FAU and FRS Oral Histories and Videos

A unique interview recorded in 2013, shortly before his death. He recalls his experiences with exceptional clarity

A 17-minute, black and white film begins silently with fire engulfing the town of La Rouviere (98 miles from Marseille) in May 1940, with townspeople fleeing. The film cuts to Howard Kershner, program director for AFSC and the International Commission for the Assistance of Child Refugees in Spain, who explains the Quaker philosophy and gives a brief overview of the child-feeding program.

Footage of the Friends Ambulance Unit during World War II

British civilian children's social worker in London, 1938-1944; worked with Friends' War Victims Relief Society in GB, 1941-1942; worked with Friends' Relief Service RT100 in Belgium, Germany and Poland, 1944-1946, including Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Germany,4/1945

British civilian conscientious objector with Friends Relief Service in GB, 1943-1945; served with Friends Relief Service Team 100 in Belgium and Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in Germany, 2/1945-5/1945; served with Friends Relief Service Team 100, United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation (UNRRA) in Brunswick, Germany, 1945-1946

British civilian served as personnel officer with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Singapore, Burma and China, 1941-1945

British conscientious objector worked for Agricultural Division of Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, 1916-1918; served with Home Guard in Coventry, 1939-1945

British civilian in Laxton, High Wycombe and Petersfield, 1939-1945; served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB and France, 1945-1947; civilian involved in work with children in Austria and GB from 1947

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, Egypt, Palestine and Greece, 1939-1946; includes performances of songs and poems.

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit attached to United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and Red Cross in Egypt and Italy and Austria, 1944-1947

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1941 and with Friends' Ambulance Unit and US Army Medical Corps in Burma and China, 1939-1944; officer served with US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Detachment 101 in Burma, 1944-1945.

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, Middle East and Greece, 1942-1946; includes performances of anti-war poems and songs.

British civilian artist and conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1939-1941 and with Hadfield Spears Unit and 1st Free French Div in Palestine, Syria, North Africa, Italy and France, 1941-1945

British civilian pacifist with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, 1939-1941; agricultural worker in GB, 1941-1945

British civilian served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, 1942-1943; served with Friends Ambulance Unit Anti-Typhus Research Team in North Africa and Italy, 1943; welfare officer served with Friends Ambulance Service in Italy, 1943-1945; served with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Italy, 1945

British civilian pacifist in GB, 1938-1944; served with Friends Ambulance Unit in China, 1944-1947.

British civilian worked as writer and producer for BBC in GB, 1932-1941; conscientious objector served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, 1941-1944 and in Belgium, Germany and Austria, 1944-1946.

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, Ethiopia and Italy, 1940-1945

American civilian Quaker and conscientious objector in US, 1942-1946; served with Friends Ambulance Unit in China, 1946-1948

British civilian nurse with Civil Nursing Reserve in GB, 1942; volunteer with Friends Relief Service and Friends Ambulance Unit in GB and Germany, 1943-1946

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1939-1941 and with Hadfield Spears Unit in Lebanon, Syria, North Africa, Italy and France, 1941-1945

British civilian nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, GB, 1/1940-1/1944; volunteer served with Friends Ambulance Unit attached to Middle East Relief and Refugee Administration in Egypt and Palestine, 2/1944-5/1944; served with Friends Ambulance Unit attached to United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Italy and Dodecanese Islands, Greece, 1944-1945; served as nurse wi

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Egypt and Greece, 1939-1945

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit and Hadfield-Spears Unit in GB, Scandinavia, Middle East, North Africa and North West Europe, 1939-1946.

British civilian conscientious objector with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB, 1940-1942, and Ethiopia, 1942-1945

British nurse with Mile End Hospital in London, GB, 1939-1943; trained with Friend Ambulance Unit in GB, 1943-1944; served with Friends Ambulance Unit in Yunnan Province, China, 4/1944-2/1945

British civilian conscientious objector in GB, 1940-1944; served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Belgium and Germany, including Operation Eagle repatriations, 1944-1946.

British conscientious objector served with Friends' Ambulance Unit in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1946. Post-war career as journalist with Manchester Guardian

British civilian conscientious objector served with Friends Ambulance Unit in GB, India and China, 1942-1944; served as intelligence officer with Gloucestershire Regt and 14th Punjab Regt in India, 1944-1946