Description
Object description
British boy telegraphist trained at HMS St George, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1940-1942; served aboard HMS Nelson in Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean 1942-1943; telegraphist served aboard HMS Kingsmill in the English Channel during Normandy Landings, 6/1944-8/1944; served aboard HMS Franconia in Black Sea during Yalta Conference, 1945; served aboard HMS Boxer in GB coastal waters, 1945; served on shore duties at Colombo, Ceylon, Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong and GB, 1946-1952; petty officer served aboard HMS Morecombe Bay in Far East, Federation of Malaya and Pacific, 1953-1955
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1925-1939: family; education; move from Torquay to Richmond; interest in Royal Navy. Aspects of period as cadet aboard training ship HMS Exmouth in GB, 1939-1940: evacuation of ship, 8/1939; daily routine; dealing with bullying attempt; climbing the mast; move to Burnham-on-Crouch, 8/1939; level of discipline, 1939-1940; move to Lydney, 1940; possibility of employment with the Marconi's Wireless and Telegraph Company, 12/1940.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of enlistment with Royal Navy and training as telegraphist at HMS St George, Isle of Man, 1940- 1942: enlistment in Bristol, 12/1940; character of physical tests for telegraphist training; sailing from Fleetwood to Douglas, Isle of Man; accommodation in former holiday camp at Onchan Head; mustering and induction at HMS St George; attitude of instructor boys; marking of clothing; move to Douglas; allocation to visual signals and description of term 'bunting tosser'; transfer to wireless transmission course; receiving aid with course from 'Chuffy' Page.
REEL 3 Continues: formation of draft division at HMS St George, 1942. Recollections of operations as boy telegraphist aboard HMS Nelson, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: drafting to battleship at Greenock, GB; problems encountered in joining ship at Greenock, GB; start of watch keeping duties; role of ship as heavy escort to convoy; loss of seaman crushed by counterbalance of gun turret; disposal of pith helmets overboard at Freetown, Sierra Leone; sailing for Operation Pedestal convoy, 8/1942; size of force assembled to escort fourteen merchantmen.
REEL 4 Continues: execution of Operation Pedestal; sight of torpedoing of HMS Eagle, 11/8/1942; lack of air in wireless transmission office during action stations; under German Air Force attack and loss of HMS Foresight, 13/8/1942; turning back of heavy ships from convoy in the Narrows; German Air Force attacks on HMS Indomitable, 8/1942; Italian submarine Axum's attacks during Operation Pedestal, 8/1942; character of ship losses during Operation Pedestal; repair to ship at Rosyth, autumn 1942; move to Scapa Flow; role of ship during Operation Torch, 11/1942; reaction to Admiral Andrew Cunningham's interest in work of wireless transmission office, 11/1942; wait off Toulon during German take over of Southern France, 11/1942; effect of assassination of French Admiral Jean Darlan, 24/12/1942.
REEL 5 Continues: organisation of wireless transmission room, 1942; types of signals encountered; role of Rugby transmitting station on Royal Navy operations; actions stations; question of night watches for boy telegraphists; life on boy's mess deck; pressure of signals work on watch; practicalities of taking signals; increase in signals work with arrival of Unites States Navy in Mediterranean, 11/1942; method of relief signaller taking over watch during long United States Navy signals; use of Port Wave; Christmas period in Gibraltar, 1942-1943; move to Algiers, French Algeria, 5/1943; refurbishment in GB, 1943; return to Force H at Gibraltar; summer 1943.
