Description
Object description
British wireless operator served aboard HMS Belfast, Home Fleet, 1944; served aboard HMS Welfare, 5th Minesweeper Sqdn in Mediterranean, 1946-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Maltby, 1926-1942: social circumstances education; sporting and Boy Scouts activities; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; work as pony driver at colliery, 1940-1942; food rationing; background to volunteering as boy seaman despite reserved occupation status. Recollection sof period training as wireless operator at HMS St George Shore Station, Douglas, Isle of Man, ca 9/1942-12/1943: reception; chalet accommodation; food rations; relationship with instructors; drill; Morse code traaning; sailing cutters; rifle training; preparing for kit inspections; relationship with boy recruits; hair cut and visit to barber in Douglas; codes; signals training; wireless training; ship's routine; ban on smoking; passing out examinations; US wirelesses. Recollections of service as wireless operator aboard HMS Belfast, Home Fleet based at Scapa Flow, 1/1944-5/1944: first impressions on joining ship; boys messdeck and hammocks; nature of main wireless office; duties monitoring Admiralty wireless messages.
REEL 2 Continues: watch system; cinema shows; cleaning duties; general messing system and food; canteen; relationship with boys; move as ordinary wireless operator to main communications messdeck, 2/1944; locker and question of stealing; relationship with leading seamen, petty officers and officers; crew morale; pride in girlfriend; recreations; laundry; 'tiddly' uniform; attending US entertainer's performance at Scapa Flow canteen; sailing on Operation Tungsten off Norway, 3/1944, including 'blue nose' certificate for crossing Arctic circle, cold conditions and question of seasickness. Recollections of operations during D Day operations and off Normandy, France, ca 6/1944-7/1944: preparations; move in convoy to English Channel; personal morale; view of invasion fleet, 6/6/1944; effects of guns firing; role monitoring Admiralty messages and limited perspective of events; coastal bombardment by monitors.
REEL 3 Continues: noises from fighting; fatigue and story of wireless operator falling asleep; story of missing Admiralty message; ignorance of content of Admiralty messages; question of accuracy and speed in taking down Admiralty messages; relaxation of routine following success of landings; taking aboard wounded soldiers; use of wire to scrape hull in case of frogman mines; relationship with communications ratings and separation from lower deck; paying off, 8/1944. Aspects of period as wireless operator aboard HMS Welfare, 5th Minesweeping Flotilla operating in Mediterranean and based at Malta, 1946-1947: canteen messing and food; preference for small ships; minesweeping using paravane; fatal accident; wireless duties; visits ashore at Malta; news of VE Day while ashore at wireless station, 8/5/1945; call to sweep mines placed by Albanians in Corfu Channel. Review of various postings prior to demobilisation, 1956. Post-war career as teacher.