Interview with John David Latimer Repard

British midshipman served aboard HMS Sheffield, 18th and 10th Cruiser Sqdns in North Sea, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 6/1940-10/1941; officer served aboard HMS Tartar, 6th Destroyer Flotilla in 1942-1943; served aboard HMS Byron, 21st Escort Group in GB coastal waters, North Sea, English Channel and North Atlantic, 1/1944-7/1945; served as Divisional Officer at HMS Ganges, Shotley and HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, GB, 8/1945-11/1947; served aboard HMS Rodney at HMNB Rosyth, 11/1947-1/1948; trained as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, GB, 1/1948-1/1949; served as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer at HMS Osprey, Portland, GB, 1/1949-3/1950; served as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer aboard HMS Battleaxe in GB coastal waters, North Sea, Baltic and Mediterranean, 1950-1952; served as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer instructor at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, GB, 1952-1953; served as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer aboard HMS Superb in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and West Indies, 1/1954-1/1955; served as Mine Counter-Measures Officer at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, GB, 1/1955-1/1957; served as staff officer with Directorate of Naval Intelligence at Admiralty, London, GB, 1/1957-10/1958; served as executive officer aboard HMS Belfast in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Far East, 10/1958-2/1961; served as staff officer with Headquarters, Commander-Chief, Home Fleet, Northwood, GB, 3/1961-3/1963; served as Assistant Director Undersea Warfare with Admiralty, London, GB, 3/1963-4/1966

REEL 1 Recollections of background in London and Bexhill-on-Sea, GB, 1921-1929: mother's Australian origins and theatrical background; father's business career; half-brothers; father's death, 1929; servants; problem with death duties following economic crash. Aspects of period as pupil at Seafield House School for Boys, Bexhill-on-Sea, GB, 1929-1934: corporal punishment; question of bullying; sporting activities. Recollections of period as pupil at Rugby School, Rugby, GB, 1934-1939: uniform; dormitory accommodation; corporal punishment and fagging system; morning routine; quality of teachers; tutor system. REEL 2 Continues: rackets; food and tuck shop; sporting activities; background to joining army class of Officer Training Corps due to intended naval career; question of corporal punishment and treatment of 'fags'; privileges as sportsman; Officer Training Corps training activities including field days; role as sergeant in Air Cadet Force squad, including flight in Hawker Hart and annual camps; evening preparation sessions; health problems; interest in joining Royal Navy; examinations and interview for special entry into Royal Navy, 1939. REEL 3 Continues: story of assisting with pregnant evacuated women on outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of period as cadet at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 9/1939-4/1940: reception and accommodation as older cadets; uniform; digging trenches; drill; seamanship, pilotage and navigation training; gunnery drill; move into college accommodation; story of hitting captain with pillow; presence of Prince Phillip; protest over dance without women; story of failed attempt to photograph meeting between Prince Phillip and Princess Elizabeth; reaction to visit to inspect turret damage aboard HMS Exeter; writing 'last' letter to mother; nature of passing out parade. Recollections of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Sheffield, 18th and 10th Cruiser Sqdns in North Sea, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 6/1940-10/1941: story of being mistaken for steward during train journey north; joining cruiser at Scapa Flow; reception as midshipman; reaction to threat of corporal punishment; role in charge of captain's motorboat and story of failed attempt to charge chief yeoman. REEL 4 Continues: story of failed attempt to charge chief yeoman; competitive flag hoisting exercise; realisation of importance of chief yeoman and chief petty officers; gunroom accommodation and hammock; seasickness; punishment for fishing from ship in Scapa Flow; mess bills; food; morning routine and training; cruising and watch keeping stations illustrating status as midshipman; action station on BL 6 Inch Naval Gun Transmitting Station; action stations on port anti-aircraft defences; instructional lessons received from Lieutenant George Hogben; duties with Northern Patrol between Iceland and Greenland; ignorance of general situation; move into North Sea to protect damaged HMS Kelly, 6/1940; German Air Force attacks in North Sea; move to Immingham; proposed anti-invasion role concentrating against landing craft; story of running aground during patrol in North Sea. REEL 5 Continues: composition of H Force based at Gibraltar; story of sinking of