Bottle, Cecil Edward (Oral history)

British chief petty officer telegraphist served aboard HMS Natal, 1911-1912, served aboard HMS Actaeon, 1912-1913, served aboard HMS Diamond, 1913-1915, served aboard HMS Manners, 1915-1916; served aboard HMS Diligence, 1917; served aboard HMS Revenge, 1917-1921.

REEL 1 Recollections of service as telegraphist aboard HMS Impregnable and service aboard HMS Natal, HMS Acteon, HMS Diamond, HMS Manners, 1910-1917, and HMS Revenge, 1918-1921: training as boy wireless telegraphist aboard HMS Impregnable, Devonport, 1910-1911, including reception, swimming tests, PT, religious confirmation, wireless equipment, trips ashore and punishment canings; period as boy telegraphist aboard HMS Natal escorting royal liner with 2nd Cruiser Sqdn via Mediterranean to India, 1911-1912, including reputation of ship, effects of storm, rescue of Norwegian merchantmen, impressions of Malta, eating grapes and Indian burial ceremonies; family background and reasons for enlistment; origins of telegraphist boy recruits; PT and sporting activities; story of overhearing hearing voice transmission story on wireless aboard HMS Diligence, 1917; opinion of wireless signals officers. REEL 2 Continues: role of wireless on destroyer; wavelengths; attitude of officers and signalmen towards wireless branch personnel; operations against gun runners aboard HMS Diamond, 1914; rescue role aboard HMS Diamond following sinking of HMS Formidable, 1/1/1915; service as leading telegraphist aboard HMS Manners based with 11 Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, 1915-1917, including search in storm for survivors from HMS Hampshire, ca 2/6/1916, effects of rough weather, wireless watch duties, patrols covering Lerwick-Bergen convoys, receiving orders for torpedo attack on German Fleet during Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916, injury during collision with HMS Defence whilst leaving Rosyth, ca 2/1916 and view of night action at Jutland, 31/5/1916-1/6/1916; reaction to demobilisation; 3/1923; period at Drafting Office, Chatham Barracks, 1921-1923; absence of naval pension and refusal to join Royal Naval Reserve; family attitude to enlistment, 1910.