp PG 66, Capua, near Naples

IndexPlaces
Great Britain
Italy

IndexUnits
[ PG 66]

IndexConcepts
escape and escape attempts from prisoner of war camps
prisoner of war camp escapes
escape and escape attempts from italian prisoner of war camps
individual italian prisoner of war camps
autobiography, individual
personal experiences
prisoners-of-war
[ Walker, A.S.]
ephemeral material
documents
official forms
press cuttings
biographies
autobiographies
diaries
letters

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
Typescript
Accompanied by covering letter from fellow-escapee William Wood

ContextDescription
Typescript
Accompanied by covering letter from fellow-escapee William Wood

NumberOfParts
11 leaves

Dimensions
30

MakerName
A.S. Walker

MakerInfo
WALKER, A.S.
WOOD, WILLIAM

ProductionCompany
n.pub

ProductionCountry
No place

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
90 / 530

OtherNumber
K

ProductionDate
1944

ItemName
Security training
if you are taken prisoner
[memo issued on 18 April 1944]

IndexPlaces
Germany

IndexConcepts
escape and escape attempts from prisoner of war camps
prisoner of war camp escapes
escape and escape attempts from german prisoner of war camps
german prisoner of war camp escapes
prisoners-of-war
ephemeral material
documents
official forms
press cuttings

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
Includes covering note from the Adjutant, 18 L.A.A. Regiment, R.A.
Acid-free photocopy raised

ContextDescription
Includes covering note from the Adjutant, 18 L.A.A. Regiment, R.A.
Acid-free photocopy raised

NumberOfParts
2 leaves

Dimensions
33

MakerInfo
SECURITY TRAINING

ProductionCompany
No publisher

ProductionCountry
No place

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 09:47:44

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
UNI 5535

ProductionDate
1943

ItemName
1943 Pattern Black Leather and Sheepskin `Escape' Boot (L) -

ObjectType
flying clothing

IndexPeople
unknown

IndexUnits
GB.F & Royal Air Force

FullSummary
There were three distinctive patterns of flying boot developed and worn during the Second World War. The first, the 1940 pattern (22/C 435-442) was a one piece boot with a black leather shoe and brown canvas calf section with sheepskin lining. This was the pattern worn by the majority of Royal Air Force aircrew, until the introduction of the 1941 Pattern Boot (22/C 748-755). This was a one piece rubber soled, brown suede sheepskin -lined boot with a front zip-fastener. The final pattern of boot introduced for wear by aircrew, was the celebrated 1943 Pattern Boot (22/C 917-924) often referred to as the `Escape' boot. This boot was so designed that, if the wearer was obliged to bale out over enemy occupied territory, he could, using the small knife concealed in the lining, cut off the tops of the boots and wear the shoe. Without the top part of the boot, the shoe was designed to look like ordinary civilian footwear. The prefix 22/C was the RAF stores reference prefix for all flying clothing officially issued to aircrew. The exceptions were Oxygen equipment which had a 6D prefix and electrical head equipment which had a 10A prefix. The range of numbers after the 22/C prefix for the three patterns of flying boot refer to the sizes.

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
black leather and suede sheepskin-lined flying boot. The boot comprises a black leather Oxford (plain leather with a toe cap) lace-up shoe. The upper part of the boot is black suede with a sheepskin lining. The boot is fastened by a zip on the outer side of the boot and there is a strap secured by a buckle at the top of the boot. Inside the right boot there is a concealed pocket cut into the sheepskin lining designed to hold a small metal knife. The sole is in leather

Access
Access by prior appointment

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 3681

ItemName
compass

ObjectType
escape equipment

IndexPeople
Leggatt E W (Captain)

IndexPlaces
Holzminden POW Camp

IndexUnits
GB.F & Wiltshire Regiment

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

FullSummary
Compass (and accessories) associated with the First World War experiences of Captain E E Leggatt as a prisoner of war in Holzminden Camp, Germany. The lanyard was attached to his braces for safety.
Captain Leggatt of the Wiltshire Regiment (attached to the Royal Flying Corps) was captured on 9 August 1916, and subsequently was one of the ten men who made a successful escape through the tunnel at Holzminden POW camp, Germany, on 23 July 1918.

RelatedImageFile
EPH_003681.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
24/01/2007 05:50:09

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
compass with with attached lanyard (and spare needle).

