Interview with Norman Pimblett

British seaman served as sick berth attendant in GB and aboard LST 423 in English Channel during Normandy Landings, 6/1944-8/1944; served aboard HMS Arbiter in Pacific, 1945

REEL 1 Background in Haydock and St Helens, GB, 1925-1943: family; education; employment; listening to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's radio broadcast at St John's Ambulance Headquarters in St Helens, 3/9/1939; German Air Force attacks on St Helens, 1940-1941. Aspects of training as sick berth attendant with Royal Navy, GB,1943: call-up to Royal Navy, 8/1943; arrival at HMS Glendower, Pwllheli; story of how he was excused boots; nursing training, Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Newton Abbott, 1943-1944; role as sick berth attendant on medical wards, Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, Plymouth, 1944; venereal cases on ships; story of Royal Marine composer, Frederick Ricketts being a patient at Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, Plymouth; field training with British Army, 4/1944. Recollections of operations as sick berth attendant aboard LST 423 in English Channel during Normandy Landings, 6/1944-8/1944: joining landing ship tank, 5/1944; dealing with wounded being taken off beaches in Normandy, France. REEL 2 Continues: state of casualties when loaded aboard; handing casualties on board ship; reaction to running into Sword Beach under fire, 6/6/1944; effect of seeing war wounds; psychological state of casualties; opinion of medical staff; group of German prisoners of war taken from Normandy, France to GB; high morale of troops taken to Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944. Recollections of period as sick berth attendant aboard HMS Arbiter in Pacific, 1945: drafting to escort carrier, 1/1945; ward facilities and role; hospitalisation for skin rash in Sydney, Australia, 1945; measures to prevent crew getting prickly heat; attitude towards service in Second World War; role on flight deck of HMS Arbiter to give first aid to any crashed air crew.