Warren, John (Oral history)

British civilian served as mess room boy, cabin boy and ordinary seaman with Merchant Navy in GB, Indian Ocean, Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1940-1945

REEL 1: Aspects of training at Gravesend Sea Training School, GB: description of four months seamanship training course as deck boy, cabin boy and mess room boy; story of signing on as mess room boy aboard steamer Llandaff in Glasgow, 7/Nov/1940; story about loss of friends Charlie and Edward aboard the Victor Ross, 12/1940. Aspects of period as mess room boy aboard steamer Llandaff in Indian Ocean, 7/Nov/1941-6/Jun/1941: description of carrying various cargoes between Liverpool, Aden and Mauritius; attitude to life at sea; story of being brought up in orphanage; attitude to discipline; description of sleeping arrangements aboard the Llandaff; opinion of other crew members; wages; fate of other ships served on; opinion of treatment aboard ship; description of duties as mess room boy. Aspects of period as cabin boy and ordinary seaman aboard steamers Harbury, Empire Wagtail, Pasteur, Empire Thackeray and US Liberty ship Santana in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1/Jul/1941-22/Dec/1944: story of joining the Harbury as cabin boy, 1/Jul/1941; description of one voyage aboard Empire Wagtail and opinion of conditions; paid off in Cardiff and returned to the Harbury as ordinary seaman; story of joining the Pasteur in Halifax, Novia Scotia; reaction to loss of friends and ships; role of the Pasteur as troopship and transporting POWs from North Africa to GB and US; joined the cargo vessel Empire Thackeray; role of ship carrying troops and equipment; joined US Liberty ship the Santana in Baltimore; role of ship taking cargo to India; paid off, 22/Dec/1944; story of celebrating VJ Day in Cardiff, 8/1945; question of choice of ships; description of accommodation in various sailors' homes in Liverpool; REEL 2 Continues: Further recollections of service with Merchant Navy, 1940-1945: question of boys being sent to sea as punishment for bad behaviour; story of failing medical examination to join the Royal Navy; various friendships with merchant seaman; character of seafarers and importance of comradeship; comparison of seafarers and shore workers; attitude to loss of ships and crews; reason for going to sea; attitude to discipline in Merchant Navy and comparison to Royal Navy; opinion of ships' masters; various memories of shore leave abroad; opinion of pre-war conditions with Merchant Navy; reputation of Liverpool firemen and stokers; story about delivery of grain aboard the Llandaff to Durban, South Africa; opinion of Seaman's Mission; problem of fights between firemen and sailors aboard ships; relations between officers and crew; comparison of conditions in Merchant Navy during war and in post-war period; description of duties on wheel and as lookout in convoys. REEL 3 Continues: further comments on lookout duties in convoys; method of steering by following ship ahead; description of wheelhouse; role of navigational instructors; description of following zigzag course; use of blackboard to chart course; duty rota and hours; use of bells for reliefs; various memories of shore leave in US and opinion of treatment; question of recognition for Merchant Seaman in GB; problem of Merchant Navy seamen not having uniform; amusing story about Merchant Navy badge; opinion of US merchant seamen and uniform; attitude of merchant seamen to progress of war; reaction to loss of ships and crews; attitude to fear; opinion of treatment for post-traumatic stress during Second World War and comparison with Falklands War; story of the Empire Wagtail firing fan rockets during U-boat attack; opinion of lifeboats and emergency supplies; comparison of service in Merchant Navy and Royal Navy; description of boat drills. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of training at Gravesend Sea Training School; further comments on celebrating VJ Day in Cardiff, 8/1945; reaction to end of war; attitude to promotion; description of the Pasteur, crew and living conditions; duties as watch keeper and ordinary seaman; role of Pasteur transporting German and Italian POWs and US troops; description of accommodation and messing facilities; entertainments; relations with troops; opinion of NAAFI facilities and lack of alcohol; description of daily routine and duties aboard various ships including cleaning, maintenance and night watch keeper; story of brass work being painted to stop reflection; description of armaments on the Pasteur; use of holystone to clean decks; opinion of maintenance standards on merchant ships; description of pay-off slips and pay rates; story of post-war service with Merchant Navy; opinion of Lascar seamen; description of various certificates awarded while in Merchant Navy.