Jones, Thomas Henry (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Comorin in Atlantic, 1939-1941 including sinking 4/1941; petty officer served aboard HMS Malcolm in Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 1941-1943; served on shore duties in GB, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Hoylake, 1919-1939: family; education; character of fishing industry in area, 1930s; reasons for joining Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1938; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Period with Royal Navy in GB and South Africa, 1939: drafting to Devonport; question of luck of avoiding draft to HMS Rawalpindi; voyage from GB to South Africa; training at HMSAS General Botha at Simonstown. Recollections of operations with HMS Comorin in Atlantic, 1939-1941: joining ship in Simonstown, autumn 1939; character of ship; role as messenger; conditions aboard ship; convoy escort duties; brief attachment to cruiser to intercept German ship Watussa; guarding German prisoners, c1939. REEL 2 Continues: alternating work with Jervis Bay; memories of loss of Jervis Bay and sight of survivors; fire aboard ship caused by flash-back in boiler room, 6/4/1941; problems of abandoning sinking ship in North Atlantic, 6/4/1941; rescue by Glen Artney; physical condition after time in water. Period on shore duty with Royal Navy in GB, 1941: manning anti-aircraft at Wembury during Plymouth Blitz, 1941; role as coxswain to Captain McCoy; memories of Max Horton. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as petty officer with HMS Malcolm in Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 1941-1943: drafting to ship at Devonport; nature of living conditions aboard; memories of Commander Russell; briefing for Operation Torch and role of ship at Algiers, 11/1942; damage caused by shore batteries at Algiers, 11/1942; period ashore with naval party in Algiers; question of state of mind in action; German Air Force attack during Convoy PQ 18 in Arctic, 1942. REEL 4 Continues: U-boat which surfaced close to ship during PQ 18; role of escorts during Convoy PQ 18; attempts of Russian authorities to prevent contact between civilians and Royal Naval personnel in Archangel; sight of barge manned by women at Archangel; impressions of Archangel; memories of Operation Pedestal in Mediterranean, 8/1942; taking aboard survivors of HMS Eagle, 8/1942; ship's ramming of U-boat during Operation Pedestal; leaving ship in Freetown, 1943; impression of Freetown. Period with Royal Navy in GB, 1944-1945: background to return to GB aboard Dunvegan Castle; contracting malaria; role at Millbay Docks, Plymouth, 1944-1945; sight of U-boats surrendering a Loch Foyle after VE Day. Attitude to having served in Royal Navy in Second World War. Aspects of service with Royal Navy, 1939-1945: role of coxswain; relations between different ranks. REEL 5 Continues: question of ship's reputation and role. Aspects of working in fishing industry in 1930s: importance of knowledge of sea bottom; dangers of 'fastners'; question of pollution in sea.