Interview with Thomas Henry Jones

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Description

Object description

British seaman served aboard HMS Comorin in North and South Atlantic, 10/1939-4/1941 including sinking in North Atlantic, 6/4/1941; served on shore duties in GB, 1941-1942; petty officer served aboard HMS Malcolm, 18th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Arctic, 7/1941-6/1943; served on shore duties in GB and Northern Ireland, 1944-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Hoylake, GB, 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. Aspects of period as seaman with Royal Navy in GB and South Africa, 1939: drafting to Devonport, GB; question of luck of avoiding draft to HMS Rawalpindi; voyage from GB to South Africa; training aboard SATS General Botha at Simonstown. Recollections of operations with HMS Comorin in North and South Atlantic, 10/1939-4/1941: joining ship in Simonstown, South Africa, 10/1939; character of armed merchant cruiser; role as messenger; conditions on board ship; convoy escort duties; brief attachment to Royal Navy cruiser HMS Renown to intercept German merchant vessel SS Watussi in Indian Ocean; guarding German prisoners of war, 1939. REEL 2 Continues: alternating work with HMS Jervis Bay; memories of loss of HMS 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 heavy seas after fire in North Atlantic, 6/4/1941; rescue by MV Glenartney; physical condition after time in water. Aspects of period on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 1941: manning anti-aircraft during German Air Force attacks at Wembury, 1941-1942; role as coxswain to Captain James McCoy; memories of Admiral Max Horton. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as petty officer with HMS Malcolm, 18th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Arctic, 1942-1943: drafting to ship at Devonport, GB; nature of living conditions aboard; memories of Commander Archibald Russell; briefing for Operation Torch and role of ship at Algiers, French Algeria, 11/1942; damage caused by Vichy French shore batteries at Algiers, 11/1942; period ashore with naval party in Algiers, French Algeria; question of state of mind in action; German Air Force attack during Convoy PQ 18 in Arctic, 9/1942. REEL 4 Continues: German submarine which surfaced close to ship during Convoy PQ 18, 9/1942; role of escorts during Convoy PQ 18; attempts of Soviet authorities to prevent contact between civilians and Royal Naval personnel in Archangel, Soviet Union; sight of barge manned by females at Archangel, Soviet Union; impressions of Archangel, Soviet Union; memories of Operation Pedestal in Mediterranean, 8/1942; taking aboard survivors of HMS Eagle, 11/8/1942; ship's ramming of submarine during Operation Pedestal; leaving ship in Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1943; impression of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Aspects of period on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB and Northern Ireland, 1944-1945: background to return to GB aboard HMT Dunvegan Castle; contracting malaria; role at Millbay Docks, Plymouth, 1944-1945; sight of German submarines surrendering a Lough Foyle, North Ireland after VE Day, 5/1945. Reflections on service with Royal Navy during Second World War: attitude towards service; role of coxswain; relations between different ranks. REEL 5 Continues: question of ship's reputation and role. Aspects of working in fishing industry during 1930s: importance of knowledge of sea bottom; dangers of 'fastners'; question of pollution in sea.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Jones, Thomas Henry (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1999-07-27
Dimensions: whole: Duration 135, Number Of Items 5
Catalogue number: 19391

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Interview with Thomas Henry Jones

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