Interview with Geoffrey English

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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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Description

Object description

British seaman served aboard HMS Duke of York, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters and Caribbean, 1947-1949; served aboard HMS Whitesand Bay in Far East and during Korean War, 1950-1953; served as crewman aboard Royal Yacht Britannia worldwide, 1960-1972

Content description

REEL 1 Background in St Albans and Watford, GB, 1929-1943: discovery as foundling, 4/1929; childhood spent in orphanage; reasons for being sent to Arethusa II Naval Training School, Upnor, 1943. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Duke of York, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters and Caribbean, 1947-1949: drafting to battleship ship after training as boy seaman at HMS St George, Douglas, Isle of Man; duties; conditions during storm during visit to Norway; discipline and punishment on board; use of recreational time; mess life; pay. REEL 2 Continues: compulsory purchases; gunnery course at Royal Naval Gunnery School, HMS Excellent, Whale Island. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Whitesand Bay in Far East and during Korean War, 1950-1953: drafting to ship in Singapore. Federation of Malaya; shore bombardment duties in Federation of Malaya; role as gun layer; gun crew; watch system worked off Korean Peninsula; ship's duties off North Korea; conditions on board; wartime compliments; landing troops in North Korea; running aground; canteen messing; washing facilities; clothing worn and ship's discipline; shore leave in Japan. REEL 3 Continues: visits to Japanese brothels; attitude of Royal Navy towards visiting brothels; coping with winter climate off Korea; summer conditions in Far East; shore bombardment duties off North Korean; dealing with wounded Koreans on board; incident in mess in which wounded seaman was then transferred off ship; ashore in Seoul, South Korea; off duty recreational activities; visit to ship's cinema; attitude to having serving in Korean War; return to GB aboard troopship HMT Windrush; draftings after return to GB, 1953-1954; leaving Royal Navy, 1954 and re-enlisting 1957. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as crewman aboard Royal Yacht Britannia, 1960-1972: background to joining Royal Yacht Britannia after service aboard HMS Carysfort; duties on board; contact with Royal Family; service on board; watch system; accommodation and food on board; countries visited; lack of restrictions on shore visits. Reflections on service with Royal Navy, 1945-1972: attitude to Royal Navy service; question of what makes a happy ship; relations between officers and other ranks on Royal Yacht; membership of British Korean Veterans Association and HMS Whitesand Bay Association.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
White, Jo (Recorder)
English, Geoffrey (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2004-01-09
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 26604

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Interview with Geoffrey English

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