DeptName
Documents

IDNO
547

OtherNumber
88/50/1

ItemName
Private Papers of R E Uttin

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms journal (96pp) kept by a Wembley housewife mainly between January 1941 and December 1945 but with a few later entries (1947 - 1956) and beginning with a retrospective account of her experiences during the first months of the London Blitz; the journal is principally a record of the air raids and alerts she and her family endured and bomb damage locally and in the City, though there are useful references also to firewatching, first aid classes, her employment as directed labour in a Wembley aircraft components factory (October 1942 - March 1943), on voluntary canteen and WVS work and knitting comforts for the troops (completed garments logged separately 2pp) as well as good details on rationing, civilian conditions generally, the advent of V weapons and her attitude to Germany and enemy war criminals.

MakerName
Uttin

Forenames
R E

Style
Mrs

RelatedIWMItems
See also the papers of her daughter Miss D L Uttin (88/50/1)

RelatedImageFile
UttinRE_000547_2.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
12/09/2006 05:50:12

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Wembley, Middlesex, England, UK
City of London, London, England, UK
Germany

IndexEvent
Home Front, UK, Second World War
Blitz, United Kingdom, Second World War
Nuremberg Trials, War Crimes Trials
V-Weapon Offensive 1944-1945, United Kingdom, Second World War
Rationing

PDF
UttinRE_000547_2.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
2448

OtherNumber
92/49/1

ItemName
Private Papers of M Dayrell-Browning

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
3 interesting and entertaining ms letters to her mother describing: her detailed observation from central London on the night of 2 - 3 September of the air raid by the Zeppelin L21 and its destruction over Cuffley by Lieutenant W Leefe Robinson, for which he was awarded the VC, together with a brief account of a visit to the scene of the wreckage on the following day (3pp, 4 September 1916); her successful application to become a translator at the War Office including in Matabele and Zulu, using her corresponding knowledge of German to translate German intelligence signals written in German Zulu (4pp, no date, ?c. 1915); and her work writing subversive aerial propaganda leaflets to be dropped over Hanover and Schleswig-Holstein (2pp, no date, ?c. 1918).

MakerName
Dayrell-Browning

Forenames
M

Style
Mrs

RelatedIWMItems
See also the papers of her uncle, Colonel E Bartley

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
781

OtherNumber
Con Shelf & 88/10/1

ItemName
Private Papers of W B Regan

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
A collection of very graphic ms diaries and diary fragments (145 folios in all) with an edited ts transcript (127 pp), kept between September 1940 and August 1944 by a resident of the Isle of Dogs, who was bombed out of his home in May 1941 and subsequently lived in Beckenham and Catford in South East London, describing in vivid detail his service on the Isle of Dogs with a heavy duty rescue squad during the Blitz (September 1940 - May 1941) and the V-1 attacks (June - August 1944) and the effects of the bombing on civilian morale; and also referring to his employment at other times during the war as a bricklayer and conditions on the Home Front, notably rationing and entertainments. With his diaries is a ms account (8pp) written by his wife in the 1980s giving her recollections of her and her husband's experiences during the first major German air raid on London on 7 - 8 September 1940.

MakerName
Regan

Forenames
W B

RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR and the papers of Miss J and Miss V Regan

RelatedImageFile
ReganWB_000781_6.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
12/09/2006 05:50:12

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Catford, London, England, UK
Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK
Beckenham, Kent, England, UK

IndexEvent
Home Front, UK, Second World War
Blitz, United Kingdom, Second World War
V-Weapon Offensive 1944-1945, United Kingdom, Second World War

IndexEventDate
First major German Air Raid on London 7/8 September 1940, Blitz

PDF
ReganWB_000781_6.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
3128

OtherNumber
Misc 180 (2723)

ObjectType
Miscellaneous Documents

ShortSummary
Ms letter (6pp) written in July 1944 by a woman living in Camberley, Surrey to a friend in Horsham, Sussex including a good description of her recent experiences on the night of 15 - 16 June when staying with her sister in Streatham of the first concerted V1 air raid on London referring to the rockets passing close overhead and the destruction of a nearby house with the death of all the occupants, also mentioning the changed character of Camberley as a result of the war.

RelatedImageFile
Misc2723_003128_8.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
12/09/2006 05:50:12

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Camberley, Surrey, England, UK
Horsham, Sussex, England, UK
Streatham, London, England, UK

IndexEvent
Home Front, UK, Second World War
V-Weapon Offensive 1944-1945, United Kingdom, Second World War

PDF
Misc2723_003128_8.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
3208

OtherNumber
95/14/1

ItemName
Private Papers of P Warner

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Excellent ts journal (162pp) describing with almost daily entries her experiences of living and working in central London (September 1940 - February 1942), covering every aspect of her daily life including her employment by the Ministry of Home Security, her part-time work as a lecturer to the forces, her training as an emergency despatch rider, fire-watching, voluntary help at a local rest centre, the evening shelter routine, air-raids and the attitudes of her and her friends towards them, her participation in left-wing politics and the entertainment offered by London. Together with the journal are twelve ts articles (29pp) written and submitted for publication in 'The Washington Post' (September 1939 - November 1940) covering her first impressions of wartime London after arriving from a year in America, propaganda over the air waves (December 1939), the failure of the evacuation scheme (December 1939), morale (January 1940), London entertainment (February 1940), the Mass-Observation Social Research Organisation (April 1940), and Londoners' philosophy in face of the Blitz (September 1940).

