Poland, Edmund Nicholas (Oral history)

British cadet trained at Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 1930-1934; trained aboard HMS Frobisher in GB coastal waters, 1934-1935; midshipman served aboard HMS Hood in GB coastal waters, 1935; served aboard HMS Shropshire in Mediterranean, 1935-1937; served aboard HMS Beagle in GB coastal waters, 1938-1939; served aboard HMS Hermes in GB coastal waters, 2/1939-8/1939; served as training officer aboard HMS Frobisher in GB coastal waters and at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 8/1939-2/1940; served aboard HMS Eclipse, 20th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, Norway and GB coastal waters, 3/1940-7/1940; commanded MTB 32, 4th Motor Boat Torpedo Flotilla, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters, North Sea and English Channel, 2/1941-9/1941; commanded MTB 73, 10th Motor Boat Flotilla, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 11/1941-8/1942; served as Assistant Torpedo Officer at HMS Landrail, Royal Naval Air Station Machranhish, GB, 8/1943-12/1943; served as Torpedo Officer aboard HMS Furious in GB coastal waters and off Norway, 2/1944-6/1944; served as staff officer to Naval Force Commander in Burma, 1944-1945; served aboard HMS Royalist, 21st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, East Indies Fleet in Indian Ocean, 2/1945-9/1945; served with Coastal Forces, HMS Hornet, Gosport, GB, 1945-1946; attended Torpedo Anti-submarine Conversion Course at Torpedo, Mining and Electrical School, HMS Vernon, Portsmouth and HMS Osprey, Portland in GB, 1946-1947; served as torpedo anti-submarine officer with 3rd Submarine Flotilla, HMS Montclare, Rosyth, GB, 1947-1950; served as torpedo anti-submarine officer with Directorate Air Warfare with Admiralty, London, GB, 1950-1952; served on British Naval Staff in Washington DC, US, 1953-1955; student with Joint Services Staff College, Latimer, GB, 1955; served as torpedo anti-submarine officer with Tactical Ships Requirements Division and as Assistant Director of Plans Warfare Division with Admiralty, London, GB, 1956; commanded HMS Sanderling, Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch, GB, 1957-1959; served as Senior Naval Planner with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Standing Group in the Pentagon, Washington DC, 1959-1962; served as Director of Undersea Warfare with Admiralty, London, GB, 1962-1965; served as Chief of Staff Western Fleet at Northwood, GB, 1965-1968

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1917-1930: history of family service in Royal Navy; death of father Major Raymond Poland with 1st Royal Marine Bn, Royal Naval Div on Western Front, 21/8/1918; education and corporal punishment received at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy, Southsea; educational syllabus at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy. Aspects of period as cadet at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 1930-1934: selection interview; examinations; character of Anson Term; reception on arrival at college; accommodation; nightly routine and use of 'tick' system; contrast in his attitude towards beatings to that of his friend Charles Emerson; behaviour of Peter Hill-Norton; attitude towards use of plunge pool. REEL 2 Continues: effect of compulsory nudity during plunge pool routine; quality of food and character of 'Beagle Balls'; amusing story of visit by Labour Member of Parliament; prize giving; obsession in Royal Navy with Battle of Jutland; attitude to drill; opinion of engineering training; character of instructors; education; reaction to threat of violence; method of avoiding long distance runs; use of canteen; weekend activities; restrictions on visits to town; homosexuality amongst cadets; college chaplains. REEL 3 Continues: character of the 'Beagle Tea'; sailing and rowing activities; holidays; desire to take up medicine as profession; shooting activities; passing out of Royal Naval College, 1934; description of gunroom. Aspects of period as cadet aboard training ship HMS Frobisher in GB coastal waters, 1934-1935: joining training cruiser; routine for cadets; beating received; visit to Bergen, Norway during Baltic cruise; value of training cruiser; the public school entry; relations between cadets and ratings. REEL 4 Continues: alcohol available in Royal Navy and degree of drunkenness; cruise to Mediterranean including visit to brothel in Algiers, French Algeria; impact of visit on cadets; promotion to midshipman. Aspects of period as midshipman aboard HMS Hood in GB coastal waters, 1935: appointment to ship; explanation of the role of 'snotties nurse'; progressive nature of commander in stopping corporal punishment; opinion of ship; the gunroom; amusing conversation between members of the Royal Marine band; explanation of the term 'throw off shoot'; circumstances behind the collision between HMS Hood and HMS Renown; attending subsequent court martial aboard HMS Victory at Portsmouth. REEL 5 Continues: gunnery ranges during exercises; amusing story of treatment of squadron navigator by midshipmen; duties as midshipman; divisional work; watch duties; logs. Aspects of period as