Christian-Edwards, Roger Smithett (Oral history)

British officer served aboard HMS Manchester, 4th and 18th Cruiser Sqdns in Indian Ocean, North Atlantic, Norway and Mediterranean, 1938-1940; served aboard HMS Howe, Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean, 8/1944-11/1944 and with British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 11/1944-6/1945

REEL 1 Background in Finchley, London, GB, 1904-1919: family; education. Aspects of period as cadet at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in GB, 1919-1921: joining college; teachers and pupils; opinion of education; degree of ceremony at college; choice of gunnery career; improvement of gunnery control techniques during 1920s. Reaction to Invergordon Mutiny, 15/9/1931-16/9/1931. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Manchester, 4th and 18th Cruiser Sqdns in Indian Ocean; North Atlantic, Norway and Mediterranean, 1938-1940: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; estimation of German Navy, 1939; standing by ship during construction, 1937-1938; sight of German Navy heavy cruiser Deutschland refuelling at sea during Munich Crisis, 9/1938; camouflage for East Indies Station; opinion of hostilities only personnel; allocation to Northern Patrol, early 1940; interception of German merchantman, SS Wahehe in North Atlantic, 21/2/1940. REEL 2 Continues: escorting troopships to Norway and evacuation of Åndalsnes; shooting down of German aircraft off Norway; move to Mediterranean; Force H attack on Italian Fleet during Battle of Cape Spartivento, 27/11/1940 including operating guns during battle; return shell fire from Italian Fleet; performance of gun crews and guns; transfer of ammunition during battle; leaving cruiser in GB, 12/1940. Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Howe, Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean, 8/1944-11/1944: running aground in Suez Canal, Egypt on route to Far East, 7/1944; living conditions on board; preference for service on board cruisers rather than battleships; role of ship as carrier escort; hospitality in Sydney, Australia, Christmas, 12/1944. REEL 3 Continues: escort duties off Sumatra, Dutch East Indies. Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Howe, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 11/1944-6/1945: joining British Pacific Fleet, Ceylon, 22/11/1944; supporting Fleet Air Arm raids on Sakishima Gunto Islands, Japan, 4/1945-5/1945; Japanese Kamikaze attack on ship, 4/5/1945; preparations for invasion of Japan.