Godwin, Patrick Joseph (Oral history)

British seaman served as torpedoman aboard MTB 488, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1942-1943; mined and sunk, 9/1/1943; served aboard HMS Fitzroy in North Atlantic, Arctic, North Sea, during Normandy landings and Western Approaches, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Shadwell, Wapping and Barking, London, 1925-1939: social circumstances and family problems; education and sporting activities. Recollections of period evacuated to Chilcompton, 9/1939-1/1940: question of age and role as 'helper' to evacuees; departure arrangements, 1/9/1939; bus and train journey; reception and farm billets; introduction to farm animals. REEL 2 Continues: relationship with billeting family; introduction to farm animals; food; relationship with local children; education arrangements; problem with lower standards of education prevailing at Midsomer Norton school; assisting teachers at lower school; duties as choirboy at catholic church; reactions to outbreak of war and question of children returning to London, 3/9/1939; question of return to Barking after leaving school; lifestyle on farm. REEL 3 Continues: lifestyle on farm; washing up after meals. Period as cleaner and novice monk at Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, 1/1940-11/1940: background to application to become monk; refusal to return home with mother; daily routine; background to return to Barking. Recollections of period in barking, 11/1940-6/1942: work at station kiosk; problems at home and story of running away to work as servant at Downside Abbey; circumstances of return to Barking; recruitment as messenger with ARP. REEL 4 Continues: period as messenger and warden with Post 14, ARP, Barking, including story of German aircraft machine gunning street, story of incendiary raid, patrols, mobile anti-aircraft guns, nature of post and uniform; work for Thames Plywood, 1941-1942, including story of saw accident and question of compensation; view of aerial dogfight; continuation of family problems; enlistment underage into Royal Navy at Romford Recruitment Office, 4/1942; medical, 5/1942; call up, 6/1942; question of security of savings certificates. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at HMS Collingwood Shore Station, Fareham, 6/1942-9/1942: reception; hut accommodation; kitting out and marking uniform; visits to pay office and barber. REEL 5 Continues: marking kit; food rations; rigging race; drill; PT; seamanship and gunnery training; nature of discipline; story of being caught gambling and nature of No 11 Punishment routine; release from punishment to participate in inter-divisional rigging race at HMS Ganges Shore Station, Shotley. REEL 6 Continues: hospitalisation with pneumonia; mother's ruse to fraudulently cash savings certificates; relationship with recruits and lack of recreation time; relationship with instructors and story of meeting ex-teacher. Period at HMS Vernon II Shore Station, Roedean School, Brighton, 9/1942-11/1942: electrical training; torpedo and depth charge training; examinations and qualification as ordinary seaman torpedoman. Recollections of period as torpedoman aboard MTB 488, 11/1942-1/1943: joining ship at Harwich; duties; opinion of captain; training as flotilla; accommodation at HMS Ganges Shore Station. REEL 7 Continues: voyage to Gibraltar; night patrol in shipping lanes; story of being mined and sunk, 9/1/1943; story of assisting wounded stoker in sea; rescue; return to GB. Recollections of period aboard HMS Diadem at Hebburn on Tyne, 2/1943-5/1943; joining ship during commissioning phase; role overhauling torpedo tubes; background to leaving ship. Recollections of journey out with draft and period at HMS Saker Shore Station, New Jersey, US ca 5/1943-6/1943: train journey to Gourock; conditions during voyage aboard Queen Elizabeth to New York; delayed disembarkation; formation of crews; US hospitality; move to Boston, 6/1943. Recollections of period at Fargo Barracks, Boston, 6/1943-8/1943: conditions of service; lectures in new Captains Class frigates. REEL 8 Continues: US hospitality and operation of 'Buddies Club'; story of fight with US servicemen during visit to Lighthouse Dancehall; first impressions of ship; commissioning ceremony, 1/9/1943. Recollections of initial period as torpedoman aboard HMS Fitzroy in Boston and Bermuda, 9/1943-2/1944: messdeck and bunks; question of cafeteria, general and canteen messing systems; reaction to welded construction; depth charge arrangements and firing patterns; sea trials; role setting shell fuses for aft 3" gun. REEL 9 Continues: cleaning ship; splicing wires and rope; status as able seaman; role as officers' training ship during sea trials in Casca Bay; sea trials based at Bermuda; story illustrating severity of ship's rolling; hospitalisation with rugby injury in Bermuda; counter-measures taken to reduce rolling; nickname 'Red arse'. Recollections of escorting Convoy HX275 via Iceland to GB, 2/1944: role in submarine screen; story of volunteering to assist rescue of survivors of torpedoed Anadya role and subsequent punishment for taking excessive risks hanging from scramble net; refuelling and transfer of survivors at Reykjavik; acting as escort for convoy to Loch Ewe. REEL 10 Continues: refuelling at Reykjavik; acting as escort for convoy to Loch Ewe; watch system and cruising stations; relationship with lower deck and illustrations of practical jokes; bingo and ship's fund; relationship with leading seamen and petty officers; opinion of various officer including Lieutenants O'Neill and John Duggan, Lieutenant Commanders Alan Miller and Oswald Stewart; crew morale. Recollections of acting as escort to Convoy JW58 into Arctic Sea, 3/1944: in outer screen; German air attacks; burst eardrum and subsequent deafness from firing of 3" gun; stormy weather and precautions to keep water from getting below decks; cold conditions. REEL 11 Continues: minor refit on return to GB. Period operating in English Channel and North Sea based at Sheerness and Plymouth, 4/1944-6/1944: patrols; escorting movements of PLUTO and Mulberry harbour components. Period acting as screen to invasion fleet, 5/6/1944-10/6/1944: threat from floating mine; patrol off Gold Beach; ineffectual contribution of 3" guns to shore bombardment; German coastal guns; formation of Mulberry harbour; necessity of constant readiness of depth charge crews to counter activities of German frogmen; naval landing party. Recollections of period with 21 Escort Group based at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 8/1944-12/1945: organisation and role of group; escort of Convoy JW61 to Murmansk, Soviet Union, 10/1944, including story of friend falling overboard in heavy seas hedgehog projector, visit to Russian ship with woman captain in Murmansk harbour and visit to Murmansk; voyage back to GB with Convoy RA61, 11/1944; story of marriage whilst on leave, 11/1944. REEL 12 Continues: story of forging parental consent for marriage, 11/1944; visits to Organ Dancehall and bar in Belfast; relationship with Irish civilians; anti-submarine patrols in Western Approaches; aspects of sinking of U 722, 27/3/1944 and U 1001, 8/4/1945; story of escorting HMS Redmill, 27/4/1945; news of VE day, 8/5/1945; reception of surrendered U Boats at Loch Erinbol, 10/5/1945-18/5/1945; role checking and disarming torpedoes as member of U Boat boarding party. REEL 13 Continues: collection and escort of surrendered U-Boats to Lisahally, 5/1945; disbandment of 21 EG; participation in victory parade at Bergen, Norway; prior promotion to leading torpedo operator, ca 4/1945; leaving ship, 12/1945. Background to early discharge due to deafness, 1/1946. Post-war career: problems on return to work at plywood factory; story of securing work as painter and decorator despite absence of experience; hospitalisation with tuberculosis, 1947; career as electrician; membership of Captains Class Association.