McEvoy, William (Oral history)

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

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Birkenhead and Seacombe, 1925-1943: social circumstances; education; work as butcher's delivery boy, 1939-1941; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; food rationing and black market; Anderson shelter; acting as assistant fire watcher with ARP and story of incendiary bomb; effects of German air raids; work as labourer in flour mills, 1941-1943; story of volunteering to join Royal Navy, 28/4/1943. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at HMS Raleigh Shore Station, Torpoint, 4/1943-6/1943: reception and kitting out; question of volunteer recruits deciding to not enlist; hut accommodation; food rations; drill. REEL 2 Continues: gunnery and seamanship training; PT and assault course; fatigues and fire piquet duty; inspections and orders to shave before 'going ashore'; pay; story of getting drunk on cider in Devonport; relationship with recruits and instructors; personal morale; leave. Recollections of period at Stockheath Camp, Havant, 7/1943: conditions of service; ruses to evade working parties. Voyage aboard Mauretania to New York, US, 8/1943: failed attempt to visit home after joining ship in Liverpool; seasickness; hammocks. Period at HMS Asbury Shore Station, Asbury park, 8/1943-9/1943: hotel accommodation ; visit to cinema; acting as beach lifeguard. REEL 3 Period at Boston and Fraser Barracks, Boston, 9/1943: conditions of service; working parties preparing HMS Foley for commissioning; first impressions of Captain class frigates; US hospitality and 'Buddys Club'. Recollections of initial service as ordinary seaman aboard HMS Foley, 9/1943-12/1943: commissioning ceremony; nature of messdeck; sleeping in hammock in after tiller flat; question of US facilities and refit to provide more depth charges on return to GB; question of all welded construction; sea trials; cruising stations on 'B' 3" gun; prior gunnery training at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, 6/1943-7/1943; 3" gun drill; opinion of 3" gun; bridge and masthead lookout duty; action stations on 'X' 3" gun; ship's rolling ; working up trials at Bermuda, 9/1943, including abandon ship exercise. REEL 4 Continues: working up trials at Bermuda, 9/1943, including story of 10 A punishment for dropping pliers overboard and visits ashore; escorting convoy back to GB, 10/1943, including sinking of U538 by depth charges and necessity of replenishing supply of depth charges at sea; watch system; refit at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Recollections of operations aboard HMS Foley with B4 and 10th Escort Groups based at Londonderry, 12/1943-6/1945: role as 'canteen boat'; opinions of various officers including Lieutenant Commanders Donald Mansfield and Charles Bird, Lieutenants Eric Bindon-Ayres, John Davis and Ian Stewart; story of drunken officers causing alarm by setting of thunder flashes in Gibraltar harbour; story of officer entertaining women aboard ship in harbour; relationship with crews of B4 EG; sea trials; being caught malingering to smoke cigarettes; relationship with petty officers and story of patrol with leading seaman in Belfast. REEL 5 Continues: role of B3 EG escorting convoys to Gibraltar; story of dragging anchor and night ashore; visits ashore in Gibraltar and Londonderry; relationship with Irish civilians; leave in Birkenhead; anti-submarine operations with 10th EG; use of hedgehog projector; Foxer anti-acoustic mine device; attempt to detonate floating mine; food; rum ration. REEL 6 Continues: cocoa; washing cloths; showers; latrines; recreations including 'ukkers'; malingering; story of sinking U boat and rescue of member of ditched Sunderland crew, 28/4/1945; belated knowledge and celebrations of VE Day, 10/8/1945; thefts from local pubs; ship's pet dog; duties as quartermaster and on wheel; 'showing the flag' cruise round Norway; escorting surrendered U boats. Periods in West Lea and Stockheath Camps, Havant, 7/1945-9/1945: frequent leave; ruse to evade draft. REEL 7 Period aboard HMS Wolfe based at Malta, 9/1945-6/1946: joining ship at Portsmouth; selection for duties on captain's motorboat; duties in regulating petty officer's office; ruse to get extra rum ration; duties as messman to master of arms; role as submarine depot ship; voyage out to Malta; masthead duty; inexperienced crew; visits ashore at Malta. Demobilisation, 7/1946. Post-war career: return to work at flour mills; difficulty in acclimatising to civilian lifestyle; organisation of HMS Foley reunions; membership of Captain Class Association.