Brown, William Thomas (Oral history)

British engine room artificer served aboard HMS Protector in North Sea, Norway and Mediterranean, 1939-1941; petty officer served aboard HMS Woodcock, 2nd Escort Group in North Atlantic, 1943-1944; served aboard HMS London during Yangtse Incident in China, 1949

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy, GB, 1939: enlistment, 5/1939; eagerness of Royal Navy to recruit engine room artificer. Recollections of operations as engine room artificer aboard HMS Protector in GB coastal waters, Norway and Mediterranean, 1939-1941: ships former role as fleet photography vessel and use as net layer; opinion of Captain The Honourable Guy Russell; early duties in Mediterranean; narrow escape from German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, 11/1939; incidents during Norwegian campaign, 1940; role as troop carrier; transport and evacuation duties in Mediterranean, 1941; torpedoing by aircraft off Crete, Greece, 5/1941; repairs in Bombay, India, 1941. Recollections of operations as engine room artificer aboard HMS Woodcock, 2nd Escort Group in North Atlantic, 1943-1944: standing by ship at Glasgow, 1942-1943; ship's armament; composition of 2nd Escort Group and effects of depth charging on ships; Captain Frederic Walker's anti-submarine techniques. REEL 2 Continues: post-war formation of Captain Walker's Old Boys' Association; importance of intercepting German supply submarines; damage to ship during storm, 1943; handling of German submariner prisoners of war on board; traditions developed by Captain Frederic Walker on occasion of submarine sinkings; enthusiasm of novice depth charger on board; Captain Frederic Walker's sending of 'General Chase' signal in Bay of Biscay. Aspects of operations as engine room artificer aboard HMS Protector in Mediterranean, 1940-1941: capture of Italian Breda Guns; near accident with Breda Gun off Piraeus, Greece, 1941; near capture by Deutsches Afrika Korps near Mersa Matruh, Egypt. Aspects of operations as engine room artificer aboard HMS Woodcock, 2nd Escort Group in North Atlantic, 1943-1944: insistence on hard work by Captain Frederic Walker; provision of leave for 2nd Escort Group crews. Story of Lieutenant Commander Eric 'Winkle' Brown's landing of De Havilland Vampire aboard HMS Ocean off Malta, 1946. Recollections of operations as engine room artificer aboard HMS London during Yangtse Incident in China, 1949: role of ship; retrieval of shell stuck in gun barrel of HMS Consort in Shanghai. REEL 3 Continues: damage to ship and casualties during attempt to rescue HMS Amethyst in River Yangtse.