Coussens, Percy Victor (Oral history)

British seaman trained at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint and HMS Cabot, Bristol in GB, 1941-1942; served aboard HMS Onslow, 17th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 7/1942-2/1944; served aboard HMS Berry, 3rd Escort Group in English Channel and Arctic, 6/1944-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Hastings, GB, 1923-1939: family; education. Aspects of evacuation from Hastings to Melksham, GB, 1940: German Air Force raids on Hastings; local council's urging of citizens to leave town; family's evacuation to Melksham. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, GB, 1941-1942: reasons for volunteering for Royal Navy, 1941; nature of training; bomb damage to Devonport and Plymouth; guard duties at HMS Cabot, Bristol, 2/1942-7/1942. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Onslow, 17th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 7/1942-2/1944: joining destroyer at Immingham, GB, 7/1942; action station as cordite supplier to X Turret; gunnery practice at Scapa Flow, GB; escort duties with convoy PQ 18 in Arctic, 2/9/1942-21/9/1942 including sight of German Air Force aircrew in raft and German Air Force concentrating attacks on merchant vessels; period in Soviet Union on termination of Convoy PQ 18, 9/1942; action in which Commander Robert Sherbrooke won Victoria Cross during Battle of Barents Sea, 31/12/1942; operation of X Turret during action; damage to ship and casualties; aftermath of action. REEL 2 Continues: ashore at Vaenga, Soviet Union, 31/12/1942; personal morale during Battle of Barents Sea, 31/12/1942; repairs to ship at Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1943; allocation of new action station in transmitting station; prior recollection of sighting of submarine periscope during visit to Azores, 11/1942; protecting convoy against German battleship Scharnhorst, 12/1943; coping with Arctic weather conditions; leaving ship, 16/2/1944. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Berry, 3rd Escort Group in English Channel and Arctic, 6/1944-5/1945: joining frigate after asdic training in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 13/6/1944; conditions on board ship; nature of voyages to Kola Inlet, Soviet Union; narrow escape from torpedo attack in Kola Inlet, Soviet Union; minesweeping duties in English Channel, 6/1944-8/1944; fishing with depth charge off coast of Netherlands, VE Day, 8/5/1945.