Interview with Sidney Pickett

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Description

Object description

British boy seaman served aboard HMS Duke of York, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1943; seaman served as signalman aboard HMS Drury, 4th Escort Group in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1943-1944; served on shore duties on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Pacific, 1945; served aboard HMS Belfast in Far East, 1946-1947; served as Admiral's Yeoman of Signals aboard HMS Belfast in Far East and off North and South Korea, 1950-1952

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Ilford and Street, GB, 1925-1941: family; education; evacuation to Street; family's move to Street; employment; role as messenger for Air Raid Precautions. Recollections of enlistment and training as boy seaman at HMS St George, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1941-1943: reasons for volunteering for communications branch, 10/1941; journey to Isle of Man; issue of uniform; kit inspections; punishments; starting smoking and dealing in cigarettes; educational and seamanship training; decision not to be telegraphist and become signalman; duties of signalman including use of semaphore; adjusting to service life. REEL 2 Continues: shore leave in Douglas; attitude to prospect of active service; reasons for delay in completing training. Aspects of period as signalman aboard HMS Duke of York, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 1943: drafting to ship in Scapa Flow, 2/1943; climbing up on mast; attitude of Leading Signalman 'Bunny' Edwards; messing arrangements in boy seamans' mess; effect of ship firing guns; patrols in Arctic; visits from King George VI; organisation of communications branch; eating arrangements in mess; duties as signalman; drafting to Plymouth. Recollections of operations as signalman aboard HMS Drury, 4th Escort Group in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1943-1944: area of operational deployment; German Air Force attack with glider bombs; degree of personal danger during wartime. REEL 3 Continues: conditions on board ship; size of mess; convoy duties from GB to Mediterranean; number of signalmen on board; actions stations and watches; dealing with fatigue; conformation of claims for sunken German submarines; leaving ship, 11/1944. Aspects of journey from GB to Australia, 12/1944-1/1945: voyage aboard HMT Ile De France from GB to United States of America, 12/1944; Christmas dinner with family in United States of America; train journey across United States of America; flights from San Francisco, United States of America to Australia via Hawaii; arrival in Sydney, Australia, 1/1945. Period as signalman on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, 1945: duties and distribution of signals; question of dealing with confidential signals; watch system; building boat and visit by entertainment ship; prior recollection of winning money at cards in Northern Island; leave in Australia. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as leading signalman aboard HMS Belfast in Far East, 1946-1947: joining ship in Hong Kong, 1946; initial impressions of ship; visits to China, Japan and Malaya; role as rum bosun; reasons why ship was a happy ship; messing arrangements. Recollections of operations as Yeoman of Signals aboard HMS Belfast in Far East and off North and South Korea, 1950-1952: initial drafting to HMS Ladybird in Sasebo, Japan, 1950; drafting to cruiser for naval shore bombardment duties; bombarding North Korean People's Army artillery positions; role of ship as Admiral's flagship; duties during bombardment of coastal positions. REEL 5 Continues: organisation of communications branch on board; role of signals distribution office and wireless telegraphers; ship's branches on capital ships; relations between branches; character of divisions; watch system; discipline; character of rum ration; importance and effects of rum; make and mend; seaman's embroidery; attending divisions; washing clothing; keeping in contact with family; playing 'Uckers'; leaving ship and drafting to GB, 1952. REEL 6 Continues: Reflections on service with Royal Navy: attitude to leaving Royal Navy, 1955; training prior to leaving Royal Navy and adjusting to return to civilian life, 1955; story of role in founding of HMS Belfast Association.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), 1945-1989 (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
White, Jo (Recorder)
Pickett, Sidney (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2003-04-04
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 24904

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Interview with Sidney Pickett

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