Description
Object description
British boy seaman and seaman served aboard HMS Belfast in GB coastal waters, in Arctic, during Normandy landings and Far East, 1942-1946; served aboard HMS Hart, HMS Black Swan and HMS Alert in Far East, 1946-1947; served aboard HMS Lundy in GB coastal waters, 1947-1948
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Kirby, Loughborough and Southampton, 1926-1941: family; education at naval school on River Hamble. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy seaman at HMS St George, 1941-1942: attitude to joining Royal Navy; start of training; discipline and accommodation; instructors; recreation in Douglas. Recollections of operations as boy seaman and seaman aboard HMS Belfast in GB coastal waters, Arctic, off Normandy and Far East, 1942-1946: drafting to ship, 1942; duties as boy seaman; cruising and action station; weather conditions; watch system; duties at sea; incident of clearing shell from gun; living conditions in boy's mess.
REEL 2 Continues: inspection of mess; lack of privileges for boy seamen; question of lack of information available; ship's cinema; personal morale during Atlantic storms; dealing with Arctic weather conditions; problem of water on mess deck during storms; censorship and frequency of mail; shore leave; facilities in Scapa Flow; entertainment on board; sports and seaman hobbies; use of ship's library; religious services; make and mend; memories of Captain Parham and other officers; rations available during Normandy landings, 6/1944.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of food and living conditions on board ship; memories of Battle of North Cape, 12/1943; reaction to sinking of Scharnhorst; bombardment duties off Normandy; beach clearance duties in Normandy, c9/6/1944; sight of D-Day landings, 6/6/1944; duties off Normandy beaches; incident of seaman being wounded in accident with anti-aircraft gun; shelling of ship by German artillery; refitting ship in South Shields; move to Pacific; accepting Japanese surrender of Pacific Islands, 1945; leaving ship, 1946; living conditions in mess in Far East. Aspects of period as leading seaman aboard HMS Hart, HMS Black Swan and HMS Alert in Far East, 1946-1947: effect of demobilisation of hostilities only personnel; conditions aboard ships including problems with cockroaches.
REEL 4 Continues: reasons for preference for service aboard smaller ships; attitude to serving in Far East; story of cinema visit in Japan; rescuing crew of ship during typhoon aboard HMS Hart; return to GB, 1947. Period as leading seaman aboard HMS Lundy in GB coastal waters, 1947-1948: clearing wrecks on Goodwin Sands; lack of fresh water available; attempts to rescue crew of submarine HMS Truculent. Discharge from Royal Navy as Petty Officer, c1954. Attitude to serving in Royal Navy.