Tanner, Leslie George (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Savage in Atlantic and Arctic, 1943-1944; served aboard HMS Pretoria Castle in GB coastal waters, 1944-1945; served aboard RFA Cuillian Sound in GB coastal waters, 1945-1946

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 public, summer 1940; sight of aerial dogfights, summer 1940; disruption caused by bombing. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1943: background to call up, 1/1943; pattern of training. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Savage in Atlantic and Arctic, 1943-1944: 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, autumn 1943; attitude to deserter from ship; character of Convoy JW54; ashore in Murmansk, Russia, 11/1943; encounter with Russian guards; return convoy from Russia 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 JW55a, 12/1943; psychological effects of Battle of North Cape, 12/1943. REEL 3 Continues: firing on Scharnhorst during Battle of North Cape, 12/1943; aftermath of battle; near accident when HMS Sword depth charged across HMS Savage's bow; losses during Convoy JW57a, 1/1944; aiding Convoy JW56b; running into ice field, 1/1944; death of Russian welder between ship and harbour, Polyarnoe, Russia, 1/1944; escorting aircraft from Gibraltar to GB, 2/1944; last convoy JW58 and attending electricians coast. 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.