Interview with George Smith

British seaman served as butcher aboard HMS Bullen in United States of America and Bermuda, 7/1943-11/1943; served on shore duties at HMS Malabar, Bermuda and on contraband control duties at HMS Benbow, Trinidad, 2/1944-7/1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Hanley, GB, 1926-1942: social circumstances, education; part-time employment working for Sentinel Newspaper; work as butcher; Boy Scouts activities; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; training with Sea Cadets and interest in Royal Navy; duties as messenger for Air Raid Precautions; Anderson Shelter; blackout; effects of rationing on work as butcher; question of joining Home Guard; minimal German Air Force bombing in Hanley area. Aspects of enlistment with Royal Navy in GB, 1942: volunteering for service with Royal Navy; reaction to call-up to Royal Navy, 28/10/1942. Recollections of training as seaman at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, GB, 10/1942-1/1943: reception and kitting out; vaccinations and consequent hospitalisation with jaundice; hutted accommodation; morning routine; rations. REEL 2 Continues: drill; physical training; minimal weapons training; seamanship; swimming tests; gun drill and opinion of gunnery instructor; mast head drill; semaphore training; relations with recruits and instructors; visits to Plymouth; absence of kit inspections; intelligence tests. Aspects of period as seaman at Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Chatham, GB, 1/1943-7/1943: background to volunteering for butchery duties; unskilled nature of naval butchery; overcrowded barrack conditions; advantages of being butcher aboard ship; duties preparing camp near Ipswich, 3/1943-5/1943; return to Chatham, 5/1943; sleeping in tunnels and lodging houses; drafting procedure; journey to Greenock. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from Greenock, GB to New York, United States of America, 7/1943: watch keeping duties; personnel aboard ship; impressions of Grand Central Station, New York. Aspects of period standing by HMS Bullen in Boston, United States of America, 7/1943-10/1943: living conditions; visits to construction yards; operation of Buddies Club in Boston; relations with American civilians; opinion of all welded construction of warships; commissioning ceremony of HMS Bullen, 25/10/1943. Recollections of period as butcher aboard HMS Bullen at Boston, United States of America and Bermuda, 10/1943-11/1943: bunks; question of United States Navy standard facilities on board; ship layout; butcher's beef screen hut on upper deck; messing arrangements; role issuing rations to messes; role maintaining fridges and stores; role of stores petty officer; issuing stores based on mess numbers; opinion of officers and state of crew morale; sea trials and seasickness caused by rolling; story of accidentally breaking fingers in fridge door during sea trial off Bermuda, 11/1943. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period of hospitalisation on Bermuda, 11/1943-1/1944: initial inadequate treatment received from American doctor; medical treatment; departure of HMS Bullen. Aspects of period on shore duties at HMS Malabar, St George's Harbour, Bermuda, 1944: role on boat crew; state of fingers; role as coxswain on motorboat; visits to Hamilton; period on detachment as messenger at British Consulate in Wall Street, New York, United States of America, 1944. Aspects of period as seaman on contraband control at HMS Benbow, Trinidad, 1944-1945: duties searching Spanish ships; learning Spanish language; story of alleged German spy; acting as coxswain of boat; collecting intelligence material; organisation of unit; lack of sports facilities; living conditions; desire for sea service; absence of VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; voyage from Trinidad to GB, 7/1945; return to Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Chatham, 1945. Aspect of period as butcher aboard HMS Loch Arkaig in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1945-1946: living conditions on board; role as butcher; escorting out derelict German submarines for sinking in North Atlantic; demobilisation, 5/1946. Post-war life and employment: lack of prospects as butcher; career in General Post Office; reaction to sinking of HMS Bullen.