Ayers, Ron (Oral history)

British electrical artificer served aboard HMS Calder in North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Western Approaches, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Windsor, 1919-1934: family military connections; brother's naval career; education; developing interest in navy; training with Cadet Corps; sporting activities; passing examination to enter Royal Navy as artificer apprentice, 1934. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during training as artificer at HMS Fisgard, Chatham, 1934-1937: organisation into classes; medical examination; kitting out; artificer career structure; barrack accommodation; daily march to ST Mary's Island; food rations; pay; muster parade; modification made by artificers to their caps; daily march to Mechanical Training Establishment, St Mary's Island; nature of practical training with hammer, chisel and file; theoretical training; workshop; lunch; PT in gymnasium. REEL 2 sporting activities; relationship with officers and civilian instructors; naval discipline and pride in personal appearance; recreations; relationship with apprentices; canteen; role of senior apprentices; trade test as fitter; training as lathe turner; types of artificer; hospitalisation with rugger injury and consequent dismissal from RN owing to misdiagnosis of kidney problems; reactions; decision to abandon work as fitter. Period in Windsor and Iver Heath, 1937-1939: review of qualifications and career as electrical engineer with electrical manufacturing company in Slough. REEL 3 Continues: reactions to civilian lifestyle; approach of war; registration under Military Services Act, 4/1939; medical and reactions to posting to Royal Naval Special Reserve; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; status as reserved occupation and rejection of army call up; reactions to sinking of HMS Hood; role designing azimuth motor used in gyroscopic compass; German aerial bombing raids; training with Iver Heath Home Guard, 5/1940-12/1941, including equipment, rifle training, patrols, age range and question of First World War veterans; negotiating with Admiralty inspector to secure readmission as Electrical Artificer into RN and call up, 2/1942. Period at Chatham, ca 2/1942-6/1942: trade test and refresher course as fitter. Period training as Electrical Artificer at HMS Vernon, Brighton, ca 6/1942-1/1943: relevance of training; use of direct current on British warships; marriage, 10/1942; minimal torpedo training ; varying role of EA. REEL 4 Continues: qualification as petty officer EA. Period at Chatham Barracks, 1/1943-3/1943: visit by George VI; electrical workshop duties; tannoy announcement of draft to DE 58; train journey to Clyde. Voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth to New York, 3/1943: cabin; effects of storm; first impressions of New York. Period at HMS Asbury, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 3/1943: US food rations; background to US production of destroyer escorts for RN; course in Sperry gyroscopic compass in Brooklyn Attending course in engines at Turbo Electric School, Syracuse, ca 3/1943-4/1943: changing role of EA with electric engines; hospitality and isolated perspective of US civilians; turbine engine layout and controls; division of responsibility with Engine Room Artificers; possible damage to electric turbines by depth charges and possible repairs; prior absence of electrical propulsion in RN. Period standing by HMS Calder at Bethlehem Steelyard, Hingborne, Boston, 4/1943-8/1943: familiarisation; accommodation; 'Macnamara's Band theme tune. REEL 5 Continues: visit to New York whilst at Asbury Park; visits to Boston and Philadelphia; first impressions of HMS Calder and Buckley Class Destroyer Escorts including spacious messdecks, bunk beds, extra facilities, welded construction, question of rolling, nature as 'dry' ships; composition of key party; responsibility as EA for electric turbine engine; role of torpedo gunner's mate and his inability to cope with alternating current power supply; identification of electrical fittings and cabling; damage control arrangements; role of Eas; opinion of various officers including Lieutenant Commander A D White, Lieutenant Jimmy Davidson, Chief Engineer Bill Leech, Sub Lieutenants Chris Eason and Gordon Pattinson and Midshipman John Huckle. REEL 6 Continues: role of Huckle as anti-submarine officer; hand over of HMS Formoe and formal commissioning as HMS Calder, 15/7/1943; arrival of crew; initial period in Seaman Petty Officers' mess; role of seamen petty officers; review of ship's armament including guns, depth charges and spigot hedgehog mortar; acceptance trials and manoeuvrability; question of speed required from escorts; deguassing procedure at Charlestown Naval Yard cooperation of US naval personnel; use of US working uniform. Recollections of working up exercises based at St George's Harbour, Bermuda, 9/1943: sea sickness and problems with gyroscopic compass during hurricane on way out; nature of HMS Mallabar shore stations. REEL 7 Continues anti-submarine