Description
Object description
Australian seaman served aboard HMAS Hobart in Pacific, 1942-1943; served aboard HMAS Adelaide in Australian coastal waters, 1943; served aboard HMAS Woollengong in Indian Ocean and Pacific, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1922-1941: father's winning of Military Medal in First World War; Australia's connection with GB; importance of Anzac Day; awareness of situation in Germany and anticipation of coming war; employment and continuing interest in joining Royal Australian Navy; popular and parent's attitude towards declaration of Second World War. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Australian Navy in Australia, 1941-1942: enlistment in Royal Australian Navy, 30/6/1941; father's reaction to his enlistment; reasons for joining Royal Australian Navy; selection procedure; pay.
REEL 2 Continues: start of training; attitude towards Royal Navy; belief in ultimate victory; pattern of training; preference for cruisers; opinion of Japanese; reaction to fall of Singapore, Malaya, 15/2/1942. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMAS Hobart in Pacific, 1942-1943: drafting to cruiser at Sydney, Australia, 4/1942; initial impressions of ship; reception on arrival in mess.
REEL 3 Continues: mess; action station in magazine; role of senior member of mess; attitude towards prospect of encountering Imperial Japanese Navy; relations with American forces; cruising station; watches; mess mates; purchase of sewing machine to repair clothing; memories of Able Seaman Huskell London; how sailors were viewed by civilians; question of survival and personal morale; incident of chief petty officer suffering personal morale crisis during Battle of Coral Sea, 4/5/1942-8/5/1942; attitude to serving with Royal Australian Navy; importance of respecting officers; opinion of Captain Harry Howden; leaving Sydney, Australia for Coral Sea, 3/5/1942.
REEL 4 Continues: sight of USS Lexington during Battle of Coral Sea, 4/5/1942-8/5/1942; Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service air attacks; degree of knowledge prior to engaging Imperial Japanese Navy fleet; personal preparations; personal morale during Battle of Coral Sea, 4/5/1942-8/5/1942; receiving reports of battle and work in magazine; reaction to having participated in Battle of Coral Sea; Captain Harry Howden's leaving ship in Brisbane, Australia, 7/6/1942; promotional aspirations; importance of Battle of Coral Sea; lack of respect for Japanese; observing tradition.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of Captain Henry Showers; action station in director station; atmosphere during action; stations maintained; waiting at action station; leave in Australia; return to Sydney Harbour, Australia, 1943; torpedoing of ship by Imperial Japanese Navy submarine, I-11, Pacific, 17/7/1943; reaction to torpedoing, 17/7/1943.
REEL 6 Continues: procedure for abandoning ship; ship being taken in tow; reaction of crew to casualties and torpedoing of ship; return to family in Perth, Australia after torpedoing. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Woollengong in Australian coastal waters, Indian Ocean and Pacific, 1943-1946: five week period aboard HMAS Adelaide in Australian coastal waters; request for drafting to GB; friendships on board ship.
REEL 7 Continues: further details of leave after torpedoing of HMAS Hobart; passing on seamanship skills; boat race in Hong Kong whilst serving aboard corvette, HMAS Woollengong; change in role and pay as leading seaman; consequences of reporting seaman for not doing his duty; ashore in India; minesweeping duties in Indian Ocean; conditions on board corvette, HMAS Woollengong; memories of hearing of VE and VJ Days, 1945; arrival in Hong Kong, 8/1945.
REEL 8 Continues: participation in victory parade in Perth, Australia, 1945; return to civilian life, 1/1946; attitude to service in Royal Australian Navy in Second World War; prior recollection of responsibility as lookout aboard HMAS Hobart.