Interview with Alfred George Webster

British seaman served aboard HMS Pozarica in Arctic and Mediterranean, 1942-1943 including sinking off Bougie, French Algeria, 1/1943; served aboard HMS Royal Ulsterman in Mediterranean and English Channel, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Wanlockhead and Southport, GB, 1922-1939: family; education; employment; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 7/1941-12/1941: enlistment, 7/1941; basic training at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, 1941. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Pozarica, in GB waters 12/1941-6/1942: joining ship in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 12/1941; role of ship; duties in transmitting station; sleeping in hammocks; issue of tropical clothing, 6/1942. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Pozarica during Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 27/6/1942-10/7/1942: appearance of German Air Force spotter aircraft; initial losses to German attacks; announcement to scatter order, 4/7/1942; running aground in ice field; threat of German Navy heavy ships attacking convoy; disappearance of Soviet Navy destroyers with appearance of German Air Force aircraft; escorting ships into Archangel, Soviet Union; experiences ashore in Archangel, Soviet Union; morale aboard ship; reaction to scatter order, 4/7/1942. REEL 2 Continues: attempt to release ship from ice; return to GB in Convoy QP 14, autumn 1942. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Pozarica in Mediterranean, 11/1942-1/1943 including sinking of Bougie, French Algeria, 29/1/1943: nature of Axis opposition to landings during Operation Torch in North Africa, 11/1942; role of ship escorting merchant ships; German Air Force attack which blew off ship's stern, 29/1/1943; sinking of ship; rescue of survivors by HMS Cadmus off Bougie, French Algeria, 29/1/1943. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Royal Ulsterman in Mediterranean and English Channel, 1943-1945: joining ship, Algiers, French Algeria, 3/1943; role of ship off Italy including dropping commandos behind Axis lines; landings at Salerno and Anzio, Italy; role as quartermaster; ship's communication role in English Channel during landings in Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; work of ship during liberation of Channel Islands, GB, 5/1945. REEL 3 Continues: friendship with family in St Helier, Jersey who had lived under German occupation; attitude to having served in Royal Navy during Second World War; prior recollection of attitude to order to scatter Convoy PQ 17, 4/7/1942; reasons for refusing promotion in Royal Navy.