Wellman, Derek (Oral history)

British civilian in London, Lincoln and Leicester, GB, 9/1939-4/1942; seaman trained as telegraphist at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness and Royal Navy Wireless Telegraphy Training School, Eastbourne in GB, 4/1942-2/1942; telegraphist served aboard HMS Onslow, 17th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters, English Channel, North Atlantic and Arctic, 3/1943-6/1945

REEL 1 Background in Clapton, London and Leeds, GB, 1924-1940: family; education; evacuation from Leeds to Lincoln, 9/1939; his Communist host in Lincoln, 1939-1940. Recollections of period as civilian in Palmers Green, London and Leicester, GB, 1940-1942: bombing out of family home in Palmers Green, 9/1940; narrow escape from bombing of his employers' office in Gray's Inn Road, Holborn, London, 10/1940; public morale during German Air Force bombing; employment with Ministry of Economic Warfare; destruction in West End of London, 5/1941; degree of public solidarity; attitude towards German Air Force aircrew; his attitude towards war, 1941; family move to Leicester, 1/1942; opinion of complacency of civilians in Leicester, 1942; control of the petrol supply in Leicester, 1942. REEL 2 Continues: case of attempted bribery during his petrol allocation work. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 4/1942-2/1943: volunteering for Royal Navy, 3/4/1942; presence of vermin at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness; training at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness; training as Telegraphist (S) at Royal Navy Wireless Telegraphy School, Eastbourne. Recollections of operations as telegraphist aboard HMS Onslow, 17th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters, English Channel, North Atlantic and Arctic, 3/1943-5/1945: reputation of destroyer; use of 'West Country' watch system; duties of HF/DF operators on board; first duties in North Atlantic, 5/1943; ashore in Polyarno, Soviet Union, 11/1943; lack of protection provided by Soviet Navy in their coastal waters; arrest of seaman who innocently waved the Red Flag from HMS Tyne; degree of sympathy towards Soviets; Battle of North Cape, 26/12/1943. REEL 3 Continues: end of Battle of North Cape, 26/12/1943; role of ship in Operation Tiger at Slapton Sands, GB, 27/4/1944 including problems of HF/DF operators had keeping watch on German E-boats; sight of drowned United States Army personnel on board after Operation Tiger, 28/4/1944; orders to never speak of tragedy at Slapton Sands; torpedo attack on ship by German Air Force near Barfleur, France, 18/6/1944; presence of reporter Stanley Maxted on board during voyage down west coast of France, 7/1944-8/1944; accidental shooting down of Consolidated Liberator, 12/8/1944; interception of German mine clearence vessel Sperrbrecher 7 in Belle Ile area, Bay of Biscay, 12/8/1944; reaction to sinking of HMS Bluebell by submarine U-711 off Murmansk, Soviet Union, 17/2/1945; escorting King Haakon VII to Oslo, Norway, 7/6/1945. REEL 4 Continues: encounters with German Army troops in Oslo, Norway, 6/1945; visit to Salvation Army service in Oslo, Norway, 6/1945. Aspects of period with Salvation Army whilst on leave in GB, 1943-1945: his amusing encounter with Salvation Army sergeant-major aboard HMS Onslow in Chatham; his father's activities with Salvation Army in Kent during Second World War; sight of German V1 Flying Bombs launched from France, 6/1944. Aspects of period as member of Ex-Services Branch, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1980-1982: reasons for joining organisation; work he specialised in for organisation.