Fraser, Ian Edward (Oral history)

British midshipman served aboard HMS Montrose, 17th Destroyer Flotilla during Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940; officer served aboard HMS Malcolm, Western Approaches Escort Force and 8th Escort Group in North Sea and North Atlantic, 1940-1941; served aboard submarine HMS Sahib, 2nd Submarine Flotilla in GB coastals waters, Arctic and 10th Submarine Flotilla in Mediterranean, 5/1942-4/1943; officer trained with X-craft at HMS Varbel, Port Bannatyne, Isle of Bute, GB, 1944-1945; commanded HMS XE3, 12th Submarine Flotilla during attack on Japanese cruiser Takao in Singapore, Malaya for which he was awarded Victoria Cross, 31/7/1945

REEL 1 Background to joining Royal Navy, 1939: membership of Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve; duties as coxswain of picquet boat of HMS Royal Oak. Aspects of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Montrose, 17th Destroyer Flotilla during Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940: drafting to ship; trips to Dunkirk, France; under German Air Force dive bombing attacks; condition of evacuated troops. Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Malcolm, Western Approaches Escort Force and 8th Escort Group in North Sea and North Atlantic, 1940-1941: attacks on German coastal convoys, 1940; transfer to Atlantic convoy escort duties; discovery of wreckage from HMS Hood during hunt for Bismarck, 5/1941; handling of German prisoners of war from sunken submarine U-651 in North Atlantic, 29/6/1941; character of and attitude to convoy escort duties; zig-zag course used by convoys. Aspects of period of training with Submarine Service in GB, 1942: training at Blythe; Asdic running training aboard submarine HMS H28. Recollections of operations as officer aboard submarine HMS Sahib, 2nd Submarine Flotilla in GB coastals waters, Arctic and 10th Submarine Flotilla in Mediterranean, 5/1942-4/1943: near accident in Liverpool Bay; attack on submarine U-658 during escort duties with Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 11/7/1942; sinking of submarine U-301 west of Bonifacio, Corsica in Mediterranean, 21/1/1943. REEL 2 Continues: patrolling in Mediterranean; use of Jolly Roger flag to record actions; under depth charge attack; fate of submarine after he left, 24/4/1943. Aspects of period as training with X-craft at HMS Varbel, Port Bannatyne, Isle of Bute, GB, 1944-1945: volunteering for midget submarines; posting to HMS Varbel; manning X-craft submarines; method of attack. Recollections of operations commanding HMS XE3, 12th Submarine Flotilla during attack on Japanese heavy cruiser Takao in harbour at Singapore, Malaya, 31/7/1945; move to Australia; Leading Seaman James Magennis' planting of limpet mines on cruiser; desperate measures to escape being trapped under heavy cruiser; air supply in submerged submarine; results of attack; award of Victoria Cross. REEL 3 Continues: visit to Singapore, Malaya to see damage to Takao; attitude towards Japanese; naming of submarines and numbering of X-craft.