Ferrett, Joseph Harold (Oral history)

British boy signaller served aboard HMS Malaya in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 8/1941-4/1942; seaman served on shore duites in South Africa, GB and Canada, 4/1942-5/1945; served aboard HMS Theseus in Far East, 1945-1947; served aboard HMS Amethyst in Far East and during Yangtse Incident in China, 11/1947-4/1949

REEL 1 Background in Verwood GB, 1923-1939: family; education including period aboard training ship TS Arethusa II on River Medway, 1937-1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy seaman with Royal Navy in GB, 6/1939-7/1941: enlistment in Royal Navy, 6/1939; training as boy signaller at HMS St George, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1939-1941. Aspects of operations as boy signaller aboard HMS Malaya in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 8/1941-4/1942: joining battleship, 8/1941; working up in Scapa Flow, 9/1941-10/1941; move to join Force H at Gibraltar, 22/10/1941-27/10/1941; witnessing torpedoing of HMS Ark Royal, 13/11/1941; leaving batteship in South Africa, 4/1942. Aspects of period as seaman with Royal Navy in shore establishments in South Africa, GB and Canada, 4/1942-5/1945: move to Clarewood Camp, Durban, South Africa; attitude of South African civilians to British servicemen; communication work; drafting to destroyer HMS Quality for service in Indian Ocean; aboard depot ship HMS Empress of Russia at Portsmouth, GB, 1944; medical treatment for hernia in GB, 1944; move to Port Arthur, Canada, 1945: end of war in Europe, 8/5/1945. REEL 2 Continues: nature of drafting to Canada; return to GB, 1945. Aspects of period as seaman aboard aircraft carrier HMS Theseus, in Far East, 1945-1947: narrow escape when aircraft crashed into ship's superstructure; question of frequency of aircraft accidents aboard aircraft carrier; trip to Australia; flying exercises off New Zealand. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Amethyst in Far East, 11/1947-4/1949: drafting to destroyer, 11/1947; anti-smuggling patrols off coast of Malaya, 1948; visit to Japan; sailing through sampans on arrival in Hong Kong; contrast in relations with Japanese and Chinese civilians; trip up River Yangtse to Nanking as guardship for British Embassy, 1949; arrival of new draftees. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMS Amethyst during Yangtse Incident in China, 4/1949: Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) opening fire on ship, 19/4/1949; work aboard helping casualties; escape from ship; swimming ashore under Chinese fire; help received from Chinese Nationalist soldier; journey by train to Shanghai and hospitality of Chinese businessman he stayed with; attempt of HMS London and HMS Black Swan to aid HMS Amethyst; how he was treated aboard HMS London after crew had suffered casualties on behalf of HMS Amethyst; loss of property aboard HMS Amethyst.