Davey, Wilfred Ernest (Oral history)

British marine served with Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks, GB and aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in GB coastal waters, 1918-1922

REEL 1 Background in Hampstead, London, 1900-1916: father's work as journalist on 'Hampstead Record'; social circumstances; education; minimal impact of German air raids; father's enlistment in Royal Flying Corps. Background to enlistment underage in Royal Marine Artillery at Recruitment Office, Scotland Yard, 12/1916: reasons; procedure. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of training with Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney barracks, Southsea, Portsmouth, 1/1917-2/1918: reception and barrack accommodation; division into squads of long and hostilities only service recruits; squad instructor; drill; tactical training including method of receiving cavalry attacks; rifle training. REEL 3 Continues: repository training based at Fort Cumberland in using levers, ropes and tackles to move guns and mountings for use ashore; gun drill training in shore mock ups of secondary battery and turret; gunnery responsibilities of marines afloat; field battery training; routine barrack room duties. REEL 4 Continues: routine barrack room duties; folding beds; duties of 'cooks of the day'; recreations including canteens and visits into Portsmouth. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of service as Royal Marine aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, 2/1918-4/1922: question of pattern and length of service aboard ships; question of preference for shore rather than ship service; prior naval train journey to Thurso; seasickness during voyage aboard drifter to depot ship Imperieuse; reception on boarding ship; recreations; relevance of training; watch system. REEL 6 Continues: watch system; organisation of guard duties; specialist marine duties; cleaning ship; working parties; preference for guard duties; question of separate status of marines under Army Act; amusing story of commander's speech illustrating post-war return to 'spit and polish'; traditional role of marines. REEL 7 Continues: disciplinary role of marines controlling returning shore parties; view of Grand Fleet putting to sea; view of surrender of High Seas Fleet and reception on arrival at Firth of Forth from action stations as open sight-setter in 15" turret; opinion of Admiral Davis Beatty; question of post-war dissatisfaction over pay and improvements following establishment of Grand Fleet Welfare Fund and Jerram Committee report; question of post-war role of Royal Marines.