Swales, Joffre (Oral history)

British bandsman served with Royal Marines aboard HMS King George V in GB coast waters and Atlantic, 1940-1941; served aboard HMS Norfolk in Arctic, 1941-1944; served with Royal Marine dance band in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Haverfordwest, 1916-1939: family; education; enlistment in Royal Marines, 9/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of training as Royal Marine bandsman at School of Music in GB, 1940: story of how HMS Exeter musicians tried to dissuade him from joining Royal Marines, 1/1940; his audition at Deal and character of Jimmy Green; move of school to Plymouth then Malvern; how he became ready for sea service. Recollections of operations as Royal Marine bandsman aboard HMS King George the Fifth in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1940-1941: joining ship, 11/1940; story illustrating sailor's superstition about changing drafts; first impressions of ship; opinion of musicians in ship's band; reaction to discovery of his action station; Atlantic convoy duties; conditions at Scapa Flow; role of Royal Marine bands; opinion of HMS Hood; memories of start of pursuit of Bismarck in Atlantic, 5/1941. REEL 2 Continues: in action against Bismarck; aftermath of Bismarck action; attitude to sinking of Bismarck in 1941 and 1994; story of 'sane' seaman during Bismarck action. Recollections of operations as Royal Marine bandsman aboard HMS Norfolk in Arctic, 1941-1944: problems of travelling in wartime; drafting to ship, 9/1941; state of health of seamen during Arctic service; character of ship's sea motion; nature of first Arctic convoy to Archangel; his action station in transmitting station; story of looking after survivor from HMS Trinidad; German Air Force attacks on Convoy PQ16; role of CAM aircraft escorting convoy; fate of HMS Trinidad. REEL 3 Continues: German Air Force attacks on destroyers rescuing survivors from HMS Trinidad; question of showing fear in action; start of PQ17 c7/1942; atmosphere on board ship during action; receiving Admiralty order to scatter convoy; reaction to scatter order; contact with merchant seaman who survived Convoy PQ17; decoy incident during early Arctic convoy; tannoy message on leaving Kola Inlet prior to Battle of North Cape, 24/12/1943; opening fire on Scharnhorst; work in transmitting station; feeling during action that shells were just bouncing off Scharnhorst; fate of X Turret and damage to ship during battle, 26/12/1943; sinking of Scharnhorst; effect of words of congratulations to ship's crew by Rear Admiral Burnett. REEL 4 Continues: vital role played by ship in Battle of North Cape, 12/1943; sight and sounds he experienced; question of remoteness of officers in Royal Navy during Second World War; amusing story of locking away notice about not spreading 'Communist' propaganda whilst in Russian territorial waters; case of men disciplined over food problem; discouraging of fraternisation between seamen and Russians; behaviour of Russian musical conductor aboard ship; orders not to fire ship's anti-aircraft guns in Kola Inlet; seamen trading with Russians; encounter between seaman and Russian female soldier; conditions ashore in Russia; character of Russian soldiers; transporting RAF personnel from Russia to GB; visit by Russian musicians; seaman as former journalist who promoted interest in Red Army. Aspects of period as bandsman with Royal Marine band in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945: sight of sailors being transferred to army, 1944; amusing story of meeting former journalist at HMS Glendower 1944. REEL 5 Continues: membership of Royal Marine dance band giving concerts in GB and North West Europe; equipping with Lancester machine gun in Germany, 1945; broadcasting from Hamburg radio studio, c5/1945; return to GB, summer 1945.