German submarine tanker MV Friedrich Breme in North Atlantic and reaction to sight of German corpses, 12/6/1941; role escorting convoys to Malta including failed attempts to mislead German observers and use of radar direction finding to detect approaching Italian Air Force aircraft; Italian Air Force bombing attacks directed at HMS Ark Royal; attacks by Italian Air Force torpedo bomber aircraft; lack of accuracy attained by anti-aircraft defences; turning back to Gibraltar off Cap Bon, Tunisia; question of German submarine attacks, convoy discipline and casualties; story of clash with Italian Navy surface vessels whilst covering convoy in Mediterranean, 27/11/1940, including changing underclothes, action stations bugle call, forming line ahead, sighting Italian Navy ships, opening fire, flying battle ensign, hits achieved, personal morale and withdrawal to cover convoy; shore bombardment of Genoa, Italy, 8/2/1941; story of running into British minefield during return passage to GB; period in dry dock at Govan, Glasgow including story of detecting espionage at restaurant; robbing of ship's crew whilst ashore in Glasgow and counter-measures; story of locking in sleeping dockyard workers. REEL 6 Continues: responsibility for provoking strike amongst dockyard workers and demarcation between tradesmen; story of intercepting Vichy French convoy off Oran, French Algeria, 30/3/1941 including delayed start, catching convoy, fire received from French coastal batteries, attacks by French Air Force aircraft and subsequent replacement of Captain Charles Larcom; opinion Captain Charles Larcom including amusing story of accident in motorboat during visit to Admiral James Somerville; sailing with Force H to intercept German battleship Bismarck in North Atlantic, 5/1941; leaving destroyers in rough seas; location of German battleship Bismarck by aircraft; shadowing role; sighting German battleship Bismarck; narrow escape from accident torpedo attack by Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish aircraft operating from HMS Ark Royal; failure of torpedo magnetic pistols; sight of Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish torpedo hit on German battleship Bismarck; accuracy of German battleship Bismarck's fire; shell splinters; panicked lookout; situation; arrival of destroyers; role standing ready to pick up ditched Fleet Air Arm aircraft from HMS Ark Royal; difficulties faced by aircraft landing in rough weather; story of friend charged for helping in rescue of German battleship Bismarck's crew from sea; return to Gibraltar; story of leaving ship to take sub-lieutenant's examination whilst at Scapa Flow and subsequent mine damage to HMS Sheffield, 10/1941. REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of training as officer with Royal Navy in GB, 11/1941-5/1942: passing sub-lieutenant examinations, 10/1941; gunnery course at Royal Naval Gunnery School, HMS Excellent, Whale Island; revolver training; torpedo course at HMS Vernon II, Brighton; navigation course at Portsmouth; anti-submarine and asdic course; question of effect of results on seniority. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Tartar, 6th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Arctic, 6/1942-10/1942: joining ship at Kingston upon Hull; story of 21st birthday party in London, 2/6/1942; awareness of bombing casualties in London; visit to theatre in Kingston upon Hull and visit aboard ship of actress Evelyn Laye; opinion of captain Commander St John Tyrwhitt; significance of Tribal Class destroyers and casualties suffered; role as gunnery officer including armament carried, operation of anti-aircraft and surface directors; problem of getting forward to action stations from aft officers' quarters; cabin accommodation; officer's servant; wardroom; drinking habits; bridge games; working up exercises. REEL 8 Continues: participation in Operation Pedestal in Mediterranean, 3/8/1942-15/8/1942 including situation and composition of escort, approaching Cape Bon, Tunisia; massed Axis air attacks; sighting of German submarine and narrow escape from torpedoes; damage to HMS Foresight and HMS Illustrious during Operation Pedestal; taking HMS Forsyth under tow and subsequent problems; threat of Italian Navy cruisers and decision to sink HMS Forsyth, 13/8/1942; return to Gibraltar; attachment to Home Fleet at Scapa Flow; question of court martial of Commander St John Tyrwhitt; story of stealing replacement towing cables; role in escorting Convoy PQ 18 to Murmansk, Soviet Union, 9/1942; awareness of fate of Convoy PQ 17; voyage to Spitzbergen Island, Norway; story of exercise in changing between anti-aircraft and surface directors; refuelling; joining convoy; German Air Force attacks and defensive role of Hawker Hurricane aircraft from escort carrier; rescue of Hawker Hurricane pilot from sea; loss of merchant ships and role of rescue ships; story of problems attempting to sink MV Atholtemplar with depth charges and gunnery, 14/9/1942; difficulties in using asdic in Arctic waters; question