Norman, Geoffrey (Oral history)

British officer served aboard HMS Elizabeth in Mediterranean and in Grand Fleet, 1915-1917; present at Gallipoli, 1915; served aboard various ships, 1917-1940. Staff officer acting as inter- service liaison officer, Mediterranean Staff, 1940-1943; commanded HMS Queen Elizabeth with Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period as cadet, background to public school entrance; reactions to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914. Recollections of posting as midshipman and aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, 1/1915: status as older midshipman; pay; drinking habits. Recollections of operations off Gallipoli, Turkey, 2/1915-5/1915: stripping turbine during working up at Gibraltar consequent civilian repair team aboard; action stations role setting fuses in 15" turret and story of breaking up attack with shrapnel shell on Geohagen's Bluff, 26/4/1915; question of ineffectiveness of naval bombardment. Recollections of attack on Narrows, 18/3/1915, including sinking of Bouvet, rescue of Irresistible midshipman; question of feasibility of renewed based on experiences aboard HMS Tilbury at in Sea of Mamara, 1919; story of visit as admiral to Turkey, 1950; opinion of De Roebuck; story of taking aboard wounded troops, 25/4/1915; results of landings, 25/4/1915; awareness of conditions ashore; withdrawal from offshore anchorages due to submarine threat; photographs of Turkish defences, 23/4/1915; long range firing and air observation. REEL 2 Continues: air observation; reactions to withdrawal due to submarine threat, 5/1915. Various aspects of service with 5th Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow and Rosyth, 1915-1917: reactions to Battle of Jutland whilst refitting, 31/5/1915; recreations; informal junior officers Raisa Lodge club at Hoy. Aspects of service, 1939-1945: meat supply; importance of mail. Recollections of service aboard HMS Tancred and HMS Tilbury, 1917-1918: standing by during construction at Glasgow; comparison with battleship conditions; role as medical officer; effects of sea conditions; North Sea convoy duty based at Lerwick; stories relating to sinking of Freddy Cavais's previous ships; morale amongst officers; courses, 1919; stories illustrating situation ashore during visit aboard HMS Tilbury to Sevastopol, Soviet Union, 1918. Recollections of service aboard HMS Iron Duke in Black Sea, ca 1920-1921: story of exchanging Russian POWs with Soviet authorities for British naval POWs. REEL 3 Continues: stories relating to contacts with Turks and emigrating White Russians; destruction of stores on evacuation of base. Aspects of inter-war service, 1922-1939: story of establishing good relationship with Cunningham whilst serving at Port Edgar, Rosyth, 1924-1926. Aspects of various periods of service in Mediterranean, 1926-1939: efforts to impress with boat crew during opening of Port Fuad, Egypt; conditions on HMS Concord and HMS Sussex; precautionary role and signs of civil dissent during period aboard HMS Barham at Port Said during Abyssinian crisis, 1936; disrupted donkey polo match at Port Said, 1936; opinion of Pound. Duties commissioning HMS Capetown at Chatham, 1938. Aspects of period as duty captain at Admiralty House, London, 1939-1940. Aspects of period aboard HMS Ausonia on Atlantic convoys, 1940: crew; manoeuvres during failed attack by U Boat pack; primitive anti submarine tactics. Aspects of posting to Mediterranean Staff, Cairo, Egypt, 1940-1943: role on Inter Service Committee deputising for Cunningham; question of Allied inter service organisation; improvement in relationship with RAF; improvement in transport supplies and consequent shortages in drivers; relationship between Montgomery and Harwood; question of contingency plans and possibility of invasion of Egypt, 1941. Recollections of period in command of HMS Queen Elizabeth with Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean, 1943-1945: desire for sea post; heat stroke precautions; relationship between Somerville and Mountbatten; question of composition and command of Pacific Fleet; story illustrating cooperation with US aircraft carrier; relationship with Richelieu officers; minimal activity; opinion of Japanese; story of dinner party in USA; pride on opening fire on enemy.