Stewart, Russell (Oral history)

British telegraphist served aboard HMS Manners in Atlantic, Western Approaches and Mediterranean, 1943-1945. Sunk by U 1501, 1/1945. Served aboard LST 326 in Far East, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Edinburgh, 1924-1943: social circumstances; education; Boys Brigade activities; interest in Royal Navy; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; work as apprentice grocer, 1940-1943; fire watching duties; brick built communal air raid shelter; suspension of Boys Brigade after initial period as ARP messengers; volunteering as telegraphist to join Royal Navy, 8/1942; delay caused by small pox outbreak; call up, 1/1943. Period of basic training at HMS Royal Arthur Shore Station, Skegness, 1/1943-3/1943: kitting out; chalet accommodation; drill; PT; rowing practice; exhibition drill parade. REEL 2 Continues: Period training as telegraphist at Aberdeen, 3/1943-8/1943: learning Morse code; cross country runs; billets. Period at HMS Scotia Shore Station, Ayr, 8/1943-9/1943. Period at Portsmouth Barracks, 9/1943. Journey out with draft to Boston, US, 9/1943: voyage out aboard Aquitania; period at HMS Saker Shore Station, Asbury Park. Period at Fargo Barracks, Boston, ca 10/1943-2/1943: first impressions of HMS Manners; US hospitality; relationship with US sailors; commissioning ceremony. Recollections of initial period as telegraphist aboard HMS Manners, 12/1943-3/1944: forward communications messdeck and bunks; question of removal of US style facilities including laundry; nature of bridge wireless office and reserve wireless office; watch system; duties receiving wireless messages assisted by coder; corrupt messages and repeats. REEL 3 Continues: working up trials; seasickness and question of rolling; move to Portland Maine, sea trials at Bermuda; problem with propeller blades whilst escorting convoy to GB, 1/1944.. Recollections of period with B2 Escort Group based at Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, 3/1944-1/1945: dockyard repairs and refit; messing systems and food; cocoa; question of rum rations; painting ship and cleaning messdeck; length of refit; news of D Day, 6/6/1944; composition of B2 EG; nature of Atlantic convoys including collection of ships, wireless messages, effects of hurricane, question of contacts with U Boats and visits ashore at St Johns, Newfoundland; story of ramming and sinking HS Rose; opinion of various officers including Captain Denis Jermaine, Lieutenant Walker and Sub-Lieutenant Davis Gibson; opinion of Petty Officer Cole. REEL 4 Continues: relationship with leading seamen and lower deck; discipline and crew morale; escorting convoy to Naples, Italy; anti-submarine sweeps with aircraft carrier support off Northern Scotland; visits ashore at Liverpool; leave; personal morale. Recollections of being torpedoed by U 1051, 1/1945: leaving Falmouth and abortive search for missing ship; movements and explosion of torpedo astern; re-erecting aerials and transmitting message in 'Q' code; preparations to throw overboard secret books; state of ship and casualties from strike of second torpedo on stern; assistance from MTB and hospital ship to evacuate casualties; arrival of 4th Escort Group; asdic contact and subsequent sinking of U 1051; tow back to Barrow in Furness; removal of corpses and burial service; decommissioning of ship, 2/1945. REEL 5 Continues: Period in Portsmouth and Petersfield barracks, 2/1945-4/1945. Voyage aboard Reina del Pacifico to Columbo, Ceylon, 4/1945-5/1945: emergency draft; conditions; route; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945. Movements in Ceylon and India, 4/1945-9/1945: period ashore at HMS Mayina Shore Station; voyage with draft to Bombay, India; court martial of petty officer for fiddling expenses; move to Coconada Camp, 7/1945; intended communications role with beach party during invasion of Malaya; return to Bombay; story of Indian's attempted suicide; voyage back to Columbo, 8/1945; VJ Day, 8/1945; return to Bombay, 8/1945; voyage aboard LST 326 with invasion convoy to Singapore, Malaya. Recollections of period as telegraphist aboard LST 326, 9/1945: circumstances of posting; nature of LST; wireless office; broadcasts to ship's company; supervising watch system; problems during attempted landing at Port Swettenham; move to Port Dixon and Rangoon; illness caused by pollutes shower water; visit ashore at Rangoon; move to Bancock; mines and navigational problems. REEL 6 Continues: impressions of sailing upstream to Bancock; visit ashore and story of getting drunk at Bancock; voyage back and unloading food supplies at Singapore; carrying Dutch POWs; use of DUKW in unloading food at Port Swettenham; return to Singapore, 12/1945; towin LST; taking troops to Batavia, Dutch East Indies; situation; shots fired at ship; refusal of shore leave; move to disembark troops at Sourabaya; 'crossing the line' ceremony, 1/1/1946; shuttling troops from transports into harbour; return t Singapore; sailing with skeleton crew to hand back ship to US at Phillipines. Voyage back to GB, 3/1946-4/1946. Period in camp in Porstmouth area, 5/1946. REEL 7 Continues: Demobilisation, 5/946: question career in Royal Navy; demob suit. Post-war career: return to work as grocer; story of meeting wife; difficulty in settling down to civilian lifestyle; work as grocer shop manager; work as bus driver; physical and mental effects of war service; story of commemoration service organised for casualties aboard HMS Manners, 1994; membership of Captains Class Association and Escort Group Association.