of German submarine tactics REEL 9 Continues: how naval escort counter-measures were hampered by fuel shortages during Convoy PQ 18; shadowing of Convoy PQ 18 by German Air Force Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft; arrival at Murmansk, Soviet Union and restrictions on use of motorboats in harbour; story of conversation with drunken Soviet Navy admiral at reception; return with Convoy QP 14; story of torpedoed Tribal Class destroyer floundering in storm and subsequent rescue of captain; weather conditions; anchorage at Reykjavik, Iceland; background to court martial of Commander St John Tyrwhitt at Scapa Flow, GB over sinking of HMS Foresight during Operation Pedestal in Mediterranean, 13/8/1942 including role as representative of 'public' and honourable acquittal; story of Mediterranean Fleet subsequently booing Vice-Admiral Edward Syret who instigated court martial charges. Recollections of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Sheffield, 18th and 10th Cruiser Sqdns in North Sea, North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 6/1940-10/1941: stories illustrating inexperience as officer in handling drunken sailor and bereaved sailor; method of catapult launching Supermarine Walrus aircraft. REEL 10 Continues: story of Supermarine Walrus crashing into HMS Renown; use of catapult and problems faced in retrieving Supermarine Walrus from sea; common superstition over items coloured green; loss of flight of Fairey Swordfish aircraft in sea fog; bombardment by Force H of Genoa, Italy 9/2/1941; subsequent visit to Genoa, Italy. Recollections of operations Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Tartar, 6th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 11/1942-12/1943: fears of intervention by Vichy French Fleet; escorting troopship convoy; role in destroyer screen and disruption caused by storm; shortage of supply and symptoms of scurvy prior to bartering whisky with American service personnel; inexperience of American forces; move to base at Bône, French Algeria; threat from German submarines, aircraft and E-boats; successful gunnery tactics employed against German Navy E-boat; destruction of vessels evacuating German forces from Tunisia; story of death of German prisoners of war killed in anti-aircraft incident; story of preventing attack on landing craft during flight in United States Army Air Force Martin B-26 Marauder; story of possibility of having to bail out in action during flight in Royal Air Force Bristol Beaufighter. REEL 11 Continues: periods attached to main fleet based at Gibraltar; importance of station keeping whilst following zig-zag course; harbour exercises and patrols; reputation of ship; story of collecting Commander St John Tyrwhitt from fancy dress party illustrating his popularity with crew; story of evasive actions from German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 whilst acting as second pilot during anti-submarine sweep aboard HMS Anson; friendship with Lieutenant Rae McKaig and his invention of release method for Carley Float; story of returning late aboard ship after night out with Lieutenant John Lake; reaction to letter announcing marriage of girlfriend; story of riding run away horse during visit ashore to French Resistance group near Algiers, French Algeria; sailing trip at Bône, French Algeria; visits ashore at Gibraltar; story of asking out popular Women's Royal Naval Service Wren for date; drinking habits; story of visit to brothel in Algiers, French Algeria; story of restraining drunken office firing his revolver in wardroom. REEL 12 Continues: story of being attacked by sailor frequently disciplined for drunkenness; relations with officer's servant; story of being unsuccessfully attacked by homosexual officer; nightmares and personal morale; improving situation as Allied armies advanced; operations off Pantelleria Island, 6/1943 including situation, shore bombardment and United States Army Air Force bombing; surrender of garrison on Pantelleria Island; attacks by German Air Force Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft and case of Oerlikon 20mm Cannon gunner deserting post; period in rest camp at Malta; degree of preparations for Operation Husky; attending briefing conference. REEL 13 Continues: rendezvous with troop convoy; plan for Operation Husky; sight of gliders dropping into sea off Sicily, Italy, 7/1943; escorting landing craft during Operation Husky, 7/1943; firing at Italian Army searchlights; landings; expectation of air attacks; sight of German Air Force bombing and sinking of hospital ship HMHS Talamba off Syracuse, Sicily, Italy, 10/7/1943; difficulty in rescuing survivors; state and unloading of survivors; narrow escape from German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 attack whilst refuelling from oil tanker; shooting down of two German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 and deliberate shooting of ditched aircrew; trip ashore to get stores from Augusta, Sicily, Italy; situation and story illustrating