exercises; change of action station to flag deck and then bridge crew; damage control exercises; abandon ship exercise; leaving harbour due to hurricane warning; story of acting as petty officer in charge of shore patrol and problems with Canadian sailors on ferry; visits ashore; voyage to Norfolk, Virginia. Voyage escorting HMS Victorious and slow convoy to Liverpool, 9/1943. Period refitting at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 9/1943-11/1943: official photograph taken at Liverpool; leave and loss of time travelling; failure of cafeteria messing system; introduction of RN messing system; modifications to ship; move into ERA Mess and role of ERAs; visits ashore, drinking habits and friendship with Senior Asdic Operator Fred Wilkinson. REEL 8 Continues: question of VD rates; anti-submarine exercises; wives' visit. Recollections of operations with 4th Destroyer Escort Group in Bay of Biscay, 11/1943: joining SL 139 Convoy, 21/11/1943; role sweeping to rear of convoy; Heinkel 177 air attack and close escape from glider bomb; identifying electrical fault caused by detonation; question of use of tracer to disrupt glider bombs guidance system; move to support OMS 20 Convoy; refuelling at Azores; joining SL 140 Convoy; failed attack by escort on U Boat; engine room problems caused by depth charges and assignment to inner screen; continuous period at action stations; effects of depth charges; assisting on depth charge telephone on bridge; nature of fighting and U Boat use of acoustic torpedoes; question of fatigue; reputation of Captain Johnny Walker; personal morale; return to Belfast; question of relationship between crews of 4th DEG; relationship with shore and dockyard personnel. REEL 9 Continues: personnel and crew morale following first active service. Recollections of escorting KMF Convoys to Naples, Italy, 12/1943-10/1944: loss of contact with convoy in bad weather; view of liners in convoy; handing over convoy at Algiers owing to lack of effective anti-aircraft guns; Christmas celebrations and visit to officers' wardroom, 25/12/1943; expansion of escort to counter threat from German destroyers escorting blockade runner; route; shipboard daily routine and duties; diversions to escort ships and taking injured sailors into harbour; problems with HMS Bentinck engine shaft; changing composition of convoys; importance of convoys; opinion of Commander Evelyn Chavasse and Commander Garwood; first impressions of Naples. REEL 10 Continues: initial state of Naples; recreations during shore visits; black market; Mount Vesuvius eruption; entering whaler race in naval regatta; personal reaction to Mediterranean service; question of leave; periods at Pollock Dock, Belfast; question of applying for commission, rejection on application for Electrical Commission and promotion to Electrical Artificer III (Chief Petty Officer). Anti-submarine patrols in North West Approaches, 11/1944-5/1945: situation; patrols off Cape Clear, 11/1944; patrols off Cape Wrath and Pentland Firth, 12/1945; account of sinking of U 1051 off Holyhead, 26/1/1945, including sailing at top speed to assist torpedoed HMS Manners, box search pattern to gain sonar contact and problems with wrecks disturbing sonar, contact confirmed by use of echo sounder pattern. REEL 11 Continues: account of sinking of U 1051 off Holyhead, 26/1/1945, including problems in using echo sounder, successful hedgehog mortar attack, opening fire with 3" guns on surfaced U Boat and question of action of HMS Aylmer in ramming and sinking U Boat; opinion of Lieutenant Jimmy Davidson in role as acting captain during KMF Convoy, 1944 including close escape when HMS Bentinck dragged her anchor in Naples harbour and disputes over technical matters; opinion of Lieutenant Commander Edward Payne and story of dispute over fixing light to bridge stool; account of sinking of U 774 off South West Ireland, 8/4/1945, including U Boat alert, successful use of depth charges, attitude to German U boat crew; question of policy in awarding medals to lookout; VE Day celebrations in Lisborne, 8/5/1945; escorting Russian convoy and return from refit from off Norwegian, 5/1945. Conversion of ship into landing control ship, 5/1945: leave in Slough, 5/1945-6/1945; VJ Day, 8/1945; situation, 8/1945-10/1945. Return to Brooklyn, US, 10/1945: leaving ship on hand over; return on Queen Mary to Southampton. Period at Chatham Barracks, 11/1945: cancelled postings; privileges as CPO. REEL 12 Continues: privileges as CPO. Period aboard HMS Caledonia Shore Station at Rosyth, 11/1945-3/1946: role aboard HMS Blencathyr; accommodation aboard steamer; lave; background to decision not to take commission in Electrical Branch. Demobilisation from Chatham Barracks, 3/1946. Post-war career: return to work as sales engineer with electrical manufacturers; question of status as ex-serviceman and effects of war service; subsequent career in electrical industry; work in Trade Associations; interest in US DE service and lack of recognition from Admiralty; background to membership of HMS Calder and Captains Class Assoc, 1994-2001