Seales, Winston (Oral history)

Trinidadian seaman served with Royal Trinidad Volunteer Reserve, aboard HMS Black Bear and HMS Corsair in Caribbean, 1939-1943; served aboard HLS Tug Busy on voyage from Trinidad to GB via Africa and Mediterranean, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Belmond, Trinidad, 1925-1939: family; opinion of GB and Commonwealth; reaction to threat of war; father's help to join up. Period with Royal Trinidad Volunteer Reserve in Caribbean, 1939-1943: basic training and placement with signals; ship watching duties in Port of Spain harbour; types of ships using port; movement around signal shore stations; service on HMS Black Bear, including, crew, patrol duties and voyage around West Indies; move to HMS Corsair; relationship with wireless officer; signalman's duties. Recollection of voyage onboard Busy from Caribbean to GB, 1944-1945: joining ship; period in convoy with sister ship HLS Tug Confident; story of tug helping fire fighters with a post office fire in British Guyana; impressions of Brazil; shore leave; submarine scares on journey from South America to Cape Town; duties during action stations; question of fatigue; watch duties; story of collecting mail in Cape Town. REEL 2 Continues: story of being imprisoned by South African police for talking to Africans; addressing a political meeting; move to Agadir in French Morocco; story of fight in country club; voyage to Naples, 1944; view of German air attack on Naples; impressions of Naples; relationship with Italian civilians; arrival in Portsmouth, GB 1945; entertainment; reception in Scotland; story of meeting Churchill and Lord Mayor of London; welfare; impressions on bomb damage in London, 1945; VE day in London; story of meeting Montgomery; impressions of VE day; clothing; move to Liverpool; organised entertainment; return voyage to Trinidad.