Description
Object description
British seaman served as stoker aboard HMS Natal and HMS Inflexible in North Sea, South Atlantic, Dardanelles and Mediterranean , 1910-1916, including Battle of the Falkland Islands, 12/1914; served as leading stoker aboard HMS Chester in North Sea, 1916-1918, including Battle of Jutland, 5/1916
Content description
REEL 1: Background in GB: pre-war employment; joined Royal Navy, 1910; family. Aspects of period as stoker aboard HMS Natal, 1910-1914: based in Chatham; story of voyage aboard HMS Natal to India for Durbar with King and Queen; training at Chatham; transferred to HMS Inflexible on outbreak of war, 8/1914. Aspects of operations as leading stoker aboard HMS Inflexible, 1914-1916: North Sea patrols with Home Fleet; description of operations during Battle of the Falklands, 12/1914; pursuit and sinking of German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisneau; question of rescuing survivors; duties at action station and watch keeper; sailed to Dardanelles; bombardment of Turkish forts; ship damaged by mine; casualties; repairs to ship in Malta; rejoined Home Fleet; drafted to HMS Chester, 5/1916. Aspects of operations as leading stoker aboard HMS Chester during Battle of Jutland in North Sea, 5-6/1916: sea trials; sailed to Scapa Flow; description of role in operations during Battle of Jutland, 5-6/1916; attacks on German ships; damage sustained by HMS Chester.
REEL 2 Continues: sinking of HMS Invincible; casualties including Jack (Boy) Cornwell; escorted back to GB coastal waters; burial of dead at sea; leave; repairs. Aspects of operations aboard HMS Chester, 6/1916-1918: engagements with German High Seas Fleet; story of German observation balloon; use of zig-zag course; description of sinking of HMS Falmouth by U-boat, 8/1916; loss of ships; night patrols; duties laying mine fields; invalided out of Navy, 1918; opinion of officers; amusing story of painting funnel on HMS Inflexible; further memories of death of Jack Cornwell aboard HMS Chester.
REEL 3 Continues: description of conditions in boiler room; watches; reflections on period of naval service; family life. NEW SPEAKER: W H BROWN: Recollections of service as stoker with Royal Navy, 1905-1918: family background; memories of HMS Trafalgar; service aboard HMS Crecy including sinking; opinion of award of Victoria Cross to Jack 'Boy' Cornwell; role in operations aboard HMS Phaeton in Dardanelles, 2-9/1915; mine laying operations; duties as ship's corporal; family background; summary of naval service; duties as leading stoker; further comments on sinking of HMS Crecy.
REEL 4 Continues: concluding remarks.