officer's loss of nerve; foraging for fruit; role escorting monitor HMS Roberts; story of ambush by German Navy E-boats whilst engaging railway gun; role of bombardment liaison officer; firing at coastal railway lines on Italian mainland; reaction to news of Italian capitulation; German Air Force guided glider bombs and question of counter-measures off Salerno, Italy, 9/1943; sight of German forces' counter-attacks at Salerno, Italy, 9/1943. REEL 14 Continues: firing on German forces' counter-attacks from position close inshore and return fire; effects of naval bombardment; effects of German Air Force attacks on Allied destroyers; contrast in anti-aircraft barrages and aimed fire; Italian yachts; effects of fatigue; ship's morale; period at Malta, 9/1943-10/1943 including reaction to surrender of Italian Fleet; damage to ship and scale of ammunition expenditure; return for refit at Devonport, GB, 10/1943; story of ship nearly capsizing without proper ballast in storm; mail; visit from family and friendships with Women's Royal Naval Service personnel; story of Commander St John Tyrwhitt engagement to wealthy heiress; visit from brother; newspaper articles on ship; end of commission and death in action of replacement. Recollections of operations as first lieutenant to HMS Byron, 21st Escort Group in GB coastal waters, North Sea, English Channel and North Atlantic, 1/1944-7/1945: circumstances of appointment to frigate at Sheerness, GB, 1/1944; story of fight amongst liberty men illustrating lack of discipline; meeting with Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Southcombe. REEL 15 Continues: irregular watch keeping routine and inadequate chief bosun's mate; methods employed in re-establishing discipline; irregularities in wardroom books and necessity of lending Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Southcombe money to clear his messbills; opinion of Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Southcombe; reactions to increased level of discipline and ship's morale; welded construction of frigate; question of ship's stability and rolling; increasing top weight carried to counter rolling; hard lying allowance; cabin accommodation and bunks; wardroom; rations; drinking habits; armament including BL 3 Inch Naval Guns, depth charges and Hedgehog Mortar; role of asdic; prior anti-submarine courses and exercises; asdic equipment. REEL 16 Continues: bridge, plotting room and chart room; difficulties in engaging surfaced German submarines; role of high frequency direction finding wireless sets; importance of technology in anti-submarine warfare; steam turbine engines and speed; messdecks; cafeteria messing system; minimal anti-aircraft defences; question of competence of officers; question of appearance of ship; sight of parts of Pipe Line Under The Ocean (PLUTO) and Mulberry Harbour; danger of German E-boats; degaussing against magnetic and acoustic mines; role as decoy force in English Channel during D-Day landings, 6/6/1944; relations with Lieutenant Commander Raymond Hart and Lieutenant Peter Kershaw of HMS Conn; visits ashore and relations with civilians in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Women's Royal Naval Service personnel's role working on maintaining ship's equipment. REEL 17 Continues: award of Distinguished Service Cross for prior service aboard HMS Tartar; changes in nature of naval war after D-Day and development of anti-submarine sweeps; problems of identifying genuine asdic submarine contacts and identifying 'kills'; convoy to Murmansk, Soviet Union, 10/1944, including absence of action on voyage out, restrictions of seaman going ashore and taking over command after Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Southcombe's attack of appendicitis, 11/1944; serious head injury to medical officer after he was thrown into sea whilst transferring form HMS Redmill in bad weather, decision to treat Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Southcombe with sulphomanide drugs, 11/1944; story of fainting during Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Southcombe's appendectomy operation on return to Belfast, Northern Ireland, 11/1944; question of promotion to command ship and rejection as too young; opinion of new captain Lieutenant John Burfield; collision with HMS Tanatside, 12/1944, including investigating damage in bow area, necessity of shoring up bulkheads and subsequent dry dock repairs. REEL 18 Continues: anti-submarine sweeps in Minches, North Atlantic; difficulty in identifying and interpreting submarine asdic contacts; identification and sinking of German submarine U-722 in Minches, North Atlantic, 27/3/1945; question of confirmation of 'kill'; sinking of German submarine U-1001 in North Atlantic, 8/4/1945; torpedoing of HMS Redmill off Sligo Bay, Ireland, 27/4/1945; reports of necessity of medical officer lethally injecting stokers trapped below waterline on HMS Redmill; taking surrender of German submarine at Loch Eriboll, GB, 5/1945 including boarding party routine, reaction