Bourton, Douglas Aubrey (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Hardy, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in South Atlantic and Norway, 1939-1940 including sinking in Ototfjord, Norway, 10/4/1940; served as coxwain aboard MGB 62, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1940-1941; served with MGB 9, 2nd Motor Gunboat Flotilla, Coastal Forces in English Channel, 1941-1942; served aboard MTB 72, 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla and MTB 25, 5th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1942-1943

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training as boy seaman aboard TS Warspite, Woolwich and at HMS Ganges, Shotley in GB, 1936-1938: background to joining TS Warspite; training and instructors; pattern of training at HMS Ganges; Munich Crisis, 9/1938. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Hardy, 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in South Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1938-1940: joining ship, 1938; move to Mediterranean, 1939; hunt for Admiral Graf Spee, 12/1939; questions of proposed orders for ship to torpedo Admrial Graf Spee in Montevideo, Uruguay, 12/1939; northern patrol duties, early 1940. Recollections of operations as able seaman aboard HMS Hardy in Norway, 4/1940: laying mines during Operation Wilfred in Norwegian Leads, 8/4/1940; firing on German battleship Scharnhorst, 4/1940; plans to land at Narvik; gunnery officer request for landing party volunteers; action stations as loader on QF 4.7 Inch Gun; start of First Battle of Narvik, 10/4/1940. REEL 2 Continues: question of damage done by ship's shells during battle; second and third attacks on German ships; engaging German destroyers in Ofotfjord, 10/4/1940; running out of ammunition and using practise shells; sight of casualties on bridge; abandoning beached ship, 10/4/1940; handling casualties; treatment received from Norwegian civilians; setting up as HMS Hardy II ashore; disciplining of shipmate; food supply ashore; contact with Norwegian civilians; rescue by Royal Navy; allocation to HMS Havock; return to GB. REEL 3 Continues: in action against German battleship Scharnhorst, 4/1940; question of personal morale in action; relations with German Navy pre-war; his attitude to German Navy and seamen; post-war comradeship between British and German sailors; question of award of Norwegian medals for Narvik. Aspects of operations as coxwain aboard MGB 62, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1940-1942: volunteering for Coastal Forces, 1940; degree of training of officers; breaking his spine in wheelhouse of boat, 2/1941; hospitalisation for injuries and dispute with authorities about his recovery; journey from Royal Haslar Hospital, Gosport to South Wales. Aspects of operations as coxwain aboard MGB 9, 2nd Motor Gunboat Flotilla in English Channel, 1941-1942: return to Coastal Forces; second injury to spine, 2/1942. REEL 4 Continues: allocation to general service. Aspects of operations as coxwain aboard MTB 72, 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla and MTB 25, 5th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1942-1943: background to joining flotilla aboard MTB 72; wounding in neck aboard MTB 72, 2/1943; pattern of operations in English Channel with MTB 25 during latter half of 1943; attacks on German convoys; method of attack; narrow escape from discovery by German E-boats whilst carrying mines; comparison between motor torpedo boats and E-boats and improvement in standards of motor torpedo boats.