MakerName
Warner

AlternativeName
later Mrs P Forman

Forenames
P

Style
Miss

RelatedImageFile
WarnerP_003208_2.jpg

RelatedTextFile
PWarner.doc

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
12/09/2006 05:50:12

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
London, England, UK
USA

IndexEvent
Home Front, UK, Second World War
Evacuation of British children 1939-1944, Evacuation
Blitz, United Kingdom, Second World War

PDF
WarnerP_003208_2.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
4066

OtherNumber
84/52/1

ItemName
Private Papers of W A Phillips

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms letter (2pp) dated 9 September 1915 and written to an acquaintance, describing a Zeppelin raid on London the previous evening. Panic in the writer's household is mentioned, and the excitement of the event is vividly portrayed.

MakerName
Phillips

Forenames
W A

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
11318

OtherNumber
P76

ItemName
Private Papers of A E Randall

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ts diary (13pp) entitled ONE NIGHT OF HELL, being a vivid account by a member of the Liverpool Auxiliary Fire Service of his work during the great German air raid on the night of 3 - 4 May 1941, and in particular of their unvailing efforts to put out the fires on the munitions ship MALAKAND in Huskissen Dock. Together with a press cutting concerning the MALAKAND from the LIVERPOOL ECHO (12 January 1945).

MakerName
Randall

Forenames
A E

RelatedImageFile
RandallAE_011318_4.jpg

Weighting
500

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
19/09/2006 05:50:09

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

IndexPlace
Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK

IndexPlaceDetail
Huskissen Dock, Liverpool

IndexEvent
Home Front, UK, Second World War
Blitz, United Kingdom, Second World War

IndexEventDate
German Air Raid on Liverpool 3/4 May 1941, Blitz

PDF
RandallAE_011318_4.pdf

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
11987

OtherNumber
PP/MCR/59

ItemName
Private Papers of H Neal

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Microfilm copy of a ts diary recording her experiences while living in Kensington and running a typists agency on the Strand in London, 1939 – 1947, beginning with her concerns regarding the dangers of the black out, her voluntary work at a canteen for soldiers and her reflections on the remoteness of the war, while after the beginning of the Blitz giving explicit descriptions of the places in London damaged by bombs, expressing her sympathy for all the business people who are suffering and praising the work of firemen, commenting on her fear of the air raids and her use of the public air raid shelters at night, the progress of the war and public feeling about it, the social changes in London, the number of people leaving the city, the lack of male doctors, her disgust at revelations concerning Buchenwald concentration camp while displaying her own anti-Semitic sentiments, American looting and raping in Belgium, her attitude to black GI’s, VE Day celebrations including the procession down the Strand, the postwar situation particularly with regard to East-West relations, and the austerity of post-1945 Britain.

MakerName
Neal

Forenames
H

Style
Mrs

RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Documents

IDNO
12238

OtherNumber
P129

ItemName
Private Papers of K A Holmes

ObjectType
Private Papers

ShortSummary
Ms diary (274pp) recording his experiences as a 16 year old boy living in London during the Flying Bomb raids, June 1944 – May 1945 and containing eyewitness accounts of V1 raids and their aftermath including a graphic description of Tottenham Court Road after a flying bomb attack, the first V2 raids (September 1944) including one in which his home was damaged, and the first mention of V2s in the press, as well as recounting information gained from newspaper accounts regarding the Allied advance in North West Europe.

MakerName
Holmes

Forenames
K A

RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue

Weighting
1

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
published

UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31

URLEncodedDeptName
Documents

Access
Unrestricted

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
5334

ProductionDate
1981-11-10

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Stewart, Gwendoline O xxx
Watts, Gwendoline O xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Birmingham
GB, England & Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Leicestershire