of German submariners to hoisting of White Ensign above German flag and confiscation of drinks; question of getting drinks through customs at Belfast, Northern Ireland; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; question of appointment to Far East; compassionate leave; speaking tour of factories to promote war effort. Recollections of period as Boys' Divisional Officer, Drake Division, HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 8/1945-10/1947: reopening as boys training establishment; origins of boy recruits; marriage, 1947; sporting activities; foreskin examination of boys; complaint over boys' confessions to chaplain; mast drill. REEL 19 Continues: mast drill and story of boy losing nerve; syllabus including signalling and swimming; discharge of boy on medical grounds; role as divisional officer including question of corporal punishment and importance competitive approach; organisation of dance for boys; digging snow on blocked roads; question of stealing amongst boys and self-policing; sporting activities; period as temporary Divisional Officer at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, GB, 10/1947-11/1947; appointment to HMS Rodney at HMNB Rosyth, GB, 11/1947-1/1948. Aspects of period attending torpedo and anti-submarine course at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, GB, 2/1948-1/1949: question of syllabus including unnecessary technical knowledge; mathematics course; encouragement of independent thinking and story of giving lecture to senior officer; story of officer disciplined for practical joke and his eventual release to compete in 1948 Olympics in London. REEL 20 Continues: story of officer's serious accident whilst conducting trials disrupted by sharks; diving course and story of getting into difficulties during test dive in Portsmouth Harbour. Aspects of period as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer at HMS Osprey, Portland, GB, 1/1949-3/1950: practical asdic exercises at sea using submarines; story of near collision with submarine surfacing without warning; dispute over presentation of tactical paper; married accommodation; dispute over driving car in dockyard; story of royal visit; birth of second child. Recollections of period as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer aboard HMS Battleaxe in GB coastal waters, North Sea, Baltic and Mediterranean, 1950-1952: joining ship at Portsmouth, 3/1950; role as squadron Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer; use of Squid and Limbo depth charge projectors; low frequency asdic; passive detection sound listening devices; torpedoes. REEL 21 Continues: summer cruise with Home Fleet, 1950, including exercises with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ships, amusing stories of visits with Admiral Philip Vian in Norway and visit to Copenhagen, Denmark; aspects of autumn cruise to Northern Ireland and Mediterranean, 1950; exercises and visits ashore during spring cruise in Mediterranean, 1951; Festival of Britain cruise around GB, 1951, including visit to coalmine, flight in Hawker Sea Fury, visit to Stornaway and Isle of Skye; purchase of home at Lee-on-Solent. REEL 22 Continues: Recollections of period as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer instructor at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, 1952-1953: preparations; story of issuing challenge and sporting contest designed to improve relationship with gunnery officers of Royal Naval Gunnery School at HMS Excellent, Whale Island; story of successful infiltration, assassination and sabotage activities during security exercise; role organising Very Important Person (VIP) landing stage during fleet review; hospitalisation on contracting polio in Royal Hospital Haslar, 8/1953-9/1953; convalescence. Recollections of period as officer with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation team analysing results of Exercise Mariner in GB, France and United States of America, 1953: presenting results at conference at Versailles, France; story of night out in Paris, France. REEL 23 Continues: presenting results at conference at Royal Naval College, Greenwich; reporting results to conference at Norfolk, United States of America; story of nearly choking due to after effects of polio; offer of post by United States Navy admiral and attachment to United States Navy naval exercise; story of back injury and problems with air flights which prevented attendance at United States Navy naval exercise; exercises main lesson in importance of co-operation between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members; mixed nationality of team; necessity of passing medical prior to further sea appointment. Aspects of period as Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer aboard HMS Superb in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and West Indies, 1/1954-1/1955: relations with fellow officers; presence of godson as seaman on board; visit to Tangiers, Morocco; childrens' party; visit to polio victim; tennis