Parr, Walter Robert 'Wally (Oral history)

[Voltigeur]

Catalogue number 11073

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80010845

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of period as NCO with D Coy, 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, 1942- 1944: reasons for volunteering for airborne forces, 1942; rigours of training; attitude of eagerness to get into action. Recollections of operations as NCO with D Coy, 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airborne Div in Normandy, D-Day, 6/6/1944: landing and problems exiting glider; dealing with defences at Pegasus Bridge; fighting at bridge; discovery of fatally wounded Lieutenant Den Brotheridge; capture of German POW; his contact with Gondree family; approach of German armour; retrieval of PIAT from glider; destruction of German tank by Sergeant 'Wagger' Thornton; securing of German POWs; attack on German patrol boat on canal; reasons why D-Day was really on 5/6/1944; exploring gun pit. REEL 2 Continues: firing captured artillery piece; targets for this gun and Colonel John Howard attitude to Parr's firing of it; firing at Germans observing from water tower; Colonel John Howard's reaction to Parr firing at Chateau; firing on German manned barge on canal; reaction to arrival of fighter cover; German air attack on bridge; story of Jack 'Bill' Bailey's cup of tea; sound of Commandos in distance; arrival of Lord Lovat; Monsieur Gondree's offer of champagne; origin of title of film 'The Longest Day'; his attitude to having taken part in D-Day. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1944-1945: orders to move to Ardennes, 24/12/1944; reception by Belgian civilians in Ardennes. REEL 3 Continues: Christmas dinner in Ardennes; coping with cold; lack of unit activity during Battle of Bulge; patrols along River Meuse near Venlo; capture of unit members; his opinion of six hour patrols. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during Rhine Crossing, Germany, 3/1945: preparations for operation in GB; unit's objective; glider flight; glider landing; casualties during glider landings; sheltering under ammunition train; encounter with US war correspondent; advancing forward; how war correspondent hampered the fighting by interviewing Billy Gray; his wounding in legs. REEL 4 Continues: his attempts to get medical attention; his assistance to wounded in field aid post, 25/3/1945; unit casualties during Operation Varsity.