Interview with Alan Miller

British seaman served aboard HMS Carlisle, 1st Anti-Aircraft Sqdn in Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Norway, 12/1939-12/1940; officer served aboard HMS Killingholme in Humber Estuary, GB, 1941-1943; served aboard HMS Erebus in Mediterranean and English Channel, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1913-1939: family; education at Hull Grammar School; employment. Aspects of period with Humber Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in GB, 1939: joining division, early 1939; training at Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, 8/1939; conditions in Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, 8/1939; reasons for lack of seamanship skills amongst Humber Division. Recollections of operations as seaman with HMS Carlisle in Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Norway, 9/1939-12/1940: joining ship at Devonport, GB; move to Malta; gunnery practice in Mediterranean; action station in the director; living conditions on board ship. REEL 2 Continues: return to GB; German Air Force attacks whilst ferrying French Army troops to Aandalsnes, Norway; opinion of Captain Gerald Langley's handling of ship; evacuation of troops from Namsos, Norway; move to Indian Ocean; sight of captured Italian submarine by trawler HMT Moonstone; repairs to turbine in Ceylon; leave in Diyatalawa; leaving ship to return to GB for officer training, 12/1940. Aspects of period of officer training in GB, 1941: concern for family in Kingston upon Hull during his service at sea; disruption of telephone traffic during German Air Force raids; reasons for moving family to Brighton as he trained at HMS King Alfred III, Lancing College. Recollections of period as officer aboard HMS Killingholme in Humber Estuary, GB, 1941-1942: character of depot ship for delivering kite balloons to merchant ships; use of tenders ply between ship and merchant ships. REEL 3 Continues: incident when coaster with balloon attached cut electricity cable crossing Humber Estuary; arming of balloon cables; attitude towards lack of danger in his job; German Air Force minelaying activities in River Humber; applying for gunnery course at HMS Excellent, Royal Naval Gunnery School at Whale Island. Aspects of voyage aboard HMS Sussex from GB to South Africa, 1943: problems sinking German blockade runner in South Atlantic; failure to join HMS Birmingham in Cape Town. Recollections of operations as officer with HMS Erebus in Mediterranean and in English Channel off Normandy, France, 1943-1945: description of monitor; reasons why German Air Force had problems attacking monitor; passing through glider wreckage off Sicily, Italy, 7/1943; bombardment of Sicily, Italy; effect of torpedo attack on monitor; attractions of Taormina, Sicily, Italy; return to Portsmouth and working up in GB coastal waters; sight of mass of gliders overhead on D-Day, 6/6/1944; role of monitor in knocking out German radar stations on Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy, France, 6/1944; narrow escape of turret crew when premature shell broke up; towing back to Portsmouth, GB. REEL 4 Continues: repairs in Portsmouth, GB; bombardment in Le Havre in which torpedo blister was hit by artillery fire from shore; effect of Royal Air Force bomber aircraft jettisoning bombs in North Sea; question of success of shore bombardments; use of servant and effect of hostilities only personnel on Royal Navy; how ship became a depot ship at Chatham, GB; incident when he infringed demarcation lines of trade union rules in Chatham Dockyard, 1945; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve status as officer; demobilisation; attitude to having served with Royal Navy during Second World War. Recollections of period as civilian in Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1913-1939: life in Kingston upon Hull; strike breaking students during General Strike, 5/1926; connection between Hull Grammar School and Holy Trinity Church; story of joining Emergency Teachers' Training Scheme; decline in manifestation of patriotism on question of standing up for National Anthem; attending meeting at City Hall addressed by Phil Piratin.