Access
Access restrictions may apply

IndexPlace
Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany

Theme
Prisoners of War 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
1927

OtherNumber
86/7/1

ItemName
Private Papers of W L Stephens

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts account, with ms amendments (78pp), describing his participation in the raid on St Nazaire in March 1942 during which he was captured by the Germans, his imprisonment at Rennes and Marlag-Milag Nord, his initially successful escape from there before being recaptured, transfer to Stalag VIIIB (Lamsdorf), further escape attempts and the arrival in the camp of Douglas Bader, another attempt to escape from the train taking him to Oflag IVC (Colditz) in September 1942, his experience of conditions in Colditz, stories of previous escapes from there, and his own escape in October 1942 in company with Ronnie Littledale, Pat Reid and Hank Wardle, and the journey to Switzerland disguised as a French worker; together with his 'Urlaubsschein' (leave pass) and 'Dienstausweis' (service pass) in the name of Jean Bardet, forged in Colditz for use in his escape, and two identity cards issued to him in the name of Charles Meslin by the British Embassy in Berne for his trip from Switzerland to Spain via France in 1944.

MakerName
Stephens

Forenames
W L

Honours
DSC VRD RNVR

Style
Lieutenant Commander

RelatedIWMItems
See DPH (DOC 225)

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
27/07/2006 05:50:17

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
883

OtherNumber
88/57/1

ItemName
Private Papers of L A Bains

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms diary in four books (227pp, June 1942 - August 1944, with gaps), with ts transcription (97pp), describing: his capture while serving as a Lance Corporal with the signals section of the Middlesex Yeomanry, attached to the South Nottinghamshire Hussars (107th Field Regiment RA, 22nd Armoured Brigade) on Knightsbridge Ridge, south of Gazala, Libya on 6 June 1942, his good treatment from the Germans and ill treatment from the Italians, moves around North Africa before transportation to Italy, conditions as a prisoner of war in Capua (August - October 1942), and Macerata (PG53, October 1942 - September 1943) including food and water shortages, scenes after the Italian Armistice (September 1943), his escape and evasion, being supported by peasants in the Pescara region; the latter section is the most informative, giving details of how he lived, was hidden, escaped Fascist searches, worked, often freely walked around, mixed with other evaders, flirted with Italian girls, and was liberated and repatriated via Naples (August 1944). Together with a privately printed booklet (15pp) entitled 'Easter Leave, March 1940' in which he describes his visits to the Holy sites in Palestine.

MakerName
Bains

Forenames
L A

Honours
CBE DL

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
20/06/2007 05:50:17

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
K. 14242

ProductionDate
[194-?]

ItemName
[Certificate signed by Commanding General J.T. McNarney and awarded for helping United States service personnel to escape or evade capture by the enemy
2 copies]

FullSummary
[Printed materials]
One copy has a German translation on the back, the other only has the English version

NumberOfParts
2 items

Dimensions
27

ProductionCompany
No publisher

ProductionCountry
No place

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Printed Books

IDNO
LRB L 131

ItemName
Prisoner of War escape maps

FullSummary
[Map]
2 sections of German ordnance maps of the German/Swiss border region. 1:200,000 and 1: 100,000 scale. With some annotation

MakerName
LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

URLEncodedDeptName
PrintedBooks

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
HU 58470

ProductionDate
7 June 1917

ProductionPeriod
First World War

ItemName
SERVICE OF MAJOR J W SHAW MBE WITH THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS, AND AS A PRISONER-OF-WAR, 1917

ObjectType
Group photograph (informal)

SubTitle
SHAW J W (MAJOR) COLLECTION

IndexPlaces
Torhout, West Flanders, Belgium

IndexUnits
British Army, Royal Flying Corps

IndexConcepts
Prisoners
Escape

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

ShortSummary
Lieutenant Shaw (sitting first left), with members of a German naval air squadron at Torhout, Belgium, 7 June 1917, including the pilot, Kunstler (standing third left), who had shot him down earlier that day. Note that Shaw's boots and flying kit have been confiscated, as a precaution against escape.

Colour
Black and white

CopyrightStatus
Private copyright

RelatedImageFile
Image/HU_058470.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
08/08/2007 05:50:57

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

FormatDescription
Group photograph (informal)

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Torhout, West Flanders, Belgium

Theme
Prisoners of War 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

PhotoCollRef
9006-21(A)

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
Q 115193

ProductionPeriod
First World War

ItemName
CLAUSTHAL PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, GERMANY, DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR

ObjectType
photograph

SubTitle
WILLIAMS W A (2ND LT)

IndexPlaces
Clausthal-Zellerfeld im Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany

IndexConcepts
Prisoners
Escape

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

ShortSummary
An escape tunnel discovered at the camp by the Germans.

