Interview with Frank Nicols Briggs

British civilian worker with Crofts Associated Industries Ltd in Bradford, GB, 1939-1944; seaman trained with Supply and Secretariat Branch at HMS Royal Arthur Skegness, HMS Duke, Great Malvern and HMS Demetrius, Wetherby in GB, 6/1944-11/1944; stores assistant served aboard HMS Belfast, 10th Cruiser Sqdn in GB and Far East, 1944-1946

REEL 1 Background in Bradford, GB, 1925-1939: family; life in Bradford; playing in dance band; education; brother's military service during Second World War; economic conditions during 1930s. Recollections of period as employee of Crofts Associated Industries Ltd, Bradford, GB, 9/1939-6/1944: reasons for deferment of call-up for military service, 1943; anticipation of coming war; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; parts manufactured by company; nature of wartime work; role assessing amount of iron and steel used by factory, 1943-1944; working routine; degree of knowledge of reasons for having military service deferred. REEL 2 Continues Recollections of enlistment and training as stores assistant with Supply and Secretariat Branch at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness and HMS Duke, Great Malvern in GB, 6/1944-10/1944: call-up for naval service, 26/6/1944; selection for Supply and Secretariat Branch; reaction to call-up to Royal Navy; arrival at HMS Royal Arthur in Skegness, 2/1944; effect of marching to martial music; drill during basic training; physical exercise; religious services; messing facilities; move to HMS Duke, Great Malvern, 24/8/1944; pattern of training at HMS Duke, Great Malvern; rowing on lake; signals and knot training; use of hammock; uniform worn by Supply and Secretariat Branch; rifle and bayonet training; instructors; acting as shore police. REEL 3 Continues: restrictions on naval ratings walking up narrow entry. Aspects of period as store assistant with Supply and Secretariat Branch at HMS Demetrius, Wetherby, GB, 10/1944-11/1944: character of camp; accommodation; quality of food; preference for victualing rather than naval stores work; classroom lectures; issue of rum ration; opportunity to acquire extra rum; examinations. Aspects of period on draft at Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Victory, Portsmouth, GB, 11/1944: drafting to barracks; sleeping out; duties. Recollections of period as store assistant standing by HMS Belfast, 10th Cruiser Sqdn in GB, 12/1944-4/1945: background to drafting to cruiser at Newcastle upon Tyne, 11/1944; reception on arrival by Petty Officer Charlie Best; initial impressions of ship; incident of falling down hatch, 4/1945. REEL 4 Continues: hospitalisation for injuries; duties on board whilst standing by ship; number of personnel needed to run Supply and Secretariat Branch on board; sources of supplies; storage spaces on board; need for distribution of stores around ship; relations with chief petty officer and warrant officer; question of what makes a happy ship; status of Supply and Secretariat Branch within Royal Navy; irregular hours worked; reading of report on leaving ship; rejoining ship after hospitalisation; messing facilities; provision of messman to Supply and Secretariat Branch; use of hammock; stowing of hammocks and use of lockers; role of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); washing facilities; role of George Stone in washing his clothes; introduction of Chinese laundry and tailor. REEL 5 Continues: action station in shell room of B Turret; problems with engines at HMNB Rosyth; working up exercises at Scapa Flow; seasickness and the roll of the ship. Recollections of period as stores assistant aboard HMS Belfast, 10th Cruiser Sqdn in Far East, 1945-1946: attitude to sailing for Far East; ashore in Malta, 7/1945; No 6 Uniform and tropical kit worn; importance of appearance before going ashore; sailing through Suez Canal, Egypt; stops at Suez, Egypt and Aden, Aden Protectorate; arrival in Colombo, Ceylon; Crossing the Line ceremony; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; attending lecture by Lieutenant Robert Jones on atomic bomb; VJ night in Fremantle, Australia, 15/8/1945; arrival in Shanghai, China, 10/1945. REEL 6 Continues: cost of meal in hotel; impressions of Shanghai, China; purchasing silk goods; provisioning ship with vegetables; reasons for not provisioning with meat in Shanghai, China; vetting suppliers in Shanghai, China; payment of suppliers; character of the 'slops' system; effect of American presence in Shanghai, China, 12/1945; Christmas in Hong Kong, 12/1945 including sinking of mine; cruise to New Zealand; visit to Maori village near Napier, New Zealand; attitude to cruising Pacific; visit to Colony of Fiji; visit to Tokyo, Japan; reasons for not visiting Nagasaki, Japan; attitude of Japanese civilians. REEL 7 Continues: move into dry dock in Singapore, Malaya; ashore in Singapore, Malaya; celebrations on his leaving ship; cheering of Captain Royer Dick on his leaving ship; return voyage to GB. Aspects of period as stores assistant at Fort Southwick, GB, 1946: effect of his scars on colleagues; stoker who stayed too long under sun lamp; duties; demobilisation, 12/1946; attitude to having served aboard HMS Belfast.