Hughes, Wallace (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Trinidad, 10th Cruiser Sqdn in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 10/1941-5/1942 including sinking, 15/5/1942; served as torpedoman aboard MTB 25 and MTB 219, 4th MTB Flotilla, Coastal Forces in English Channel, 1942-1943; served aboard MTB 378, 56th MTB/MGB Flotilla, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1944

REEL 1 Background in Rhyl, GB, 1920-1941: family; education; employment; enlistment in Royal Navy, 1941. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Trinidad, 10th Cruiser Sqdn in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 10/1941-5/1942 including sinking 15/5/1942: drafting to cruiser; problems with anchor during first voyage to Iceland; icing of ship in Arctic; duties as sight setter in A Turret; escorting Convoy PQ 8 to Murmansk, Soviet Union, 1/1942; Soviet Air Force support for convoy; casualties and damage to the ship during Convoy PQ 13, 3/1942; personal morale during Convoy PQ 13; period in Kola Inlet, Soviet Union, 3/1942-5/1942; winter clothing worn; daily routine in Kola Inlet, Soviet Union. REEL 2 Continues: repairs to ship and attitude to leaving Soviet Union, 5/1942; joining Convoy QP 13, 5/1942; German shadowing of convoy and subsequent German Air Force air attacks, 14/5/1942; abandoning ship onto HMS Foresight, 15/5/1942; return to GB aboard HMS Foresight; condition on arrival in Gourock, GB, 5/1942. Recollections of operations as torpedoman with MTB 25 and MTB 219, 4th MTB Flotilla, Coastal Forces in English Channel, 1942-1943: training as torpedoman at Torpedo Training School, HMS Defiance, Devonport and attempt to volunteer for submarine work; joining MTB 25 at HMS Wasp, Dover, 9/1942; duties; transfer to MTB 219; silent running; attacking German coastal vessels; arming torpedoes; attitude to serving on motor torpedo boats. REEL 3 Continues: improved armament on motor torpedo boats; attitude towards German E-boat crews; shell damage to MTB 219, 2/1943. Aspects of operations as torpedoman with MTB 378, 56th MTB/MGB Flotilla in Mediterranean, 1944: drafting to Malta; operating in Mediterranean; opinion of Italian coastal forces crews; supporting landing craft during invasion of Southern France, 8/1944; draftings after leaving MTB 378. Aspects of period with Coastal Forces at HMS Wasp, Dover, 9/1942-2/1943: loss of friend to German shelling in Dover, 1943; use of cliff tunnels; public morale; picking up downed airmen from buoys.