Interview with Roy Francis Jessup

British seaman served as bosun's mate aboard HMS Bazely, 4th Escort Group in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 8/1943-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Grays and Chadwell St Mary, GB, 1926-1943: social circumstances, education; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; gas mask issue; brother Able Seaman Edward Jessup's service with Royal Navy; question of rationing; air raid precautions including installing Anderson Shelter and blackout; German Air Force raids on Tilbury Docks and effects on education; employment under Ministry of Labour Essential Work Order scheme for shoe manufacturer; work as despatch rider for Auxiliary Fire Service, 1940-1941; death of brother Able Seaman Edward Jessup aboard HMS Kelly in Mediterranean, 23/5/1941. Aspects of enlistment in Royal Navy in GB, 9/1942-1/1943: background to recruitment underage at Romford, 9/1942; call-up for service with Royal Navy, 1/1943. Recollections of training as seaman at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness, GB, 1/1943: reception and kitting out; chalet accommodation; morning routine and physical training on beach; rations; gas mask training. Aspects of training as seaman at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 1/1943-3/1943: barrack accommodation. REEL 2 Continues: morning routine; swimming; drill; boat work; masthead drill; examinations; drafting to HMS Bazely at Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Chatham, 3/1943; voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from GB to New York, United States of America, 3/1943. Recollections period as seaman aboard HMS Bazely in Boston and Norfolk, United States of America and Bermuda, 3/1943-8/1943: living conditions in Boston; initial impressions of Canadian captain, Lieutenant Commander Jeffry Brock at commissioning ceremony; bunk beds; removal of dishwashers and reversion to washing clothes in bucket; mast; through deck and welded construction; armament; preliminary working up trials; move for working up trials to Bermuda, 4/1943: abandon ship exercise. REEL 3 Continues: gunnery exercise and shell accidentally fired over Bermuda; role on bridge communications; lookout duty in crows nest; visits ashore; question of Lieutenant Commander Jeffry Brock's attitude towards training; engine failure and repairs at Norfolk; relations with American civilians; pay; fights with United States Navy seamen in Boston. Recollections of voyage aboard HMS Bazely from United States of America to GB, 8/1943: nature of ship; rolling caused by mast; watch system and daily routine; rations and cocoa; rum ration; messdeck; relations with ratings; prior recollection case of bullying at HMS Ganges, Shotley; relations with leading seamen and petty officers; subsequent qualification as able seaman. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of various officers including captain, Lieutenant Commander Jeffry Brock. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Bazely, 4th Escort Group in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 8/1943-5/1945: nature of Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland; ship signature tune; North Atlantic convoys including story of sinking German submarine U-600 with one pattern of depth charges, 25/11/1943; advantage of rough weather in neutralising German submarines; zig-zagging; German submarine tactics; question of picking up torpedoed ships' survivors; German Air Force attacks and use of glider bomb, 10/1942; story of attempt to sink floundering ammunition ship, 8/1943; KMF convoys through Mediterranean to Naples, Italy, 12/1943-10/1944, including role escorting troopships, visits ashore, question of attempted sabotage whilst in harbour, duties as motorboat coxswain, naval regatta and story of collision with hospital ship USAHS Wisteria off Gibraltar. REEL 5 Continues: opinion of Lieutenant Commander Jack Cooper illustrated by story of his inebriated appearance hunting German submarine during patrol in Minches, off Scotland in North Atlantic; duties as bosun on gangway and ship's wheel; temporary role on Oerlickon Gun; submarine sweeps in Irish Sea, 10/1944-4/1945; problems with Spanish fishing boats sailing in convoy; submarine sweeps in Irish Sea, 10/1944-4/1945; question of gaining revenge for death of brother; ship's cinema; visits ashore in Belfast, Northern Ireland including relations with civilians, question of sectarian divide and story of being arrested; Arctic convoy to Polyarno, Murmansk, Soviet Union, including cold conditions, continuous action stations, limited visits ashore and trading with female Soviet Navy personnel, German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, explosion of ammunition ship, loss of friend overboard in action and chipping off accumulation of ice. REEL 6 Continues: story of stealing tram during VE Day celebrations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 8/5/1944; importance of comradeship; sight of surrendered German Navy submarines and Adolf Hitler's yacht at Rosyth, GB; decommissioning of HMS Bazely at Chatham, 6/1945. Aspects of period as seaman with Reserve Fleet at Harwich, GB, 1945-1946: 'mothballed' ships; duties in mail office; demobilisation procedure; change in atmosphere in peacetime Royal Navy; shortages of water aboard HMS Bazeley. Post-war life and employment: employment on ferries and as steeplejack; award of British Empire Medal; story of lift accident during construction of Post Office Tower, London, 1963; effects of service with Royal Navy; question of contacts with former crew members and Captains Class Frigates Association.