IndexConcepts
Refugee
Evacuee

ShortSummary
British schoolchild evacuee from Birmingham to Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, 1939-1940; civilian in Birmingham, 1940-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1: Background in Birmingham, 1925-1939: family; father’s experiences as POW during First World War; examples of father’s discipline in home; story of neighbours visiting to watch television; relations between parents; question of community in neighbourhood; housing conditions; heating; 11-plus examination; reaction to possible war and evacuation; story of receiving grant for grammar school books; description of evacuation kit.
REEL 2 Continues: evacuation from school in Birmingham to Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 1/Sep/1939. Aspects of period as evacuee in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, 1939-1940: allocation of billets; presence of troops in town; announcement of outbreak of war, 3/Sep/1939; description of first and second billets and opinion of treatment; story of return to Birmingham, 1940.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period in Birmingham, 1940-1945: employment as telephonist and draughtsperson; story of poor conditions experienced by brothers and sister in billet in Retford; air raids; story of unexploded bomb; brother’s involvement in secret naval operations.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction of parents to return to Birmingham; conditions in billets and relations with foster families; letters; church attendance; educational facilities; pregnancies among evacuee schoolgirls.
REEL 5 Continues: further comments on treatment in billets; opinion of food; opinion of evacuee scheme and reflections on own experiences as evacuee.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life And War Work, 1939-1945: Home Front, 1939-1945

Duration
130

NumberOfParts
5

OtherFormats
Full : 47pp

MakerName
Stewart, Gwendoline Olive

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
005334S01.mp3
Stewart-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
20 February 2009

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
8778

ProductionDate
11/Apr/1985

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
airship, German: Zeppelin

IndexPeople
Bineham, Lilian M xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London <South>
GB, England & Woolwich <Arsenal>
GB, England & London <Caxton Hall>
GB, England & London <Central>

IndexUnits
GB.O & Woolwich Arsenal

ShortSummary
British civilian in London, wartime munitions worker, 1914-1919

FullSummary
REEL 1 Family background in south London and pre-war employment. Wartime employment at Woolwich Arsenal 1914-1918: telephone operator duties; danger buildings; magazine clothes; description of accident and injury to hand; involvement in fighting incident; problem of being underage; father's work in Woolwich brass foundry; working hours; walking to work; work lacquering fuses; disciplinary action and being fined at Caxton Hall; munitions pay. REEL 2 Wartime life and employment at Woolwich Arsenal 1914-1918: description of near miss Zeppelin attack; susequent shooting down of Zeppelin and celebratory street party; factory discipline; Arsenal railway; contact with soldier boyfriend; obtaining post-war work; Armistice celebrations; lack of real interest in war conditions and progress; discharge from Arsenal; wartime food.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life And War Work, 1914-1919

Duration
50

NumberOfParts
2

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Bineham, Lilian Mary

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Bineham-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
8853

ProductionDate
1985

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
Sound effect: atmosphere, air raid
Sound effect: siren

ShortSummary
Compilation of two air raid sequences including warning siren, aircraft overhead and all-clear siren, London, 1940

ContextDescription
Compilation Recordings
Sound Effects

Duration
10

NumberOfParts
1

OtherFormats
None

ProductionCompany
IWM

RelatedSoundFile
No sound file

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
10110

ProductionDate
30/Jan/1988

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Williams, Gabriele xxx
Asser, Gabriele xxx

IndexPlaces
AT
DE

IndexConcepts
Holocaust
Anti-semitism
Concentration camp

ShortSummary
German civilian child living in Berlin, 1927-1945 including air-raids and liberation of city

ContextDescription
Nazi Europe, 1933-1945

Duration
120

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
Full : 41pp

MakerName
Williams, Waltraudt Gerda Gabriele

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Sound\WilliamsG-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
German

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
10345

ProductionDate
1988-09-04

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Wittmann, Ruth xxx
Wrey, Ruth xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London

IndexUnits
GB.O & Nightclub, Café de Paris, London
GB.O & Hospital, Westminster

IndexConcepts
Medical services

ShortSummary
British civilian in London, GB, 1941 including bombing of Café de Paris, 8/3/1941

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of bombing of Café de Paris in London, GB, 8/3/1941: reputation of Café de Paris; belief that nightclub was safe during air raids; leaving dance floor minutes before bomb fell; explosion and aftermath; story of how husband fainted when he saw her injured eye; memories of young girl and injured partner in ambulance on way to hospital; treatment for eye injury at Westminster hospital; loss of eye; impact of injuries on her life; attitude towards German Air Force bombing; public morale during German raids; attitude towards Germans.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945: Home Front, 1939-1945

Duration
30

NumberOfParts
1

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Wittmann, Ruth

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photos (1940, 1943) in file

RelatedSoundFile
Wittman-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
06 March 2008

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
12429

ProductionDate
4/Nov/1991

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
flying bomb, German: V1

IndexPeople
Clayden, Kathleen E xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London

