Description
Object description
British boy seaman trained at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 1912; served aboard HMS Edgar in GB coastal waters, 1912-1913; served aboard HMS Chatham in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1913-1916; seaman served aboard HMS Blonde, Grand Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1916-1917; served aboard HMS Royal Sovereign in GB coastal waters, 1924-1928; served aboard HMS Sussex in Mediterranean, 1928-1934
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Rye, GB, 1896-1911: family circumstances; question of passing exam to qualify to continue education; employment as baker's boy; attraction of life at sea. Aspects of enlistment as boy seaman in Royal Navy at Coastguard Station, Dungeness, GB, 1912: reasons for enlistment; mother's reaction to his enlistment; recruiting role of chief coastguard officer.
REEL 2 Continues: references provided; perception of nature of naval life and terms of service; medical and educational examinations at Old Scotland Yard, Whitehall, London; origins of boy seamen recruits; civilian attitude to naval service; acceptance for service.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of training as boy seaman at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 4/1912-10/1912: reception; mast drill and initial assistance from instructors to overcome fear of heights; division into classes and inculcation of competitive spirit; importance of bathing and washing clothes; physical training; food including nature of general messing system and question of complaints.
REEL 4 Continues: story of visit by First Lord of Admiralty, Sir Winston Churchill; washing kitchen utensils; divisions and religious service; educational examinations and extra training given to advanced class; drafting arrangements to training ships; promotional prospects for boys in advanced class; importance of seamanship and practical skills; syllabus; afternoon routine; tea.
REEL 5 Continues: voluntary evening educational classes; Sunday parade and church services; visits to Shotley; nature of discipline and punishments including 'cure' employed on persistent offender and midshipman caned for using a knife in cutting gun cotton aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, 1924.
REEL 6 Continues: swimming instruction and regular tests; opinion of instructors. Recollections of period as boy seaman and seaman aboard HMS Edgar, 1912-1913, HMS Chatham, 1913-1916, HMS Blonde, 1916-1917, HMS Royal Sovereign, 1924-1928 and HMS Sussex, 1928-1934: story illustrating right of appeal to higher authorities; nature and importance of discipline.
REEL 7 Continues: later story of importance of fairness in dealing with former civilian crew of minesweepers based at Harwich, GB, 1939-1945; nature of Royal Navy discipline and comparison with methods employed by British Army; opinion as petty officer of naval police; role of captain and senior officers aboard ship.
REEL 8 Continues: stories illustrating status and behaviour of various captains particularly aboard HMS Royal Sovereign; story of young officer not recognising Commander Richard Bell Davies VC aboard HMS Royal Sovereign; relations with officers and ranker officers.
REEL 9 Continues: opinion of ranker officers; how discipline is based on respect for seniority in Royal Navy; story of amicable nature of dispute with Lieutenant Philip Vian over composition of boat in naval regatta race in 1927 and subsequent meeting whilst serving aboard HMS Sussex. Aspects of period of sea training as boy seaman aboard HMS Edgar in GB coastal waters, 10/1912-7/1913: role of petty officer instructors.
REEL 10 Continues: examinations. Aspects of period as boy seaman at HMS Pembroke, Chatham, GB, 7/1913-10/1913: choice of training as seaman torpedoman; attending torpedo course at Stangate Creek on River Medway; qualification for promotion and responsibilities of Torpedo Branch personnel aboard ships; attending subsequent refresher courses; drafting aboard HMS Sussex prior to first commission to gain familiarity with new electrical and weapons systems, 1928.
REEL 11 Continues: Recollections of period as boy seaman and seaman aboard HMS Edgar, 1912-1913, HMS Chatham, 1913-1916; HMS Blonde, 1916-1917, HMS Royal Sovereign, 1924-1928 and HMS Sussex, 1928-1934: aspects of uniforms including post-war changes, petty officers' uniform, replacements ordered from tailors, barrack kit inspections, folding trousers, tropical kit, question of fit and ease of removal of blouses and traditional aspects of uniform; mannerisms of long service seamen.
REEL 12 Continues: laundry facilities; presence of seaman 'firms' providing services; various methods of coaling ship and competitive approach within squadrons.
REEL 13 Continues: coaling ship and changes on introduction of oil fuel; speed of changes in propulsion systems; coaling and subsequent cleaning of ship; messdeck accommodation aboard HMS Royal Sovereign and HMS Sussex; question of German ship construction; problems in accessing and keeping sea water out of messdeck accommodation aboard HMS Blonde and consequent refusal of some personnel to go below decks whilst on patrol.
REEL 14 Continues: messdeck furniture, fittings, ventilation, heating and washing facilities; relations with messmates including cases of psychological instability and fights; question of homosexuality; treatment of venereal disease cases; recreational activities and question of gambling.
REEL 15 Continues: question of gambling and Crown and Anchor. Recollections of periods as boy seaman and seaman in Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Chatham, GB, 1913-1934: strict nature of discipline and routine; role of drafting office, nature of drafting system and question of possibility of avoiding drafts; gunnery and torpedo revision courses.
REEL 16 Continues: leave and prior inspection; nature of working parties; selling of lowers intended for sailors on leave; recreational activities; fights between prostitutes; opinion of Aggie Weston's Royal Sailors Rest Home at Portsmouth; duties on naval patrol in Chatham and subsequent dispute with chief petty officer.
REEL 17 Continues: Recollections of period as boy seaman and seaman aboard HMS Edgar, 1912-1913, HMS Chatham, 1913-1916, HMS Blonde, 1916-1917, HMS Royal Sovereign, 1924-1928 and HMS Sussex, 1928-1934: operation of canteen and general messing systems; ships' bakehouses; role of leading seaman in paying and dividing mess canteen bills; role of cooks of mess in preparing meals; purchase of extra food for mess; issue of rum ration.
REEL 18 Continues: question of abuses of privilege during issue of rum; attitude to religion and church services; numerous coincidental deaths and suicides aboard ship; 'Crossing the Line' ceremony; naval regattas and trophies; ship's silverware; attitude to overseas service; story of cruise with minesweepers to Australia.
REEL 19 Continues: Recollections of period as boy seaman aboard HMS Chatham in Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1914-1915: reaction to outbreak of First World War whilst at Malta, 4/8/1914; fitting splinter mats on superstructure; failed pursuit of SMS Goeben and SMS Breslau through Messina Straits, Italy and to Dardanelles, Ottoman Empire, 8/1914; bottling up SMS Konigsberg in River Rufiji; successful ruse in sowing fake mines across mouth of River Rufiji; casualties off German East Africa. Reaction to leaving Royal Navy.
