Taylor, Ken (Oral history)

British wireless operator served aboard HMS Formidable, 1940-1941; served aboard HMS Gore, 1944-1945; served aboard HMS Glenearn, 1945-1946; served at wireless station at HMS Commonwealth Shore Station, Kure, Japan, 1946-1949served at HMS Tamar Shore Station, Hong Kong, 1949; served at HMS Mercury Signal School, Petersfield, 1949-1950; served aboard HMS Thesus in Yellow Sea, 1950-1951; served with British North Greenland Expedition, Queen Louise Land, Greenland, 1952-1955; served with Royal Navy wireless station at Whitehall, London, 1955-1956; served with HMS Aphrodite Shore Station, Cyprus, 1956; served at wireless station at Malta, 1956-1957; served at Signal School, HMS Mercury, GB, 1957-1959; served aboard HMS Trafalgar, 7th Destroyer Flotilla, 1959-1961; served as cryptographic instructor at HMS Mercury Signal School, Fareham, GB, 1961-1963

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Rye and Edmonton, London, 1923-1939: social circumstances; education; paper and milk rounds; work for father's electrical shop, 1937-1939; swimming activities; recreations; awareness of approach of war, 1938; family attitudes to racism and pacifism; medical on enlistment into Royal Navy, 8/1938; call up, 2/1939. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at HMS Ganges Shore Station, Shotley, 2/1939-5/1940: reception; hair cut; uniform; first night; kitting out; drill; pride in RN; hut accommodation. REEL 2 Continues: food; cleaning duties; PT including gymnasium, cross country run and boxing; swimming test; education classes; examinations and qualification for wireless training; seamanship including knots and splices and rowing cutters; sailing whalers and story of collision with wooden decoy submarine; masthead drill; religious education as part of balanced training philosophy of RN; Morse code training; method of identifying Morse operators using cathode ray tube patterns; wireless procedure including use of Morse signals to manoeuvre fleet, administrative signals and control of gunfire; codes and ciphers. REEL 3 Continues: swimming classes and sporting activities; labelling kit; preparing for kit inspections; pay; visits to Harwich and Ipswich; ban on smoking; punishments; laundering uniform in river; punishment drill on Laundry Hill; relationship with boy recruits; importance of personal cleanliness; hospitalisation and medical treatment for attack of rheumatic fever; relationship with officers; education classes and naval traditions; filling sandbags for air raid shelters; news of outbreak of war and air raid warning during leave, 3/9/1939. REEL 4 Continues: air raid shelters; duty cleaning 6" gun battery; promotion to leading boy; cinema. Recollections of period at HMS Impregnable Shore Station, St Budeaux, Devonport, 5/1940-10/1940: background to granting of permission to smoke; assessment; question of length of training as pre-war regulars. Period at HMS Victory Barracks, Portsmouth, 10/1940: opinion of permanent staff; doubling over parade grounds; drafting procedure. Recollections of initial period aboard HMS Formidable, 1940-1941: first impressions on joining ship at Belfast, Northern Ireland, 11/1940; boys' messdeck; immediate status on wireless watch; organisation of signal officers and centralised wireless system; continuation of instruction; story of checking hydrophones inside hull double skin; hammocks; sea trials; degauzing at Scapa Flow; question of seasickness in Pentland Firth; constipation at sea. REEL 5 Continues: operations tracking Admiral Scheer in Atlantic; Christmas dinner, 25/12/1940; visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone; 'crossing the line' ceremony; watch system and cleaning messdeck; general messing system and food; bathroom showers; washing clothes in bucket; question of promotion; absence of stealing; relationship with boys, petty officers and officer; posting to wireless distribution and control of guns; posting to Mediterranean; hospitality of South African civilians during visit to Capetown, South Africa; air strikes launched on Italian Somaliland; training as direction finding operator using wireless signal to steer ship; method of using LMI DF set; personal practice routine for emergencies; water polo match; precautions against magnetic mines whiles passing through Suez Canal. REEL 6 Recollections of period with Eastern Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria, Egypt, 1941-: stories of shore leave and recreations in Alexandria; unofficial punishment for staying ashore late; nature of Stuka attacks; headache; food; receiving signal reporting sighting of Italian Fleet prior to Battle of Matapan, ???; Italian frogman attacks on HMS Valiant in harbour and destroyer moored as screen alongside ship; effects of bomb hit during operations covering evacuation of Crete, ???; return to Alexandria for temporary repairs; casualties aboard HMS Ajax. Period undergoing repairs at Norfolk, US, 1941: voyage out; corpses; comparison of ship construction and armour with USS Hornet; extra Oerlickens fitted; visits ashore and fights with US soldiers and sailors. REEL 7 Continues: leave ashore and visits to Wilksbarry and New York, qualification as ordinary telegraphist; messdeck; recreations including cinema shows; story of cautious reaction of US aircraft during radar calibration exercise following news of