Description
Object description
British deck boy served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Roslin Castle in North and South Atlantic, 1940-1941; seaman served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Zaarafan during Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 6/1942-7/1942 including sinking in Barents Sea, 5/7/1942; served aboard SS Zamalek during Convoy QP 14 in Arctic, 9/1942; served aboard SS Fort St Joseph in North Atlantic, 1943; served aboard SS Prospector in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1944
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as deck boy with Merchant Navy aboard SS Roslin Castle in North and South Atlantic, 1940-1941: joining Merchant Navy, 1940; character of trips in fast cargo ship; instance of homosexual assault on deck boy; stories of activities of German commerce raider in South Atlantic; dislike of individual catering system in coastal trading vessels. Recollections of operations as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Zaafaran during Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 6/1942-7/1942 including sinking in Barents Sea, 5/7/1942: joining ship, 1/1942; characteristics of ship and armament; arrival of German reconnaissance aircraft over convoy; work as rescue ship; firing at German Air Force torpedo aircraft; sight of female Soviet gunners firing on own lifeboat; German Air Force attacks; order for convoy to scatter; abandoning ship, 5/7/1942; rescue by SS Zamalek.
REEL 2 Continues: method employed by captain of SS Zamalek to avoid German dive-bombing attacks; condition of individual crew members under attack; loss of ships in mini convoy; absence of Soviet aid. Aspects of period ashore in Archangel, Soviet Union, 7/1942-9/1942: impressions of city; hospitalisation in Archangel, Soviet Union; breaking out of hospital during air raid; refusal of Soviet authorities to allow Royal Navy medical team to land and treat injured survivors; sight of female Soviet soldiers going to frontline; attitude of Soviets towards fate of Convoy PQ 17; black market trading. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Zamalek during Convoy QP 14 in Arctic, 13/9/1942-26/9/1942: return convoy; German submarine attack on convoy; convoy losses; sudden appearance of large Royal Navy escort; transfer to fast passenger ship; arrival and reception in Glasgow, GB; loss of RFA Gray Ranger in Greenland Sea, 22/9/1942; state of health after Arctic convoys. Memories of service as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Fort St Joseph on 'run' from Canada to GB, 1943. Recollections of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Prospector in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1944: joining ship in Glasgow, GB, 10/1/1944; attitude to joining ship carrying ammunition; convoy losses at entrance to Mediterranean.
REEL 3 Continues: unloading in Alexandria, Egypt; crossing North Atlantic with grain; incident of American seaman opening fire with machine gun in Naples, Italy; narrow escape from torpedoing; character of American liberty ships; attitude towards Germans.