Description
Object description
British steward served aboard HMS Arrogant, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1910-1911; served aboard HMS King Edward VII, 3rd Battle Sqdn, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1911-1912; served as captain's steward aboard HMS Marlborough, 1st Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet in GB coastal waters in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1914-1916; served aboard HMS Collingwood, 4th Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1917; served aboard HMS Royal Oak, 1st Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1918
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Woodbastwick, GB, 1892-1910: father's work as reed cutter and fisherman; family circumstances and break up of family; education; employment as farm worker, catcher and in squire's stables.
REEL 2 Continues: work as footman including method of cleaning silver and boots; valeting for guests; background to enlistment as steward in Royal Navy. Recollections of period as steward aboard HMS Arrogant and HMS King Edward VII, 3rd Battle Sqdn, Home Fleet, 1910-1912: reception and question of references; role of captain's personal staff including captain's steward and cook.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of captain's accommodation including dining cabin, day cabin, sleeping cabin and pantry; comparison of captain's accommodation aboard HMS Arrogant and HMS King Edward VII; duties laying out, pressing and cleaning captain's uniforms.
REEL 4 Continues: cleaning silver; morning routine and stowing hammock; preparation of captain's bath; laying out captain's uniform; preparing breakfast table; nature of meals prepared; morning duties; captain's inspection and prior covering of decks with canvas.
REEL 5 Continues: ship exercises and action stations on 6 Inch Gun ammunition party; officers' drinking habits; preparation of food accounts; relations with captains and admirals; mess and repayment messing arrangements; afternoon shore leave; pay; relations with ratings on lower deck.
REEL 6 Continues: later attachment to Captain Percy Grant's staff on various ships. Aspects of period ashore in Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport Barracks, GB, 1911: mobilisation parades; duties; recreational activities. Aspects of period as captain's steward aboard HMS Marlborough, 1st Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1914-1916: mobilisation to Scapa Flow, 27/7/1914; explanation of term 'snaking rigging'; state of morale and expectation of early meeting with High Seas Fleet; increase in crew; sport and recreational activities.
REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of operations as captain's steward aboard HMS Marlborough, 1st Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet during Battle of Jutland, North Sea, 31/5/1916-1/6/1916: initial contact with Imperial German Navy High Seas Fleet; effects of German torpedo hit on starboard side and personal morale at action station in first aid station below decks; transfer of Admiral Cecil Burney to HMS Royal Oak and return to port; assisting stokers in stokehold. Aspects of period as steward aboard HMS Collingwood, 4th Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet and HMS Royal Oak, 1st Battle Sqdn, Grand Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1917-1918: sight of explosion of HMS Vanguard whilst aboard HMS Collingwood at Scapa Flow, 9/7/1917; reaction to sight of surrender of Imperial German Navy High Seas Fleet whilst aboard HMS Royal Oak, 11/1918.
REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of service with Royal Navy, 1918-1932: increase of pay under Geddes Act; effects of marriage, 1929; difficulty in obtaining employment on leaving Royal Navy, 1932.