Description
Object description
British marine served with Royal Marines aboard HMS Ceres, 5th Cruiser Sqdn in Indian Ocean, 1940-1943; served aboard HMS Spartan in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 8/1943-1/1944 including sinking in Mediterranean off Anzio, Italy, 29/1/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Brighton, GB, 1919-1939: family; education; employment as cinema projectionist; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Marines in Plymouth, GB, 1939-1940: reasons for joining Royal Marines; opinion of instructors; issue of uniforms and weapons; opinion of accommodation; kit inspection; opinion of rations; daily routine and training exercises; educational classes; drilling; naval gunnery training.
REEL 2 Continues: washing facilities; weapons training and maintenance; physical exercise and sporting activities; rivalry with Royal Navy personnel; emergency training procedures; attitude to naval discipline; recreational activities; specialist training as marksman; memories of fellow marines. Recollections of period as Royal Marine aboard HMS Ceres, 5th Cruiser Sqdn in Indian Ocean, 1940-1943: opinion of cruiser; leave on tea plantation in Singapore, Malaya; shore leave in South Africa and experience of segregated society.
REEL 3 Continues: duties aboard ship; relations with Royal Navy personnel; action stations. Recollections of operations aboard HMS Spartan in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 8/1943-1/1944: opinion of cruiser and ship's officers; daily duties in gun turret; shell exploding in gun turret during sinking, 29/1/1944; method of loading shells; preparation of ship for working up trials; memories of Scapa Flow; practise firing of guns.
REEL 4 Continues: daily duties and watches; description of conditions inside gun turret; Captain's Rounds; composition of crew; opinion of Adolf Hitler; protective clothing worn; contents of locker; inspections; prohibited areas of ship; opinion of rations and messing arrangements; problem of seasickness; care and repair of uniform and kit.
REEL 5 Continues: recreational activities including radio; favourite music; communication with family and censorship of mail; role of ship in convoy duty; involvement in bombardment at Anzio, Italy, 1/1944; ship's camouflage; preparation for landings at Anzio, Italy, 1/1944; weather conditions; crew in gun turret.
REEL 6 Continues: morale of crew; opinion of commanding officers; method of firing guns. Recollections of sinking of HMS Spartan in Mediterranean off Anzio, Italy, 29/1/1944: no warning of attack; unaware that ship had been hit; situation in gun turret after impact of Hs 293 Glider Bomb; igniting of cordite and fire in turret; escape from gun turret; description of wounds caused by fire; crewman trapped in ventilator shaft; question of crew abandoning ship before ordered to. Aspects of medical evacuation and hospitalisation in Italy and GB, 1944-1945: journey to Naples, Italy and treatment in hospital.
REEL 7 Continues: details of medical treatment in GB including plastic surgery on hands and face; opinion of medical staff; memories of other patients. Reflections on service with Royal Marines, 1939-1945: role of HMS Spartan; opinion of emergency training procedures; memories of celebrating VE Day and VJ Day in hospital; discharge due to wounds and demobilisation; work on hospital switchboard; story of being arrested by Royal Corps of Military Police for improper dress; effects of war on family.