Fryer, Bertram Frederick (Oral history)

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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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Sound: © IWM (12616)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (12616)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British seaman served with Merchant Navy aboard HMS Empress of Britain in Indian Ocean, North and South Atlantic, 10/1939-10/1940 including sinking off Ireland, 28/10/1940; served aboard HMT Scythia, SS Oregon and HMT Llangibby Castle in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1941-1943

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Southampton, GB, 1916-1939: family; initial reaction to voyage aboard RMS Empress of Britain, 1934; employment; Merchant Navy employment in Southampton during 1930s; decision to rejoin Merchant Navy, 1939. Recollections of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard HMS Empress of Britain in Indian Ocean North and South Atlantic, 11/1939-10/1940 including sinking off Ireland, 28/10/1940: refitting of ship as armed merchant cruiser for troop carrying, 11/1939; trooping Australian and New Zealand troops to GB, 1940; behaviour of Australian and New Zealand troops in Cape Town, South Africa, 1940; duties as boiler attendant on board; reasons for ship not needing escort; abandoning ship after German Air Force Focke-Wulf FW 200 Condor attack off coast of Ireland, 26/10/1940; rescue by anti-submarine trawler, HMT Cape Arcona, 26/10/1940. REEL 2 Continues: transfer to Polish destroyer ORP Burza, 26/10/1940; reiteration of attack on ship by German Air Force Focke-Wulf FW 200 Condor, 26/10/1940; damage to ship from bombing and sinking, 28/10/1940. Recollections of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard HMT Scythia, SS Oregon and MV Llangibby Castle in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1941-1943: service aboard HMT Scythia; reasons for leaving HMTScythia; joining SS Oregon; character of SS Oregon and conditions on board; attitude to one trip made in SS Oregon across North Atlantic; working aboard SS California in Southampton Docks, GB; joining HMT Llangibby Castle, 1942; sight of troops going ashore during Operation Torch at Oran, French Algeria, 11/1942; medical reasons for leaving Merchant Navy service, 1943. Aspects of German Air Force attacks on Southampton, GB, 1940: start of first raid. REEL 3 Continues: damage caused to High Street; German Air Force bombing of Southampton area; public morale; use of shelters; later story of Italian prisoners of war attempts to set fire to HMT Scythia, 1941.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Fryer, Bertram Frederick (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1992-07
Dimensions: whole: Duration 90, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 12616

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Fryer, Bertram Frederick (Oral history)

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