Steffens, Richard Clarence (Oral history)

British boy seaman and seaman served aboard HMS Cairo in North Sea, Norway, North Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 9/1939-8/1942 including sinking off Bizerta, Tunisia, 12/8/1942; served as torpedoman with Coastal Forces at HMS Hornet, Gosport, GB, HMS Hannibal, Algiers, French Algeria and in Mediterranean, 2/1943-12/1943; trained as diver aboard HMS Vindictive in Mediterranean, 12/1943-1/1944; seaman and petty officer served aboard HMS Dido, 12th and 10th Cruiser Sqdns in Mediterranean and Arctic, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Worcester Park, Malden and Portsmouth, GB, 1923-1938: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy seaman with Royal Navy in GB, 1938: reasons for enlistment in Royal Navy; initial training at HMS St Vincent, Gosport; strictness of training. Recollections of operations as boy seaman aboard HMS Cairo, Nore Command and 20th Cruiser Sqdn in North Sea, Norway and North Atlantic, 1939-1941: character of cruiser; accommodation on board; seasickness; canteen messing; concert party; treatment by officers; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; east coast convoy escort duties, 1939-1940; anti-aircraft duties during Norwegian campaign; damage to ship from German Air Force bombs, Norway, 5/1940; personal morale during action; North Atlantic convoy escort duties, 11/1940-12/1941; German submarine attacks. REEL 2 Continues: his action station on gunnery control dial; sea damage during Atlantic convoys; picking up survivors and German airman. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Cairo, 20th Cruiser Sqdn in Arctic and Mediterranean, 2/1942-8/1942 including sinking by Italian submarine Axum off Bizerta, Tunisia, 12/8/1942: voyage to collect gold from Murmansk, Soviet Union, 2/1942; escorting aircraft carriers in Mediterranean, 4/1942; damage to ship from Italian ships during Operation Harpoon, 6/1942; under escort to Malta by HMS Welshman; rapid turn round in Valetta, Malta, 6/1942; duties during Operation Pedestal, 8/1942; torpedoing of ship by Italian submarine Axum off Bizerta, Tunisia, 12/8/1942; abandoning ship onto HMS Wilton, 12/8/1942; sinking of ship, 12/8/1942. Aspects of period as torpedoman with Coastal Forces at HMS Hornet Gosport, GB, HMS Hannibal, Algiers, French Algeria and in Mediterranean, 2/1943-12/1943: drafting to HMS Hannibal after torpedo course at HMS Hornet, Gosport, GB, 2/1943-6/1943; duties; transfer to Malta; life on board MTB 66; setting of torpedo. Aspects of divers course aboard HMS Vindictive in Mediterranean, 12/1943-1/1944: start of course. REEL 3 Continues: training as diver; work done underwater. Aspects of operations as seaman and petty officer aboard HMS Dido, 12th and 10th Cruiser Sqdns in Mediterranean and Arctic, 1944-1945: operations bombarding Italian coast, 1/1944; action stations on low power phones; landing troops during Operation Anvil in Southern France, 8/1944; Arctic convoy escort duties, 10/1944-4/1945; reasons for becoming diver; prior recollection of problems of keeping clean on motor torpedo boats.