Dunn, Sidney (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Shropshire, 1st Cruiser Sqdn in Indian Ocean, North and South Atlantic, 9/1939-4/1940; served aboard HMS Franklin, ca 1940-1943; petty officer served aboard HMS Bullen in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1943-1944 including sinking off Cape Wrath, 6/12/1944; served aboard HMS Ocean in Mediterranean, 1945-1947

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Stilton and Coates, GB, 1921-1939: family; social circumstances with foster parents, 1925-1926; education; employment in brickyard; move to live with mother on death of foster parents, 1926. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, GB, 8/1939-9/1939: enlistment in Royal Navy, 8/1939; training. Recollections of operations as seamen aboard HMS Shropshire 1st Cruiser Sqdn in Indian Ocean, North and South Atlantic, 9/1939-4/1940: scrubbing decks and polishing brass; preparing for captain's rounds and kit inspections; forcible scrubbing of unwashed sailor; role of cook of mess and canteen messing system; nature of mess decks; action station duty loading shells in ammunition chamber of turret for 8 Inch Naval Gun; compartmentalisation; anti-flash precautions; operations in Indian Ocean; nature of escort duties with convoys in North and South Atlantic; relations with seamen, leading seamen and petty officers. Recollections of crewing fishing boat during evacuation of Dunkirk, France, 5/1940-6/1940: mobilisation at Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Chatham; story illustrating inexperience; picking up troops from beaches at Dunkirk, France. REEL 2 Continues: voyage back to GB; trips to pick up troops from beach at La Panne, Belgium; personal morale; question of looting. Recollections of period as seaman aboard HMS Franklin in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1940-1943: passing as able seaman; armament; role using paravane to sweep channels through minefields; story of being straffed by German Air Force aircraft; question of attacks by German Navy E-boats; passing as leading seaman; routine duties; role acting as gun layer; Lewis Gun training. Recollections of period as leading seaman and petty officer aboard HMS Bullen, 15th Escort Group in North Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 10/1943-12/1944: volunteering for overseas service; period in Fargo Barracks, Boston, United States of America; duties in charge of Hedgehog Mortar on focscle; armament; opinion of American fitted bunks; cafeteria messing system; laundry; working up trials at Bermuda; escort duties with North Atlantic convoys; failed attempt to salvage German submarine; story of alcoholic sailor; practical jokes and comic songs; drinking habits; rum ration; disciplinary role as petty officer. REEL 3 Continues: role in charge of focscle; storage of Hedgehog Mortar bombs; story of misidentifying escort ship; troopship escort to Iceland; use of Carley Float lines for fishing; relations with civilians in Iceland; anti-submarine role on joining 19th Escort Group. Recollections of sinking of HMS Bullen, 19th Escort Group off Cape Wrath, 6/12/1944: effects of torpedo hit from German submarine U-775; orders to abandon ship; supervising evacuation onto Carley Floats; over-crowded Carley Floats; paddling away from ship; sight of defusing of depth charges; cold conditions in sea; sight of captain Lieutenant Commander Anthony Parish assisting men in water; opinion of Lieutenant Commander Anthony Parish; reaction to sinking of ship; rescue and reception aboard HMS Hesperus; taking charge of money belts of deceased sailors; survivors leave and psychological state; period on shore duties after sinking in Iceland, 1945. Aspects of period as petty officer aboard HMS Ocean in Mediterranean, 1945-1947: prior training in handling aircraft; dangers and casualties; use of bats in landing Fleet Air Army aircraft; jet aircraft handling; visits ashore at Malta and Gibraltar; night flying incidents; story of accident with Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish aircraft; state of nerves; background to demobilisation, 1947. Post-war life and employment: employment in insurance industry; question of psychological effects of service with Royal Navy; membership of HMS Bullen Association.