Hayes, Frank Dixon (Oral history)

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, 1921-1939: family; education. Recollections of German Air Force attacks on Mottingham and central London, 1940-1941: anti-aircraft guns near his lodgings in Mottingham; occasion when he slept through a heavy raid; transport problems; refusal to use shelter; how his employer accommodated him at The Adelphi; membership of Home Guard; German bombing of central London; use of The Coal Hole public house during raids; memories of A P Herbert; employment with Ministry of Supply monitoring production of army 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, 28/7/1941; drill. REEL 2 Continues: overcrowding and conditions in Portsmouth Barracks, 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 Portsmouth Barracks. Aspects of period as seaman on shore duties in GB, 1942: conditions on board, HMS Keppel in Londonderry, 9/1942- 10/1942; arrival on first US marines in Londonderry; fight in dance hall in Londonderry; return to Portsmouth; guard duties on beach at Gosport; how civilian kept up morale at Stokes Bay. Voyage from GB to Canada aboard Andes, 12/1942. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period in US, 12/1942-2/1943: reception in Asbury Park; complaint about flying of White Ensign higher than the American flag; relations between Australian and South African naval personnel at Asbury Park. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Bayntun in Atlantic, 1943: character of ship; problems of using bunks; unpopularity of US Admiral King on board; storm damage on route to Bermuda; story of Governor of Bermuda's stolen bananas; arrival at Blackwall Docks; poor performance of ship during crossing of Atlantic; further voyages across the Atlantic; damage to ship in Cardiff Docks; his leaving ship, 8/1943; opinion of Captain Class frigates. Aspects of period as first lieutenant 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; engine breakdown on voyage to Portsmouth, 5/1944; attitude to replacement of captain; effect of seasickness pills on stoker; embarking members of 3rd Div. Recollections of operations as first lieutenant aboard LCT 1126 off Normandy, 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 first lieutenant aboard LCT 1126 off Normandy, 6/1944-8/1944: role providing protection from torpedoes for HMS Warspite; refusal of HMS Warspite to provide fresh bread; duties off Normandy; rescue of crew from sunk oil tanker; collision with Pipe Line Under The Ocean tug; testing of Mulberry harbour; reaction to doing protection duties for HMS Warspite; 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 first lieutenant aboard LCT 1126 in North West Europe, 1944-1945: accident with fuel barges at Newhaven; moving US Air Force equipment to Le Treport; problems of making anchorage at Le Treport; relations with civilians at Le Treport; visits to Le Havre; method of crossing Channel and chances of collision. Aspects of period as first lieutenant aboard LCG(M)s, 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; period in Troon after VJ Day. Demobilisation procedure in Edinburgh, c12/1945 and return to career with civil service in London. Story of colleague's misunderstanding operation of barrage balloon in London, 1938. Reasons why he was not evacuated to Morecombe on outbreak of Second World War. Attitude to having served with the Royal Navy in the Second World War.