Interview with Stephen Keeler

British seaman served aboard HMS Bullen in North Atlantic, 12/1943-12/1944 including sinking off Cape Wrath, 6/12/1944; served on shore duties with Royal Navy in Germany, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Kingsnorth, GB, 1926-1939: family; education; membership of Boy Scouts. Aspects of period as civilian in Kingsnorth, GB, 9/1939-12/1942: effects of outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; sight of aerial combat during Battle of Britain, 7/1940-10/1940; service with and nature of activities with 1st (Ashford) Bn Kent Home Guard, 1940-1941; employment as baker's boy; sight of descent of wounded German Air Force pilot after aerial combat; Home Guard training and question of military efficiency. Recollections of enlistment and trainnig as seaman with Class 109, HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness, GB, 1/1943-3/1943: failed attempts to enlist underage in Royal Navy, 1941-1943; call-up for service with Royal Navy, 1/1943; accommodation; kitting out; physical training; rations; seamanship training; drill rifle training; kit inspections; relations with fellow recruits and instructors; fire watching; visits to Skegness; passing out as ordinary seaman. Aspects of period as seaman at Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, GB, 3/1943-6/1943: discipline; 4.5 Inch gunnery drill. REEL 2 Continues: training in whaler; leave; draft to DE78 and train journey to Gourock. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from Gourock, GB to New York, United States of America, 6/1943: boarding ship; accommodation; watch station on Oerlikon 20mm Cannon; lifestyle. Aspects of period as seaman in Fargo Barracks and standing-by during construction of HMS Bullen at Boston, United States of America, 6/1943-10/1943: American rations and messing arrangements; rooms in Fargo Barracks; duties on naval shore night patrols; American hospitality and relations with American civilians in Boston; reactions to visit to HMS Bullen under construction; commissioning ceremony and moving aboard ship, 10/1943; seaman mess and bunk beds; United States Navy 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 B3 gun; story of accident with jammed shell during night exercise; watch system and off duty shelter behind 'B' gun. REEL 3 Continues: lookout duty. Aspects of period on working up exercises with HMS Bullen at Hamilton, Bermuda, 12/1943: abandon ship exercise, 25/12/1943; gunnery exercises and shell storage arrangements; description of Oerlikon 20mm Cannon; role with bosun's repair party; cleaning duties; role as quartermaster on wheel; opinion of various officers and personnel including captain Lieutenant Commander Anthony Parish; visit to naval stores. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Bullen during Convoy HX 274 in North Atlantic, 1/1944: role as junior escort ship; manual delivery of convoy sailing orders; question of anti-submarine operations; refitting and introduction of general messing at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1/1944. Recollections of operations of operations as seaman aboard HMS Bullen in North Atlantic and English Channel, 1/1944-12/1944: seasickness and ship's rolling; trips ashore into Liverpool; relations with civilians in Liverpool; North Atlantic convoy duties; 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 German submarine; situation in anti-submarine war; escorting HMS Nelson during shore bombardment off Normandy, France, 6/1944; detachment to investigate German submarine contact; leave; effects of fatigue; continues escort role; assignment to 19th Escort Group, 10/1944. Recollections of sinking of HMS Bullen by U-775 off Cape Wrath, GB, 6/12/1944; Christmas preparations; work below decks with bosun's party; explosion of torpedo; scramble for ladder; situation on taking up abandon ship station by starboard Carley Float; meeting Ted Rowson; orders to abandon ship and launching Carley Float; failed attempt to cut lanyards attaching Carley Float to ship; being sucked under whilst swimming in water; finding rope and cork raft; seamen dropping off raft and attempt to board raft; freezing conditions; survivor's singing; rescue by HMS Hesperus; bath; sight of survivors on messdeck; assistance from crew; loss of whaler due to submarine alert; hot drinks; disembarkation at Thurso, GB; train journey to HMNB Chatham; personal morale; survival of Ted Rowson; oil problem; rekitting out; stops during train journey. REEL 5 Continues: reception at Chatham Barracks; survivors' leave and visiting family of casualty. Aspects of period on shore duties in Bremen and Hamburg Docks, Germany, 1945-1946: issue of khaki uniforms; composition of naval shore party; journey out to Bremen; role and methods of clearing mines from dock and harbour areas; accommodation; move to Hamburg; minor looting; hospitalisation with German measles in Louvain, Belgium; VE day celebrations, 8/5/1945; relations with German civilians; return to Hamburg; situation; dockyard accommodation; checking for mines; demobilisation, 8/1946. Post-war life and career: initial employment with railway works; securing work as taxi driver and chauffeur; question of physical and psychological effects of war service; role in formation and reunions of HMS Bullen Association, 1986-1998.