Description
Object description
British writer served aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters, Arctic, Mediterranean, Far East and Pacific, 1941-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Maske-by-the-Sea and Lytham St Annes, GB, 1922-1941: family; education; move to Lytham St Annes, 1933; employment as trainee reporter. Aspects of enlistment and training as writer with Royal Navy in GB, 1941: volunteering for Royal Navy, 6/1941; training at Chatham and HMS Pembroke at Borstal. Recollections of operations as writer aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean, Far East and Pacific, 1941-1945: background to drafting to aircraft carrier at Scapa Flow; initial impressions of carrier; number of writers and crew on board; memories of ship's captain; duties in Captain's Office; cypher work; facilities ashore at Scapa Flow; regulating staff on board; tombola; convoy escort duties in Arctic, early 1942; actions stations; reaction to threat of mines; allocation of Carley Float; working day.
REEL 2 Continues: damage to ship whilst operating in Arctic, early 1942; move to ship's office and avoiding drafting away from ship; participation in Operation Pedestal in Mediterranean, 8/1942; sight of sinking of HMS Eagle, 8/1942; relations with Fleet Air Arm on board; discussions of hunting of Bismarck amongst crew; contact with family; degree of knowledge of actions and recieving monthly intelligence report; participation in North African landings; move to US, 12/1942; refitting of aircraft carrier in US; contrast in conditions of US and Royal Navy personnel; moving through Panama Canal; ashore in Panama City.
REEL 3 Continues: arrival in Pearl Harbor; changes in procedures; attempts to draw Japanese Fleet out to fight; opinion of Japanese forces; desertion of crew members in San Diego; attacks on Tirpitz in Norway; joining British Far Eastern Fleet; effects of loss of air crews during attacks on oil refineries in Dutch East Indies, 1/1945; auctioning of personal effects after death of ratings; reaction to Japanese kamikaze attacks; move into Pacific.
REEL 4 Continues: attacks on airfields on Formosa; operating in Pacific and use of fleet train; concern over prospect of invading Japan; question of isolation of operating in Pacific; importance of visable British naval presence in Far East; destruction of aircraft during move to Australia, 8/1945; state of ex-POWs; transporting war brides; reaction to leaving ship, 1946; reasons for refusing commission and not wanting to stay in Royal Navy; return to civilian life, 1946; lessons learnt from service with Royal Navy; question of homosexuality on board ship; demobilisation, 1946.