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Bartlett, Richard E.: my Navy recollections (July 5, 1987)

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Interviewer: Torrie, Tom

Interviewee: Bartlett, Richard E. (Richard Edward), 1919-2010

Rank: Lieutenant-Commander.

ABSTRACT: Lieut. Cdr. Richard E. Bartlett Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) Royal Canadian Navy (Air) Bartlett_R_0004_01.mp3 Born on Apr. 21, 1919 in Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask. After completing his senior matriculation he was accepted in 1938 by the Fleet Air Arm. After six months of general naval training aboard H.M.S. Courageous he took flying training with the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) and was awarded his wings in 1939, at which point he became an acting sub-lieutenant. In Apr. 1940 he joined No. 803 Squadron (Skuas) in H.M.S. Ark Royal. During the Norwegian campaign air cover was provided for the retreating British army. At Trondheim harbour he was wounded and shot down while attacking the German battle cruiser Gneisenau and spent two weeks in a Norwegian hospital. He was transferred to Germany to an Air Force interrogation centre (Dulag Luft), then to Stalag Luft 1 on the Baltic coast. Describes camp conditions, low rations, first "escape committee". Enemy discovery of an escape tunnel resulted in two weeks of solitary confinement. Later, in retaliation for German prisoners held in poor conditions at Fort Henry, Kingston, Ont., they were sent to the fortress of Thorn (now Torun) in Poland and placed in dungeons. Eventually transferred to Warburg (now West Germany) where he participated in an escape. Bartlett_R_0004_02.mp3 Captured in a railyard, placed in punishment cells. Finally to Stalag Luft 3 in Silesia where the "great escape" was well under way. Not an active participant. Fifty of those who escaped were later shot as an example to others. Secret "death zones" were established by the Germans which tended to reduce the zeal for escape. In Feb. 1945, to avoid the approaching Russian Army, the prisoners were marched to the west for days, living in the open. Some died when attacked in error by British fighter aircraft. Liberated by the British army and flown to England by the R.A.F. on May 5, 1945. Bartlett rejoined the Fleet Air Arm that year and transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1946.

An interview/narrative of Richard E. Bartlett's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Commander Bartlett served with the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) and the Royal Canadian Navy (Air). Interview took place on July 5, 1987.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 51.5, 10.5
  • 54.75844, -2.69531
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 60 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • BRE_004
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • April 23, 2007
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by JW, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI
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file details Bartlett_R_0004_01.mp3
file details Bartlett_R_0004_02.mp3
file details Bartlett_R_0004.jpg