Porter, Colin Stanley (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard LCI 97 in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Wisbech area, Norfolk, 1924-1939: family and education; employment. Period of training with Royal Navy in GB, 1942: reasons for volunteering, 1942; previous training as wireless operator with Air Training Corps; reaction to basic training with HMS Ganges. Period with armed motor launch on East Coast convoys, GB, 1942. Voyage from GB to New York, US aboard Queen Elizabeth, 9/1942. Period ashore in New York, 1942. Recollections of period with LCI 97 in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1943-1945: collecting ship from Quincy, Boston, USA; sight of damaged Queen Mary; relations with US civilians; trail convoy of LCIs across North Atlantic, 12/1942; facilities aboard for crew; arrival in Gibraltar; basing of ship in Djelli, Algeria, early 1943. REEL 2 Continues: becoming signalman; German Air Force attacks on Djelli; voyages from Djelli including rescuing US personnel; reasons why craft missed Pantellaria operation; voyage to Pantellaria; Sicilian landings against little opposition, 7/1943; suffering from sunstroke, Tripoli; role of LCHs; role of LCI 97 during Anzio landings, 1944; German Air Force and artillery attacks during Anzio landings; move up western coast of Italy; transfer to Adriatic; role of ship on Dalmatian coast; opinion of Yugoslavian partisans; visits to Naples and eruption of Mount Vesuvius, 3/1944. REEL 3 Continues: sight of surrendered Italian warships in Mediterranean;. Period of service in GB, 1945-1946. Attitude of having served in Second World War. Comradeship amongst landing craft crews.