Interview with John Harrison

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Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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© IWM (21103)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Description

Object description

British petty officer served as ordnance artificer aboard HMS Belfast, 18th Cruiser Sqdn, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 8/1939-11/1939 including mining in Firth Forth, 21/11/1940; chief petty officer served as ordnance artificer aboard HMS Atherstone, 1st Destroyer Flotilla in English Channel and North Sea, 4/1940-8/1940

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian in Farnborough in GB, 1917-1935: memories of Cody Tree; sight of crash of the experimental Tarrant Tabor aircraft, 26/5/1919; sight of death of parachutist; description of Measured Mile; sight of Alan Cobham's Cieva C.19 Autogiro; memories of the Tony Wood-Scawen; enlistment and training with Royal Artillery Mounted Band at Aldershot Garrison, 1935-1936; presence of German prisoners of war at Royal Aircraft Establishment, 1918-1919; participation in Aldershot Tattoo; reasons for leaving army; apprenticeship served with Royal Aircraft Establishment, 1930-1935. Aspects of enlistment and training as ordnance artificer with Royal Navy in GB, 1939: required number of teeth; character of trade test; gun test; recommissioning HMS Curacoa, 1939. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as Petty Officer Ordnance Artificer aboard HMS Belfast, 18th Cruiser Sqdn, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 8/1939-11/1939 including mining in Firth of Forth, 21/11/1940: drafting to cruiser; station on board ship between A Turret and B Turret; description of gun turret; shake down cruise in North Sea, 9/1939; boarding of German liner SS Cap Norte, 9/10/1939; move to duty station in Denmark Strait; incident of escorting drunks back to ship at Scapa Flow, 9/1939; question of sinking of HMS Royal Oak, 14/10/1939; move to Rosyth; memories of mining of HMS Belfast in Forth of Firth, 21/11/1939; problems of attempting to contact wife by telephone after mining; damage that occurred to turret; condition of ship after the mining; contrast between riveted and welded ships; attitude to serving aboard HMS Belfast. REEL 3 Continues: atmosphere on arrival on board ship; role in charge of A and B Turrets; description of wedge pump; repairing of wedge pump in A Turret; sensation when guns fired; ranks on board ship; naval branches; degree of contact between ranks; watch system worked; role of Royal Marines; messing; sleeping arrangements; hygiene and clothing; naval discipline; role of Master-at-Arms and Regulating Branch; rum ration. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of operations as Chief Petty Officer Ordnance Artificer aboard HMS Atherstone, 1st Destroyer Sqdn in English Channel and North Sea, 4/1940-8/1940: character of destroyer; method of checking paravanes; degaussing of ship; effect of eating crab at Weymouth; effect of headaches caused by mining of HMS Belfast; duties on board; hospitalisation for effects of mining of HMS Belfast. Aspects of period as Chief Ordnance Artificer on shore duties in Glasgow, GB, 1940-1945: duties; amusing story of circumstances of meeting with senior officer; continuing interest in gunnery. Reflections on service with Royal Navy: comments of changes in HMS Belfast since 1939 including silhouette and camouflage; reaction to preservation of HMS Belfast; story of dealing with guns oiled with linseed oil. REEL 5 Continues: story of witnessing accident with torpedo aboard French destroyer Maille Breze anchored in the Tail of the Bank, Firth of Clyde off Greenock, GB, 30/4/1940; attitude to having served with Royal Navy and HMS Belfast during Second World War.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
Harrison, John (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2001-03-01
Dimensions: whole: Duration 150, Number Of Items 5
Catalogue number: 21103

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Interview with John Harrison

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HMS Belfast at 80