John Hatfield opens by providing a long and detailed description about the political situation in Spain over the period of 1922 to 1936 culminating in the Spanish Civil War. From 1942 to 1944, he served in Gibraltar where he recalls his impressions of Gibraltar, life on The Rock and relations with the locals. As a Staff Officer in Naval Intelligence working in the signals intercept station and Mediterranean Ops Room in The Rock, he recites numerous accounts of intercepting German U-boat signals, which involved DF-ing and ULTRA. He talks of the success in sinking German submarines off Gibraltar. On the personal front, he talks about the social life in Gibraltar, relations with Spain, spies across the border, the capture of Italian mini sub crew and the neutral position of Spain during WW2.

Copyright Imperial War Museum: Ser 225 / IWM 010180R01-13

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Hatfield, John Prosper – transcript