Description
Object description
British engineer served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Duquesa in Atlantic, 1940; engine room artificer served aboard HMS Resource in Alexandria, Egypt, 1/1941-5/1941; served aboard HMS Naiad, 15th Cruiser Sqdn, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 5/1941-3/1942 including sinking, 11/3/1942; served with Combined Operations in GB coastal waters, United States of America, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Sunderland, GB, 1918-1940: family; effects of Depression on family's finances and local neighbourhood; attending Sunday school; childhood activities; education; interest in shipbuilding; initial employment with printers; working conditions; starting work as apprentice at ship builders William Doxford & Sons Ltd; background to joining Merchant Navy, 1940.
REEL 2 Continues: call-up for registration at age of twenty one and volunteering for Royal Navy; preparations for war; attitude of parents to volunteering for Royal Navy; nature of work at William Doxford & Sons Ltd. Recollections of period as fifth engineer with Merchant Navy aboard SS Duquesa in North and South Atlantic, 1940: joining Merchant Navy and ship at Barry; character of ship; accommodation; watch duties in engine room; carrying extra coal in refrigeration room; purchase of own uniform; first voyage from Barry to Buenos Aires, Argentina; opinion of ship; impressions of Argentina; cargoes carried; duties and watch relief.
REEL 3 Continues: voyage to Freetown, Sierra Leone for coaling; unloading cargo at Le Havre, France, 5/1940; pay; engineers mess; class distinctions on ships; leaving ship. Aspects of enlistment and training as engine room artificer with Royal Navy in GB, 1940: call-up for service with Royal Navy at Portsmouth; reception on arrival; trade tests at HMS Sultan, Gosport; move to Hayling Island; problems with drill; daily routine at Hayling Island; accommodation. Aspects of voyage from GB to Egypt, 12/1940: individual ship sailings with Royal Navy personnel on board; uniform worn and pay; ashore in South Africa.
REEL 4 Continues: reaction to Apartheid; in Red Sea. Aspects of period as engine room artificer aboard HMS Resource in Alexandria, Egypt, 1/1941-5/1941: drafting to fleet repair ship; story of stealing on board; impressions of Alexandria; Axis bombing raids; ways in which media photographs were doctored to suit propaganda; Italian raid on HMS Valiant. Recollections of operations as engine room artificer aboard HMS Naiad, 15th Cruiser Sqdn, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 5/1941-3/1942: description of ship; opinion of Captain Marcel Kelsey and Commander (E); behaviour of officers who had come up through ranks.
REEL 5 Continues: character of engine room crew; ship closed up for action in three minutes; duties in engine room; problems encountered with turbine and work carried out; damage control responsibilities; damage caused by guns firing in action; closing of doors on action stations; effects on some crew of being sealed in during action station; messing arrangements; watches; seasickness; Axis Air Force attacks during convoy escort duties; provision of food in engine rooms; information gleaned from ship's public address system; ship's manoeuvres in action; role of ship as convoy flagship.
REEL 6 Continues: wounding of boy seaman; false submarine alarms; effects of threat of bombing of crew morale; security prior to sailings; role of ship during German invasion of Crete, Greece, 5/1941; bombardment of Derna, Libya on Admiral Philip Vian's orders; orders to bring out damaged HMS Cleopatra from Malta; torpedoing of ship in turbo generation room by German submarine U-565, 11/3/1942; loss of consciousness and escape from engine room with aid of Jerry Fewster; helping Jerry Fewster; rescue and nature of wounds; how his evidence was contradicted by inquiry.
REEL 7 Continues: return to GB via South Africa; story of discovery of fate of Leading Stoker Reginald Davies on sinking of cruiser; period in water after sinking of ship; duties in engine room during voyage to South Africa aboard HMS Valiant; crossing the line ceremony; in transit in South Africa; story of visit to civilian's home in South Africa. Recollections of period as engine room artificer with Combined Operations in GB coastal waters, United States of America, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1942-1945: joining Combined Operations and training on Landing Craft Infantry; maintenance of diesel engines.
REEL 8 Continues: description of Landing Craft Infantry; composition of flotilla maintenance group; voyage to pick up first landing craft in Newark, United States of America; pay; food and accommodation; reception and treatment by Americans; activities whilst awaiting passage in New York; assembling landing craft off Canada; voyage to Mediterranean via GB; ashore in French Algeria; tropical uniform worn; suffering from insect bite; on charge for not reporting visit to hospital; duties maintaining engines; return to GB, 1944; impression of Americans; move to Far East; landings on coast and at Rangoon, Burma, 1944-1945.
REEL 9 Continues: engine breakdown during voyage; hearing of end of Second World War on defeat of Japan, 15/8/1945; voyage into Singapore, Malaya; landing at Singapore, Malaya to loot Japanese forces base; sight of former British prisoners of war; return to GB via India for demobilisation; impressions of Indians. Demobilisation and return to civilian life in Merchant Navy. Efforts to obtain Malta Medal.