Perkins, Donald (Oral history)

British seaman served as asdic operator aboard HMS Quantock in North Sea, 1940-1941; served aboard HMS Ithuriel in Mediterranean, 3/1942-11/1942; officer cadet trained at HMS King Alfred in Hove, GB, 1943; officer served aboard HMS Ballinderry in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 9/1943-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Rushton, GB, 1919-1940: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and asdic training with Royal Navy in GB, 1940: reaction to call up and initial wish to join Fleet Air Arm; drafting to Submarine Detector Course at Campbeltown; use of asdic equipment; qualities and experience needed by asdic operators. Recollections of operations as asdic operator aboard HMS Quantock in North Sea, 1940-1941: character of ship; seasickness; relations between Hostilities Only and regular seaman; character of east coast convoys including threat of E-boats. REEL 2 Continues: degree of threat from German Air Force; civilian attitudes ashore; rations; leaving ship and attending Higher Submarine Detection Course at Anti-Submarine School, HMS Osprey, Portland, 1941-1942. Recollections of operations as asdic operator aboard HMS Ithuriel in Mediterranean, 3/1942-11/1942: pay for asdic operators; standing by ship during construction at Barrow in Furness; character of ship; advantages of service in small ships; move to Mediterranean; Malta convoy system; destroyer action against Italian cruisers Montecuccli and Di Savoia, 15/6/1942; further details of asdic operation. REEL 3 Continues: destruction of Italian submarine, Cobalto, 12/8/1942; treatment of Italian POWs on board ship; damage to ship from ramming Italian submarine Cobalto; German Air Force attack on ship off Bone, Algeria, 27/11/1942-28/11/1942; sight of sinking of HMS Eagle after torpedoing by U-73, 11/8/1942. Aspects of officer training at HMS King Alfred, Hove, GB, 1943: selection; failure rate and training; commissioning. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Ballinderry in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 9/1943-5/1945: character of ship and it's armament; duties; relations between officers and ratings; escort duties based on Gibraltar. REEL 4 Continues: escort duties in Mediterranean; showing flag in West Indies, 1945; effects of war service; Royal Navy tradition for 'engaging enemy more closely'.