Ferrett, Joseph Harold (Oral history)

British boy signaller served with HMS Malaya in Mediterranean and North Atlantic, 1941-1942; seaman served on shore duites in South Africa and GB, 1942-1944; served aboard HMS Theseus in Far East, 1945-1948; served aboard HMS Amethyst during Yangtse Incident in China, 1949

REEL 1 Background in Verwood GB, 1923-1937: family; education. Period as cadet with training ship Arethusa in River Medway, GB, 1937-1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1939-1941: enlistment in Royal Navy, 6/1939; training on Isle of Man, 1939-1941. Aspects of period as boy signaller aboard HMS Malaya in GB coastal waters, Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1941-1942: joining ship, 8/1941; working up in Scapa Flow, 1941; move of ship to Gibraltar to join Force H escorting aircraft carriers to Malta, 1941; witnessing torpedoing of HMS Ark Royal; leaving ship in South Africa, 1942. Aspects of period in shore establishments in South Africa, GB and Canada, 1942-1944: move to Clarewood Camp, Durban; attitude of South African civilians to British servicemen; communication work; drafting to destroyer HMS Quality for service in Indian Ocean; aboard depot ship Empress of Russia in Portsmouth, GB, 1944; medical treatment for hernia in GB, 1944; Aspects of period at Port Arthur, Lake Superior in Canada, 1945: end of war, 5/1945. REEL 2 Continues: nature of posting to Canada; returning to GB on minesweeper, 1945. Recollections 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 carrier; trip to Australia, 1946-1947; flying exercises in New Zealand. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMS Amethyst in Far East, 1947-1949: drafting to ship, 11/1947; anti-smuggling patrols off Malayan coast during Emergency, 1948; visit to Japan, 1948-1949; sailing through sampans on arrival in Hong Kong, 1948-1949 contrast in relationships 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 Communists opening fire on ship; 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.