Description
Object description
British boy artificer trained at Boy' Artificer Training Estblishment, HMS Fisgard, Portsmouth, GB, 1/1917-9/1921; engine room artificer served aboard HMS Argus in GB coastal waters, 9/1921-1/1924
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Southend-on-Sea, Sutton and Rochford, GB, 1901-1917: family and social circumstances; background to securing part scholarship to grammar school and reaction from village community in Rochford; outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914; reaction from classmates commissioned into Royal Air Force on subsequently meeting them when naval rating, 1918; father's ruse to enlist though overage.
REEL 2 Continues: pressures from local women in Rochford to enlist; father's pay as NCO with Royal Army Medical Corps; learning German and developing friendship with German prisoners of war on farm working parties; background to seeking career as naval artificer and interest in sea.
REEL 3 Continues: educational standards required and competitive nature of examination prior to enlistment as boy artificer in Royal Navy; influence of mother. Recollections of training as boy seaman at Boy Artificer Training Establishment, HMS Fisgard, Portsmouth, GB, 1/1917-9/1921: reception; kitting out with hammocks and uniform; deductions from pay for 'optional' kit; morning routine.
REEL 4 Continues: lashing and stowing hammock; printing name on kit; cutting hammock ropes of boys still asleep; fighting in queue for dining room; boxing activities and competitive approach of former pupils of Greenwich Royal Hospital School; rations; training routine; physical training in gymnasium; discipline and breaking ship; relations with instructors; nature of 10A Punishment for taking extra bath.
REEL 5 Continues: nature of punishments including 10A, isolation and caning; comparison of summer and winter entry schemes; sponsorship of boys for weekend leave by local residents; value of competitive nature of training; disciplinary role of boy petty officers.
REEL 6 Continues: question of bullying and 'punishments' meted out by senior boys; senior boys' privileges; trade training in engineering bench work and production of own tools; examination and selection as fitter and turner; importance of accuracy in trade tests.
REEL 7 Continues: question of stigma, loss of seniority and effects on subsequent promotion prospects for boys failing trade test; question of missed promotion possibilities due to rejecting transfer as electrical or ordnance artificer, 1919; value of practical work with engine room artificers on various ships including HMS Glorious.
REEL 8 Continues: work refitting small ships; final bench trade test and classification; opinion of instructors and question of their use of 'stonnicky'; final strap and block trade test; opinion of training and later story of repairing motorboat in difficult circumstances whilst aboard HMS Carlisle in China Sea. Aspects of period as 5th Class Engine Room Artificer aboard HMS Argus in GB coastal waters, 9/1921-1/1924: dominant role of chief engine room artificer and awareness of initial lack of status in mess.
REEL 9 Continues: importance of securing recommendations for promotion; reasons for discharge of two engine room artificers in probationary year; necessity of recommendation for promotion to acting 4th Class Engine Room Artificer; story of insolence towards chief engine room artificer after drinking rum ration and subsequent beating as informal punishment; relations with chief engine room artificer; story of boilermaker ordered to replace valve spindle broken by him using hammer and chisel on nut; story of engine room artificer penalised with loss of leave until unreliable motorboat was properly repaired.
REEL 10 Continues: attitude towards training and career; tradition of assigning junior engine room artificers to watch keeping in boiler rooms; nature of boiler room duties including operating and maintaining stop valves, oil fuel pumps, cleaning and changing oil sprayers, spanner accident, difficulty in fitting water gauge glasses, repairing leaking valves, cleaning out inside of boilers and difficulty in resetting running down valve.
REEL 11 Continues: opportunity to operate manoeuvring valves in engine room; steering and cooling engines; relations with stokers; question of status and privileges of engine room artificers; canteen messing system; comparative status of engine room artificers with other tradesmen and acceptance of engine room artificer qualifications by trades union.
REEL 12 Continues: relations between Royal Navy and engineering trades union; relations with ship's police; relationship between first lieutenant and engineering officer; status of engine room artificers and relations with engineering officers; importance of following established routines.
REEL 13 Continues: nature of engine room duties and discipline; question of wearing rank insignia on overalls.
