Flanagan, Thomas James (Oral history)

British stoker served aboard HMS Consort in Far East and during Yangtse Incident in China, 1948-1949

REEL 1 Background in Kirkham, GB, 1928-1946: family; education; narrow escape from German Air Force bombing; wall paintings left by Dunkirk veterans in area; membership of Army Cadet Force; ambition to join Royal Navy; employment as plumber with Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) munitions factory at Salwick, near Preston. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1946-1947: importance of discipline during basic training; how recruit was treated who was attempting to get out of service; parading for King George VI in snow; early 1945; engineering training; No 11 punishment; move to HMS Valiant at Plymouth; state of Plymouth, 1947; training aboard HMS King George V and HMS Victorious; rough seas at anchor at Torbay; attitude towards service on big ships; voyage to Hong Kong, late 1947. Recollections of period as stoker aboard HMS Consort in Far East, 1948-1949: participation in 'Southern Cruise' around South East Asia; ships duties off Federation of Malaya. REEL 2 Continues: bombardment work of coast of Federation of Malaya, 1948; landing parties to destroy lookout towers; crowded conditions on board; settling disputes in boxing ring; story telling amongst messmates; attending garden parties held by sultans; shore leave in Penang, Federation of Malaya; visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 1948; impressions of Japan; relations between Royal Navy and United States Navy and United States Army in Sasebo, Japan. REEL 3 Continues: fraternisation with Australian Army troops in Kure, Japan; lack of trouble from Japanese people; visits to Grand Cherry Club in Tokyo, Japan; hospitality of United States Army in Japan; encounter with homosexual in Fleet Club in Hong Kong; treatment of homosexual on messdeck; story of dealing with homosexual assault in Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport; 'oppo' system aboard ship; contact with French Foreign Legion during visit to Saigon, French Indo-China; guests of seven British millionaires at Manila Polo Club in Manila, Philippines; pig hunting in Federation of Malaya; preference for Japan. Recollections of operations as stoker aboard HMS Consort during Yangtse Incident in China, 1949: guard ship duties in Nanking; leaving Nanking, 20/4/1949; exchange of fire with Communist forces on River Yangtse; linking up with HMS Amethyst under fire; knocking out of Communist gun positions. REEL 4 Continues: damage to ship from artillery fire during attempts to tow HMS Amethyst; casualties whilst supplying Bofors Guns with ammunition; operating hoist to bring up ammunition; extinguishing fire in ship's magazine; shattering of his legs in explosion; putting out fire on shipmate back; amputation of his left foot by ship's doctor; vomiting water onto wounded petty officer; reaction to being given no chance of survive; removal to Shanghai; pain of being moved in ambulance; his resistance to having field dressing removed from his stumps; how he was bandaged for burns; recovery in Shanghai; removal to United States Navy hospital ship USS Repose; treatment aboard USS Repose. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of hospitalisation in Hong Kong and GB and return to civilian life, 1949-1950: hospitalisation in Hong Kong, 5/1949-6/1949; treatment for his stumps and burns; arrival in Liverpool with present of bar of Blackpool rock from his mother; re-amputation of his right leg and fitting of artificial limbs, 1950; civil reception in Poulton-le-Fylde; attempts to gain employment and eventual obtaining on work with Civil Service in Blackpool then Dunlop Rubber Ltd; attitude to wounding and treatment; prior recollection of British-American relations in Far East, 1948; story of American serviceman's dealing with group of United States Army Military Police Corps personnel in Blackpool, 1947.