REEL 6 Continues: conditions for signallers, 7/1943; reading of excerpts from orders for Operation Husky, Sicily, Italy, 7/1943; Italian Air Force torpedo attack on HMS Indomitable, 7/1943; promotion to ordinary telegraphist; bombardment of Reggio di Calabria, Italy 9/1943; role during landings at Salerno, Italy; sight of surrendered Italian Fleet at Malta, 9/1943; return to GB and refitting at Rosyth, 10/1943-12/1943. Aspects of period as telegraphist on shore duties in GB, 12/1943-6/1944: drafting to HMS Kingsmill at Tobermory; move to Weymouth to find ship; accommodation at HMS Grasshopper at Weymouth; character of HMS Kingsmill; explanation of Force G; billeting at HMS Squid at Southampton, 1944. Recollections of operations as telegraphist aboard HMS Kingsmill in English Channel off Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: move to positions off Juno Beach, 6/6/1944; sight of HNLMS Flores bombarding shore, 6/6/1944; problems with weather during Great Storm, 19/6/1944-20/6/1944.
REEL 7 Continues: rigging aerials; role as control ship after damage to headquarters ship HMS Bulolo; duties as transceiver; degree of danger from shore guns; attachments to a series of control ships; attitude towards pressure of work; memories of loss of HMS Quorn, 3/8/1944; description of explosive German Navy Linz mine warfare boats; German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 aircraft attacks on ship and shooting down of one; work of German linguist and character of Morse Code transmitted by German operator; Royal Air Force Hawker Typhoon attacks on HMS Britomart, 27/8/1944; ending of ship's role off Normandy, 8/1944. Aspects of period on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 1944-1945: move to HMS Mastodon, Southampton; course at HMS Mercury, Leydene House, East Meon; security of draft with Royal Marines. Aspects of period as telegraphist aboard HMS Franconia during Yalta Conference in Black Sea, 1945: boarding ship in Liverpool; role as headquarters ship.
REEL 8 Continues: sailing from River Mersey; issue of civilian clothing in Mediterranean; announcement of destination being Sevastopol, Soviet Union; communications arrangements at Yalta, Soviet Union; sight of President Franklin D Roosevelt; conditions in Sevastopol, Soviet Union; sight of Soviet commissar; contact with Soviet Army troops; return to GB via Malta, 1945. Aspects of period as telegraphist aboard HMS Boxer in GB coastal waters, 1945: drafting to HMS Boxer; conversion to fighter direction ship; rigging wireless transmitter aerials; detailing to air-sea rescue launch during King George VI's visit to Northern Ireland; hearing of death of his brother; hearing of VJ Day during passage to Far East; leaving ship, 12/1945. Recollections of period on shore duties with Royal Navy in Ceylon, Hong Kong and GB, 1945-1948: draft to Colombo, Ceylon; learning to touch type Morse Code; question of speed of demobilisation in Royal Navy; problems caused by loss of radio and radar specialists; posting to Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong.
REEL 9 Continues: communications equipment employed; occasion when land lines to Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong was cut by labourer's pick axe; climbing transmitter masts; details of splicing work; rhombic beaming system; work erecting aerial; danger of accidental explosions in armament tunnel; laying earthing mat under wireless station; sporting activities; presence of Special Boat Section canoes.
REEL 10 Continues: attitude to continuing service on Stonecutters Island. Recollections of voyage aboard HMT Lancashire from Hong Kong to GB, 1948: background to embarking aboard troopship; accommodation in HMS Terror in Singapore, Federation of Malaya; state of ship, 1948; job with ship's electrician on board; use of salt water soap and 'dhobying' privileges; aid given to pilot navigating through Suez Canal, Egypt; problems with water supply; arrival in Liverpool and passing through HM Customs and Excise, 11/9/1948. Recollections of period as telegraphist on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 1948-1952: leave arrangements; radar conversion course at HMS Collingwood, Fareham.
REEL 11 Continues: question of promotion; fault finding on different types of radar equipment; completion of course, 1949; drafting to gunnery school at School of Naval Gunnery, HMS Excellent, Whale Island; target indication work at radar establishment at Wisley; target indication practice at North Berwick during Bass Rock trials; details of radar system used at North Berwick; effect of Korean War on retirement plans of Royal Navy personnel.
