Description
Object description
British civilian in London and Essex during air raids; steward served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Blisworth, 1944 and various Merchant Marine ships in Atlantic and Pacific, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in London and Hornchurch, 1927-1943: family background and social circumstances; education; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; temporary evacuation to aunts in Alton, 1939; view of aerial activity at Hornchurch RAF Station, 1940; German air raids; Anderson shelter; move to Primrose Hill, ca 1940; view of German air raids on London; anti-aircraft battery; move back to Hornchurch; German air attacks on Hornchurch air station; rationing; work making seaplane jetties at Harland and Wolff, King George V docks, ca 1942-1943; pressure to enlist and failed attempt to enlist underage; German air raids on KG5 docks; recruitment into Merchant Marine, ca 1943-1944. Period training as steward at SS Vindicatrix on River Severn, ca 1943-1944. Period in Kensington, ca 1943-1944: assisting ARP in rescue of survivors following V1 raids.
REEL 2 Continues: assisting ARP in rescue of survivors following V1 raids; necessity for care in uncovering survivors; reaction to corpses. Period as stoker aboard SS Blisworth, ca 1944: role of ship refuelling army MT; underwater damage from collision with submerged object; repairs at Antwerp; composition of crew; role as steward; relationship with captain and crew; effects of German air and V weapon attacks; role of women anti-aircraft gunners; driving stores in docks and prior learning to drive; attending Royal Naval gunnery course including opinion of Oerlicken gun, pillar-box rocket system and AA simulator; opinion of Hotchkiss gun; entry into Antwerp, ca 9/1944; story of German aircraft flying over docks and ban on opening fire; personal morale; repairs to ship; view of V2 launches.
REEL 3 Continues: German snipers; relationship with Belgian civilians; visits to bars; return to GB, ca 1944. Various aspects of periods as steward with various ships of Port Line Steam Line and other ships of Merchant Marine, ca 1944-1946: leave and VE Day in London, 8/5/1945; voyages to Australia; unofficial armament carried on SS Port Philip; composition of crew; role as passenger bedroom steward; successful seasickness crew; assisting US forces with supplies in Pacific; celebrations of VJ Day, 8/1945; duties as steward; severe storm whilst aboard SS Port Caroline; stories of subsequent trip up Amazon aboard SS Hilary.
REEL 4 Continues: stories of subsequent trip up Amazon aboard SS Hilary; story of being torpedoed and subsequent rescue from open boat whilst aboard SS Port Napier in Pacific, ca 1945; voyage aboard SS Aquitania; leaving Merchant Marine, ca 1946. Post war career.