Pearl Harbour, 7/12/1941; voyage back to GB. Recollections of period with Far East and Mediterranean Fleets, 1942-1943: situation; story of hearing loud wireless signal of unknown origin during patrol; background to sinking of HMS Hermes; cleaning boats ashore at Mombasa, Kenya; visits to bar at Colombo, Ceylon; effect of dysentery; return to GB; Russian convoy during period based at Greenock; patrolling activities during Operations Torch, ???; story of breaking wireless silence to report torpedo alert and order evasive action whilst on remote control during fleet manoeuvres. REEL 8 Continues: story of breaking wireless silence to report torpedo alert and order evasive action whilst on remote control during fleet manoeuvres; visits ashore at Algiers, Mers el Kabir and Gibraltar; German radio controlled bomb and method of jamming frequency; anti-aircraft barrage during Salerno landings, 9/1943; passing examination and promotion to leading telegraphist; story of fire in amplifier room annexe to wireless office; return to pay off at Belfast. Period in Portsmouth Barracks, 12/1943-2/1944: story of stoppage of leave for being late back from leave; crowded conditions. REEL 9 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine aboard HMS Gore with 1st Escort Group based at Pollock Dock, Belfast, Northern Ireland and Plymouth, 2/1944-5/1945: US wireless and testing equipment; comparison of hammocks and bunk beds; communications messdeck; question of radar; role as acting petty officer telegraphist and relationship with Leading Telegraphist Don Atkins; MFDF and HFDF sets; composition of 1st EG and relationship with crews; story of accident with faulty wireless to Leading Telegraphist Don Atkin and subsequent repair of wireless by WRENS; promotion to petty officer and move to petty officers' messdeck; routine on tying up to oil tanker on return to Belfast; drinking parties on petty officers' messdeck; recreations and relationships with Catholic and Protestant civilians during trips ashore; anti-submarine patrols. REEL 10 Continues: ship's rolling; question of welded construction and classification of class as frigates; tactics on contact with submarines and use of 'creeper' approach; effects of depth charges; treatment from German prisoners taken aboard ship; knifes carried; attitude of German prisoners on going ashore; assistance of signalling lamp during sinking of Uboat; opinion of Sub Lieutenant Michael D'Arcy and Captain Reeves-Brown; wireless broadcasts to ship's company; D Day operations, 5/1944-6/1944, including send off on leaving Belfast, period lying off Anglesey and anti-submarine patrols in Channel based at Plymouth; sinking of HMS Capel and torpedoing of HMS Affleck, including vulnerability in forward portion of ship due to location of Hedgehog magazine, volunteering as strong swimmer to rescue survivors; attempt to retrieve confidential books from water; effects of aircraft checking guns above them; visits ashore in Plymouth. REEL 11 Continues: surrender of U Boats; move to West Hartlepool, 5/1945; shore patrols and fights in dance halls; view of woman driving bus. Period at Portsmouth Barracks, 6/1945-8/1945. Voyage aboard HMS Orion to Australia, 8/1945: passing through Panama Canal; impressions of US troops; VJ Day, 10/8/1945; gambling by Australian and New Zealand troops; visit ashore at Wellington, New Zealand; relationship with NZ civilians; reception on arrival at Sydney. Period at HMS Golden Hind Shore Station, Sydney, 8/1945-9/1945: demobilisations; relationship with petty officers; story of friend and visits to bars. Period aboard HMS Glenearn, 10/1945-5/1946: nature of ship as landing craft headquarters; problems trying to join ship; story of accidental visit to out of bounds brothel in Hong Kong; story of acting as anti-piracy guard on Chinese ferry; joining ship at Singapore; evacuation Indian civilians from China to Madras, India; taking Naval party 2504 to build barracks at Kure, Japan; establishment of wireless station at Kure. REEL 12 Continues: period ashore with Naval Party 2504 building wireless station at Kure; laying telephone lines. Period at wireless station at HMS Commonwealth Shore Station, Kure, 6/1946-3/1949: opinion of Cpatain John Grindle; role of wireless stations; plan to treat unit as 'ship' for manning and wireless and consequent reduction in numbers of W/T operators; story of loss of good conduct badge over false accusations of involvement in black market activities; story illustrating relationship with Japanese servants; procedure on arrival of merchant ships; question of smuggling activities and custom officer's discovery of pearls; currency. REEL 13 Continues: continuation in post following take over by Royal Australian Navy; orders to return to GB; stories of voyage to Hong Kong. Period at HMS Tamar Shore Station, Hong Kong, ca 4/1949: casualties from HMS Amethyst incident; detachment to HMS Mendit renamed as Ling Fu on mission carrying ammunition to Chinese Nationalists. Voyage aboard HMS Lancashire to GB, 9/1949: presence aboard of evacuated service families from Hong Kong; role as senior NCOs bar manager; story of securing extra beer; relationship with service families. Period at HMS Mercury Signal School, Petersfield, 6/1949-8/1950: extended leave; petty officer telegraphist course. Recollections of service aboard HMS Thesus in Yellow Sea, 