Lester, George Leslie (Oral history)

British boy seaman trained at HMS St George, GB, 1940-1942; boy telegraphist served aboard HMS Nelson in Mediterranean, 1942-1943; telegraphist served aboard HMS Kingsmill 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 on Stonecutter's Island, Hong Kong, 1946-1948 and in GB, 1948-1952; petty officer served aboard HMS Morecombe Bay in Far East, Malaya and Pacific, 1953-1955

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1925-1939: family; education; move from Torquay to Richmond; interest in Royal Navy. Period as cadet with T S 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 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; 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 in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: drafting to ship at Greenock; problems encountered in joining ship at Greenock; start of watch keeping duties; role of ship as heavy escort to North African convoy; loss of seaman crushed by counterbalance of gun turret; disposal of pith helmets overboard at Freetown; 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, 8/1942; lack of air in wireless transmission office during action stations; under German Air Force attack and loss of HMS Foresight, 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 Cunningham's interest in work of wireless transmission office, 11/1942; wait off Toulon during German take over of southern France, late 1942; effect of killing of Admiral Darlan, 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 US Navy in Mediterranean, 11/1942; method of relief signaller taking over watch during long US Navy signals; use of Port Wave; Christmas period in Gibraltar, 1942-1943; move to Algiers, 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, 7/1943; Italian Air Force torpedo attack on HMS Indomitable, 7/1943; promotion to ordinary telegraphist; bombardment of Reggio di Calabria. 9/1943; role during Salerno landings; 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: draft 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 off Normandy, 6/1944-8/1944: move to positions off Juno Beach, 6/6/1944; sight of Flores bombarding shore, 6/6/1944; problems with weather during Great Storm, 6/1944. REEL 7 Continues: rigging aerials; role as control ship after damage to 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; descriptions of German Linz explosive motor boats; Junkers JU 88 attacks on ship and shooting down of one; work of German linguist and character of morse transmitted by German operator; Hawker Typhoon attacks on Britomart; ending of ship's role off Normandy. Period on shore duties in GB, 1944-1945: move to HMS Mastodon; course at HMS Mercury; security of draft with Royal Marines. Aspects of period with HMS Franconia in Black Sea during Yalta conference, 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; communications arrangements at Yalta; sight of Roosevelt; conditions in Sevastopol; sight of Russian commissar; contact with Russian troops; return to GB via Malta, 1945. Period as telegraphist with 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 Kings 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 in Ceylon, Hong Kong and GB, 1945-1949: draft to Columbo, Ceylon; learning to touch type morse; question of speed of demobilisation in Royal Navy; problems caused by loss of radio and radar specialists; posting to Stonecutter's Island, Hong Kong. REEL 9 Continues: communications equipment employed; occasion when land lines to Stonecutter's Island was cut by coolie'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 Stonecutter's Island. Recollections of Voyage from Hong Kong to GB aboard HMT Lancashire, 1948: background to embarking aboard troopship; accommodation in HMS Terror in Singapore; 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; problems with water supply; arrival in Liverpool and passing through Customs, 11/9/1948. Recollections of period on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 1948-1952: leave arrangements; radar conversion course at HMS Collingwood. REEL 11 Continues: question of promotion; fault finding on different types of radar equipment; completion of course, 1949; drafting to gunnery school at HMS Excellent; target indication work at radar establishment at Wisley; target indication practice at Berwick during Bass Rock trials; details of radar system used at 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 Prince Arthur, 1/1952; field test at HMS Prince Arthur, 6/2/1952; hearing of death of George the Sixth, 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 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 in the Far East, Malaya and Pacific, 1953-1954: joining ship, 8/1953; duties in Formosa Straits, off Korea and 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, 5/1954; attachment to British Army for leave period in Malaya; guard duties on train from Johore Bahru to Kuala Lumpur; escort guards with 17th/21st Lancers in Cameron Highlanders; shipmates who went out with Middlesex Regt 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 US Navy at Sasebo; cleaning of ship on arrival at Pearl Harbor; effect of currency restrictions; commission to re-new Captain Cook monument at Kalikuala Bay; 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; hospitality in Los Angeles; effects of smog in Los Angeles; visit to film studios in Long Beach; his work liaising with US Navy shore patrols in San Diego; methods employed by US Naval shore patrols. REEL 16 Continues: move to Acapulco, Mexico; contact with US civilians in Acapulco; sight of divers in Acapulco; political situation in Guatemala; soccer match between HMS Morecombe Bay's crew and Aurora; 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 Canadian 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. Period as petty officer with HMS Collingwood, 1955: attending EVT course with Decca Radar at Tolworth. REEL 18 Continues: Aspects of demobilisation from Royal Navy, 1955: importance of B 13 document; reasons why he didn't sign on for ten years; demobilisaton, 7/1955; problems of finding housing; attitude to having served in Royal Navy; Royal Navy Associations he is a member of; work on 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.