NAM.1991-12-34-3

Third of three sound cassettes: oral history interview with Pte Frederick Eaton Rye recalling his service in the Non-Combatant Corps, 1941-1946. After working as a footman Rye obtained a job at Sainsbury's in Folkstone in 1937. Here he was converted at the Assemblies of God Mission, and became a pacifist. On the outbreak of war he attempted unsuccessfully to enlist in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Having registered as a conscientous objector he went before a tribunal at Fulham in December 1940. On the formation of the Non-Combatant Corps he was called up in the autumn of 1941 and posted to 11 Coy at Ilfracombe. Six weeks basic training was done under regular NCO's, who like the officer's, came from the Pioneer Corps. He describes the men in the Non-Combatant Corps and the nature of life in it. In 1943 11 Coy was broken up and Rye moved from Shropshire to 8 Coy and was sent to Newcastle for a year operating a mobile smokescreen. He also helped with the harvest at Ponteland. After working in a cookhouse in Sheffield he later found himself at Shellhaven loading jerrycans for D-Day. After sitting an intelligence test he was offered (and declined) the opportunity of joining the Royal Army Pay Corps and was shortly afterwards posted to the Royal Army Service Corps Record Office at Hastings for six months. He then worked at a German prisoner of war camp at Thames Ditton, a reception centre for prisoners of war returning from Germany at Comrie, Perthshire, and in the office of a small camp near Arbroath. He was again offered the chance of joining the Army as a sergeant but declined, and left the NCC after five years, returning to Sainsbury's. Interview conducted on 21 November 1991.

World War Two, Home Front (1939-1945), World War Two, POWs Germany (1939-1945)

OVERLORD, Operation, 1944 (World War Two, North West Europe 1944-1945)