Description
Object description
British telegraphist served aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Mediterranean, 11/1941-12/1941; served with Western Desert Special Service, Royal Navy in North Africa and Mediterranean, 12/1941-5/1943; served with liaison staff aboard Georges Leygues, Free French Navy in GB coastal waters, Normandy Landings and Mediterranean, 4/1944-5/1945; served aboard HMS Vanguard during Royal Tour of South Africa, 1947
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Wingate, GB, 1923-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy telegraphist at HMS St George, Isle of Man, GB, 1939-1941: enlistment; pattern of training. Aspects of operations as telegraphist aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Mediterranean, 11/1941-12/1941: joining battleshship in Alexandria, Egypt; sight of sinking of HMS Barham, 25/11/1941; Italian human torpedo attack on battleship in Alexandria Harbour, Egypt, 19/12/1941. Recollections of operations as telegraphist with Western Desert Special Service, Royal Navy in North Africa and Mediterranean, 12/1941-1943: training; abortive mission with Q Party on mission to destroy block ship at Benghazi, Libya, early 1942; wireless work during brief occupation in Benghazi, Libya; escape from Benghazi, Libya.
REEL 2 Continues: court martial for not leaving Benghazi, Libya by sea and subsequent imprisonment in detention quarters; voyage to Tobruk, Libya; duties in Tobruk, Libya; fall of Tobruk, Libya, 20/6/1942; accidental blowing up his radio equipment on fall of Tobruk, Libya, 20/6/1942; rescue by comrades and wounding whilst attempting to escape to Tobruk Harbour, 20/6/1942; boarding South African minesweeper HMSAS Parktown in Tobruk Harbour, 20/6/1942; sinking of HMSAS Parktown by German E-boat attack and casualties, 20/6/1942.
REEL 3 Continues: rescue by motor torpedo boat; period of hospitalisation in 64th General Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt and in South Africa; reasons for punching telegraphist during transit aboard HMS Petard; second bout of hospitalisation in Palestine; rejoining unit in Benghazi, Libya, 11/1942; interception duties in Malta and Gibraltar during 1943. Recollections of operations as telegraphist with liaison staff aboard Georges Leygues, Free French Navy in GB coastal waters, Normandy Landings and Mediterranean, 4/1944-5/1945: drafting to cruiser, 4/1944; work during landings on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, 6/6/1944; visit to ship by French civilians; shore leave in Pembroke, GB; bombardment of Toulon during Operation Anvil in southern France, 8/1944; co-operation with French Resistance.
REEL 4 Continues: targeting railway gun in Provence; narrow escape from potential clash between French Resistance groups; character of French Resistance groups; casualties on board from return German fire; his award of Croix de Guerre, 26/2/1945; work of ship ferrying gold and oranges from Morocco to France, 4/1945. Aspects of period as telegraphist aboard HMS Vanguard during Royal Tour of South Africa, 1947: signals work; encounter with South African veteran upset about surrender of Tobruk, Libya, 6/1942. Reflections on service with Royal Navy: invaliding out of Royal Navy on medical grounds, 1953; psychological effects of wartime service and how he got over his problems after visit to France.
REEL 5 Continues: joining Special Forces Club.