Arthur, John (Oral history)

British ordinary seamen served aboard HMS Anemone operating in North Atlantic, 1942; served as officer aboard HMS Duckworth in Atlantic, 1943; served as officer aboard HMS Newfoundland in Far East, 1944-1945.

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Camberwell and Dulwich, London, 1920-1939: education; awareness of approach of war; parent's military service, 1914-1918; background to volunteering to join Fleet Air Arm, Royal Naval Special Reserve, 7/1939; issue of gas masks to civilians; reaction to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. Recollections of period training as naval airman 2nd class at HMS St Vincent Shore Station, Gosport, Portsmouth, 9/1939-12/1939: reception and kitting out; advice from old seamen and enduring naval traditions; origins of recruits; barrack accommodation; hammocks; lecture sin aerial navigation; divisions; drill; nature of training; climbing masthead; cutter sailing; aircraft lectures; posting on indefinite leave due to inadequate eyesight. Period studying chemistry at Imperial College, Kensington, 12/1939-6/1941: reactions to situation; fire watching and dealing with incendiaries; failing examinations to avoid reserved occupation work as chemist; call up into Royal Navy, 9/1942. Recollections of training at HMS Glendower Shore Station at Pwhelwhi, 9/1941-12/1941: advantage of previous service and qualification as CW rating. REEL 2 Continues: rowing cutter; gunnery and torpedo training; climbing on Snowdon; relationship with recruits and instructors; knots and splices; attitude to army; assessment. Period at Chatham Barracks, 12/1941-1/1942: role as diving boat crew; tobacco fiddle; rum ration; rejection of initial posting; tunnel air raid shelters. Recollections of period as ordinary seaman aboard HMS Anemone, B4 Escort Group based at Londonderry, Northern Ireland, ca 1/1942-12/1942: journey out; comparison of Catholic and Protestant billets; 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; re-supplying ship in harbour; duties on action station as member of depth charge crew; opinion of film 'Cruel Sea'; rolling and consequent seasickness; attempts to rescue survivors from water; oiling ship; story of bartering with bum boat from Eire; pet chicken; meeting convoy; sound of Asdic set; refit; hedgehog spigot mortar; composition of convoy escort; advantages of radar; destinations at Argentia, Halifax and St Johns, Canada; nature of operations against U Boats and importance of teamwork. REEL 4 Continues: return convoys; leave; reactions on returning to base; washing clothes; personal and ship's morale; reaction to draft for officer training. Recollections of period as cadet training at King Alfred Shore Stations at Mowden School, Lancing College and Hove, ca 12/1942-6/1943: initial vetting procedure; training; leadership exercises; question of trap to uncover behaviour unbecoming an officer; navigation training; practical ship handling; uniforms from Gieves Outfitters. Attending navigation course at Greenwich, ca 6/1943: drinking with senior officers; sailing on Thames drifter; news of posting and securing tropical kit. Voyage aboard Queen Mary to New York, ca 6/1943. REEL 5 Period at HMS Asbury Shore Station, Asbury Park, New Jersey, ca 6/1944. Recollections of commissioning HMS Duckworth at Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, 7/1943: initial accommodation in Fargo Barrack; first impressions; question of fire precautions; role liaising with local US hospitality centre; shortage of pay; question of first two captains; visit to prominent US family; commissioning ceremony, 4/8/1943; sea trials; shared officers' cabin; bridge equipment and role of officer of watch. Recollections of working up trials at Bermuda, ca 8/1943: rough weather, ship's rolling and seasickness; action stations on forward 3" gun; opinion of 3" gun and value of star shell; role as part of overall team; boarding party exercise; seamanship exercises; opinion of various officers including Lieutenant Commander Ronnie Mills and Lieutenant Hanning-Lee; role as officer of watch in harbour and at sea including dealing with defaulters. REEL 6 Continues: officers' club and recreation. Story of accidental exchange of fire with US merchantmen Bluejacket during voyage with B3 Escort Group to GB, ca 8/1943. Period based at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 8/1943-12/1943: 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, U Boat contacts, attempts to pick up survivors and torpedoing of Polish destroyer; personal morale; relationship with regular offices and background to leaving ship, 12/1944. Voyage out to New York, 12/1943. Recollections of period aboard HMS Newfoundland, ca 1/1944-8/1945: joining skeleton crew in dry dock at Boston Naval Yard; role as officer of watch on quarterdeck; US hospitality and question of crew marriages to US women; state of officers' morale and relationship 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 US civilians; move to Norfolk, Virginia; taking aboard British evacuees; celebrations during period at St Johns, Newfoundland; story of captain wearing sun glasses; refit on Clydeside; period at Scapa Flow; Christmas celebrations at Gibraltar, 25/12/1944; move to Alexandria, Egypt; effects of explosion of torpedo compressed air unit; voyage out to Far East; bombardment of Truck, New Guinea; action stations as officer of watch keeping log; move into Gulf of Leyte, Philippines; ??? for US office; move with task force to Hong Kong; period ashore in Stanley Bay including security measures against Chinese pirates; problems with Chinese civilians, shooting accident and state of British internees and POWs; reactions to news of atomic bombs being dropped, 8/1945. REEL 8 Continues: reactions to news of atomic bombs being dropped, 8/1945; move into Tokyo Bay; status as senior watch keeping officer; background to move to HMS Swiftsure on arrival of Admiral and his staff, 8/1945. Period aboard HMS Swiftsure, ca 8/1945: relationship with regular officers; prior role as handicrafts officer arranging recreations for crew aboard HMS Newfoundland; crew morale; cruise 'sowing the flag' round New Zealand. Period ashore at Sydney, Australia, ca 8/1945. Period as first lieutenant aboard HMS Aire at Hong Kong, ca 9/1945-10/1945: acting command status; Chinese women servant; background to leaving ship. REEL 8 Voyage back to GB, ca 10/1945. Leave and demobilisation, 11/1945. Post-war career: effects of naval service; attending business school course; work prior to establishing career as photographer; membership of naval associations; story of firing 6pdr cannon.