Burnett, Arthur (Oral history)

British midshipman served aboard HMS Belfast in GB coastal waters, Atlantic and Arctic, 1942-1943; served aboard HMS Duke of York in GB coastal waters, 1943; officer served aboard HMS Arethusa in GB coastal waters, 1944; served aboard HMS Manxman in Far East, 1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Ceylon and GB, 1922-1940: family; character of education; holiday activities; family origins and ancestral home; father's military service during First World War; mother's background; further details of education at Cheltenham College including sporting activities. REEL 2 Continues: membership of cadet corps; examinations; reasons for joining Royal Navy; interest in music; reaction to declaration of war, 3/9/1940; question of German governess spying, late 1930s; attitude to potential risks of serving in Royal Navy; anticipation of Second World War; mother's work with Red Cross; reasons for family move to London from Weybridge. Recollections of enlistment and training as naval cadet with Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 1940-1941: examinations and interview; reception at Royal Naval College. REEL 3 Continues: acquisition of uniform; use of hammocks; character of instructors; pattern of instruction; seamanship training; physical training and parading; training routine; visits to Torquay; adapting to naval discipline; character of fellow recruits; lecture on pursuit of Bismarck, 5/1941; social activities. Aspects of period as engineering midshipman at Devonport, 1941-1942: structure of term; character of accommodation in Plymouth. REEL 4 Continues: daily routine; character of engineering course; introduction of sea service for engineering midshipmen, 1942; attitude to prospect of sea service. Recollections of period as midshipman aboard HMS Belfast in GB coastal waters, Atlantic and Arctic, 1942-1943: background to drafting to ship in Scapa Flow; reception aboard ship; sleeping and eating in gun room; laundry facilities; personal hygiene; initial impressions of ship; question of what makes a happy ship; role of ship; issue of cold weather and anti-flash clothing; role of ship as flag ship; arrival of his cousin, Admiral Robert Lindsay Burnett; Admiral's address to crew prior to sailing to protect Arctic convoys; background to joining Admiral's staff, 1/1943; duties as acting flag lieutenant with Admiral's staff. REEL 5 Continues: amusing story of dispensing whiskey to captain; Admiral Burnett's choice of films; status as acting flag lieutenant; story relating to captain telling Admiral to be quiet; refuelling from US tanker in Iceland, 2/1943; use of capstan to raise anchor in Loch Ewe; visit by Russian Cossack dancers; watch duties on Admiral's bridge; clearing ice from ship in Arctic; seasickness; problems eating at sea; use of hammocks; promotion of Admiral Burnett from rear admiral to full admiral; Admiral's staff and accommodation; role of flag ship; ship's chain of command; organisation of naval branches and departments; rating's division. REEL 6 Continues: officer's responsibilities for ratings; watch keeping system aboard ship; role of engineering midshipmen; engineering department's watch system; degree to which midshipmen involved in watch keeping; relations with officers in ward room; relation between midshipmen and ratings; degree of contact with Captain Parham; amusing story relating to Royal Naval Reserve paymaster; discipline on board; role of Master at Arms; Sunday Divisions. REEL 7 Continues: 'make and mend'; rum ration; reasons for officers not being issued with rum; contrast between officer and ratings' recreations; deck hockey; censoring of mail; action stations; chain of command at action stations; convoy escort duties; precautions taken in cold and rough weather; amusing story relating to rough conditions in Arctic. Period as midshipman aboard HMS Duke of York in GB coastal waters, 1943: reasons for drafting to HMS Duke of York; memories of King George the Sixth to HMS Duke of York. Aspects of period as lieutenant aboard HMS Arethusa and HMS Manxman in GB coastal waters and Far East, 1944-1945: background to drafting to HMS Arethusa in Glasgow; drafting to HMS Manxman, 5/1945; memories of VE Day, 5/1945; 'crossing the line' ceremony; arrival in Tokyo Bay, 9/1945. REEL 8 Continues: role of HMS Manxman in Pacific; leaving HMS Manxman in Hong Kong; drafting to Australia to join HMS Duke of York, late 1945. Various aspects of career with Royal Navy, 1946-1963: training activities; drafting to Plymouth; role aboard training ship HMS Devonshire; salvaging burning tanker and receiving prize money; attending trial in St Helena; staff postings with Admiralty, 1950-1952 and 1960; adapting to civilian life on retirement, 1963. Pattern of civilian employment from 1963. Role of cousin Admiral Robert Lindsay Burnett during sinking of Scharnhorst at Battle of North Cape. Memories of fiftieth anniversary of sinking of Scharnhorst, 1993.