Colour
Black and white

CopyrightStatus
Private copyright

RelatedImageFile
Image/Q_115193.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
08/08/2007 05:50:57

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Clausthal-Zellerfeld im Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany

Theme
Internment
Prisoners of War 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

PhotoCollRef
8508-26

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
CT 1495

ProductionPeriod
1976 - 2000

ItemName
THE BERLIN WALL 1961 - 1989

ObjectType
Official photograph

SubTitle
THE BERLIN INFANTRY BRIGADE COLLECTION

IndexPlaces
Berlin, Berlin, Germany

IndexConcepts
Commemoration
Death

IndexHistPeriod
1976 - 2000

ShortSummary
The memorial to Olga Segler, an East German killed when attempting to escape over the Berlin Wall. In the background an East German guard observes the British Army photographer.

Colour
Colour

CopyrightStatus
Crown copyright

MakerName
British Army official photographer

RelatedImageFile
Image/CT_001495.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
18/03/2009 10:23:51

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

FormatDescription
Official photograph

Access
Unrestricted

Nationality
German

IndexPlace
Berlin, Berlin, Germany

IndexEvent
Berlin Wall 1961-1989, Cold War

Theme
Cold War 1945-1991
Berlin 1945-1989
Germany post-1945

CoLStatus
Ready

PhotoCollRef
9605-11

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
A 16693

ProductionDate
May 1943

ProductionPeriod
Second World War

ItemName
GERMANS SURRENDER TO THE BRITISH NAVY OFF CAPE BON, WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM TUNISIA TO ITALY, MAY 1943

ObjectType
Official photograph

SubTitle
ADMIRALTY OFFICIAL COLLECTION

IndexPlaces
Cape Bon, Tunisia

IndexConcepts
Surrender
Naval Warfare
Escape

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

ShortSummary
A fishing smack, packed with fleeing Italian staff officers and Axis soldiers which was intercepted by the destroyer HMS LAMERTON while attempting to make the crossing to Italy. An officer by the mast is holding a small white handkerchief in token of surrender.

Colour
Black and white

CopyrightStatus
Crown copyright

MakerName
Parnall, C H (Lt)
Royal Navy official photographer

RelatedImageFile
Image/A_016693.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
17/02/2009 05:52:33

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

FormatDescription
Official photograph

Access
Unrestricted

IndexEvent
Western Desert 1940-1943, North Africa, Second World War

Theme
Mediterranean 1939-1945
North Africa 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Ready

PhotoCollRef
4700-01

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
Q 69484

ProductionDate
July 1918

ProductionPeriod
First World War

ItemName
PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN GERMANY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR

ObjectType
Amateur photograph

SubTitle
MANNING B

IndexPlaces
Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany

IndexConcepts
Prisoners

IndexHistPeriod
First World War

ShortSummary
The tunnel at Holzminden prisoner of war camp, taken when the tunnel was discovered and dug up after it was used for an escape attempt.

Colour
Black and white

CopyrightStatus
Private copyright

RelatedImageFile
Image/Q_069484.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
08/08/2007 05:50:57

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

FormatDescription
Amateur photograph

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany

Theme
Prisoners of War 1914-1918
Internment
German Home Front 1914-1918

CoLStatus
Published

PhotoCollRef
6008-01

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
HU 49533

ProductionPeriod
Second World War

ItemName
OFLAG IVC PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, COLDITZ CASTLE, SAXONY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

ObjectType
Amateur photograph

SubTitle
REID P (MAJOR) COLLECTION

IndexPlaces
Colditz, Saxony, Germany

IndexConcepts
Prisoners
Escape

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

ShortSummary
Escape attempts - the underside of the hole beneath the stage in the camp theatre through which four officers escaped, two of them successfully.

Colour
Black and white

CopyrightStatus
Private copyright

RelatedImageFile
Image/HU_049533.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
08/08/2007 05:50:57

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

FormatDescription
Amateur photograph

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Colditz, Saxony, Germany

IndexEvent
Allied Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-1945, Internment

Theme
Internment
Prisoners of War, Europe 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

PhotoCollRef
8504-13

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Photographs

IDNO
HU 32013

ProductionDate
4 September 1942

ProductionPeriod
Second World War

ItemName
THE FAR EAST: SINGAPORE, MALAYA AND HONG KONG 1939-1945

ObjectType
photograph

SubTitle
HOLT I (MRS)

IndexPlaces
Changi, Singapore

IndexConcepts
Prisoners

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

ShortSummary
Occupation and Captivity February 1942 - August 1945: An officer signs an undertaking not to escape during the 'Selerang Incident'.

ContextDescription
On 30 August 1942, the Japanese ordered the 20,100 prisoners of war in Changi Jail, Singapore, to sign an undertaking not to escape. The POWs refused and they were crowded into Selerang Barracks (which had accommodation for 120) until they signed under duress on 4 September. This became known as the 'Selerang Incident'.