midshipman aboard HMS Shropshire in Mediterranean, 1935-1937: watch system; character of ship, the commander and captain; anxiety to leave Royal Navy; amusing story of midshipman's treatment of commander's wife in Alexandria, Egypt; memories of Abyssinian Crisis, 1935; training for night action. REEL 6 Continues: character of refugees during Spanish Civil War; presence of Italian submarine; duties at Alicante, Spain; ashore in Marseille, France; executions of prisoners on board Republican prison ship at Barcelona, Spain; attending seamanship examination aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Gibraltar. Aspects of period taking midshipman courses in GB, 1937: voyage from Gibraltar to GB aboard HMS Furious; degree of interest in Royal Navy; attending navigation school and character of navigation officers; attending signal and gunnery schools; lecture by his uncle on his gunnery examination results; atmosphere at Torpedo, Mining and Electrical School, HMS Vernon, Portsmouth; rules of conversation; attitude towards naval service and promotion. REEL 7 Continues: attending air course on HMS Courageous; attitudes to naval aviation training and tactics; air launched torpedo attacks; range of torpedoes; landing on aircraft carriers; character of Fairey Swordfish. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Beagle in GB coastal waters, 1938-1939: appointment to destroyer; nature of equipment and tactics; mobilisation at time of Munich Crisis, 9/1938; duties on board; excessive drinking amongst officers; attitude of seamen to officers; welfare problems; duties as correspondence officer and torpedo control officer; neglect of anti-submarine warfare tactics; dominance of battleships; background to mobilisation in 1938. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Hermes in GB coastal waters, 2/1938-8/1939: appointment to aircraft carrier; applying to join Submarine Service and effect of loss of cousin in submarine HMS Thetis in Irish Sea, 1/6/1939; attitude towards service in big ships; duties in charge of gun room; training of new Fleet Air Arm officers. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Frobisher and at HMS St Vincent, Gosport in GB, 8/1939-2/1940: objections to slinging his hammock in HMS Frobisher; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; training duties at HMS St Vincent; lectures on seamanship; objectors to naval discipline on course; attitude to having to share accommodation with trainee officers; use of retired officer instructors. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Eclipse, 20th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic and during Norwegian campaign and GB coastal waters, 3/1940-7/1940: background to appointment to destroyer; escorting North Atlantic convoys, 3/1940; escorting HMS Furious to Norway, 8/4/1940; damage to ship by German air attack and wounding, 11/4/1940; towing of ship to Lerwick and subsequent sinking alongside. REEL 9 Continues: nature of wounds; reaction to burial of dead at Lerwick; move to Glasgow; destroyer screen tactics; dealing with German Air Force attacks; fire control on board; duties of first lieutenant; number of officers and size of crew; handling of casualties; character of damage control; damage caused by bombing of engine room; on leave during Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940. Recollections of operations commanding MTB 32, 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters, English Channel and North Sea, 2/1941-9/1941: training aboard MTB 102 at HMS Hornet, Gosport, 1/1941-2/1941; appointment to 4th Motor Torpedo Flotilla at Felixstowe; taking command of MTB 32, 2/1941; degree of knowledge of motor torpedo boats; use of motor torpedo boats to set off acoustic mines; patrols off coast of Netherlands; sinking of German trawlers off Cap Gris-Nez, France; transporting prisoners of war back to GB; story of being attacked by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in English Channel. REEL 10 Continues: personal morale during action; motor torpedo boat flotillas at Felixstowe; motor torpedo boat crews, endurance, engines and construction; relations between officers and men; composition of crew; communications; trials of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF); night operations; sea conditions; role of motor gun boats; story of encounter with German submarine whilst commanding MTB 73 in Mediterranean; ceremony on leaving port. REEL 11 Continues: Recollections of operations commanding MTB 73, 10th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 11/1941-8/1942: attitude towards Egyptians; disadvantages of supercharged engines; mission to find refuelling places on coast of Libya and escape from Tobruk, Libya; impressions of British Army in North Africa; working up of MTB 73; bridge-engine room communication; character of Captain Rupert Egan; character of ship's company aboard destroyer HMS Petard on voyage from GB to Turkey, 10/1941; contaminated gin; nature of Turks; journey through Lebanon to Egypt; description of HMS Mosquito, Alexandria, Egypt; confusion over role of Coastal Forces. REEL 12 Continues: duties off coast of North Africa; scheme to tow motor