IndexUnits
GB.O & Auxiliary Fire Service

ShortSummary
British civilian served with Auxiliary Fire Service in London, 1938-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family and educational background. Recollections of period with Auxiliary Fire Service, London, 1938-1945: joining fire service underage as part timer; reasons for joining; posting to Wandsworth; outbreak of war; accommodation; parent's attitude to her joining AFS; duties during 'phoney war' period; relationship with firemen; attitude towards service with AFS; beginning of Blitz; duties during air raids; work in Mobile Control Unit; training; relations between AFS and London Fire Brigade; 21st birthday celebrations; social life; problems with vermin; accommodation; night duty. REEL 2 Continues: physical and psychological condition of firemen returning from dock fires; firemen injured by falling ceiling; driving duties; incendiary bombing of sub-station; bombing of Wandsworth fire station and deaths of 6 colleagues; attitude towards Conscientious Objectors recruited to AFS; class background of AFS personnel; food rations; uniform; physical training; experience of V1 raid. REEL 3 Continues: wedding day; meeting husband; difficulties of being reunited with husband after four 1/2 years; marriage breaks ups among friends and colleagues; relationships between firemen and women; petrol rationing; attitude towards air raids. Aspects of post war work as government telephonist.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945: War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
80

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Clayden, Kathleen Ethel

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
012429S01.mp3
Clayden-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Educational use only

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
13178

ProductionDate
22/Apr/1993

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Musakadic, Sidika xxx
Karadzic, Radovan

IndexPlaces
YU
YU & Sarajevo
BA
BA & Sarajevo

IndexUnits
GB.O & National Peace Council
BA.O & International Peace Centre

IndexConcepts
Refugee
Anti war
War crimes

ShortSummary
Bosnian civilian student living in Sarajevo during Yugloslav civil war, 1991-1993. Escaped to GB, Mar/1993

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family and educational background. Recollections of life in Sarajevo, Bosnia: cosmopolitan nature of Bosnia and Sarajevo; non-religious Muslim family; question of portrayal of religious dimension of Bosnian conflict by Western media; lack of ethnic divisions pre-war; question of national identity; reaction to events in Soviet Union, late 1980s; reaction to Slovenia and Croatia's calls for independence, 1991; beginning of Yugoslav civil war; domination of army by Serbs; question of women in the military forces; description of Chetniks; Serb nationalism; question of war aims; beginning of war in Bosnia.
REEL 2 Continues: witnessing first shots of war in Sarajevo; death of young Croatian refugee medical student; snipers; 5th column operating in Sarajevo; attitude towards 5th column; shelling of maternity hospital; organisation of a Bosnian army and difficulties faced; leaders in Bosnia, Izbegovic, Karadzic and Boban; opinion of Karadzic; opinion of Boban; role of Milosovic; Croatian Muslim relations; cooperation between Croatians and Serbs; question of weapons embargo.
REEL 3 Continues: question of revenge and retribution; Serbian attitude towards international opinion; question of arms embargo; attitude towards Vance/Owen Peace Plan; question of ethnic cleansing; description of Musakadic family; reaction to bombing and shelling of Sarajevo; impact of war on family; adjusting to wartime life; working at International Peace Centre; food shortages; arrival of humanitarian aid; psychological impact of war; work of International Peace Centre; work with Peace Centre; provision of education during war.
REEL 4 Continues: impact of war on her generation; reaction to death of close male friend; difficulties obtaining water; massacre witnessed by her brother and sister at water point; impact of bread queue massacre; question of perpetrators of bread queue massacre; defending anti-Serb position at Oxford meeting, spring/1993; work gathering statements relating to war crimes for Peace Centre; difficulties reading/hearing about atrocities; rapes of women; problems with number of unwanted children; story of how neighbours turned against each other during war; story of Serb who helped Muslim neighbours; question of rape of children; psychological impact of war.
REEL 5 Continues: question of 'concentration camps'; question of atrocities; war devastation of Sarajevo; description of pre-war Sarajevo; cultural loss in Sarajevo; use of trees for fuel; question of whether war criminals will be brought to justice; role of United Nations in Sarajevo; attitude of people of Sarajevo towards UN; question of military intervention; decision to leave Sarajevo with help of journalist, Christian Marechal; attitude towards leaving.
REEL 6 Recollections of life in GB, 1993: reaction to leaving family; attitude of British people towards her; difficulties of adapting to life in Britain; reaction to seeing/hearing news of war; desire to continue with studies in GB; lack of communication with family; fears for safety of family; participating in lecture tours with National Peace Council; Jewish population in Sarajevo; lessons learnt from war experience; attitude towards possible solution to conflict in Bosnia.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life And War Work Since 1975

Duration
170

NumberOfParts
6

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Musakadic, Sidika

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (1993) in file

RelatedSoundFile
Musakadic-civilians.mp3
Muskadic-warandpeace.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
LegaciesOfWarReconstruction
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
Bosnian
Yugoslav

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
14987

ProductionDate
18/Jan/1995

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
aircraft, British: Supermarine Spitfire

IndexPeople
Gray, Irene O xxx
Malyon, Irene O xxx
Mitchell, Reginald J
Summers, J 'Mutt'

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Leeds, Yorkshire
GB, England & Southampton, Hampshire
GB, England & Hythe, Hampshire
GB, England & Woolston, Hampshire

IndexUnits
GB.O & Aviation Coy, Supermarine
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions, ARP
GB.O & Civil Defence, HQ, New Forest

