Bourne, Clarence Alfred (Oral history)

British petty officer served aboard HMAS Macedonia with 4th Cruiser Sqdn in South Atlantic, 1914-1915; present at Battle of Falklands, 8/12/1914; served as NCO with Expeditionary Force Canteens, Army Service Corps on Western Front, 1915-1918

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1891-1912: family; education; employment. Aspects of period with Merchant Navy, 1912-1914: story of duties as bell-boy aboard liner RMS Oceana and sinking by German ship; problem of seasickness; question of adequate lifeboat drill; description of rescue by SS Sussex; story of crew looting cabins of Oceana; description of role as steward aboard various ships; story of volunteering as steward with Royal Navy; reaction to outbreak of war, 8/1914; story of mobilization and posted to HMAS Macedonia. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as petty officer aboard HMAS Macedonia in South Atlantic, 1914-1915: description of Macedonia and conversion from passenger liner Oceana into armed merchant ship; accommodation; story of recruiting new crew for war and question of Indian seamen; question of not being officially signed on with Royal Navy; question of uniform and training; description of role as boardroom steward; nature of role of Macedonia with 4th Cruiser Sqdn in South Atlantic; story of Battle of Coronel, 1/Nov/1914 and diversion of Macedonia to Sierra Leone West Africa to avoid German fleet; summary of movements prior to Battle of Coronel; role of Macedonia and description of daily routine; story of intercepting German ship Santa Barbara. REEL 3 Continues: further comments on interception of Santa Barbara and using sacks of flour to reinforce superstructure of Macedonia; story of Macedonia leaving Sierra Leone to join British fleet and role as decoy for convoy; description of taking aboard coal at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, 12/1914; role of Macedonia and HMS Bristol guarding harbour entrance; story of German fleet arriving at Port Stanley; memory of Canopus firing 12-inch gun as warning; description of British fleet in pursuit of German fleet and early stages of Battle of Falklands, 8/Dec/1914; role of Macedonia and Bristol intercepting German transport ships away from main battle area; description of sinking German ships Baden and Santa Isabel and evacuation of crews onto Macedonia. REEL 4 Continues: further comments on German seamen taken aboard Macedonia and return to Port Stanley; description of sinking of Baden and Santa Isabel; memory of battle damaged ships returning to Port Stanley; story of Macedonia locating HMS Kent; casualties; weather conditions; problem of sharks; story of returning to GB with German POWs; description of conditions aboard Macedonia for POWs including food, sleeping arrangements and exercise; memory of burials at sea; description of arrival in Liverpool, 1915; comments on Battles of Coronel and Falklands and question of morale; question of Germans not rescuing British crews; further comments on Battle of Falklands; blackout rule and rum ration. REEL 5 continues: description of terrain of Falkland Islands, 1914; description of coaling stations and coaling at sea; story of secret British base at Abrolhos Rocks; question of supply and repair situation in neutral ports; inter-ship communications; communications with home. Aspects of period of employment as steward with P & O line, 1915: question of status aboard Macedonia; description of liner Morea and armaments; story of Morea taking Anzac hospital unit to Egypt. Recollections of operations as NCO with Expeditionary Force Canteens, Army Service Corps on Western Front, 1915-1918: story of enlisting with Expeditionary Force Canteens, summer 1915; question of civilian status and nominal rank of sergeant; posted to 2nd Army HQ at St Omer, France. REEL 6 Continues: establishment of depot and role of Expeditionary Force Canteens in Messines area; description of rail routes for supplies; problem of pilfering; story of depot and stores being set on fire during German offensive, 3/1918; opinion of Australian troops; description of supplies and goods in depot stores; posted to 1st Army HQ in Ypres area, Belgium, 1918; question of dealing with damaged goods; contact with fighting troops; story of running food depot with wife in Lille after end of war; relations with French civilians. Further comments on Battle of Falklands and keeping diary.