Boxall, Edward Arthur (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Royal Oak in GB coastal waters, 1939 including sinking, 10/1939; served aboard HMS Fiji in GB coastal waters, 1940; petty officer served aboard HMS Birmingham and HMS Hargood in Atlantic, 1941-1944

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1912-1928: family; education at Greenwich School, 1925-1928. Period as boy seaman at HMS Ganges and aboard HMS Emperor of India, 1929-1931: training at HMS Ganges; joining HMS Emperor of India; coaling ship; dispersion of Mediterranean Fleet during Invergordon Mutiny, 1931. Recollections of period aboard HMS Royal Oak at Scapa Flow, 9/1939 including sinking: arrival at Scapa Flow; life at Scapa Flow, 9/1939; torpedoing of ship and his escape in picket boat; sinking of overcrowded picket boat; period in sea; discovery of captain's gig and reasons for going back into water; third rescue by lighter; German bombing of survivors on Flotta Island. REEL 2 Continues: recapitulation of sinking. Memories of rescue work during Portsmouth Blitz, 1941. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Fiji in Atlantic, 1940: joining ship, 4/1940; torpedoing of ship off Greenock; use of collision mat to cover torpedo hole, 9/1940. Aspects of operations as petty officer aboard HMS Birmingham and HMS Hargood in Atlantic, 1941-1944: joining HMS Birmingham in Freetown, 27/6/1941; patrol work in South Atlantic; standing by HMS Hargood in Boston, Massachusetts; reception by civilians in Boston.