Rudderham, Maurice Percy (Oral history)

British seaman served with Merchant Navy aboard HMHS Talamba in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean, 1941-1943 including sinking off Sicily, Italy. 10/7/1943; served aboard HMT Neuralia and HMT Aronda in Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1943-1946; served as senior pursuer aboard SS Canberra during Falklands War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-6/1982

REEL 1 Recollections of period as senior purser aboard SS Canberra during Falklands War in South Atlantic, 4/1982-6/1982: receiving first news of crisis in South Atlantic, 3/4/1982; problems catering for troops on board ship; arrangements made at Southampton prior to sailing for South Atlantic; removal of non-British nationals from ship; decision to take female crew members into war zone; voyage from GB to Ascension Island; scares about Argentinean presence around Ascension Island; ship's desalination capability; voyage from Ascension Island to Falkland Islands; transfer of troops to landing ships; first Argentinean Air Force attacks in San Carlos Water, 21/5/1982; taking on board Royal Navy survivors; withdrawal eastwards; rendezvous with QE2 to pick up 1st Bns Scots and Welsh Guards; return to Falkland Islands. REEL 2 Continues: news of Argentinean surrender, 14/6/1982; news that Argentinean prisoners of war were to be taken on board at Port Stanley; sight of Argentinean prisoners of war embarking on board; handling of Argentinean prisoners of war on board; exchange of prisoners of war; conversation with Argentinean prisoner of war; reasons why he didn't go ashore on Falkland Islands; conduct of Royal Marines on board ship; return voyage to GB; reception on arrival in Southampton, GB; appreciation of troops on board for ship's facilities; support amongst crew members for war; presence of media reporters on board. REEL 3 Continues: attitude towards Argentinean prisoners of war on board; character of British troops on board ship. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMHS Talamba in Far East and Mediterranean, 1941-1943: memories of German Air Force and V1 Flying Bomb attacks on Beckenham, GB, 1940-1944; taking on board casualties in Singapore, Malaya, prior to surrender, 2/1942; service in Mediterranean, 1942; prisoner of war exchanges at Izmir, Turkey; opposition of Italian prisoners of war to being repatriated; participation in landings on Sicily, Italy, 7/1943; sinking of ship by German Air Force off Sicily, Italy, 10/7/1943; abandoning ship and rescue by HMS Gurkha; handling of survivors. REEL 4 Continues: contrast between German 1st Paratrooper Div Hermann Göring and Italian prisoners of war at Port Said, Egypt; question of blame appointed for sinking of HMHS Talamba; conditions on board wartime hospital ships. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMT Neuralia in Mediterranean, 1943-1944: conditions on board; participation in landings at Salerno, Italy, 9/1943. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMT Aronda in Indian Ocean, 1945-1946: move to Far East; work under Recovery of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees (RAPWI) scheme handling released Far Eastern Prisoners of War in Indian Ocean.