torpedo boats into action; correct role of motor torpedo boats; sea conditions off North African coast; threat from aircraft; move to Cyprus, 6/1942; his plan to attack Rhodes Island, Greece; German aircraft method of attacking motor torpedo boats; lack of navigational hazards; plans for defence of Cyprus; reaction to being assigned to Torpedo Branch; conversation with General Dwight D Eisenhower on return flight to GB; naval balance in Mediterranean; degree of control of Coastal Forces patrols; appointment to HMS Attack, Portland on return to GB, 1/1943-2/1943. Aspects of period as assistant torpedo officer at HMS Landrail, Royal Naval Air Station Macrahanish, GB, 8/1943-12/1943: character of torpedo course at Torpedo, Mining and Electrical School, HMS Vernon, 3/1943-7/1943; duties; casualties during air torpedo attack training. REEL 13 Continues: character of Fairey Barracuda; attitude towards Fleet Air Arm aircrew; clearance of crashes on Goat Fell; attitude of local civilians near Macrahanish towards naval personnel; lack of facilities for married officers; attitude of some Scottish civilians towards participation in Second World War; squadron morale; chemical warfare procedures; method of instruction. Recollections of operations as Torpedo Officer aboard HMS Furious in GB coastal waters and off Norway, 2/1944-6/1944: appointment to aircraft carrier; attack on German battleship Tirpitz during Operation Tungsten, 3/4/1944; design of flying torpedo; duties on board; squadrons on board; aircraft landing on procedure; flight deck; lack of German Air Force presence; basing at Scapa Flow and area of deployment. REEL 14 Continues: contrast between Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm style of laying mines; weather off Norway; paying off of ship; atmosphere on board; discontent amongst crew about monotony of rations; character of paymaster commander; types of mines used; effects of mining campaign; degree of knowledge of German submarines. Aspects of operations as staff officer to Naval Force Commander, Burma, 1944-1945: clash with future superior Nicolas Copeman during voyage to Far East; motor launch operations; amusing encounter with army officer; illness; a captured Japanese officer who produced a hand grenade; conditions in Rangoon; character of motor launches; attacks on Japanese barges; impressions of Lord Louis Mountbatten; relations with army personnel. REEL 15 Continues: Recollections of operations as Squadron Torpedo Officer aboard HMS Royalist, 21st Carrier Squadron, East Indies Fleet in Far East, 2/1945-9/1945: staff on board ship; accidental firing of torpedo in harbour in Ceylon; relations with superior officers; taking surrender of Japanese officer in Singapore, Malaya, 8/1945; effects of discussion groups; morale amongst services after VJ Day; his attitude to end of war; degree of awareness of situation in India; conditions in Singapore, Malaya; return to GB aboard HMS Cumberland; confidential report received from Commander Nicolas Copeman. Aspects of period as officer with Coastal Forces at HMS Hornet, Gosport, GB, 1945-1946: advise to leave Royal Navy and plans to study medicine; decision to stay in Royal Navy; new sense of commitment. REEL 16 Continues: amalgamation of anti-submarine and torpedo branches; qualities of Captain John Hughes-Hallett. Aspects of period as officer on Torpedo Anti-Submarine Conversion Course at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth and HMS Osprey, Portland, GB, 1946-1947: pattern of training; diving training; types of depth charges and projection devices; attacks on submarines; improvements in Asdic; layering effects. Recollections of period as torpedo anti-submarine officer with 3rd Submarine Flotilla, HMS Montclare, Rosyth, GB, 1947-1950: trials of submarines in anti-submarine role; description of 'toasting fork' attack; torpedoes; different forms of submarine torpedo attack. REEL 17 Continues: character of submariners. Aspects of period as torpedo anti-submarine officer with Directorate of Air Warfare with Admiralty in London, GB, 1950-1952: appointment after attending naval staff course and promotion to commander; struggle for acceptance of helicopter borne sonar; sonar buoy system; relations with United States Navy. Aspects of period as officer on British Naval Staff in Washington DC, United States Navy, 1953-1955: joining staff, 1953; exchanges of tactical and material information; attending Anti-Submarine Warfare operations with United States Navy; financing of United States Navy projects; Soviet Union seen as the main threat; character of Soviet Navy submarines; need to protect lines of communications in Atlantic; importance of the nuclear deterrent. REEL 18 Continues: advent of nuclear propulsion; United States Navy plans for Forward Strategy; submarine threat to United States coast; the Magnetic Anomaly Detector; problems with standardisation within North Atlantic North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); relations with Dutch and French Navies; opinion of Soviet technology; relations with American personnel; attitude to life in Washington DC; convergent attitudes between British and Americans; inter-service rivalry in American