Pickering, Eric (Oral history)

British seaman served aboard HMS Aylmer operating in Atlantic and Western Approaches, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Manchester, 1924-1942: social circumstances; education; work as van boy for laundry; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; Anderson shelter and effects of German air raids; rationing; background o volunteering underage to join Royal Navy, 3/1942. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during training at HMS Ganges Shore Station, Shotley, 3/1942-6/1942: kitting out; barrack accommodation; rowing cutters; food rations; drill; seamanship including knots; swimming test; mast head drill; gunnery training on 6" gun; rifle and pistol training; signal training; swinging lead; canteen; preparing for kit inspections. REEL 2 Continues: PT; relationship with recruits and instructors; story of singing on bus from Ipswich back to camp; assessment system and question of commission. Period at Chatham Barracks, 6/1942-8/1942: permanent staff; conditions of service; discipline; fatigues; drafting procedure;. Period with shore party at Reykjavik, Iceland, 8/1942-8/1943: voyage out aboard Leinster; guard duties on food depot; story of fight with US servicemen and subsequent consequences; unloading ships in docks; hut accommodation; relationship with Icelandic civilians; climate. Period in Chatham Barracks, 8/1943-9/1943: leave; dancehalls. Voyage aboard Queen Mary to New York, US, 9/1943: duties on Oerlicken gun; conditions. REEL 3 Continues: Period at Fargo Barracks, Boston, US, 1943: food rations; recreations and US hospitality; relationship with US sailors and civilians. Recollections of initial service aboard HMS Aylmer, 10/1943-3/1944: status as Chatham Home Port rating on Devonport ship; question of welded construction; messsdeck and question of US facilities; assignment to general seaman duties; paining ship; action stations as breech loader on 3" gun; sea trials; working up trials at Bermuda; effects of hurricane including rolling, necessity of steering from stern and securing damaged mast; repairs at Boston; escorting convoy back to GB; opinion of Commander Campbell and story of his dispute with Captain Macintyre; nature of bridge and masthead lookout duties. REEL 4 Continues: masthead lookout duty; duties assisting quartermaster on ship's wheel. Recollection of operations aboard HMS Aylmer with 5th Escort Group based at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 3/1944-5/1945: anti-submarine role; cafeteria messing system and food; rum ration; cocoa; cigarettes; recreations; latrines; washing clothes; question of photographs; watch system; fatigues; visits ashore and relationship with Irish civilians; duties on depth charges; successful night action with U Boat, 6/5/1944; anti-aircraft course including Oerlicken gun; role during D Day operations, 6/1944; view of sinking and rescue of survivors from HMS Mourne, 13/6/1944; anti-submarine role. REEL 5 Continues: background and Commander Bert Taylor's subsequent justification for ramming and sinking U1051 in Irish Sea, 26/1/1945; repairs in Gladstone Dock, Liverpool, 1/1945-3/1945; arrest of petty officer for act of sabotage; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; voyage with skeleton crew to US. Period aboard HMS Dungeness, 1945-1946: cancellation of intended Far East posting; story of dispute with police whilst on shore leave in Panama; duties as petty officers' messman. Demobilisation, 4/1946. Post-war career: refusal of job offered at Laundry; work as council labourer and builder; importance of comradeship in Royal Navy.