Grenfell, William Edward (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Edinburgh, 18th Cruiser Sqdn in Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 1940-1941; served aboard SS Empire Lawrence during Convoy PQ 16 in Arctic, 5/1942 including sinking, 27/5/1942; officer served aboard HMS Leander during Corfu Channel incident, 1947

REEL 1 Background in Peterhead, GB, 1920-1935: family; education. Aspects of period as sea cadet with Merchant Navy, 1935-1939: background to becoming sea cadet; attitude to service with Merchant Navy, pre-1939; relations between British and German sailors during 1930s. Aspects of enlistment and training as seaman with Royal Navy in GB, 1939-1940: volunteering for Royal Navy 1939 and call-up, 1940; assignment to radar work, 1940; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Edinburgh, 18th Cruiser Sqdn in North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Arctic, 1940-1941: joining ship at North Shields, GB, 9/1940; reaction to ship's discipline; North Atlantic convoy duties, 1940-1941; ship's covering role during commando attacks on Lofotens Islands, Norway, 3/3/1941; capture of German weather ship, München, 7/5/1941; capture of German supply ship, Lech, 25/5/1941; joining Force X for convoy to Malta, 7/1941; Italian Navy attacks on Valletta Harbour, Malta, 1941; reception by civilians in South Africa; Convoy PQ 6 to Murmansk, Soviet Union, 12/1941. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard SS Empire Lawrence during Convoy PQ 16 in Arctic, 5/1942: background to drafting to Catapult Aircraft Merchant Ship (CAM) ship at Birkenhead, 1/1942-2/1942. REEL 2 Continues: composition of Convoy PQ 16 on sailing from Iceland, 21/5/1942; arrival of German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft; first German Air Force attacks, 25/5/1942; Pilot Officer Alistair Hay's attack on German aircraft in his Hawker Sea Hurricane; radar watches at actions stations, 26/5/1942; repairing radar cables during German air attacks, 26/5/1942. Recollections of sinking of SS Empire Lawrence in Arctic, 27/5/1942: sinking of ship by German aircraft; his blowing into the sea by massive explosion; period struggling in sea; German air attacks on survivors in water; rescue by HMS Hyderabad. Aspects of period ashore in Soviet Union, 5/1942-6/1942: arrival at Murmansk, 30/5/1942; conditions in Murmansk; treatment received from Soviets; move to Soviet Army camp. REEL 3 Continues: visit to Soviet Army artillery site; transfer to Soviet camp at Vaenga; seaman who had lost all his limbs; rats in camp; sedan chair made for limbless sailor; rest and relaxation; rations; sight of German prisoners of war; drinking bouts with Soviets; execution of Soviet Navy petty officer for drinking; return to Iceland aboard HMS Hussar, 6/1942. Aspects of period as seaman and officer on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 1942-1946: arrival in GB, 1942; period as radar instructor at Portsmouth, 1942; commission into Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RMVR), 1945; transfer to Royal Navy, 1946. Recollections of period as officer aboard HMS Leander during Corfu Channel Incident, 7/1947: duties on board ship; question of decision to sail through mined channel; how HMS Saumarez hit mine. REEL 4 Continues: mining of HMS Volage; towing crippled ships back to Corfu; memories of the scrapping of HMS Leander. Aspects of period as seaman with Royal Navy in Portsmouth, GB, 1940: sight of German Air Force raid on town, 11/7/1940; further German attacks on Portsmouth; danger from Butterfly Bombs; public morale; post-war meeting with German Air Force pilot captured on 11/7/1940; contact with German prisoners of war.