Gaskin, Arthur (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Malaya in North Sea 1916-1919; present at Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916. Served with South Russia Relief Force at Novorossisk, Russia, 1919-1920. Served with Naval Guard at coal mines in GB during General Strike, 1926. Served in south China, 1926-1930

REEL 1: Background in London, 1899-1914: family; education; employment; story of enlistment with navy, 1914; description of tests and medical examination; reaction to outbreak of war; memory of Boer War; reason for joining navy. Aspects of training with Royal Navy in GB, 1914-1916: posted to HMS Powerful, Devonport; description of training at HMS Powerful, Portsmouth and Whale Island; attitude to naval discipline and traditions; daily routine; kit inspection; recreational activities and shore leave. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Malaya in North Sea, 1914-1918: story of joining HMS Malaya and first impressions of ship; amusing story of using captain's toilet; description of leaving Scapa Flow and role of HMS Malaya during Battle of Jutland, 5/1916; description of role as range finder for guns; question of damage to HMS Malaya and other ships; memory of survivors in sea; memory of German High Seas Fleet returning to home base; story of Malaya being refitted at Invergordon and inspection by King George V; attitude to outcome of Battle of Jutland; amusing story of US Fleet and Forth Bridge. REEL 2 Continues: further description of Battle of Jutland; weather conditions and visibility; question of damage to HMS Malaya and reaction to burial at sea of casualties; description of conditions aboard HMS Malaya during Battle; comparison of Jellicoe and Beatty and question of failure of communication; problem of smoke obscuring signals; question of identifying German ships; description of noise and smells during Battle; question of rescuing survivors from sea; problem of night fighting for Navy; opinion of Jellicoe; attitude to outcome of Battle of Jutland; opinion of rations; comparison of British and German armour and range finding equipment; problem of lack of protective clothing aboard HMS Malaya; question of locating stores of cordite near guns. REEL 3 Continues: description of fire fighting aboard HMS Malaya; assessment of success of Battle of Jutland and attitude to role; rank; memory of surrender of German Fleet in Firth of Forth; description of scuttling of German Fleet at Scapa Flow, 6/1919; question of absence of British ships; attitude to survivors; question of communication between German ships; reaction of Germans following scuttling of Fleet; comparison of Peace Marches in London and Paris, 3/1919; amusing story of Prince Albert's stammer; further comparison of London and Paris Peace Marches. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of operations with South Russia Relief Force in Russia, 1919-1920: story of re-enlisting with South Russia Relief Force, 1919; interview and kit; description of journey to Novorossisk via Marseilles; memory of dead bodies in Odessa harbour; memory of visiting Crimean War museum; description of billets in Novorossisk; description of role as batman/companion to Lieutenant Baker and transport in cattle trucks; memory of General Deniken; story of visiting house in Ekaterinberg where Russian Imperial family were executed and discussion of political situation with Russian sailor; story of finding cattle truck filled with dead bootless soldiers in Rostov; description of period with Russian Navy at Baku and memory of Christmas, 1919. REEL 5 Continues: description of conditions in South Russia, 1919-1920; story of evacuation from Novorossisk and return to GB, 6/1920; assessment of British role in Russia; attitude to Bolshevik government; story of Russian girlfriend and question of fraternization with Russian women. Aspects of period with Naval Guard in GB, 1926: description of guarding coal mines in Mansfield, Notts, during General Strike, 1926; question of relations between seamen and miners; description of living conditions; recreational activities and question of fraternization with local women; description of journey to China, 1926. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period in China, 1926-1930: description of political situation in South China; description of journey up Yangtze River and role guarding British nationals in Hankow; nature of duties; story of Japanese troops opening fire on Chinese crowd; description of situation in Shanghai and Durham Light Infantry attacking Chinese mob; description of daily life and conditions in South China, 1926-1930. Aspects of period in GB: story of Sailors' Homes; reflections on period of naval service and attitude to treatment by Navy.