armed forces; contact with United States Army and United States Air Force; American adoption of British innovations especially the angled carrier deck; opinion of United States Marine Corps; initial effects of adoption of Wet and Dry List. REEL 19 Continues: consequences of Wet and Dry List; second clash with Nicolas Copeman; attitude to having to return to GB; comparison between British and American naval styles; problems of Americans being encumbered with too much money; political pressures on United States Navy; effects of political interference; naval influence in industry and politics. Aspects of period as student with the Joint Services Staff College, Latimer, GB, 1955: syllabus and exercises; concentration on combined operations; use of map games; college staff. Aspects of period as torpedo anti-submarine officer with Tactical Ships Requirements Division and as Assistant Director of Plans Warfare Division with Admiralty in London, GB, 1955-1956: plans for nuclear powered troop carrying submarine; Lord Louis Mountbatten's rejection of plan. REEL 20 Continues: plans for fully submersible navy; plans for new frigates and destroyers; awareness of financial pressure; promotion to captain and posting as Assistant Director of Plans Warfare Division, 6/1956-7/1956; atmosphere in Admiralty at time of Suez Crisis; briefing system with Lord Louis Mountbatten; sources of intelligence; work of Plans War Division; North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) command structure; plans for maintenance of sea lines in Atlantic. Aspects of period commanding North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) exercise in Baltic Sea, 1957: character of large minesweeping exercise in Kattegat. REEL 21 Continues: collision during exercise; consequences of trade unionism in the Danish Navy; duration of exercise; level of standardisation in mine counter-measures; opinion of Royal Danish Navy; relations with West Germans and Danes; impressions of Copenhagen, Denmark; awareness of Sandys Defence Review. Aspects of period commanding HMS Sanderling, Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch, GB, 1956-1959: attitude to appointment; situation on his arrival; introduction of work study programme; reasons for considering early retirement and starting to study law. Recollections of period as Senior Naval Planner with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Standing Group in the Pentagon, Washington DC, United States of America, 1959-1962: appointment at senior naval planner; composition of staff of group; character of planning teams. REEL 22 Continues: West German representative in the group; studies on potential impact of future scientific developments; co-ordination of nuclear policy; attitude of French; tension between British and American over sharing as nuclear secrets; attitude of Americans to following rules; behaviour of French representatives; changing American attitudes towards North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies; value of social contacts; guidance from Admiralty in London; attitude of French representative; relations with West Germans; planning procedure process; visits to military committees in Paris, France and encounter with Lord Louis Mountbatten; role of standing group; length of posting. REEL 23 Continues: Recollections of period as Director of Undersea Warfare with Admiralty, London, GB, 1962-1965: reaction to appointment; approach to new position; reasons for appointment; maintaining liaison contacts with United States Navy; starting process of transferring research, development and manufacture to industry; examples of sale techniques employed by manufacturers; how submarine threat is greater in shallow rather than deep water; his pushing for use of towed sonar; financial considerations; temptations of the post and risk of bribery; method of handling contracts; types of contracts; flow and quality of intelligence on Soviet Navy submarines. REEL 24 Continues: accuracy of Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS); change in name of Asdic to Sonar; directional and all around sonar; use of towed sonar to overcome layering; unsuccessful torpedo development projects; plans for stand off torpedoes and reasons for cancellation of projects; purchase of American systems; developments in mine hunting techniques; mine hunting sonar; development of remote control vehicles; use of helicopters; atmosphere in Ministry of Defence under Lord Carrington and Denis Healey; Denis Healey's policy of divide and rule; resignation of First Sea Lord Admiral David Luce; behaviour of Denis Healey. REEL 25 Continues: Aspects of period as Chief of Staff Western Fleet at Northwood, GB, 1965-1968: question of visits; opinion of Admiral John Frewen's speech; prospect of appointment as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT); role as spokesman; operational preoccupations of as Chief of Staff; question of effect of threat of nuclear war on policy; Soviet espionage; organisation of staff; daily routine; working conditions at Northwood; retirement policy in Royal Navy; relations with Admiral John Bush; problems retiring as rear admiral; question of selection of admirals.