Keeler, Stephen (Oral history)

British able seaman served aboard HMS Bullen in Atlantic, 1943-1944. Sunk off Cape Wrath, 6/12/1944

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Kingsnorth, 1926-1941: family circumstances; education; Boy Scouts activities; effects of outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; view of aerial fighting during Battle of Britain; service and nature of activities with Home Guard, 1940-1941; work as baker's boy; view of dogfight and descent of wounded German pilot; Home Guard training and question of military efficiency. Volunteering underage to join RN at Chatham Recruiting Office, 1941: initial acceptance; dismissal on admittance of age; further failed attempts to enlist. Call up, 1/1943. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during trainnig as ordinary seaman with Class 109, HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness, 1/1943-3/1943: chalet accommodation; kitting out; PT; food rations seamanship training; drill rifle training; kit inspections; relationship with recruits and instructors; fire watching; visits to Skegness; passing out as ordinary seaman. Period at Chatham Barracks, 3/1943-6/1943: discipline; 4.5" gunnery drill. REEL 2 Continues: 4.5" gunnery drill; whaler training; leave; draft to DE78 and train journey to Gourock. Voyage aboard Queen Mary to New York, US, 6/1943: boarding ship; accommodation; watch station on Oerlicken gun; lifestyle. Period at Fargo Barracks and aboard HMS Bullen at Boston, 6/1943-10/1943: US food rations and messing arrangements; rooms; duties on naval shore night patrols; US hospitality and relationship with US civilians; reactions to visit to HMS Bullen under construction; commissioning ceremony and moving aboard ship, 10/1943; seaman mess and bunk beds; US canteen messing system; question of laundry and method of washing clothes; adaptations to uniform; water cooler; question of ship's welded construction; sea trials; action station as loading number on 'B' 3" gun; story of accident with jammed shell during night exercise; watch system and off duty shelter behind 'B' gun. REEL 3 Continues: lookout duty. Period on working up exercises at Hamilton, Bermuda, 12/1943: abandon ship exercise, 25/12/1943; gunnery exercises and shell storage arrangements; Oerlicken gun; role with Bosun's repair party; cleaning duties; role as quartermaster on wheel; opinion of various officers and personnel including Lieutenants Anthony Parish and Winstanley and Coxswain Braddock; special friend; visit to naval stores. Period as escort to Convoy HX 274 to Belfast, 1/1944: role as junior escort ship; manual delivery of convoy sailing orders; question of anti-submarine operations. Refitting and introduction of RN general messing at Pollock Dock, Belfast, ca 1/1944. Recollections of operations based at Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, 1944: seasickness and ship's rolling; trips ashore; relationship with civilians; Atlantic convoys; escorting supply ships to Iceland; bad weather conditions; food and role of cook of mess. REEL 4 Continues: anti-submarine operations; attempts to board adrift previously captured U Boat; situation in anti-submarine war; escorting HMS Nelson during shore bombardment off Normandy, France, 6/1944; detachment to investigate U Boat contact; leave; effects of fatigue; continues escort role; assignment to 19th Escort Group, 10/1944. Account of sinking of HMS Bullen by U775 off Cape Wrath, 09.50, 6/12/1944; Christmas preparations; work below decks with bosun's party; explosion of torpedo; scramble for ladder; taking up abandon ship station by starboard Carley raft; situation; meeting Ted Rowson; orders to abandon ship; launching raft; dispute with Coxswain; failed attempt to cut lanyards attaching raft to ship; being sucked under whilst swimming in water; finding rope and cork raft; situation; men dropping off raft and attempt to board raft; freezing conditions; singing; rescue by HMS Hesperus; bath; view of survivors on messdeck; assistance from crew; loss of whaler due to submarine alert; hot drinks; disembarkation at Thurso; train journey to Chatham; personal morale; survival of Ted Rowson; oil problem; re-kitting out; stops during train journey. REEL 5 reception at Chatham Barracks; survivors' leave and visiting family of casualty. Period with naval party at Bremen and Hamburg docks, Germany, 1945-1946: issue of khaki uniforms; composition of party; journey out to Bremen; role and methods of clearing mines from dock and harbour areas; billets; move to Hamburg; minor looting; hospitalisation with German measles in Louvain, Belgium; VE day celebrations, 8/5/1945; relationship with German civilians; return to Hamburg; situation; dockyard accommodation; checking for mines. Demobilisation, ca 8/1946. Post-war career: initial work at railway works; securing work as taxi driver and chauffeur; question of physical and mental effects of war service; role in formation and reunions of HMS Bullen Association, 1986-1998.