activities; visit to West Indies; flight in United States Navy airship used in anti-submarine exercise; hunting trip; opinion of ship's captain and his drinking habits; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1954. REEL 24 Continues: stories of problems with drunken crew as duty officer, 25/12/1954; promotion to lieutenant commander, 1/1955; stories of visits ashore at Jamaica; story of role in defusing unexploded torpedo on beach at Bermuda; role as entertainments officer; visit to family of murder victim at Nassau; visit to millionaire's house; story of promotion party at Bermuda. Recollections of period as Mine Counter-Measures Officer at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, GB, 1/1955-1/1957: composition of team; rejection of new minesweeper class during acceptance trials due to problems with diesel engines, construction faults and failure of magnetic sweeps on detonation of mines. REEL 25 Continues: prior recollection of problems during mission to collect President William Tubman of Liberia from Haiti whilst aboard HMS Superb, 1954; background to death of Lieutenant Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb whilst investigating propellers of Soviet Navy cruiser Ordzhonikidze in Portsmouth Harbour, 19/4/1956; increasing sophistication of mine warfare; trials in use of divers to deal with pressure mines in Portsmouth Harbour; trials and reasons for rejection of Jacques Cousteau's air breathing equipment; nature of HMS Vernon; childrens' parties; sporting activities; story of objection made during family wedding; providing commentary for 'Convoy Night Action' display during Royal Tournament. Recollections of period as Commander (Procurement), Directorate of Naval Intelligence, Admiralty at Citadel, Horse Guards Parade, London, GB, 1/1957-10/1958: reception and reaction of friends; role and question of security. REEL 26 Continues: intelligence sources including Government Communications Centre and naval attaches; Soviet entrapment of predecessor working unofficially in espionage; story of organising successful joint service operation to discover frequency of new Soviet gunnery radar; United States Air Force spy plane photographs and awareness of Soviet programme of naval expansion; story of being duped during miniature camera exercise during course with MI6; concern over behaviour of secretary. Recollections of period as executive officer aboard HMS Belfast in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Far East, 10/1958-2/1961: ongoing refit on joining cruiser at Devonport, GB, 10/1958-8/1959; initial accommodation ashore; role monitoring dockyard work and deadlines; story of dealing with contracted Chinese cooks and laundry staff who arrived prior to ship's commissioning; commissioning service, 5/1959; opinion of Captain John Wilkinson; arrival of crew; working up trials; role prosecuting in court martial of homosexuals; concern over security of silver ship's bell; heeling trials to test stability; seasickness during search for ditched aircraft. REEL 27 Continues: responsibility for seaman branch; organising 'Crossing the Line' ceremony to entertain civilian visitors during Navy Day; family cruises; send off, 8/1959; role in welfare cases of seamen with reasons to avoid overseas service; story of winning heaving line competition at Gibraltar, 9/1959; treatment of defaulters; cabin accommodation on 'B' gun deck; role of Chinese steward and cook; officers' wardroom facilities; officers' drinking habits and food rations; exercises and naval regatta at Malta; meeting Vice-Admiral St John Tyrwhitt; stories illustrating nature of relationship with Captain John Wilkinson and effects on naval career of his adverse report; officers' beard growing competition; Egyptian conjurors taken on board whilst passing through Suez Canal, Egypt; situation at Aden, Aden Protectorate; question of air conditioning and effects of hot weather; ships armament and lack of anti-submarine equipment. REEL 28 Continues: recreational activities and training; period in dry dock at Singapore, Federation of Malaya; securing supply of polish to improve ship's outward appearance as flagship; visit ashore in Singapore, Federation of Malaya; visits ashore and role liaising with rubber planters in Federation of Malaya; relations with Admiral Varyl Begg; refuelling from tanker in rough seas during voyage to Hong Kong; employment of parties of Chinese women to clean and paint ship including story of visit to house boat of Chinese organisers and payment in rights to ship's rubbish; reads letter from Chinese servant to wife; joke card circulating amongst crew; Chinese advertisements thrown aboard ship; aspects of visit to Vishakhapatnam, India, 1/1960, including dysentery amongst crew caused by polluted water supply, visit to local club and story of shooting party on lake; composition of South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and exercise off Ceylon including question of relationship between Indian and Pakistani naval officers; alcohol permits required