Description
Object description
British cadet served with Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 1936-1940; midshipman served aboard HMS Valiant Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 10/1940-4/1941; served aboard HMAS Nizam, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 5/1941-7/1941; served aboard HMS Valiant, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 8/1941-4/1942, including mining in Alexandria Harbour, Egypt, 19/12/1941; officer served on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB, 4/1942-1/1943; served aboard HMS Suffolk, 4th Cruiser Sqdn in GB coastal waters and Indian Ocean, 1/1943-8/1944; trained as fighter controller with 790 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Charlton Horethorne in GB, 10/1944-7/1945; served aboard HMS Indomitable, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 8/1945-10/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Stroud, GB, 1923-1936: family; education. Aspects of period as cadet with Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 1936-1940: arrival at college; outline of daily routine; description of 'term system'; naval and civilian staff; attitude to education received at college; opinion of engineering instruction; drilling during royal visit; recreational activities; changes at college on declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; final examination; patrolling streets of Dartmouth, 6/1940; manning gun at Dartmouth Castle; leave of leaving Dartmouth. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Dominion Monarch from GB to Egypt, via South Africa, 9/1940-10/1940: appointment to HMS Kent; embarkation aboard HMT Dominion Monarch at Liverpool, 9/1940; arrival in Cape Town, South Africa.
REEL 2 Continues: voyage from South Africa to Egypt; train journey to Alexandria, Egypt. Recollections of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Valiant, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 10/1940-4/1941: allocation to battleship; reasons why ship was a happy one; midshipman accommodation; role of 'snotty's nurse'; duties as midshipmen including handling ship's boat; characteristics of ship's launch; other duties; role of midshipman of the turret; relations with ships' officers; zig-zagging of ship; story of problems zig-zagging whilst aboard HMS Suffolk in Indian Ocean, 1943; sight of immobilised French Navy Fleet in Alexandria, Egypt; sense of security in large ship; role of ship with covering force during Fleet Air Arm attack on Taranto, Italy, 11/11/1940-12/11/1940.
REEL 3 Continues: problems getting into his turret prior to bombardment of coast of Albania, 12/1940; effects of Naval 15 Inch Guns firing; behaviour of Italian Navy Fleet; Christmas Day celebrations, 25/12/1940; restrictions on drinking alcohol at sea; bombardment of Bardia, Libya, 1/1/1941.
REEL 4 Continues: problems of taking sightings at sea and keeping journal; reaction to threat of mines; nature of Italian and German attacks on convoy, 10/1/1941; sight of bombed aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious; fellow midshipmans' experiences during action; discovery that dum dum bullets had been fired by Axis aircraft; atmosphere in gun room; deception employed by British Fleet prior to Battle of Cape Matapan, 3/1941; impressions of Mediterranean Fleet; action stations in high-level control position during Battle of Cape Matapan, 27/3/1941-29/3/1941; aftermath of battle and question of fighting night actions.
REEL 5 Continues: recreational activities in Alexandria, Egypt; rations aboard ship; reaction to prospect of bombarding Tripoli, Libya; shore bombardment of Tripoli, Libya, 18/4/1941; nature of action station in high-level control position. Aspects of operations as midshipman aboard HMAS Nizam, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 5/1941-7/1941: attachment to Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Nizam, 1941; relations with Royal Australian Navy crew; in action with HMS off Crete, Greece, 5/1941; transporting commandoes to Crete, Greece, 5/1941; disembarking commandoes at Suda Bay, Crete, 5/1941; German Air Force attacks on ship off Crete, Greece, 5/1941.
REEL 6 Continues: reaction to leaving Suda Bay, Crete, Greece, 5/1941; captain Lieutenant Commander Max Clark's method of avoiding German Air Force bomber aircraft attacks; duties in ship's plotting room; fatigue during operations off Crete, Greece, 5/1941; relations with Royal Australian crew and officers aboard HMS Nizam; evacuation of Crete, 5/1941; condition of troops evacuated from Crete, Greece; German Air Force attacks on ship during return voyage to Alexandria, Egypt, 6/1941; role as intelligence officer; reaction to sinking of HMS Gloucester and HMS Fiji; damage to ship by German bomb and shore leave in Cairo, Egypt; nature of operations off French Syria, 6/1941.
