description
Object description
British seaman served aboard HMS Savage, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic and Arctic, 6/1943-4/1944; served aboard HMS Pretoria Castle in GB coastal waters, 1944-1945; served aboard RFA Cuillan Sound in GB coastal waters, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Battersea, London, GB, 1924-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of period as civilian in Battersea, London, GB, 1939-1942: reasons for helping emergency services; handling burning gas main; public morale during German Air Force raids; attitude towards German Air Force crews; opinion of attitude of civilian populace, summer 1940; sight of aerial dogfights, summer 1940; disruption caused by bombing. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1/1943-5/1943: background to call-up to Royal Navy, 1/1943; pattern of training. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Savage, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic and Arctic, 6/1943-4/1944: drafting to destroyer, 6/1943; character of ship; work helping map wrecks; description of box searches; attitude to serving at Scapa Flow; Sods' Operas' at Scapa Flow.
REEL 2 Continues: transfer to Arctic convoy work, 10/1943; attitude towards deserter from ship; character of Convoy JW 54B; ashore in Murmansk, Soviet Union, 11/1943; encounter with Soviet guards; return in Convoy RA 54 from Soviet Union to GB, 11/1943; chipping ice from superstructure; clothing worn; action station; escorting HMS Warspite and HMS Valiant from Gibraltar to GB, 11/1943-12/1943; nature of Convoy JW 55a, 12/1943; psychological effects of Battle of North Cape, 12/1943.
REEL 3 Continues: firing on Scharnhorst during Battle of North Cape, 26/12/1943; aftermath of battle; near accident when Norwegian destroyer HNoMS Stord depth charged across HMS Savage's bow; losses during Convoy JW 57a, 1/1944; aiding Convoy JW 56b; running into ice field, 1/1944; death of Russian welder between ship and harbour, Polyarnoe, Soviet Union, 1/1944; escorting aircraft carrrer from Gibraltar to GB, 2/1944; participation in last Convoy JW 58 and attending electricians course. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Pretoria Castle in GB coastal waters, 1944-1945: character of aircraft carrier; experimental role of carrier; preference for service aboard HMS Pretoria Castle. Aspects of period as seaman aboard RFA Cuillan Sound in GB coastal waters, 1945-1946: drafting to ship, 3/1945; reprieve from being sent to Pacific; static nature of ship at Harwich. Readjusting to civilian life, 1946.
REEL 4 Continues: further details of readjusting to civilian life.
