Description
Object description
British seaman served aboard HMS Spartan in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1943-1944, including sinking off Anzio, Italy, 29/1/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Cheltenham, GB, 1925-1942; family; education; employment; sporting and recreational activities; memories of declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of enlistment and training at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, GB, 1942-1943: reasons for joining Royal Navy, 1942; uniform; accommodation and rations; daily routine; attitude towards naval life; basic training including gunnery; church services; service aboard HMS Eclipse in GB coastal waters, 1943. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMS Spartan in GB coastal waters 8/1943-12/1943: joining HMS Spartan, 8/1943; opinion of cruiser.
REEL 2 Continues: preparations and working up trials; organisation of crew; opinion of Royal Marines; accommodation and washing facilities; sleeping arrangements; attitude towards naval discipline; cleaning and repairing uniform; recreational activities; visit by King George V1 at Scapa Flow; working up exercises including gunnery practise.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Spartan in Mediterranean, 12/1943-1/1944: damage to propeller caused by submerged object at Taranto, Italy; firing guns; experiences on convoy duty; bombardment of German positions at Anzio, 1/1944; role of ship during landings at Anzio, Italy; communication of orders between ships and shore.
REEL 4 Continues: experience of being in gun turret. Recollections of the sinking of HMS Spartan off Anzio, Italy, 1/1944: effects of German Hs 293 Glider Bomb hitting ship and damage caused; effectiveness of emergency training; description of rescue operation; journey on rescue ship and recuperation in Naples, Italy and Malta; period of survivors leave.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Aurora, 15th Cruiser Sqdn in Mediterranean, 1944: drafting to HMS Aurora and comparison to HMS Spartan; opinion of officers; promotion to able seaman; bombardment of coastal positions, Southern France; recreational activities; prior recollection of relatives hearing news of sinking of HMS Spartan on radio; volunteers for drafts to other ships; demobilisation and return to civilian life; explanation of technical terms in log of HMS Spartan.