Colour
Black and white

CopyrightStatus
Private copyright

RelatedImageFile
Image/HU_032013.jpg

Weighting
900

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
08/08/2007 05:50:57

URLEncodedDeptName
Photographs

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Changi, Singapore

IndexEvent
Singapore Island 1942, Malaya 1941-1942, Second World War
Selarang incident, Changi camp 1942, Singapore Island 1942, Malaya 1941-1942, Second World War
Allied Prisoners of War Far East 1939-1945, Internment

Theme
Internment
Prisoners of War, Far East 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

PhotoCollRef
7610-06

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Art

IDNO
IWM ART LD 2816

ProductionDate
1942

ProductionPeriod
Second World War

ItemName
British Escapers Brought Back in Chains to Mecheria Internment Camp, Algeria

ObjectType
drawing

IndexConcepts
internment
POW
landscape
animals

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
Cook's delicate drawing expresses the essence of captivity; the captors and their prisoners forming a timeless group, isolated in the empty desert landscape. The artist does not dwell on the undoubtedly harsh conditions of desert heat and heavy chains, focusing instead on the prisoners' endurance and the facelessness of their guards.

ContextDescription
image: A line of six British prisoners trudge through the desert. They move from right to left, their bare heads bent and linked together by a long chain attached to their wrists. They are accompanied by three horsemen and a soldier on foot. The guards carry rifles and wear protective, triangular-shaped head wear. The figures' faces are in deep shadow, the bright sunlight shining down behind them.

Format
ink

Support
paper

Dimensions
121 mm
226 mm

CopyrightStatus
crown

MakerName
Cook, John Kingsley

ProductionCountry
Algeria

AcquisitionMethod
transfer

AcquisitionNote
War Artists Advisory Committee purchase, 1943

AcquisitionDate
1947

RelatedImageFile
TPYF_3000/IWM_ART_LD_002816.jpg

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
13/06/2007 05:50:45

URLEncodedDeptName
Art

FormatDescription
drawing

AuthorityLink
Cook, John Kingsley

IndexPlace
Mecheria, Algeria

IndexPlaceDetail
Mecheria Internment Camp, Mecheria

IndexEvent
North Africa, Second World War

Theme
British Army 1939-1945
North Africa 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Art

IDNO
IWM ART LD 5149

ProductionDate
1945

ProductionPeriod
Second World War

ItemName
Naval Officers Filling in a Discovered Escape Tunnel, 1945

ObjectType
drawing

IndexConcepts
military personnel
POW
prisoners
military buildings / installations

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
The prisoners at Marlag O, a POW camp for naval officers near Bremen, were persistent in their attempts to escape and tunnelling was a constant, but unsuccessful, activity. The camp was surrounded by a deep, water-filled ditch and this, coupled with a high water table, meant that tunnels became waterlogged or collapsed due to the soft earth. Of the many escape attempts at Marlag 'O', only three officers managed to get back to Britain, all within a fortnight of each other early in 1944 - but none escaped by tunnel. Worsley's drawing shows that filling in collapsed tunnels was a regular part of camp life, as unexciting for the guards as it was routine for their prisoners.

ContextDescription
image: Across the background runs a high double fence of posts and barbed wire beyond which two armed German guards are patrolling. A waist-high ditch runs from the left of the picture, beneath a single stretch of barbed wire, towards the high perimeter fence. A party of seven men, most stripped to the waist, are working in the trench with shovels, watched from the left by two more workmen and a uniformed guard. The nearest workman, in a British Naval cap, stares back towards the viewer, shovel in hand. In front of the barbed wire fence there is a warning notice in English 'DANGER! WARNING WIRE. There will be shooting without challenge'.

Format
watercolour

Support
paper

Dimensions
292 mm
416 mm

CopyrightStatus
crown

MakerName
Worsley, John

ProductionCountry
Germany

AcquisitionMethod
transfer

AcquisitionNote
War Artists Advisory Committee commission

AcquisitionDate
1947

RelatedImageFile
TPYF_5250/IWM_ART_LD_005149.jpg

SubThemeTag
EscapeAndEvasion

UncatTransferDate
13/06/2007 05:50:45

URLEncodedDeptName
Art

FormatDescription
drawing

AuthorityLink
Worsley, John

IndexPlace
Westertimke, Lower Saxony, Germany

IndexPlaceDetail
Marlag 'O', Westertimke

IndexEvent
Allied Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-1945, Internment

Theme
Prisoners of War, Europe 1939-1945
German Home Front 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y