Interview with George Arthur Thurgar

British seaman served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Hardingham in North Sea and Norway, 12/1939-4/1940; served aboard SS Harmala in North Atlantic and United States of America, 8/1940-9/1940; served aboard MV Dorset in North Atlantic, 4/1941-7/1941; served aboard SS Tekoa in North Atlantic, 8/1941-10/1941; served aboard MV Suffolk in North and South Atlantic and Mediterranean, 4/1942-2/1943; served aboard MV Durham in North Atlantic and Pacific, 7/1943-4/1944; served aboard SS Cornwall in GB coastal waters, 4/1944-7/1944; served aboard

REEL 1 Background in Isle of Dogs and Millwall, London, GB, 1920-1939: family; education; attempt to join Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1938; attempts to join armed services in some capacity, 1938-1939; joining Merchant Navy, 12/1939. Recollections of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Hardingham in North Sea and Norway, 1939-1940: joining ship at Middlesborough, GB, 28/12/1939; loading iron ore at Narvik; sight of German merchant vessel; degaussing of ship; story of being nearly washed overboard; methods of loading iron ore at Narvik, 1940; relations between German and British merchant seamen off Narvik, Norway prior outbreak of hostilities; escort received from Polish Navy destroyer, 4/1940. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Harmala in North Atlantic and United States of America, 8/1940-9/1940: joining ship at Glasgow, 6/8/1940; experiences of being struck by storm off Butt of Lewis, 8/1940; discharge of ballast at Cape Hatteras, United States of America, 8/1940; effects of hurricane off Baltimore, United States of America, 8/1940; loading ammunition at Baltimore; news of German bomb on family home in Millwall, London, GB, 7/9/1940. REEL 2 Continues: inability to learn about ship due to tiredness. Aspects of period as seaman aboard MV Dorset in North Atlantic, 4/1941-7/1941: reasons for joining New Zealand Shipping Company Ltd, 4/4/1941; joining ship at Liverpool, 4/4/1941; fate of ship during Operation Pedestal, 13/8/1942; loss of discharge book in German Air Force bombing of Liverpool, 5/1941. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Tekoa in North Atlantic, 8/1941-10/1941: joining ship at Glasgow, 21/8/1941; living conditions on board; weather conditions in North Atlantic. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard MV Suffolk in North and South Atlantic and Mediterranean, 4/1942-2/1943: joining ship in Liverpool, 1/4/1942; armament aboard ship; reaction to rumour of voyage to Malta; description of T124X System; experiences of convoy to Malta, Mediterranean, 1942; German Air Force attack on return from Malta; allocation of ship's guns to British Eighth Army; sight of gauchos in Argentina, 1/1943; avoiding German submarines in Caribbean, 1/1943. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard MV Durham in North Atlantic and Pacific, 7/1943-4/1944: joining ship in Falmouth, GB, 28/7/1943. REEL 3 Continues: method of controlling fire on board in Pacific, 1943; re-organising De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito aircraft cargo at Tahiti in attempt to deal with fire; relief supplies delivered to Pitcairn Island; life in Tahiti, 1943. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard SS Cornwall in GB coastal waters, 4/1944-7/1944: joining ship, 1/4/1944; reasons for leaving ship, 4/7/1944. Aspects of period as seaman with Merchant Navy aboard MV Pipiriki in North Atlantic and Pacific, 9/1944-12/1945: joining ship, 14/9/1944; sights ashore at Williamsburg, United States of America; memories of VJ night in Williamsburg, United States of America, 15/8/1945; move to Pearl Harbor, United States of America, 8/1945-9/1945; experiences at Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, 9/1945. Reflections on service with Merchant Navy, 1939-1946: medical problems and discharge from Merchant Navy service, 1/1946; attitude to having served in Merchant Navy in Second World War. REEL 4 Continues: his patriotism in 1938-1939; work in ship's chandlers office; reasons for MV Suffolk being his favourite ship; rations aboard ship; question of luck in Second World War; contact with civilians ashore in ports; explanation of term fender; question of SS Hardingham's master in failing to observe need for camouflage, 1940; dangers of using lifebelts; life saving innovations.