REEL 7 Continues: aftermath of action against Vichy French Navy destroyers; end of actions off French Syria; encounter with Mediterranean Fleet during return voyage to Alexandria, Egypt. Aspects of period as midshipman aboard HMS Valiant, Mediterranean Fleet in Mediterranean, 8/1941-4/1942: return to HMS Valiant; life on board battleship; sight of torpedoing of HMS Barham and subsequent encounter with German submarine U-331, 25/11/1941; second hand story of survivor of HMS Barham; preparations if ship was sunk; reaction to sinking of HMS Prince and Wales and HMS Repulse off Malaya, 10/12/1941; story of Royal Navy's senior officers' pre-war attitude towards air power; warning of potential threat of Italian attacks on British capital ships.
REEL 8 Continues: role patrolling harbour boom in high speed patrol boats; account of Italian Navy 10th Assault Vehicle Flotilla attack on HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth in Alexandria Harbour, Egypt, 19/12/1941; capture of Italian Navy 10th Assault Vehicle Flotilla divers and their subsequent interrogation, 19/12/1941; experiences during mining of HMS Valiant in Alexandria Harbour, 19/12/1941; explosion aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Alexandria Harbour, 19/12/1941; post-war gathering of information about attacks; sight of Italian Navy 10th Assault Vehicle Flotilla diver who had led attack; further details of attack by Italian Navy 0th Assault Vehicle Flotilla divers.
REEL 9 Continues: capture of Italian Navy 10th Assault Vehicle Flotilla divers, 19/12/1941; sight of damage to HMS Valiant in dry dock; deception plan to keep mining secret from Axis; taking examinations; night duty aboard HMS Valiant in dry dock; return to GB via South Africa aboard HMS Ajax, 4/1942; degree of contact with home. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Navy in GB, 4/1942-1/1943: promotion to sub-lieutenant, 4/1942; sub-lieutenant courses; duties as officer of the guard at HMS Vernon at Portsmouth; evacuation of HMS Vernon from Portsmouth to Brighton; attitude to service in Brighton.
REEL 10 Continues: leave on completion of course; appointment to HMS Richmond in dock in Liverpool, 11/1942-12/1942. Recollections of period as officer aboard HMS Suffolk, 4th Cruiser Sqdn in GB coastal waters and Indian Ocean, 1/1943-8/1944: background to appointment to HMS Suffolk, 1/1943; duties on board; problems of getting to Royal Albert Dock; attending asdic course in Scotland; operation of asdic; problems with unions in Royal Albert Dock; move via North Sea to Scapa Flow, GB; impressions of Scapa Flow, GB, 5/1943; anchor watch duties; rumour that ship was going to Indian Ocean; ashore in Freetown, Sierra Leone; joining Eastern Fleet in Mombasa, Kenya, 7/1943.
REEL 11 Continues: convoy escort duties in Indian Ocean; collision with whale; ashore in India; awareness of Indian Independence movement; presence of Royal Indian Navy officer on board ship; visits to Australia; basing of ship in Ceylon; frustrations of service in Indian Ocean; birthday celebrations, 1/1944; interest in fighter direction; return to GB aboard HMS Rajah, 8/1944-9/1944. Aspects of period on fighter direction course with 790 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Charlton Horethorne in GB, 10/1944-7/1945: initial impressions on return to GB; attending course; narrow escape from landing aircraft; method of controlling fighter direction.
REEL 12 Continues: fighter direction techniques used during training; lack of flying experiences during course; attending night fighter direction course at RAF Acklington, 5/1945. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Indomitable, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 8/1945-10/1945: voyage aboard HMT Stirling Castle from GB to Australia, 7/1945-8/1945; appointment to carrier after VJ Day; character of flying operations from aircraft carrier; relations with United States Navy in Pacific; duties in Pacific; ashore in Hong Kong.
REEL 13 Continues: return voyage to GB; decision not to stay in Royal Navy. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Navy in GB, 1945-1947: standing by HMS Triumph; period as night fighter instructor at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Dale; flights in Fairey Firefly aircraft; appointment as staff officer with Air Direction; attempts to obtain discharge; reaction to leaving Royal Navy, 5/1947; return to civilian life and obtaining employment; lessons learnt from career with Royal Navy.