Description
Object description
British seamen served aboard HMS Anemone, B4 Escort Group in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1/1942-12/1942; trained as officer at HMS King Alfred II, Hove and HMS King Alfred III, Lancing in GB, 12/1942-6/1943; served as officer aboard HMS Duckworth, B3 Escort Group in North Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 8/1943-12/1943; served aboard HMS Newfoundland, 15th Cruiser Sqdn, Home Fleet in United States of America, North Atlantic, GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1/1944-2/1945; served aboard HMS Newfoundland, 4th and 2nd Cruiser Sqdns, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 3/1945-5/1946
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Camberwell and Dulwich, London, GB, 1920-1939: education; awareness of approach of war; parents' military service, 1914-1918; background to volunteering to join Fleet Air Arm, 7/1939; issue of gas masks to civilians; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of period training as naval airman at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 9/1939-12/1939: reception and kitting out; advice from old seamen and enduring naval traditions; origins of recruits; barrack accommodation; hammocks; lectures in aerial navigation; divisions; drill; nature of training; climbing masthead; cutter sailing; aircraft lectures; posting on indefinite leave due to inadequate eyesight. Aspects of period as student at Imperial College London, Kensington, London, GB, 12/1939-6/1941: reaction to situation; fire watching and dealing with German Air Force incendiaries; failing examinations to avoid Reserved Occupation work as chemist; call-up for service with Royal Navy, 9/1942. Recollections of training as seaman at HMS Glendower, Pwllheli, GB, 9/1941-12/1941: advantage of previous service and qualification as CW rating.
REEL 2 Continues: rowing cutter; gunnery and torpedo training; climbing on Mount Snowdon; relations with recruits and instructors; knots and splices; attitude towards British Army; assessment. Aspects of period in Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Barracks, Chatham, GB, 12/1941-1/1942: role as diving boat crew; tobacco fiddle; rum ration; rejection of initial posting; use of tunnel air raid shelters. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMS Anemone, B4 Escort Group in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1/1942-12/1942: journey to Belfast, Northern Ireland; comparison of Roman Catholic and Protestant billets in Northern Ireland; minimal shore duties; kit carried; reception aboard ship; story illustrating character of Commander King; crowded messdeck conditions; mess catering; latrines; rum ration; lookout watch keeping duty on cruising stations; cocoa; watch system.
REEL 3 Continues: off watch duties including painting ship; resupplying ship in harbour; duties on action station as member of depth charge crew; opinion of film 'Cruel Sea' (1953); rolling of corvette and consequent seasickness; attempts to rescue survivors from water; oiling ship; story of bartering with bum boat from Ireland; pet chicken; meeting convoy; sound of asdic set; refit; Hedgehog mortar; composition of convoy escort; advantages of radar; destinations at Halifax, Canada, Argentia and St John's, Newfoundland; nature of operations against German submarines and importance of teamwork.
REEL 4 Continues: return convoys; leave; reaction on returning to base in Belfast, Northern Ireland; washing clothes; personal and ship's morale; reaction to draft for officer training. Recollections of period training at HMS King Alfred II, Hove and HMS King Alfred III, Lancing, GB, 12/1942-6/1943: initial vetting procedure; training; leadership exercises; question of trap to uncover behaviour unbecoming an officer; navigation training; practical ship handling; obtaining uniforms from Gieves Ltd. Aspects of period as officer on navigation course at Royal Naval College, Greenwich, GB, 6/1943: drinking with senior officers; sailing on Thames drifter; news of posting and securing tropical kit; voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from GB to New York, 6/1943.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of standing-by HMS Duckworth at Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, Boston, United States of America Shipyard, 7/1943: initial accommodation at HMS Asbury, Asbury Park, 6/1943; first impressions and question of fire precautions at Fargo Barracks, Boston, 7/1943; role liaising with local American hospitality centre; shortage of pay; question of first two captains; visit to prominent American family; commissioning ceremony for HMS Duckworth, 4/8/1943; sea trials; shared officers' cabin; bridge equipment and role of officer of watch. Recollections of working up trials aboard HMS Duckworth at Bermuda, 8/1943: rough weather, ship's rolling and seasickness; action stations on forward BL 3 Inch Naval Gun; opinion of BL 3 Inch Naval Gun and value of star shell; role as part of overall team; boarding party exercise; seamanship exercises; opinion of various officers including captain Lieutenant-Commander Ronald Mills and Lieutenant Francis Hanning-Lee; role as officer of watch in harbour and at sea including dealing with defaulters.
REEL 6 Continues: officers' club and recreational activities. Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Duckworth, B3 Escort Group in North Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 8/1943-12/1943: story of accidental exchange of fire with SS Blue Jacket during voyage from United States of America to GB, 8/1944; role in charge of mail and confidential books; ammunitioning and supplying ship; lack of social contact with officers form other ships; ship's dance; nature of convoys including boredom, submarine contacts, attempts to pick up survivors and torpedoing of Polish destroyer; personal morale; relations with regular offices and background to leaving ship, 12/1944. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Newfoundland, 15th Cruiser Sqdn in United States of America, North Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 1/1944-8/1945: voyage from GB to New York, United States of America, 12/1943; joining skeleton crew in dry dock at Charleston Navy Yard, Boston; role as officer of watch on quarterdeck; American hospitality and question of crew marriages to American women; state of officers' morale and relations with regular officers.
REEL 7 Continues: uniform and mess protocol at wardroom dinners; officers' drinking habits; role of Royal Marine servant; diplomatic importance of establishing and maintaining friendly relationship with American civilians; move to Norfolk, United States of America, 4/1944; taking aboard British evacuees; celebrations during period at St John's, Newfoundland, 4/1944-5/1944; story of Captain Richard Ravenhill wearing sun glasses; refit on Clydeside, GB, 6/1944-10/1944; period at Scapa Flow, 11/1944; Christmas celebrations at Gibraltar, 25/12/1944; move to Alexandria, Egypt; effects of explosion of torpedo compressed air unit in Mediterranean, 2/2/1945. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Newfoundland, 4th and 2nd Cruiser Sqdns, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 3/1945-5/1946: voyage out to Pacific, 3/1945; bombardment of Truk Atoll, 15/6/1944; action stations as officer of watch keeping log; move into Gulf of Leyte, Philippines; move with task force to Hong Kong; period ashore at Hong Kong including security measures against Chinese pirates; problems with Chinese civilians, shooting accident and state of former British internees and prisoners of war, 1945; reaction to news of atomic bombs being dropped on Japan, 8/1945.
REEL 8 Continues: move into Tokyo Bay, Japan, 31/8/1945; status as senior watch keeping officer; background to move to HMS Swiftsure, 4th Cruiser Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 3/1946; relations with regular officers; role as handicrafts officer arranging recreational activities; crew morale; cruise 'showing the flag' round New Zealand, 11/1945; ashore at Sydney, Australia, 12/1945. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Aire at Hong Kong, 1946: acting command status; Chinese women servant; background to leaving ship.
REEL 8 Continues: voyage back to GB, 10/1946; leave and demobilisation, 11/1946. Post-war life and employment: effects of service with Royal Navy; attending business school course; work prior to establishing career as photographer; membership of naval associations; story of firing 6 Pounder Cannon.
