Interview with William Frederick Stone

British stoker served aboard HMS Tiger, Atlantic Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1919-1922; served aboard HMS Hood on world cruise, 1922-1924; served aboard HMS Chrysanthemum, Mediterranean Fleet at Malta, 1925-1927; served aboard patrol boat HMS P40 in GB coastal waters, 1927-1929; served aboard HMS Eagle, Mediterranean Fleet at Malta, 1929-1931; petty officer served aboard aboard HMS Harebell, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1931-1933; served aboard HMS Thanet and HMS Tenedos of Reserve Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1933-1934; chief petty officer served aboard HMS Carlisle in Indian Ocean and South Atlantic, 1934-1937; served HMS Salamander, 5th Minesweeper Flotilla in English Channel, North Sea and Arctic, 1937-1942; served aboard HMS Newfoundland, 10th and 15th Cruiser Sqdns in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and United States of America, 1942-1944; served on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB and Germany, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Ledstone, GB, 1924-1943: social circumstances; education; employment as farm labourer; parents' refusal to allow enlistment as boy seaman in Royal Navy, 1915; driving jobs, including steam engines. Aspects of enlistment and training as seaman at Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, GB, 1918-1919: call-up for service with Royal Navy, 9/1918; kitting out; conditions of service; initial seamanship training; detachment to act as fireman during railway strike; hospitalisation with influenza; change from seaman to stoker division. Aspects of period as stoker aboard HMS Tiger, Atlantic Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1919-1922: coaling ship; duties as stoker; messdecks; food and canteen messing system; cruise to Gibraltar; boiler cleaning; stores work; making tobacco prique; Sunday Divisions; boxing activities. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as stoker aboard HMS Hood on world cruise, 1922-1924: running hair dressing 'firm'; duties on dynamos and telephone exchange; world cruise; sunstroke victims; 'Crossing the Line' ceremony; leave during visit to New Zealand; qualification as acting leading stoker; decision to extend period of naval service; size of ship. Aspects of period as stoker aboard HMS Chrysanthemum, Mediterranean Fleet at Malta, 1925-1927: towing fleet targets; spring cruise; visits ashore. Aspects of period as stoker aboard patrol boat HMS P40 in GB coastal waters, 1928-1929: buying car; training exercises with submarines; attending leading seaman course at Devonport, 1929. Aspects of period as leading stoker aboard HMS Eagle, Mediterranean Fleet at Malta, 1929-1931: work as boilermaker bricklayer; fitting out bathrooms; promotion to petty officer. Aspects of period as petty officer aboard HMS Harebell, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1931-1933: role as petty officer of watch; importance of captain to crew morale. Aspects of period as petty officer aboard HMS Thanet and HMS Tenedos of Reserve Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1933-1934: bad weather; passing examinations as chief petty officer. Aspects of period as chief petty officer aboard HMS Carlisle in Indian Ocean and South Atlantic, 1934-1937: cruises; visits ashore at Simonstown, South Africa; story of rescuing dockyard worker; duties running captain's motorboat. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as chief petty officer aboard HMS Salamander, 5th Minesweeper Flotilla in English Channel, North Sea and Arctic, 1937-1942: initial basing of minesweeper at Grimsby; role as chief petty officer stoker; marriage, 1938; trips to help evacuate troops from Dunkirk, France, 5/1940-6/1940, including engine problem, state of survivors; narrow escape from torpedo; minesweeping duties and shooting at surfaced mines; narrow escape from mine; Arctic convoys and period based at Archangel, Soviet Union including cold conditions and relationship with Soviets; leaving ship and her subsequent accidental bombing by Royal Air Force. Recollections of operations as chief petty officer aboard HMS Newfoundland, 10th and 15th Cruiser Sqdns in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and United States of America, 1942-1944: role with advance party prior to commission of cruiser at Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1942; electrical engines; inspections; behaviour of dockyard workers; role in charge of oil and water supply; code used in letters to wife; working up exercises; supporting landings at Sicily, Italy, 7/1943; story of being torpedoed by Italian submarine Ascianghi, 23/7/1943; damage control; repairs at Malta; voyage to United States of America; repairs at Boston, United States of America, 1943-1944; relationship with United States Navy personnel; leaving ship. Aspects of period as chief petty officer with Royal Navy on shore duties in GB and Germany, 1944-1945: duties at Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, GB, 1944-1945; period with naval party on Sylt Island, Germany, 1945; prior recollections of VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; role occupying ports; accommodation; relations with Germans; demobilisation, 8/1945; post-war career as hairdresser.