Maddeford, Gordon Roy (Oral history)

Australian seaman served aboard HMAS Hobart in Far East, 1942-1943; served aboard HMAS Adelaide in Australian coastal waters, 1943; served aboard HMAS Woollengong in Far East, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1922-1940: 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 navy; popular and parent's attitude towards declaration of Second World War. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Australian Navy in Australia, 1940-1942: enlistment in Royal Australian Navy, 12/1940; father's reaction to his enlistment; reasons for joining 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, 2/1942. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMAS Hobart in Far East, 1942-1943: drafting to ship at Sydney, 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 Japanese; relations with American forces; cruising station; watches; mess mates; purchase of sewing machine to repair clothing; memories of Jack 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; attitude to serving with navy; importance of respecting officers; opinion of Captain Harry Howden; leaving Sydney for Battle of Coral Sea, 5/1942. REEL 4 Continues: sight of USS Lexington during Battle of Coral Sea; Japanese air attacks; degree of knowledge prior to engaging Japanese fleet; personal preparations; personal morale during Battle of Coral Sea; receiving reports of battle and work in magazine; reaction to having participated in Battle of Coral Sea; captain's leaving ship in Brisbane; promotional aspirations; importance of Battle of Coral Sea; lack of respect for Japanese; observing tradition. REEL 5 Continues: opinion of Captain Harry Showers; action station in director station; atmosphere during action; stations maintained; waiting at action station; leave in Australia; return to Sydney Harbour, 1943; torpedoing of ship by Japanese submarine, 7/1943; reaction to torpedoing, 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 after torpedoing. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Woollengong in Australia and Far East, 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 Adelaide; passing on seamanship skills; boat race in Hong Kong whilst serving aboard 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 HMAS Woollengong; memories of hearing of VE and VJ Days; arrival in Hong Kong, 8/1945. REEL 8 Continues: participation in victory parade in Perth, 1945; return to civilian life, 1/1946; attitude to service in Royal Australian Navy in Second World War. Responsibility as lookout aboard HMAS Hobart.