Grogan, Gwyn St George Elger (Oral history)

British midshipman served aboard HMS Warspite and HMS Jervis in Mediterranean, 1941; served aboard HMS Barham in Mediterranean, 1941 including sinking, 11/1941; served aboard HMS Valiant in Mediterranean, 12/1941; officer served aboard HMS Queenborough in GB coastal waters, Arctic, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1942-1944; served aboard HMS Garlies in GB coastal waters, 1945; served aboard HMS Unicorn during Korean War, 1952

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1921-1939: family; education including headmaster's prediction on Germany's leaving League of Nations, 1930s; father's military service in First World War; enlistment in Royal Navy at his father's request, 1/1940. Memories of troopship convoy from GB to Middle East via South Africa, 1940. Recollections of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Warspite in Mediterranean, 1940-1941: allocation to ship at Alexandria, 10/1940; role as commander's 'doggie' to Sir Charles Madden; memories of Admiral A B Cunningham; bombardment of port of Valona in Albania; Admiral A B Cunningham's visit to Malta; sight of German Air Force attack on HMS Illustrious; Admiral A B Cunningham's reluctance to bombard Tripoli; duties during bombardment of Tripoli; threat of German Air Force attack on eastbound convoy to Alexandria, 5/1941. REEL 2 Continues: sight of Lord Louis Mountbatten's D Flotilla leaving Malta in special camouflage, 5/1941; German bomb hit on ship, 23/5/1941; gesture made to damaged HMS Kipling; his action station; arrival of Lord Louis Mountbatten in survivors rig; savaging of Admiral Rawling's squadron in Keso Straits. Aspects of operations aboard HMS Jervis in Mediterranean, 1941: how Captain Philip Mack took as personal interest in his training; casualties caused by stale fuse in gun problem aboard HMS Jaguar; souvenirs of destruction of Italian heavy cruisers at Battle of Cape Matapan; memories of Captain Rory O'Connor; character of Tobruk run. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Barham in Mediterranean including sinking 11/1941: drafting to ship; loss of the midshipman he displaced aboard HMS Latona; torpedoing of ship; abandoning ship; effects of ship exploding; period in sea prior to rescue by HMS Nizam; condition of survivors; his action station; surfacing of German U-boat after attack; duties in 6 inch gun control when ship was torpedo; explanation of different stations aboard ship. Period as midshipman aboard HMS Valiant in Alexandria Harbour, 12/1941: joining ship, 12/1941; story of apprehension of Italian frogmen captured after attack on ship; exams he took on board. Memories of journey from Egypt to GB, 1942. REEL 4 Continues: Period on shore duties in GB, 1942: courses attended as sub-lieutenant; memories of sub-lieutenants on gunnery course at Gunnery School, HMS Excellent on Whale Island; character of commanding officer of HMS Excellent. Recollections of operations as sub-lieutenant aboard HMS Queenborough in GB coastal waters, Arctic, Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1942-1944: standing by ship at Wallsend, 1942 problems of obtaining accommodation at Newcastle-upon- Tyne, work carried out prior to commissioning, 11/1942; loss of fleet chart on entering Scapa Flow; rescue by officer of man overboard at Scapa Flow; torpedoing of Stack Skerry; role of ship as covering force for Arctic convoy; danger of going overboard; use of Seydisfjord and Aleureyru Fjord in Iceland; search for U-boat off Simonstown; escorting HMS Warspite from South Africa, 1943; move to Mediterranean, 1943. REEL 5 Continues: briefing for duties during Italian landings, late 1943; under aircraft attack off Italy; attempt to knock out shore battery at Vito Valencia Marina; collecting construction expert from Malta to help HMS Warspite after radio controlled bomb damage; patrolling in Adriatic; boiler clean in Alexandria; orders to join Eastern Fleet and duties in Red Sea; sight of HMS Khartoum at Perim; sight damage to docks in Bombay after ammunition ship exploded; joining Eastern Fleet at Trincomalee; escape from mines during bombardment of Nicobar Islands; arrival in Exmouth Bay, Australia; return to GB. Aspects of operations as first lieutenant aboard HMS Garlies in GB coastal waters, 1945: role aboard; convoy work to Le Harve; surrender of U-boats; drafting to HMS Ledbury, summer 1945. Story of taking command of interned German ship Thalia taking German POWs to Gibraltar. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Unicorn during Korean War, 1952: duties on board aircraft carrier; story of loss of pilot during aircraft ditching; exercising his duties aboard. Memories of his father who won Victoria Cross, 5/1918. Attitude to having served with Royal Navy, 1940-1958.