Description
Object description
British telegraphist served aboard HMT Osta, 130th Minesweeping Group in GB coastal waters, 1941; served aboard HMT Cape Argona, 41st Anti-Submarine Flotilla in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and Arctic, 1941-1944; served on shore duties with Royal Navy in Durban, South Africa, 1944-1945; civilian electricity construction engineer in Tanganyika and Kenya, 1949-1953
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Glasgow, London and Nottingham, GB, 1920-1939: family; education; employment; early interest in amateur radio and painting. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1/1940-12/1940: volunteering as telegraphist in Nottingham, 1/1940; pattern of training at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness; death of recruit from hypothermia, 12/1940; preference for small rather than bigger ships. Aspects of period as telegraphist aboard minesweeping trawler HMT Osta, 130th Minesweeping Group in GB coastal waters, 1941: minesweeping for magnetic mines; atmosphere in Plymouth during German Air Force attacks; sinking of minesweeper HMT Asama, 21/5/1941; character of HMS Osta; origins of crew; conditions on board trawlers; dangers of mine sweeping; contracting pneumonia. Recollections of operations as telegraphist aboard HMT Cape Argona, 41st Anti-Submarine Group in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and Arctic, 10/1941-8/1944: drafting to minesweeping trawler, 10/1941; character of minesweeping trawler.
REEL 2 Continues: problems he had joining ship in Belfast, Northern Ireland; encounter with sectarianism in Belfast, Northern Ireland; character of trawler's captain Lieutenant Commander Eric Pate; origins of crew; Lieutenant Commander Eric Pate's insistence on crew having interchangeable roles; reasons for crew being drafted away from ship; convoy escort work in North Atlantic; trawler's armament; Lieutenant Commander Eric Pate's use of depth charges to catch fish; German submarine threat in Atlantic Gap; crediting of aircraft shot down to larger ships in convoy; degree of knowledge of submarines sunk; ramming of German submarine by destroyer; lack of security shown by escort aircraft regarding convoy position; battery problems experienced.
REEL 3 Continues: staying awake; attending Asdic training course; Asdic system installed on board trawler; rumour that radar would make crew sterile; drawings and paintings he made; contact with art commissar in Soviet Union; style of drawing; his view from wireless office; poor security in Belfast, North Ireland prior to joining Convoy PQ 18, 8/1942; assembling of Convoy PQ 18; sailing from Stornoway, GB to Iceland, 2/9/1942; assembling Convoy PQ 18 in Hvalfjord, Iceland
REEL 4 Continues: at anchor in Hvalfjord, Iceland; presence of gold and coal cargoes in convoy; presence of Soviet ships in and size of Convoy PQ 18; convoy's firing on Royal Air Force Consolidated Liberator; presence of Catapult Assisted Merchantman SS Empire Morn; German submarine attacks on Convoy PQ 18, 13/9/1942; German Air Force low-level attack on Convoy PQ 18; description of term 'coffin ship'; court martial of Canadian seaman for diving overboard to rescue survivors; shortage of rations on board; transfers of survivors to HMS Somali; role of escort carrier HMS Avenger; success of Hawker Hurricane launched from SS Empire Morn.
REEL 5 Continues: fate of Hawker Hurricane pilot, Flying Officer Arthur Burr; arrival of Convoy PQ 18 in Soviet Union, 21/9/1942; hungry Soviet children in Archangel, Soviet Union, 9/1942; fate of HMS Somali on return voyage to GB; radio watch duties; behaviour of Soviets during air raids; off duty activities; problems with supplies in Archangel, Soviet Union; disposal of poor quality Soviet coal over side of ship; absence of goods in Archangel, Soviet Union; relaxation in International Club in Archangel, Soviet Union; securing paint and brushes from Soviets; address by Rear Admiral Robert Burnett in Archangel, Soviet Union; orders for trawler to join 1st Minesweeper Flotilla in Soviet waters; escorting independently sailing merchantmen into Archangel, Soviet Union, winter 1942-1943.
REEL 6 Continues: temperatures endured; story of treatment for frost bitten penis; reasons for hostility of Icelanders towards Royal Navy, 1942; story of relations with Icelanders in bar whilst ashore in Iceland; blacking out of slogan 'A Gift From UK' on crates by Soviets in Archangel, Soviet Union; female 'Commissars for Entertainment' in Archangel, Soviet Union; circumstances of return to GB, early 1943; conditions on return voyage; reception on arrival in Belfast, North Ireland; question of award received for service in Arctic; circumstances of leaving ship, 8/1944; evading posting to Far East.
REEL 7 Continues: change in his posting from Ceylon to Durban, South Africa. Recollections of period as telegraphist with Royal Navy in Durban, South Africa, 1944-1945: voyage aboard Polish ship from Egypt to South Africa including poor rations; discontent of crew of HMS Valiant, 1944; a alcohol racket in Durban, 1944; securing telegraphist job with General Post Office; character of General Post Office radio station; effect of merchant ships playing song 'Sentimental Journey' on VJ Day, 15/8/1945; attitude to naval life; procedures from release from Royal Navy; rail journey from Durban to Cape Town, 9/1945.
REEL 8 Continues: voyage from South Africa to GB aboard HMS Newcastle, 1945. Recollections of period as civilian electricity construction engineer in Tanganyika and Kenya, 1949-1953: securing civilian job, 1949; work in Southern Highlands, Tanganyika; social contact with Ernest Hemingway; his knowledge of Swahili; places where he worked, 1949-1954; how Mau Mau secured arms and drugs in Kenya; story illustrating power of Kikuyu healers (described as 'witchdoctors') in support of Mau Mau; behaviour of Mau Mau; letting loose of Masai against Mau Mau near Arusha, Tanganyika, autumn 1954; story to illustrate fear of Masai by other tribes.
REEL 9 Continues: how he dealt with group of Masai; attitude to threat from Mau Mau during Emergency; reasons why Mau Mau stayed within Kikuyu tribe; opinion of Jomo Kenyatta. Reflections on service with Royal Navy, 1940-1945: character of 'stripeys' in Royal Navy; story illustrating 'stripey's' knowledge on board HMS Newcastle; 'stripey' privileges; 'stripey's' dependence on regimentation of service; dealing with trouble maker on board HMT Cape Argona.