Description
Object description
British boy telegraphist trained at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 1954-1956; served aboard HMS Loch Killisport in GB coastal waters and Persian Gulf, 1956-1957; telegraphist served aboard HMS Appleton in Mediterranean, 1957; radio operator served aboard HMS Forth and HMS Narvik at Malta, 1958-1960; served aboard HMS President, London, GB, 1961-1962; trained at HMS Dolphin, Gosport, GB, 1963; served aboard submarine HMS Anchorite in Malaysia during Indonesian Confrontation, 1963-1966; served aboard submarines HMS Astute and HMS Oppotune in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1967-1974
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Eastbourne and Beverley, GB, 1939-1954: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy telegrapher at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 1954-1956: reasons for joining Royal Navy; arrival at HMS Ganges; issue of uniform; question of homesickness; discipline; instructor boys; grouping of boys; Morse Code aptitude tests; attitude to completing six weeks basic training; adjusting to naval life; question of bullying; high standards expected at HMS Ganges; description of 'Shotley Routine'; 'scrupping' treatment of dirty recruits; climbing mast; punishment for escaping from hospital isolation ward; attitude to training at HMS Ganges; description of daily routine.
REEL 2 Continues: telegraphist training; physical training; Sunday Divisions; washing facilities; evening activities; pay; weekend activities; description of naval uniform; contact with families; messing arrangements; final kit muster. Aspects of period as boy telegraphist aboard HMS Loch Killisport in GB coastal waters and Persian Gulf 1956-1957: drafting to ship; an illustration of humour on board; character of boys' mess; ship's damaging of royal yacht at Bahrain; messing arrangements; move to Communications Branch mess; duties.
REEL 3 Continues: organisation of wireless office; training on board; watchkeeping system; telegraphist work in wireless office; priority signal system; keeping signal log; adjusting to job; character of voyage from GB to Persian Gulf; ashore in Cape Town, South Africa; duties in Persian Gulf; recreational activities including catching sharks; passing telegraphist exam in Dubai; lectures on sexuality transmitted diseases; visits to Basra, Iraq; presence of French Somali seamen on board; receiving long signal to divert through Suez Canal, Egypt; return to GB, 7/1957.
REEL 4 Continues: drafting to HMS Mercury, Leydene House, East Meon. Aspects of period as telegraphist aboard HMS Appleton in Mediterranean, 1957: drafting to minesweeper; move to Cyprus; duties with boarding party during anti-gun running patrols; stopping Italian passenger vessel; number of boardings carried out; method of illuminating ships; return to GB; question of being drafted to Mediterranean. Aspects of period as telegraphist aboard HMS Forth and HMS Narvik in Malta, 1958-1960: drafting to submarine depot ship; problems of being married; obtaining salvage money; trips on board submarines; lifestyle in Malta; drafting to HMS Narvik; duties encrypting messages to submarines; return to GB, 1960. Aspects of period as radio operator at HMS President, London, GB, 1961-1962: drafting to HMS President; communications duties; story of telegraphist who had dated model Mandy Rice-Davies at the time of the Profumo Affair, 1963; reasons for volunteering for submarines. Aspects of submarine training at HMS Dolphin, Gosport, GB, 1963: keeping physically fit.
REEL 5 Continues: nature of submarine training; continuation training at HMS Dolphin; description of submarine escape training tank and escape training; problems training Royal Australian Navy submariners. Recollections of operations as radio operator aboard submarine, HMS Anchorite during Indonesian Confrontation, 1964-1966: move to Singapore, Malaysia; impressions of shore establishment, HMS Terror in Singapore, Malaysia; settling in of family in Singapore, Malaysia; working up as crew; sleeping arrangements; description of conditions on board submarine.
REEL 6 Continues: bunk space; duties in wireless office, on bridge and as member of guns crew; need to check for sea snakes on surfacing; duties as radio operator; taking on stores for war patrols; watchkeeping system operated; effects of lack on water on board and washing; toilet facilities; food available and role of chefs; noise on board; effect of extension of patrol by two weeks; work with Special Boat Service; problems of operating in typhoon; threat to family living in Malaysia.
REEL 7 Continues: incidents during service; crew member with claustrophobia; skill of sonor operators; effects of high temperatures on board; water rations on board; beer and rum rations; topping up with water in Bahrain; reasons for billeting ashore in port; leaving Republic of Singapore, 1966. Recollections of petty officer aboard submarines HMS Astute and HMS Opportune in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1967-1974: drafting to HMS Astute, 1967; duties in control room; change in status as senior rate; training exercises; intelligence gathering of Soviet Navy's activities; tracking Soviet Navy submarines; communications; operating in bad weather conditions in Faeroes Gap in North Atlantic; operating in boxes; atmosphere amongst submarine crews.
REEL 8 Continues: nature of covert operations; contact with ex-Soviet Navy submariners after end of Cold War; conditions on board Soviet Navy submarines; details of post-service trip to Soviet submarine base and museum; knowledge of location during operations; pattern of service during Cold War; promotion to warrant officer. Aspects of service with Royal Navy in GB, 1974-1985: duties as instructor at HMS Mercury, Leydene House, East Meon; work as signals communications officer for submarine squadron; attitude to leaving Royal Navy, 1985; adjusting to civilian life.