ShortSummary
British civilian secretary with Supermarine, 1930-1937; living in Southampton , 1938-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of life in Leeds and Southampton, 1913-1930s: family background; memories of First World War, father's service in Royal Army Medical Corps; death of father from stroke; education; various jobs; secretarial training; move to Southampton; employment; applying for job at Supermarine Aviation works; interview. Recollections of period working at Supermarine Aviation Works, Hythe and Woolston, c1930-1937: secretarial work; memories of flying boats; memories of R J Mitchell; memories of first spitfire flight by 'Mutt' Summers.
REEL 2 Continues: work of R J Mitchell on Spitfire design; memories of R J Mitchell; attitude towards leaving Supermarine in 1937; opinion of pre-war test pilots; opinion of Spitfire; anticipation of war. Recollections of life and work with ARP in Southampton/New Forest area, 1938-1945: public morale; preparations for war; joining Air Raid Precautions, 1938; employment as Air Raid Warden, Control HQ, Totton; preparations for war during phoney war period, 1939-1940; system of warnings for air raids; air raid shelters.
REEL 3 Continues: public air raid shelters; difficulties for mothers during war; food rations; rationing of clothing and furniture; husband's reserved occupation in shipping; bombing of Southampton and surrounding area; necessity of blackout; enforcing blackout; fears of and preparations in case of German invasion, 1940; help offered to soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk by local people.
REEL 4 Continues: watching Battle of Britain dog fights; witnessing aircraft flying to France for D-Day, 1944; story of using her pet dog to help demonstrate gas masks to children; lack of criminal activity; presence of American and Canadian firemen in area; attitude towards Lord Haw Haw's broadcasts; Royal visit to bombed Southampton; attitude towards role of fire service during Blitz; provisions for pregnant women and birth of babies.
REEL 5 Continues: provisions for pregnant women; V1 and V2 raids on Southampton; help offered to Southampton Blitz refugees by people of Totton; listening to radio; preparation of ARP for possible German invasion; duties watching and investigating possible spies; story of husband's investigation into possible 'fifth columnist'; memories of VE day. Reflections on Second World War: impact of war on her life; impact of war on situation of women; attitude towards her wartime work with ARP.
REEL 6 Continues: attitude towards commemoration of 50th anniversary of war, 1995; attitude towards Japanese and Germans; leaflets containing Hitler's speech to Reichstag July 1940 dropped over South of England; contribution of women to war effort.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945: Home Front, 1939-1945

Duration
155

NumberOfParts
6

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Gray, Irene Olive

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Notes on wartime life in file
Photographs as air raid warden in file

RelatedSoundFile
014987S01.mp3
014987S02.mp3
Gray-civilians.mp3
Gray2-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire
Rationing

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
16271

ProductionDate
2/Nov/1995

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexObjects
flying bomb, German: V1
rocket, German: V2

IndexPeople
Smith, Joyce xxx
Millard, Joyce xxx
McNair, Buck

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Kent

IndexUnits
GB.F & Women's Auxiliary Air Force
GB.F & Radio Scooh, Cranwell
GB.F & RAF Kenley
GB.F & RAF Wittersham
GB.F & RAF Biggin Hill
GB.F & RAF Tolleshunt D'Arcy
GB.F & Group 11

IndexConcepts
Sexual relations

ShortSummary
British civilian in Wembley, London, GB, 1939-1941; aircraftwoman served as direction finder served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1942-1945

FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Paignton and Wembley, London, GB, 1924-1941: family; education; story of bombs that missed houses and dropped in field; sheltering under stairs during air raids; morale among local people. Aspects of enlistment and training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1942-1943: recruitment procedure; wish to become Direction Finder operator; training at RAF Cranwell; discipline and punishment for walking hand in hand with boyfriend; rules regarding male and female relations. Aspects of period ad Direction Finding operator at Headquarters, 11 Group, RAF Kenley in GB, 1943: duties monitoring intercom between controllers and pilots. Recollections of period as Direction Finding operator at RAF Wittersham in GB, 1943-1944: attitude of men towards Women's Auxiliary Air Force replacements; shifts worked and daily routine; working conditions; Direction Finding equipment; occasion when Canadian pilot 'Buck' McNair crashed into sea and rescue operation, 7/1943; story of bomber that crashed at Coulsden, 6/1944.
REEL 2 Continues: story of loss of US aircraft and rescue of aircrew after raid on Stuttgart, 9/1943; Direction Finding procedure; attitude towards beginning of V1 attacks; description of V1s and watching them fly over; impact of V1 attacks on life at RAF Wittersham.
REEL 3 Continues: story of V1 attacks whilst visiting London, 6/1944; being accosted by flasher during blackout; feelings of personal safety despite this; washing shredded on line by V1 blast. Aspects of period as Direction Finding operator at RAF Tolleshunt D'Arcy in GB, 1944-1945: posting to station, 8/1944: V2 which landed in local field; billet at farm; food rations; story of WAAF made pregnant by American G I who abandoned her; attitude of WAAF officer towards her friend's pregnancy; question of use of radar for air-sea rescue work.

