Interview with Frank Dixon Hayes

British seaman served on shore duties in GB, 1941-1942; served aboard HMS Bayntun in Atlantic, 1943; officer served aboard LCT 1126 in North West Europe, 1943-1944

REEL 1 Background in Workington, GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Recollections of period as civilian in Mottingham and London, GB, 1940-1941: anti-aircraft guns near his lodgings in Mottingham; occasion when he slept through a heavy German Air Force raid; transport problems; refusal to use shelter; how his employer accommodated him at The Adelphi Theatre; membership of 21st (Eltham) County of London Home Guard; German Air Force bombing of central London; use of the The Coal Hole Public House during German Air Force raids; memories of A P Herbert; employment with Ministry of Supply monitoring production of guns; memories of Herbert Morrison and Lord Beaverbrook. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1941: reasons for wanting to join Royal Navy; arrival at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, 28/7/1941; drill. REEL 2 Continues: overcrowding and conditions in Naval Barracks, HMS Victory, Portsmouth, 10/1941; conditions in tented camp at Havant; behaviour of Australian seamen in Portsmouth; slowness of draftings to ships in Portsmouth Barracks; time wasting exercises at Portsmouth Barracks; his complaint about a gas leak and unhealthy living conditions in Naval Barracks at HMS Victory, Portsmouth. Aspects of period as seaman on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 1942: conditions on board HMS Keppel in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 9/1942-10/1942; arrival on first marines of United States Marine Corps in Londonderry, Northern Ireland; fight in dance hall in Londonderry, Northern Ireland; return to Portsmouth; guard duties on beach at Gosport; how civilian kept up morale at Stokes Bay; voyage aboard HMT Andes from GB to Canada, 12/1942. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as seaman on shore duties in United States of America, 12/1942-2/1943: reception in Asbury Park; complaint about flying of White Ensign higher than the American flag at HMS Asbury; relations between Australian and South African Royal Navy personnel at HMS Asbury Park. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Bayntun, 44th Escort Group in North Atlantic, 2/1943-8/1943: character of frigate; problems of using bunks; unpopularity of United States Navy Admiral King on board; storm damage on route to Bermuda, 2/1943; story of Governor of Bermuda's stolen bananas; arrival at Blackwall Docks; poor performance of ship during crossing of North Atlantic; further voyages across the North Atlantic; damage to ship in Cardiff Docks; leaving ship, 8/1943; opinion of Captain Class frigates. Aspects of period as officer aboard LCT 1126 in GB, 12/1943-6/1944: background to commissioning and joining Combined Operations; his role on board. REEL 4 Continues: Oerlikon Gun accident in Boston, United States of America; engine breakdown on voyage to Portsmouth, 5/1944; attitude to replacement of captain; effect of seasickness pills on stoker; embarking members of 3rd Infantry Div. Recollections of operations as officer aboard LCT 1126 off Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: arrival at mouth of River Orne; shell hits on ship; situation on Sword Beach; question of reluctance of troops to disembark. Aspects of operations as officer aboard LCT 1126 off Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: role providing protection from torpedoes for HMS Warspite; refusal of HMS Warspite to provide fresh bread; nature of duties off Normandy; rescue of crew from sunk oil tanker; collision with Pipe Line Under The Ocean (PLUTO) tug; testing of Mulberry Harbour; reaction to doing protection duties for HMS Warspite; prior recollection of confusion on Sword Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944. REEL 5 Continues: further memories of D-Day, 6/6/1944; method of releasing door to landing craft; co-operativeness of merchant ships in giving food supplies. Aspects of period as officer aboard LCT 1126 in English Channel and North Sea, 1944-1945: accident with fuel barges at Newhaven, GB; moving United States Army Air Force equipment to Le Tréport; problems of making anchorage at Le Tréport; relations with civilians at Le Tréport; visits to Le Havre; method of crossing English Channel and chances of collision. Aspects of period as officer aboard LCG(M)s, Royal Navy in GB and Far East, 1944-1945: opinion of courses attended; role of LCG(M)s; question of chances of survival operating against Japan. REEL 6 Continues: problems encountered getting LCG(M)s from GB to Australia; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 15/8/1945; period in Troon after VJ Day; demobilisation procedure in Edinburgh, 12/1945 and return to career with Civil Service in London; prior recollection of colleague's misunderstanding operation of barrage balloon in London, 1938; prior recollections of reasons why he was not evacuated to Morecambe on outbreak of Second World War; attitude to having served with the Royal Navy in the Second World War.