Description
Object description
British able seaman served aboard HMS Goodall in North Atlantic, Western Approaches and Arctic Ocean, 1944-1945. Sunk by torpedo in Kola Inlet, 29/4/1945. Served aboard HMS Cuckmere and HMS Ajax in Mediterranean, 1945-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Lambeth, London, 1926-1943: social circumstances; education interrupted by war; selling newspapers on street; reactions on outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; German air raids; training and voluntary duties as firewatcher with ARP; German low level daylight air raid; work as apprentice butcher and baker's boy, 1939-1941; work as labourer with company filling in bomb craters, 1941-1943; question of rationing; recreations and visits to snooker halls; effects of German air raids and assisting in debris clearance; Sea Cadet activities, 1937-1939; story of failed attempt to volunteer for RAF and recruitment into Royal Navy, ca 1/1944.
REEL 2 Continues: story of failed attempt to volunteer for RAF and recruitment into Royal Navy, ca 1/1944. Recollections of basic training at HMS Ganges Shore Station, Shotley, 2/1944-4/1944: prior kitting out at Skegness; hut accommodation; drill; gunnery training and interest in light anti-aircraft guns; PT; masthead drill; swimming test; knots and splices; food rations; absence of 'spit and polish'; relationship with recruits, prospective officer cadets and instructors.
REEL 3 Continues: assessment including test in aircraft recognition and eyesight. Recollections of gunnery training course at Sheerness, ca 4/1944-5/1944: assault course; training on Oerlicken gun; story of getting into trouble swimming in Thames estuary; qualification as anti-aircraft gunner. Recollections of period as gunner rating aboard HMS Goodall based at Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, ca 6/1944-4/1945: reception; assignment to starboard Oerlicken abaft bridge; messdeck and bunks; question of US fittings; relationship with lower deck and Leading Seaman Wilcox; initial seasickness.
REEL 4 Continues: initial seasickness and ship's rolling; anti-submarine sweeps ahead of convoys; cruising station including duties on lookout, wheel and standing by waist Oerlickens; clothing; resting off watch; canteen messing system; food; tea; rum ration; letters and parcels; question of cleaning ship and officers' rounds; opinion of various officers including Sub-Lieutenant Horspall, Lieutenant Paul Mallett and First Lieutenant Jimmy Delaway.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of various officers including Lieutenant Cyril Lovett, Lieutenant Commander Fulton James and First Lieutenant Jimmy Delaway; crew morale; nature of anti-submarine sweeps and responding to aircraft submarine reports; account of sinking of HMS Bullen at Cape Wrath, 6/12/1944, including prior sweep for U Boat, launching whaler to pick up survivors, commencing search for U Boat, sinking of launch by HMS Hesperus, 'creeper' tactics with HMS Loch Inch, depth charge attacks and debris later identified from U 297; links with HMS Bullen in 19 Escort Group; visits ashore in Liverpool including story of fight with dockers in pub, drinking habits, pay and relationship with civilians.
REEL 6 Continues: recreations on home leave. Recollections of escorting Comvoy JW 66 to Pollyanna, Murmansk, Soviet Union, 4/1945: weather conditions; situation; escorting anti-submarine minelayers; shooting at floating mines; Oerlicken ammunition types and method of loading drums; Oerlicken target practice and question of accuracy; story of gunner losing Oerlicken barrel overboard in harbour; impressions of Soviet regime during visit ashore. Account of being torpedoed by U 968 while escorting Convoy RJ66 through Kola Inlet, 29/4/1945: U Boat warning and anti-submarine sweep by combined escort groups; opening fire on surfaced U 307; opinion of 3" gunsand prior failed attempt to sink derelict merchant ship; effect of torpedo strike on portside and detonation of forward 3" magazine; being trapped by collapse of Oerlicken mounting.
REEL 7 Continues: escape from Oerlicken mounting; fire; move along main deck to stern; orders from Delaway to abandon ship; diving overboard and getting into Carley float; casting off; view of damage to ship whilst paddling away from portside; question of cold conditions; detonation of Oerlicken ammunition on ship; being capsized by passing ship; getting back onto Carley float; burning oil on sea; sighting Soviet motorlaunch; rescue by second Soviet motorlaunch; treatment for cold; brief period ashore at Venga; losing consciousness. Voyage aboard HMS Vindex and hospital ship to GB, 5/1945. Period in Kingseat Hospital, Aberdeen, 5/1945: nature of injuries; personal morale; question of VE Day, 8/5/1945. Periods of sick leave and survivor's leave, ca 5/1945-6/1945: new kit; story of reception on being late back from sick leave; question of treatment of survivors.
REEL 8 Period at Chatham Barracks and Corsham Camp, ca 6/1945. Period aboard HMS Cuckmere at Taranto and Malta, ca 7/1945-1/1946: damagesd state fo ship; care and maintenance party; duties as bosun; tow to Malta, 12/1945; absence of Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1945; story illustrating duties as coxswain of motorboat. Period aboard HMS Ajax in Mediterranean, 1946-1947: nature of ship; messdeck; relationship with lower deck and officers; story of waterpolo match; action stations on twin Oerlicken; movements; crisis over Albanians mining activities in claimed territorial waters and role in covering clearance of minefield; towing cut mines away in motorboat; intercepting ships full of Jewish immigrants heading for newly created Israel and story of boarding over crowded ketch; question of attitude to Jewish immigrants; return to GB. Demobilisation, 1947.
REEL 9 Demobilisation, 1947: demob suit; bounty payment; question of resigning as regular. Post-war career: various jobs; marriage and move to Chippenham; work in electrical component factory; background to career as full tine tradwe union official and Labour Councillor; disability pension granted for hearing loss; background to membership of HMS Bullen Assoc, Captain Class Assoc, North Russian Club and Royal Naval Club, 1992-2002; contacts with German officer from U 968 and visit to their crew reunion; attitude to reconciliation with Germans.