Interview with Leslie Daniel Sayer

British boy seaman trained at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 1931-1933; signalman served aboard HMS Exeter in GB coastal waters, 1933; served aboard HMS Capetown on China Station, 1934-1936; served as telegraphist/air gunner with 811 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Furious in GB coastal waters, 1939; served as instructor at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford in GB, 1939-1940; served as telegraphist air gunner with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious in North Atlantic, 5/1941, aboard HMS Ark Royal in Mediterranean, 6/1941-11/1941 including sinking 13/11/1941, in GB and aboard HMS Avenger in Arctic, 1/1942-10/1942; served on training duties with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1943-1945; served aboard HMS Glory in Far East, 2/1945-8/1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1915-1924: family; education including at Watts Naval Training School, Dereham. Aspects of period as boy seaman at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 1931-1933: discipline; nature of training; climbing mast; attitude to being 'shanghai-ed' into Royal Navy; signing on with Royal Navy for fourteen year period. Aspects of period as signalman with Royal Navy, 1933-1939: conceiving wish to join Fleet Air Arm whilst serving as signalman aboard HMS Exeter; service aboard HMS Capetown on China Station, 1934-1936; asdic training at HMS Osprey, Royal Naval Air Station Portland, GB, 1937. Recollections of period as telegraphist air gunner with 811 Naval Air Sqdn aboard HMS Furious in GB coastal waters, 1939: joining aircraft carrier; duties of telegraphist air gunner; relations between Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm personnel; explanation of term 'NAFU'; reasons for jealousy of general service naval ratings towards telegraphist/air gunners; relations between Royal Naval College, Dartmouth trained officers and other ranks and its effect on crew co-operation; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of period as instructor training observers at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, GB, 1939-1940: German Air Force attack on airfield, 18/8/1940. REEL 2 Continues: bomb damage to Royal Naval Air Station Ford; flying in Fairey Swordfish aircraft. Recollections of operations as telegraphist air gunner with 825 Naval Air Sqdn aboard HMS Victorious in North Atlantic, 5/1941 and HMS Ark Royal in Mediterranean, 6/1941-11/1941: joining HMS Victorious, 5/1941; squadron attack on German battleship Bismarck 5/1941; question of torpedo hits on German Bismarck; transfer to HMS Ark Royal for Malta convoys, role of squadron during Malta convoys, amusing story of enlistment of British Army soldier in Royal Navy at Gibraltar; torpedoing and sinking of HMS Ark Royal by German submarine U-81, 13/11/1941; disembarkation onto HMS Legion. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as telegraphist air gunner with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Army in GB, 1942: reforming of squadron at HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent, 1/1942; question of luck in missing operation to attack on German warships in English Channel, 2/1942; mine laying operations off Cherbourg, France. Aspects of operations as telegraphist air gunner with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Avenger during Convoy PQ 18 in Arctic, 9/1942: reaction to convoy work; use of Benzedrine tablets; anti-submarine patrols; ineffectiveness of Fairey Swordfish against German Air Force aircraft. Aspects of service as petty officer with Fleet Air Arm, 1943-1945: training duties in GB, 1943; decision to leave Fleet Air Arm, 12/1945; role on headquarters staff aboard HMS Glory in Far East, 2/1945-8/1945; attitude towards serving in Fleet Air Arm in Second World War; role in Telegraphist Air Gunners Association after Second World War.