Massam, Robert Ward (Oral history)

British officer served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Cavello in Mediterranean, 1/1940-4/1941 including sinking at Nauplio, Greece, 24/4/1941; served aboard SS Guido, SS Spero and SS Gitano in North Atlantic, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1917-1933: family; education. Aspects of period as apprentice and officer with Merchant Navy, 1933-1939: joining Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd; nature of voyages; how British merchant seamen were regarded during 1930s; introduction of convoy system on outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of period as third officer with Merchant Navy aboard SS Cavallo in Mediterranean, 1940-1941: character of ship and crew; joining ship, 1/1940; conditions on board; delivery aircraft to Malta, 4/1940; making for neutral port of Kalamata, Greece on Italy's entry into Second World War, 10/6/1940; transport duties along coast of North Africa; supplying Greece, early 1941; character of Italian Air Force attacks; blowing up of SS Clan Fraser in Piraeus, Greece, 6/4/1941; unloading ammunition at Eleusis, Greece. REEL 2 Continues: rescue of Royal Air Force Bristol Blenheim pilot shot down near Hydra Island on route to Nauplio, Greece; German Air Force attacks on ships at anchor at Nauplio, Greece; abandoning ship after dive-bombing by Junkers Ju 87 Stukas at Nauplio, Greece, 24/4/1941; evacuation aboard HMS Orion from Nauplio, Greece; landing at Suda Bay, Crete, Greece; later bomb hit on HMS Orion's A Turret in Mediterranean, 29/5/1941; obtaining rabbit to eat; sheltering in underground catacomb near Suda Bay, Crete, Greece; decision to make for southern coast of Crete, Greece for evacuation; evacuation aboard SS Delane from Spharkia, Crete to Alexandria, Egypt; reception in Alexandria, Egypt; return to GB aboard HMT Duchess of Atholl; story of return to Kingston upon Hull and challenge from woman who thought he wasn't on active service. Recollections of period as officer with Merchant Navy aboard SS Guido, SS Spero and SS Gitano, Ellermann Hall Ltd in North Atlantic, 1941-1943: convoys aboard SS Guido, 1941-1942; joining SS Spero, 10/1942; carrying supplies to Gibraltar Garrison. REEL 3 Continues: ashore in Lisbon, Portugal, 1942-1943; embarkation of refugee children at Lisbon, Portugal; joining SS Gitano, 6/1943; sight of VE Day celebrations in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 8/5/1945; ashore in British West Africa; experiencing V weapons attacks whilst anchoring in River Thames, GB; German Air Force bombing of farm near Leven, GB after flooding of fields mistaken for docks; responsibilities of second and third officers during Second World War.