Howe, Bernard (Oral history)

British gunnery rating served aboard ML 294, ML 597, MTB 739 and MTB 2013 operating in English Channel and based on East Coast, GB, 1942-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Finchley, London, 1923-1942: social circumstances; education; sporting activities and recreations; work as plumber's apprentice, 1937-1939; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; work in stores of piston factory, 1939-1940; background to decision to join Royal Navy; work as butcher, 1941-1942; Anderson shelter; question of German air raids; blackout; work as volunteer with ARP based at Summerside School; food rationing and effect on work as butcher; background to volunteering to join RN, 9/1941; call up, 4/1942. REEL 2 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at HMS Collngwood Shore Station, Fareham, 4/1942-7/1942: kitting out; hut accommodation; morning routine; food rations; knots, splices and mooring ship; boxing compass; parts of ship; rowing raining; climbing masthead; signalling; drill; PT; rifle training; preparing for kit inspections; relationship with recruits and instructor; canteen; drinking habits and visits to Fareham. REEL 3 Continues: 'shore' leave system; volunteering for gunnery training. Period at Victory Barracks, Portsmouth, 7/1942. Period at HMS Christopher Shore Station, Fort William, 7/1942-8/1942: billets; backyard to volunteering for submarines, failing medical and posting to MTB service; training on MLs; aircraft recognition; comparison of role of MLs and MTBs. Recollections of training at HMS Excellent Gunnery Training School, Whale Island, 8/1942-9/1942: nature of disciplinary regime; barrack rooms; training on Oerlicken gun; deflection shooting; training on pom-pom and 6pdr guns. REEL 4 Continues: training on 6pdr and Lewis gun; question of training on 4" gun; safety precautions; importance of power of command and question of commission; shore patrols and fights in vicinity of Pneumonia Bridge, Gosport; guard duty; passing out as 3rd class gunnery rating. Period at HMS Hornet Shore Station, Gosport, 9/1942-10/1942. Period as gunnery rating aboard ML 294 on east coast, 10/1942-11/1943: ML armaments; nature of messdecks; latrines and importance of cleanliness. REEL 5 Continues: Continues: daily routine in harbour; canteen messing system and food; visits ashore; night patrols escorting east coast convoys; duties on after Oerlicken gun; story of picking up ditched airman; relationship with lower deck and officers; visits to various east coast towns during convoys. Period as able seaman aboard ML 597, 11/1943-2/1944. Period in gunnery course at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, 4/1944. Recollections of period aboard MTB 739, 4/1944-1/1945: nature of MTB and composition of flotilla; story of sinking of MTB 724 in accidental fire incident with French destroyer; story of ruse posing as German boat during raid on L'Orient, France; story of firing star shells over Channel islands; role dropping and picking up spies on French and Belgian coast; nature of clashes with E-Boats; role laying mines prior to D-Day. REEL 6 Continues: role guarding minesweepers prior to passage of invasion fleet, 5/6/1944-6/6/1944; shore bombardment by HMS Warspite; story of suffering damage in action with German R-Boat, 11/6/1944; survivors leave during repairs; personal morale; move to Plymouth; relationship with lower deck and officers; rum ration; course prior to promotion to leading seaman. Recollections of period as leading seaman aboard MTB 2013, 3/1945-6/1946: story of disciplining troublesome seaman; relationship wit lower deck and petty officers; taking surrender from E-Boats at Bergen, Norway, 8/5/1945; story of protecting Norwegian women accused of collaboration with German troops; crew morale; civilian open days in British coastal towns. REEL 7 Continues: story of harbour fire and casualties amongst MTBs during service aboard MTB 739; question of posting to Far East; question of career in RN. Demobilisation, 6/1946. Post-war career: work as lumberjack and tree surgeon; career in building trade; effects of naval service; membership of Royal Naval Association.