ContextDescription
Air Operations, 1939-1945: Women's Auxiliary Air Force

Duration
90

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Smith, Joyce

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
SmithJ-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
12 February 2007

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
16488

ProductionDate
22/Feb/1996

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Martinez, Jesus xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Eastleigh, Hants <Refugee Camp>
GB, England & Diss, Norfolk <Refugee Camp>
ES
ES & Bilbao
ES & Castile
ES & Basque region

IndexUnits
GB.O & Refugee Camp, Diss, Norfolk
GB.O & Refugee Camp, Eastleigh, Hants
GB.O & Ship, Havana

IndexConcepts
Refugee

ShortSummary
Spanish civilian child evacuated to GB from Basque region of Spain during civil war 5/1937: effects of food blockade on Basque region, bombing of Bilbao; voyage to GB aboard HMS Havana to refugee camps in Diss and Eastleigh, England; losing touch with parents once in GB.

FullSummary
R1 Family and background in Spain: father's background in Castile including Anarchism; religious upbringing; mother's family origins; family's standard of living. Reactions to Spanish Civil War, 1936-1937: memories of start of war; bombing by Junker-52s; Nationalist shelling of fuel stores in Bilbao; air attacks; effects of war on family's food supply. R2 Continues: scramble for food during blockade; news of evacuation to GB; overcrowded conditions during voyage aboard HMS Havana to Southampton, GB, 23/5/1937. Recollections of life in GB, 1937-1966: first impressions of GB; reception at refugee camps in Diss, Norfolk and Eastleigh, Hants; opinion of English food, kindness; other reception areas; question of schooling; being sent as a painter and decorator to Dudley, W.Midlands; not seeing parents again until 1960s; story of his father's imprisonment under Franco. R3 Continues: losing touch with parents after 1937; reasons for never becoming a British citizen.

ContextDescription
Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939

Duration
65

NumberOfParts
3

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Martinez, Jesus 'Cai'

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Male

Language
English

RelatedSoundFile
Martinez-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
Spanish

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
18782

ProductionDate
10/Mar/1999

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
Bardell, Denise xxx
Pavey, Denise xxx
Pavey, Alan

IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & London

IndexUnits
GB.A & Mechanised Transport Corps
GB.A & Civil Defence

ShortSummary
British civilian accompanied husband to various postings around GB, 1939-1941. Served as driver with Mechanised Transport Corps and Civil Defence in Horsham and London, 1941-1944

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family and educational background. Recollections of period accompanying husband to various postings, GB, 1939-1941: various postings; attitude towards term 'camp followers'; attitude of men towards 'camp followers'; prostitutes that followed military; memories of outbreak of war; husband's tank training; witnessing Battle of Britain dog fights; story of how her brother was badly burned during plane crash; reaction of family to her brother's disfigurement; attitude towards Germans. Recollections of period with Mechanised Transport Corps and Civil Defence, GB, 1941-1944: joining MTC; uniform; driving experience; initial duties in Horsham, 1941.
REEL 2 Continues: status of MTC in comparison with other services; basic training in London; meeting David Niven's fiancé; work as courier for MI5; witnessing interrogation of suspected German spy; attachment as MTC driver to Civil Defence; training; shift rotation; bases at Hyde Park and Westbourne Terrace; sight of women with severed head after air raid; rescue of woman from bombed house; story of rescuing dog from bombed house; memories of V1 raids; digging people out of bombed buildings and collecting severed limbs.
REEL 3 Continues: social life; meeting Randolph Churchill; socialising with American forces; meeting Clark Gable; story of flight in Thunderbolt; meeting James Stewart; socialising with Americans; pregnancy and leaving MTC, 1944; pay; uniform; food rations; increased opportunities for women during Second World War; accidents in MTC; bombing in Cambridge area, c1940; witnessing crash of German aircraft; sight of barrage balloons.
REEL 4 Continues: driving and mechanical skills; memories of Canadian officers; meeting professor who was later killed in Norway during sabotage operation on heavy water plant; vehicle maintenance; fuel rations; story of MTC demonstration that went wrong; promotion to Cadet Officer; discipline; attitude towards work with MTC; attitude of other servicewomen towards MTC; scarcity of women drivers in 1940s; attitude towards war medals; reflections on work with MTC.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945: Home Front, 1939-1945
Civilian Life and War Work, 1939-1945: War Work, 1939-1945

Duration
110

NumberOfParts
4

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
Bardell, Denise

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photographs (1940s and 1999) in file

RelatedSoundFile
018782S01.mp3
018782S02.mp3
Bardell1-civilians.mp3
Bardell2-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
IWM copyright

