Maule, John Arthur Carteret (Oral history)

British signalman served aboard HMS Cornwall in Indian Ocean, 1942 including sinking 4/1942; served aboard HMS Hursley, HMS Speedy and HMS Dido in Mediterranean, 1942-1944; served aboard HMS Oribi in Arctic, 1944-1945; served aboard HMS Pevensey Castle in Atlantic, 1945

REEL 1 Background in East Bergholt and New Zealand, 1923- 1939: family; education; reasons for joining Royal Navy, 1939. Memories of training as boy signalman with Royal Navy at Isle of Man, 1939-1941. Aspects of voyage from GB to Singapore on board Athlone Castle, 1941-1942: chance meeting with civilian from East Bergholt in Bombay, 1941; brief period in Singapore, 14/2/1942. Recollections of operations as signalman with HMS Cornwall in Indian Ocean, 1942: drafting to ship at Columbo, 2/1942; his duties on board; memories of Sam Langford; his action stations; retrieving a piece of bunting from masts; accident he had with plate glass in Perth; decoy role of ship, 4/1942. Recollections of sinking of HMS Cornwall, 4/1942: Japanese Air Force attack on ship. REEL 2 Continues: fate of survivors in sea; lack of shark attacks on survivors; clinging to aircraft wheel in sea; use of tinned fruit; ban imposed on singing; rescue by destroyers; removal of survivors to Adu Atoll; hospitality shown to survivors in South Africa; physical state he was in with scorpion bite and oil burns; further details of hospitality shown to survivors in South Africa. Recollections of operations as signalman aboard HMS Hursley in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: drafting to ship; high level Italian Air Force attack in Alexandria; Malta convoy escort duties. Period on shore duties in Malta, 1943: drafting to signal station at St Paul's Bay; sight of surrender of Italian Navy in Malta; Axis air raids on Valetta; narrow escape from submarine sinking. REEL 3 Continues: Story of mining of HMS Speedy off Malta, 1943. Recollections of operations as signalman aboard HMS Dido in Mediterranean, 1944: operating off Anzio; collecting survivors from HMS Spartan; question of deflection of radio controlled bombs from HMS Dido onto HMS Spartan; circling-torpedo menace at Naples and Sorrento; reaction to collision of ship with US liberty ship in Naples harbour. Story of volunteering to drive bus during strike in Portsmouth, 1944. Recollections of operations as signalman aboard HMS Oribi in Arctic, 1944-1945: drafting to ship at Scapa Flow; weather conditions during convoys; impressions of Murmansk; conditions on board ship. Memories of escort duties aboard HMS Pevensey Castle in Atlantic, 1945. Aspects of period with Royal Navy, 1945-1946: preference for sea service to time in barracks; selection for commission; removal from selection course for medical reasons. REEL 4 Continues: discovery that he was dyslexic and consequent transfer to Royal Naval Patrol Service; story of escorting naval prisoner from Glasgow to Wormwood Scrubs Prison; role with skeleton crew taking HMS Nelson to Rosyth; name changing ceremony at Portsmouth Barracks; effects of naval service during Second World War. Reflections on service with Royal Navy during Second World War: dive bombing of HMS Hursley during evacuation of Tobruk, 1942; Japanese Air Force attack on HMS Cornwall, 1942; reasons why HMS Cornwall was his happiest ship. Attitude to having served with Royal Navy in Second World War.