Interview with Leonard Albert Charles Cantellow

British schoolchild in Greewich, GB, 1914-1918; seaman served artificer aboard HMS Renown, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 1927-1929; petty officer served as artificer aboard HMS Dauntless, America and West Indies Station in West Indies, 1930-1932; served aboard HMS Neptune, Home Fleet in Baltic Sea and Mediterranean, 1934-1937; served aboard HMS Maidstone, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1937-1938; petty officer and engineer officer served aboard HMS Birmingham, 15th Cruiser Sqdn on China Station and 18th Cruiser Sqdn, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters and Norway, 1938-1940; engineer officer served aboard HMS Titania, Holy Loch, GB, 1940-1941; served aboard HMS Cleopatra, 15th Cruiser Sqdn, Mediterranean Fleet and HMS Nubian, 19th Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean, 1941-1944

REEL 1 Background in Greenwich, London, GB, 1907-1923: family; education; attending Royal Hospital School, Greenwich, 1/1919-1/1923. Aspects of training as artificer with Royal Navy in GB, 1923-1927: character of training at HMS Fisgard at Portsmouth, 1923-1926; move to HMNB Chatham, 1926-1927. Aspects of period as artificer aboard HMS Renown, Mediterranean Fleet in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1927-1929: drafting to battlecruiser at Portsmouth, GB, 7/1927; role of ship in Mediterranean; role and duties; duties in Portsmouth after leaving ship, GB, 1929-1930. Aspects of period as petty officer artificer with HMS Dauntless on America and West Indies Station, 1930-1932: drafting to light cruiser at Portsmouth, GB, 4/1930; use of camp bed to sleep on; prohibition in Tampa, United States of America; effect of pay cuts in Royal Navy, 1931; shore duties in Portsmouth after leaving ship, 1932-1934. REEL 2 Continues: terms of service in Royal Navy. Aspects of period as petty officer artificer aboard with HMS Neptune, Home Fleet in Baltic and Mediterranean, 1934-1937: duties in Baltic Sea; attending Berlin Olympics, Germany, 1936; attitude of German civilians towards Royal Navy personnel; reasons for move to Gibraltar at time of Spanish Civil War; use of De Havilland DH.82B Queen Bee target aircraft. Aspects of period as petty officer artificer aboard HMS Maidstone, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1937-1938: standing by during building of ship on River Clyde; duties during sea trials; background to drafting to HMS Birmingham, 1938. Recollections of operations as petty officer artificer and engineer officer aboard HMS Birmingham, 15th Cruiser Sqdn on China Station and 18th Cruiser Sqdn, Home Fleet, 1938-1940: drafting to cruiser on China Station; his rank and privileges; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; patrolling in Dutch East Indies, 9/1939; attitude of Dutch to the prospect of being involved in Second World War, 9/1939; attitude towards Japan; role of ship in Norwegian campaign, 1940; embarking 1st Bn Green Howards (Alexandra Princes of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regt) at Rosyth, GB, 4/1940; evacuation of British troops from Åndalsnes, Norway. REEL 3 Continues: leaving ship, 6/1940. Aspects of period as engineer officer aboard HMS Titania, Holy Loch, GB, 1940-1941: drafting to submarine depot ship, 6/1940; character of ship; reaction to service on board. Recollections of operations as engineer officer with HMS Cleopatra, 15th Cruiser Sqdn, Mediterranean Fleet in GB coastal and Mediterranean, 4/1941-7/1944: drafting to anti-aircraft cruiser, 4/1941; problems during sea trials; attempt to disguise ship in Gibraltar, 1941; Admiral Philip Vian's replacement of key personnel; how ship became Admiral Philip Vian's flagship; Italian shell hit during Second Battle of Sirte, 22/3/1942; measures taken during torpedoing of ship, 1943; burial of dead at sea at Malta; six week transfer to HMS Nubian, 19th Destroyer Flotilla and destroyer's duties off Italy; contracting amoebic dysentery; return to HMS Cleopatra; voyage to United States of America; case of anxiety neurosis on board. REEL 4 Continues: application to join Fleet Air Arm; leaving ship, 7/1944; period in rest camp at Asmara, Eritrea used by British Indian Army officers and their wives; story of consequences of attempting to steal Italian artillery piece at Asmara, Eritrea; attitude to having served in Royal Navy. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Greenwich, London, GB, 1914-1918: warning given by policemen of impending Zeppelin raids; sight of Zeppelins coming down in flames; attitude towards Germans; shop which changed it's name from 'Kaiser's' to 'King's'; spy hysteria in Lewisham; food rationing; celebrations in Greenwich, 11/11/1918.