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Sound

IDNO
21719

ProductionDate
1/Jul/2001

ObjectType
IWM interview

IndexPeople
O'Hanlon, Kathleen xxx
O'Hanlon, Anne Jane Kathleen xxx

IndexPlaces
GB, Northern Ireland
GB, Northern Ireland & Belfast
GB, Northern Ireland & Tiger Bay
GB, Northern Ireland & Omagh
IL

IndexUnits
GB.O & Hospital, Royal Victoria, Belfast
GB.O & Political Party, Social Democratic Labour Party

ShortSummary
British civilian nurse worked at Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1958-1988

FullSummary
REEL 1 Aspects of family background. Recollections of childhood in Belfast Northern Ireland: description of market area of Belfast; changes to area; education; death of father; leaving school at 14; work in office. Recollections of life and work, Northern Ireland, 1950s-present: decision to become nurse at age of 28, 1958; joining Royal Victoria Hospital; question of discrimination against Catholics applying for nursing training; Catholic family background; pogroms against Catholics, 1930s; question of discrimination against Catholics in area; relations between Catholics and Protestants.
REEL 2 Aspects of life in Belfast and Donegal and Buncrana during Second World War. Recollections of life and work, Northern Ireland, 1950s-present: training; participation in civil rights march after Bloody Sunday, 1972; growth of civil rights movement; living conditions in Catholic and Protestant working class areas; problems with and violence generated by July 12th marches, Orange parades etc; continuing violence, 2001; violent incidents in home area near Tiger Bay, 1996; psychological impact of events on young witness.
REEL 3 Continues: development of Social Democratic Labour Party, SDLP; attitude towards SDLP leader, John Hume; attitude towards Bernadette Devlin MP; importance of SDLP for Catholic people; question of discrimination against Catholic staff at Royal Victoria Hospital; occasions when O'Hanlon and colleague were passed over for promotion; arrival of British Troops; initial attitude of Catholic people towards British Troops; beginning of curfews and searches; contrast between behavior of RAMC and other troops based at Royal Victoria Hospital; story of how relatives of those injured in Long Kesh riots went on rampage in RVH.
REEL 4 Continues: other hospitals in Belfast; description of various departments at RVH; problems experienced by RVH 2000s; completion of A & E dept at RVH in time for Troubles; re-writing of RVH's 'Disaster Plan', 1969; team work at RVH; work of student nurses; organisation of A & E dept; violence during Internment (without trial) week; gun battles in and around RVH; hospital social life; support for staff and attempts to boost morale; making of BBC documentary 'Surgery of Violence' at RVH; types of injuries dealt with; arrival of dead bodies at hospital.
REEL 5 Continues: young women injured during violence; reaction to accompanying police and relatives to identify bodies; violence on Bloody Friday; case of young boy scout caught in explosion; types of 'punishment' injuries dealt with, knee cappings, beatings etc; atrocities committed by 'Shankhill Butchers'; psychological impact of work at RVH and methods of coping; facilities for welfare of hospital staff; funerals of those killed at hospital; aftermath explosion at McGurk's bar, 12/1971 (newspaper picture of O'Hanlon at scene in file); people killed by explosion; helping to treat casualties at scene; importance of sense of humour in coping with work.
REEL 6 Continues: attacks on soldiers in patrol escorting children to and from school; some amusing incidents; injuries and deaths and caused by rubber bullets; percentage of casualties at hospital resulting from Troubles; areas of expertise developed at RVH due to treatment of Troubles related injuries; international reputation of RVH; changes in A & E dept over years; security surrounding vulnerable patients; attitude towards treating perpetrators of violence; memories of Gerry Adams as patient in hospital; attitude towards work of Sinn Fein; occasion when patient abducted from hospital by IRA.
REEL 7 Continues: hospital staff injured or killed; attitude towards violence; treating victims of bomb explosions; RVH policy re the media; filming of documentary 'Surgery of Violence' by BBC at RVH; duties as Sister in Charge of A & E; discipline; situation at RVH in 2000s; memories of explosion at McGurk's Bar; travelling overseas to lecture on treating victims of Troubles.
REEL 8 Continues: giving lectures on treating victims of Troubles; attitude towards being asked political rather than medical questions during lectures; coping with security checks in Belfast; attitude towards being confined to question of RUC attitude towards Catholics; relations between Catholic people and troops in area; arrival of worlds media during hunger strikes; casualties arriving at hospital; attitude towards Peace Movement; impact of Troubles on women; case of Catholic girl that married soldier.
REEL 9 Continues: problems with joy riding in area; impact of marches (Orange etc) on area; memories of attending Protestant marches of July 12th as a child; problems caused by marches; attitude towards portrayal of Troubles by various newspapers; mixing of Catholic and Protestant populations; description on 'peace lines'; changes to Belfast since 1980s; continuing problems with employment/unemployment in area.
REEL 10 Continues: complexity of situation in Northern Ireland; continuation of sectarian hatred; attitude towards question of reunification with Southern Ireland; attitude towards Iain Paisley; attitude towards politicians handling of situation in Northern Ireland; growth of anti-Irish feeling in Britain after IRA bombings of 1980s; attitude towards involvement of Americans such as Bill Clinton and George Mitchell in peace process; attitude towards Good Friday Agreement; lack of concern/help for those injured or disabled during Troubles; involvement of RVH in aftermath of Omagh bombing; impact of Omagh bombing on Northern Ireland; being awarded MBE for her work, 1972.
REEL 11 Continues: being awarded the honour of Dame of the Malta Cross, 1992. Recollections of visit with World Health Organisation to Middle East, early 1990s: living conditions in Palestinian refugee camps; witnessing Israeli violence towards Palestinians; use of rubber bullets and CS gas; change in situation of Palestinian women; attitude towards Israel.

