Description
Object description
British seaman served aboard HMS Spartan in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 8/1943-1/1944, including sinking off Anzio, Italy, 29/1/1944; served aboard HMS Aurora, 15th Cruiser Sqdn in Mediterranean and Black Sea, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Norfolk, GB, 1924-1943: family including father service in the Royal Artillery; education; sporting activities; employment as gardener; recreational activities. Aspects of enlistment and training as seaman with Royal Navy at HMS Glendower, Pwllheli, HMS Valkryie, Douglas Head, Isle of Man and aboard HMS Pollux in GB coastal waters, 1943: reasons for enlistment in Royal Navy; prior recollection of attitude to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; accommodation at HMS Glendower; issue of uniform and equipment; medical; attitude to naval discipline; relations with local Welsh people; opinion of rations; drill practise.
REEL 2 Continues: aircraft and submarine recognition tests; educational classes; seamanship tests; specialism in radio location finding; move to No 1 Radar School, HMS Valkyrie, Douglas Head, Isle of Man; nature of training and effectiveness of equipment; physical exercise; inability to swim and receiving no training; problem of seasickness.
REEL 3 Continues: description of radar equipment aboard HMS Pollux; further training received; recreational activities. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMS Spartan in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 8/1943-1/1944: warning that ship was overmanned; opinion of ship and accommodation; messing arrangements; memories of fellow crewmen; sporting activities.
REEL 4 Continues: contents of locker; sleeping arrangements; description of radar room; duties during action stations; identification of Axis aircraft; incident of accidental shooting down of British aircraft; damage control procedures; period of leave; nature of working up trials; towing destroyers in Scapa Flow, GB.
REEL 5 Continues: later damage to ship in Mediterranean; daily routine during working up; strict discipline and opinion of Commander Geoffrey Ambrose; story about having to go bathroom in full uniform; age of crew; punishments; opinion of fellow crewmen and morale; shore leave; opinion of Captain Patrick McLaughlin and officer commanding Royal Marine detachment; role of Royal Marines.
REEL 6 Continues: memories of time spent at Scapa Flow, GB; protective clothing worn; opinion of accommodation and rations including nicknames for food; rum ration; washing facilities; problems with eyesight; need for official permission to grow beards; desire to become a hairdresser prior to Second World War; recreational activities.
REEL 7 Continues: communication with home; effect of war on family; convoy duties in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean; slow patrols in Bay of Biscay; sight of other ships being sunk off Anzio, Italy and survivor brought aboard HMS Spartan; involvement in operations at Anzio, Italy.
REEL 8 Continues: daily duties and routine; morale of crew; personal state of mind; sight of war correspondent Wynford Vaughan Thomas and cameraman. Recollections of sinking of HMS Spartan off Anzio, Italy, 29/1/1944: effects of Hs 293 Glider Bomb hitting ship; immediate list to port and loss of power; attempts to reactivate radar system; nature of damage to ship; exploding ammunition and fires; went below deck to latrine; escape from ship; sight of Captain Patrick McLaughlin diving off ship; helping with wounded; death of Commander Geoffrey Ambrose.
REEL 9 Continues: helping wounded crewmen; death of crewmen due to lifebelts; nature of rescue operation; loss of kit and personal possessions; newsreel film of sinking; journey to Algiers, French Algeria; attitude of crew on being told they were not going back to GB following sinking; period in rest camp in Malta. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Aurora in Mediterranean and Black Sea, 1944-1945: drafting to and opinion of cruiser; involvement in operations off Anzio, Italy; embarking Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Crimea after Yalta Conference, 2/1945; visit by King of Saudi Arabia; sending telegram to next of kin.
REEL 10 Continues: prior recollections of contribution of HMS Spartan to war effort, rescue operation and decision to anchor ship; pattern of post-war service with Royal Navy; memories of VE Day, 8/5/1945 and VJ Day, 15/8/1945; later demobilisation and return to civilian life; reflections on service with Royal Navy.