8/1950-8/1951: volunteering for overseas service; problem of inadequate chief petty officer; voyage out to Korea; opinion of captain; operations off Korea; communications problems; success in breaking codes used by South Korean coastal raiding parties. REEL 14 Continues: visits ashore at Sasebo, Japan; role of aircraft in supporting infantry operations; attitude of US infantry; question of volunteering for shore landing; voyage back to GB. Attending wireless instructors course at HMS Mercury Signal School, Petersfield, 8/1951-2/1952. Account of service with British North Greenland Expedition, Queen Louise Land, Greenland, 6/1952-1/1955: volunteering for expedition; interviews, tests and medicals; scientific purpose of expedition and role taking meteorological observations; role of Captain G J W Simpson; origins and composition of expedition; role of Signal Officer John Agar; repacking equipment to economise of weight; liaison with army for airdrops; boarding Norwegian ship Tottan and inspection by Queen Elizabeth in London; remaining behind to collect wireless parts; flight to join Tottan at Reykavik, Iceland; prior ruse to visit officers mess. REEL 15 Continues: story of removing woman smuggled aboard by member of Norwegian crew; story of Norwegian captain's unorthodox method of steering through icefield to Denmarkshaven; sailing up fjord; disembarkation; establishing wireless station; use of Sunderland flying boats to carry equipment to Britannia Lake; establishing wireless station at Lake Britannia; journey by Weasels through Storstrammen Glacier; difficulties with perspective and mists; tent accommodation at fjord; flight into Lake Britannia; damage to Sunderland Flying Boat; loss of equipment in lake; layout of base hut at Lake Britannia; composition of ice cap party travelling to North Ice; use of Nansen and Greenland sledges; husky dog teams; travelling on skis; method of driving dog teams; leading sledge and question of travelling in circles; compass deviation; collapse of snow surface; danger of crevasses. REEL 16 Continues: danger of crevasses; boots and clothes worn; danger of sweating; snow goggles; nature of tents; wireless and aerial set up; wireless messages; frost bite; food and cooking arrangements; absence of washing; latrine arrangements; nature of terrain approaching and crossing Unicorn Glacier; nature of terrain on ice pack; effects of rarefied air and cold; pegging out dogs; role setting up meteorological station and food depot at North Ice; blizzards; air drop form Hastings aircraft. REEL 17 Continues: air drops; story of crash landed Hastings sending SOS message and evacuation of casualties by air; erecting hut and wind generator; getting snowed in and use of salvaged Hastings dome on roof of buried hut; role taking meteorological readings and sending reports; snow tunnels and rooms emitting from hut; making DF wireless set from parts salvaged from Hasting; erecting sign posts and problems man-hauling sledges; hydrogen weather balloons; work of glaciologist; relationship with team members; recreations; problems over US Christmas air drop, 25/12/1952; collections of equipment form air drops and effect of Benzedrine tablet; absence of thaw. REEL 18 Continues: question of quality of wireless reception; nature of aurora borealis; evacuation by Weasels and close escape from falling into crevasse; return to base hut at Lake Britannia; evacuation of one year team members; work of glaciologist and geologists; role maintaining and monitoring wireless communications; fishing; study of fish types and naming new fish discovered; question of effect of sun; re-supply with second generator; packing up and reports of performance of generators on return to GB; stories of flight in Sunderland to GB; unpacking equipment; pay and contribution required by tradition to expedition costs; question of dissemination of knowledge of effects of cold conditions on wireless equipment. REEL 19 Period with Royal Navy wireless station at Whitehall, London, 1955-1956: instructional role; taking higher level educational certificates and qualifying for commission. Period with HMS Aphrodite Shore Station, Nicosia, Cyprus, 3/1956-6/1956: situation and question of threat from Greek Cypriot insurgents; wireless communications; promotion to chief petty officer; loss of General Service Medal and award of Long Service Medal; adaptations to naval tents; beach visits; ice box. Periods at wireless station at Malta, 6/1956-6/1957: question of status as CPO; story of meeting future wife; effect of Suez crisis on communication traffic and role of WRENS; story of meeting Commander in Chief Mediterranean; story of volunteering for service aboard HMS Lofoten for aborted mission to clear sunken ships from Suez Canal. Period at Signal School, HMS Mercury, 1957-1959: role as CPO; opinion of national service recruits; dental treatment. REEL 20 Continues: story of gift from recruits. Period aboard HMS Trafalgar, 7th Destroyer Flotilla, 1959-1961: role as CPO; measures to increase frequencies; question of communication with submarines and RAF; period in Mediterranean. Period as cryptographic instructor at HMS Mercury Signal School, Fareham, 1961-1963. Post-service career: difficulty in obtaining work and difficulty in acclimatising to civilian lifestyle; various jobs and courses; contact with old comrades; enjoyment of naval career.