Interview with Stanley Hancox

British schoolchild in Acton, GB, 1939-1942; boy seaman trained at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, GB, 1942; served aboard HMS Icarus, 6th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, 3/1943-3/1944; served aboard submarine HMS Taku in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Acton, GB, 1925-1939: family life; education; hobbies; membership of Boy Scouts; family home; further details of family life; degree of awareness of situation in Europe during 1930s; mother's reaction to Munich Crisis, 1938; father's reaction to his elder brother joining British Union of Fascists and Abdication Crisis. REEL 2 Continues: call-up for military service of father and brothers on outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939. Aspects of period as schoolboy in Action, GB, 1939- 1942: blackout restrictions; hearing of sinking of HMS Courageous, 9/1939; duties as messenger boy with Air Raid Precautions; membership of the Sea Cadets; reasons for wanting to join Royal Navy; hearing of German invasion of the Low Countries; continuing education; school fellows wish to participate in Second World War; kudos of being a messenger with Air Raid Precautions; German Air Force raids in Action area; damage to family home from German Air Force bombing and presence of sightseers; wartime rumours; effects of German Air Force bombing and incendiary bombs; use of alcove in family home to sheltering. REEL 3 Continues: leaving school, 1942. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy seaman with HMS Collingwood, Fareham, GB, 1942-1943: enlistment; reception on arrival at HMS Collingwood; allocation to forecastle division; daily routine; marking of uniform and instruction on layout of kit; wearing of uniform; pattern of basic training; shore leave; parades; tailoring of uniform; adjusting to naval life; aim of training; passing out parade; mother's reaction to his volunteering. Recollections of operations as boy seaman aboard HMS Icarus, 6th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, 3/1943-3/1944: joining destroyer in Northern Ireland, 3/1943; classification of crew for rum ration. REEL 4 Continues: mess and watch allocations; duties; nature of defence and action stations on X gun; operation of X gun; watch system; organisation of seaman branch; character of mess; hygiene; conditions in No 2 Mess; canteen messing arrangements; inspection of mess; night clothing. REEL 5 Continues: discipline on board; incident when he was disciplined for falling into water; convoy escort duties; sinking of U-744, 6/3/1944; participating in interrogation of German prisoners of war from U-744; leaving ship, 3/1944; further details of sinking of U-744 in North Atlantic, 6/3/1944; weather conditions in North Atlantic; seasickness; recreational activities; ashore in Nova Scotia, Canada; contact with family. REEL 6 Continues: personalities on board; reasons why ship was a happy ship. Aspects of training with Submarine Service in GB, 1944: torpedo training at HMS Vernon (R), Roedean, Brighton; submarine escape training at HMS Dolphin, Gosport; pattern of submarine training at HMS Elfin, Blyth. Recollections of operations as torpedoman aboard submarine HMS Taku in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1944-1945: reasons for joining gun crew of submarine; duties; composition of crew; role of petty officer of the watch; role of duty watches; his diving station in torpedo compartment; incident when torpedo compartment became flooded; initial impressions on joining submarine. REEL 7 Continues: living conditions on board; state of bread and opinion of cooks; messing arrangements; removal of 'gash'; quality of air on board submarine; uniform worn; discipline on board; recreational activities on board and ashore; rum ration; 'make and mend'; observation of naval customs; conditions on board after patrol. REEL 8 Continues: tradition of flying Jolly Roger in submarines; operational duties off Norway, 1944-1945. Aspects of period as stoker with Submarine Service in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1945-1949: service in T Class submarines in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean; use of snorkel mast; discharge from service, 1949; work with Palestine Patrol; reception in Southern France; leaving Royal Navy, 1949; attitude to serving with Submarine Service; return to civilian life; period on Royal Navy Reserve; attitude to service in Royal Navy.