Description
Object description
Australian seaman served aboard HMAS Hobart in Pacific, 1942-1943; served aboard HMAS Mercedes in Australian coastal waters, 8/1943-6/1944; served aboard HMAS Quiberon in Indian Ocean and Pacific, 1944-1945; served aboard HMAS Quiberon with British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan, 9/1945-8/1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Palestine and Australia, 1921-1939: family origins in Palestine; family; education; employment; awareness of situation for Jews in Europe; question of nature of anti-Semitism in Australia; attitude towards British monarchy and Royal Navy; joining Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve; desire to enlist in Royal Australian Navy; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as seaman with Royal Australian Navy, 1940: background to enlistment; reputation of seamen; marriage; uniforms.
REEL 2 Continues: enlistment in Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, 30/6/1941; training in HMAS Leeuwin, Fremantle; attitude to service in Royal Australian Navy; motivation during service with Royal Australian Navy; opinion of German successes and confidence in eventual victory; reaction to Japan's entry into war and fall of Singapore, Malaya, 15/2/1942; importance of Battle of Coral Sea, 4/5/1942-8/5/1942; preference for destroyer service prior to drafting. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMAS Hobart in Pacific, 3/1942-7/1943: character of cruiser; drafting to cruiser, 3/1942; opinion of Captain Harry Howden.
REEL 3 Continues: reasons why ship was a happy one; role of sea daddy; defence station and action stations; description of turret; gunnery course; work of gun crew and firing of guns; Captain Harry Howden's briefing prior to Battle of Coral Sea, 4/5/1942; pipes; method of directing ship's fire; ship's officers; degree of awareness of Imperial Japanese Navy Fourth Fleet prior to Battle of Coral Sea; ship's asdic; importance of teamwork; anti-flash gear worn.
REEL 4 Continues: voyage from Australia to Papua New Guinea; opinion of Americans; start of Battle of Coral Sea, 4/5/1942; ship's movements during action; Captain Harry Howden's communication with crew during action; intensive nature of action; religious outlook and personal morale; case of crewman who broke down.
REEL 5 Continues: detachment from main force; impressions of United States Navy aircraft carriers and recovery after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; situation after battle; return to Brisbane; refitting in Sydney; cigarette allocation; ship maintenance and captain's rounds; story of reporting seaman during later service aboard HMS Quiberon; growing confidence; Captain Harry Howden's leaving ship, 7/6/1942.
REEL 6 Continues: use of Great Barrier Reef as forward base; role with United States Navy Task Force 62.2 during Guadalcanal Campaign; shore bombardment of Japanese forces' positions during landings on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 8/1942; noise during actions; nature of targets at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; attitude towards landings at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; role of leading seaman.
REEL 7 Continues: reactions to Imperial Japanese Navy submarine attacks on Sydney Harbour, 5/1942-6/1942; ship's duties, 1942-1943; awareness of situation in Papua New Guinea; relations with American service personnel; difference in rugby played by crew and officers; attitude towards Japanese; promotion to gun layer on twin BL 14 Inch Naval Gun; operation of BL 14 Inch Naval Gun; area of operation off Great Barrier Reef; attitude to prospect of action; move to Solomon Islands, 1943.
REEL 8 Continues: torpedoing of ship by Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-11, 20/7/1943; damage to ship; sound of torpedo exploding; roll call to establish casualties; sentimentality of sailors; belief that torpedo was aimed at HMAS Australia; reaction to loss of shipmates; repairs to ship and size of hole; method of keeping ship seaworthy; return voyage to Australia.
REEL 9 Continues: attitude to torpedoing of ship; family's attitude to his service with Royal Australian Navy; question of degree of Japanese threat to Australia; awareness of situation in Europe; wartime marriages. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMAS Mercedes in Australian coastal waters, 8/1943-6/1944: character of Royal Australian Navy minesweepers; drafting to minesweeper in Fremantle, 8/1943; opinion of quality of officers and crew; coaling ship.
REEL 10 Continues: situation in Darwin; daily routine; promotion to leading seaman. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Quiberon, Eastern Fleet and British Pacific Fleet in Indian Ocean and Pacific, 6/1944-8/1945: drafting to destroyer, 6/1944; reception on arrival on board; treatment of seamen on joining ship; first lieutenant's request that he become shipwright.
REEL 11 Continues: duties as gun layer on A Gun; character of crew; voyage to Trincomalee, Ceylon; shore bombardment of Nicobar Islands, 10/1944; convoy escort duties for American transport vessel in Indian Ocean; friendship with crewmate; strength of service friendships; captain's briefing at sea; impressions of Bombay, India; treatment of venereal disease cases.
REEL 12 Continues: beggars in Bombay, India; shore police; drinking; opinion of British Pacific Fleet; move to Pacific, 1/1945; nature of destroyer's roles, including protecting aircraft carriers from Japanese Kamikaze attacks; awareness of war in Europe; under Japanese Kamikaze attack off Okinawa Island, Japan; attitude towards Japanese Kamikaze pilots.
REEL 13 Continues: last effort of Imperial Japanese Navy; Japanese Kamikaze aircraft that crashed into sea between ship and aircraft carrier; role of gun layer during action; prior recollection of breakdown of crewman on board HMAS Hobart; closing up of ship at dusk; reaction to end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; question of reasons for Japan entering Second World War; opinion of Soviet Union; opinion of British Pacific Fleet; opinion of French Navy.
REEL 14 Continues: reaction to end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; attitude to being leading seaman; captain's inspections; hearing of and reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Quiberon, British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan, 9/1945-8/1946: ship's duties after end of Second World War; impressions of Japan; shore leave; attitude towards Japanese; destruction of Imperial Japanese Navy submarines.
REEL 15 Continues: visit to Hiroshima, 1946; attitude of Japanese towards occupying forces; wish to return to civilian life; seasickness amongst new sailors in transit to Japan; return to Australia, 8/1946; effects on character of naval service; effects of Second World War; opinion of Cold War; question of understanding of others experiences.
REEL 16 Continues: opinion of situation in Middle East; attitude to participation in Second World War.