REEL 12 Continues: professional test of his capabilities in restoring radar to damaged ship; drafting to HMS Royal Arthur, Corsham, 1/1952; field test at HMS Royal Arthur, Corsham, 6/2/1952; hearing of death of King George VI, 6/2/1952; attitude to taking two year mechanician's course; role getting mobile radars working for Operation Castanets; problems of moving radar equipment at Totnes; problems with moving and setting up radar equipment at East Prawle.
REEL 13 Continues: character of Operation Castanets; radio teletype course; Arctic cruise in HMS Vanguard to test radio teletype equipment, 1952; comparing different types of radio teletype. Aspects of drafting to HMS Morecombe Bay, 4th Frigate Sqdn in Hong Kong, 1953: drafting to ship,6/1953; attempt to obtain deferral of drafting; sound work aboard HMT Dilwara; in transit with HMS Defender. Recollections of period as petty officer with HMS Morecombe Bay, 4th Frigate Sqdn in the Far East, Federation of Malaya and Pacific, 1953-1954: joining ship, 8/1953; duties in Formosa Straits, off North and South Korea and Federation of Malaya; memories of Lieutenant Simon Cassels.
REEL 14 Continues: aid given to Royal New Zealand Navy, 1953; problems with fireworks during Christmas celebrations in Hong Kong, 25/12/1953; hospitality from civilians in Hong Kong 26/12/1953; ship's progress during typhoon; arrival in Singapore, Federation of Malaya, 5/1954; attachment to British Army for leave period in Federation of Malaya; guard duties on train from Johore Bahru to Kuala Lumpur; escort guards with 17th/21st Lancers in 1st Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders; shipmates who went out on jungle patrol; disbanding of 4th Frigate Squadron; planned cruise for return to GB; start of cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong, 8/1954.
REEL 15 Continues: role he was given on leaving Sasebo, Japan; relations with United States Navy at Sasebo, Japan; cleaning of ship on arrival at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, United States of America; effect of currency restrictions; commission to renew Captain Cook monument at Kailula Bay, Hawaii Territory, United States of America; sight of 'Sea Chase' film set and meeting with John Wayne and Lana Turner; role of ship's firing party in film; mooring in San Francisco; death of shipmate in road accident in San Francisco, United States of America; hospitality in Los Angeles, United States of America; effects of smog in Los Angeles, United States of America; visit to film studios in Long Beach, United States of America; his work liaising with United States Navy shore patrols in San Diego, United States of America; methods employed by United States Navy shore patrols.
REEL 16 Continues: move to Acapulco, Mexico; contact with American civilians in Acapulco, Mexico; sight of divers at Acapulco, Mexico; political situation in Guatemala; soccer match between HMS Morecombe Bay's crew and Aurora Football Team; amusing incident of streaking which lowered Royal Naval prestige in Guatemala; arrival in West Indies, 12/1954; move to Bermuda, late 12/1954; hurricane danger in Bermuda, 1/1/1955; abortive rescue mission to Royal Canadian Navy cruiser HMCS Quebec; contrast between HMCS Quebec and HMS Morecombe Bay's radar systems, 1/1955.
REEL 17 Continues: effect of hurricane on ship; arrival in Portsmouth; effect on family life of being at sea; inconvenience of ship being in dry dock; his work on E list; letter of recommendation he was given on leaving. Aspects of period as petty officer with HMS Collingwood, Fareham, GB, 1955: attending EVT course with Decca Radar at Tolworth.
REEL 18 Continues: Aspects of demobilisation from Royal Navy, 1955: importance of B13 document; reasons why he didn't sign on for ten years; demobilisation, 7/1955; problems of finding housing; attitude to having served in Royal Navy; Royal Navy Associations he is a member of; work on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) early warning system for Marconi's; officer/petty officer/rating relations in Royal Navy; effect of Second World War on discipline and problem of morale immediately after Second World War.