ContextDescription
Civilian Life and War Work Since 1945
Civilian Life and War Work Since 1975

Duration
320

NumberOfParts
11

OtherFormats
None

MakerName
O'Hanlon, Kathleen

ProductionCompany
IWM

MakerGender
Female

Language
English

RelatedIWMItems
Photographs in file

RelatedSoundFile
O'Hanlon-civilians.mp3

Weighting
750
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

WebStatus
Published

UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006

URLEncodedDeptName
Sound

Access
Educational use only

Nationality
British

DigitalAsset
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
EPH 1448

ItemName
ARP incendiary bomb scoop: British

ObjectType
ARP equipment

IndexUnits
GB.O & Air Raid Precautions & ARP

IndexHistPeriod
Second World War

FullSummary
Second World War Air Raid Precautions (ARP) 'incendiary scoop'. The implement was designed used for shovelling sand on an incendiary bomb or even, as circumstances allowed, the dislodgement and removal of small incendiary bomb devices. British Home Front associations.

RelatedIWMItems
EPH 1446-7

RelatedImageFile
EPH_001448.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

UncatTransferDate
18/10/2007 05:50:20

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

FormatDescription
long handled wood and metal scoop. The scoop is painted red.

Access
Access by prior appointment

Theme
British Home Front 1939-1945

CoLStatus
Published

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
SUR 73

ProductionDate
1990

ItemName
tube, Fullers Earth, anti-gas protection

ObjectType
medical

FullSummary
During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein ordered attacks upon Israel to be made with Al-Hussein intermediate range ballistic missiles. He hoped to provoke an Israeli retaliation, which would force other Arab states to withdraw from the coalition that was opposing Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

As it was known that Iraq had access to "nerve-gas", it was feared that use might be made of it to enhance the lethality of the rather small warhead of the Al-Hussein missile. As a consequence preparations were made to protect Israeli civilians from this threat. In the event, none of the 40 missiles aimed at Israeli cities contained nerve agents.

This tube of Fullers Earth was issued by the Israeli authorities at the time. It was intended to be used as a neutral absorbant on skin contaminated by nerve agent.

RelatedImageFile
SUR_000073.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
SUR 74

ProductionDate
1990

ItemName
medication, drug, syringe self-injecting, Atropine

ObjectType
medical

FullSummary
During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein ordered attacks upon Israel to be made with Al-Hussein intermediate range ballistic missiles. He hoped to provoke an Israeli retaliation, which would force other Arab states to withdraw from the coalition that was opposing Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

As it was known that Iraq had access to 'nerve-gas', it was feared that use might be made of it to enhance the lethality of the rather small warhead of the Al-Hussein missile. As a consequence preparations were made to protect Israeli civilians from this threat. In the event, none of the 40 missiles aimed at Israeli cities contained nerve agents.

This self-injecting syringe was issued by the Israeli authorities at the time. It contains Atropine - a substance which blocks a significant part of the effect of nerve-agents on the human body.

RelatedImageFile
SUR_000074.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y

DeptName
Exhibits

IDNO
SUR 75

ProductionDate
1990

ItemName
medication, drug, syringe self-injecting, Atropine

ObjectType
medical

FullSummary
During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein ordered attacks upon Israel to be made with Al-Hussein intermediate range ballistic missiles. He hoped to provoke an Israeli retaliation, which would force other Arab states to withdraw from the coalition that was opposing Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

As it was known that Iraq had access to "nerve-gas", it was feared that use might be made of it to enhance the lethality of the rather small warhead of the Al-Hussein missile. As a consequence preparations were made to protect Israeli civilians from this threat. In the event, none of the 40 missiles aimed at Israeli cities contained nerve agents.

This self-injecting syringe was issued by the Israeli authorities at the time. It contains Atropine - a substance which blocks a significant part of the effect of nerve-agents on the human body.

RelatedImageFile
SUR_000075.jpg

Weighting
1000
900

SubThemeTag
UnderFire

UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35

URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits

Access
On display at IWM North

DigitalAsset
Y

IWMImageOwned
Y