on shore in India. REEL 29 Continues: question of relationship between Indian and Pakistani naval officers; 'Crossing the Line' ceremony; roles of Engineer Commander Frank Thornton, Paymaster Commander Arthur Webb and Electrical Commander John Holgate; stories of trip ashore at Macau; visit to Fremantle, Australia; albatrosses following ship; visit ashore on Tasmania, Australia; move to Sydney, Australia; contacts with Royal Australian Navy; efforts to contact mother's family; dance performance by Bathurst islanders during visit to Darwin, Australia; return to Singapore; voyage statistics; living ashore during period in dry dock; contacts with family in GB; story of encounter with sea snake. REEL 30 Continues: visits to front line on River Imjin, South Korea; story of entertaining drunken American officer during visit to United States Navy base at Philippines; visit to Hong Kong; civil disturbances during visit to Imperial Palace, Tokyo; visits to women's theatre, bath house, rock gardens, pearl cultivator and china factories in Japan; boiler cleaning in dry dock at Singapore, Federation of Malaya; stories of holiday with wife at Penang, Federation of Malaya. REEL 31 Continues: relations with family of Chinese millionaire; question of ship beer supply; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1960; relationship with crew illustrated by quotes from 'Belfast Bugle'; story of crew contributing to lottery to pay bill he technically incurred for rescue of sick Chinese crew member by United States Navy helicopter; overheating of ship during trials of modifications for nuclear and chemical warfare; illustration of naval and political role of ship at Taiwan and Indonesia; inadequacy of ship for modern warfare; stories of social night out with ship's commanders; handover to new captain and crew; flight back to GB; question of customs treatment of seamen returning from overseas commission with presents for families, 1/1961. Recollections of period as staff officer with with Headquarters, Commander-Chief, Home Fleet, Northwood, GB, 3/1961-3/1963: securing rented accommodation and married quarters; relations with Royal Air Force personnel; problems with relations with French military personnel in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; role as press officer in organising coverage of anti-submarine exercises. REEL 32 Continues: requirement to accept accredited press; security problems over presence of Soviet 'journalists' and 'trawlers' during anti-submarine exercises; role analysing North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Exercise Dawn Breeze in Mediterranean and successful intervention of Admiral Philip Vian following lack of co-operation of French Navy officers attempting to cover their poor performance; story of dinner aboard French Navy ship; story of losing trousers whilst transferring from ship to ship during exercise; question of status as press officer and relations with Soviet journalists; personal security measures; review of development of anti-submarine warfare, 1939-1945; story of capture of spy attempting to secure anti-submarine secrets; post-war developments in anti-submarine warfare; nature of underground headquarters at Northwood; reaction to being passed over for promotion to captain. REEL 33 Continues: Recollections of period as Assistant Director Undersea Warfare with Admiralty, Old Admiralty Building, Whitehall, London, GB, 3/1963-4/1966: loss of married quarters and rented accommodation in St Albans; role; trip to Canada to investigate speed potential of hydrofoils as counter to speed of nuclear submarines; relations with Deputy Director Captain Iwan Raikes and Director Vice-Admiral Edward Poland; question of influence of Solly Zuckermann as political advisor in allocation of resources; background to choice of De Havilland Comet as anti-submarine aircraft; controversy over policy of island bases, their vulnerability to nuclear strike and support of mobile task force policy; background to resignations of First Lord of Admiralty and First Sea Lord, 1964; story illustrating attitude of staff officers to resignations; success of mobile task force policy; paperwork and importance of preparing answers to parliamentary questions; inter-service-relationships and attitude to overall defence policy; procedure for allocation of resources; daily routine; question of release date and pensions policy. REEL 34 Continues: reactions to change from Admiralty to Ministry of Defence (Navy) and move to Ministry of Defence Building. Post-service career: necessity of finding employment; initial problems in defining civilian skills; value of naval experience in conducting review of working methods and developing computer training programme during career with Kodak; stories of visits to United States of America; story of discovery of gift of healing and establishment of Confederation of Healing Organisations; membership of Arctic Convoy Club and resignation over question of special medal award; membership of Captain Class Frigate Association.