Interview with Graham Dobson Rouse

British signalman trained at HMS Impregnable, Devonport, GB, 1941-1942; served with Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1942; served aboard HMS Vidette, 13th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, 1942-1943; officer served aboard ML 146, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1943-1944; served as navigation officer and commanded ML 197, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters, English Channel during landings in Normandy, France, North Sea and Germany, 12/1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Barry and Swansea, Wales, GB, 1921-1940: family; trip on Icelandic trawler; fate of friends who joined Territorial Army; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as signalman at HMS Impregnable, Devonport, GB, 1941-1942: call-up for service with Royal Navy, 1941; accommodation; issue of kit; punishment for wearing shoes; pattern of training; character of signal training; recreational activities; discipline and inspections; leave; fire watching duties on ammunition barges during German Air Force raids; move to Devonport Barracks on passing out; pay; climbing mast and swimming lessons. Aspects of operations as signalman with Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1942: expressing preference for Coastal Forces; older seaman who saved up rum rations; patrolling in English Channel; confined conditions on motor launches; messing arrangements. REEL 2 Continues: clothing worn and discipline; time ashore; rum ration. Aspects of operations as signalman aboard HMS Vidette, 13th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantic, 1942-1943: conditions in North Atlantic; opinion of merchant seamen; action station on bridge; logging of signals; escort duties; watches. Aspects of officer training with Royal Navy in GB, 1943: selection for officer training; attending selection board in Brighton; pattern of training at HMS King Alfred III, Lancing College; distinction for CW Candidates; amusing story of attending torpedo course at HMS King Alfred at Roedean School; attending signals course at Royal Naval College Greenwich. Aspects of operations as officer aboard ML 146, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1943-1944: appointment to HMS Mantis, Lowestoft; use of depth charges on back of motor launch; officers on board; armament; duties in North Sea; incident of motor torpedo boat being attacked; conditions on board; entertaining on board. REEL 3 Continues: recreational activities. Aspects of period as officer attending navigational course with Royal Navy on Hayling Island, GB, 1943: drafting to course, 9/1943; navigational training. Recollections of operations as navigational officer and commanding ML 197, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters, English Channel during landings in Normandy, France, North Sea and Germany, 12/1943-5/1945: characteristics of motor launch ML 197; pattern of training; briefing for D-Day landings in Normandy, France; issue of Benzedrine; navigational role and need to contact midget submarine HMS X23; crossing English Channel; solving problem of jammed navigational equipment; first contact with HMS X23 off Sword Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944; carrying artillery officer and NCO; bombardment of beaches and first landings; shelling of vessels off Sword Beach from Le Havre, France; establishment of Trout Defence Line; success of navigation on D-Day, 6/6/1944; damage to motor launch; aiding wounded crew of mined HMS Swift off Normandy, France, 24/6/1944; rescuing crew of torpedoed motor torpedo boat; taking command of motor launch, 7/1944. REEL 4 Continues: nature of landings at Walcheren Island, Netherlands, 11/1940 ; loss of Coastal Forces craft and personnel to fire at Ostend, Belgium, 14/2/1945; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; proposed drafting to Deceptive Warfare Unit; appointment to Cuxhaven, Germany; obtaining German car; fraternisation with 51st (Highland) Infantry Div; order that German officers were to salute Allied officers; paying off motor launch in GB. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Wu Chang at Ceylon, 1945-1946: voyage aboard HMS Suffolk from GB to Ceylon; character of submarine depot ship; duties; problems of cutting ships cables in harbour; voyage aboard landing ship tank from Ceylon to Singapore, Malaya; conditions in Far East; amusing story of mishap with uniform; return to GB; demobilisation and return to civilian life, GB, 1946. REEL 5 Continues: Reflections of service with Royal Navy, 1941-1946: lessons learnt from naval life; character of 'cockney' seamen; religious facilities; lack of naval traditions during wartime; question of what makes a 'happy ship'; attempt to discover post-war whereabouts of Lieutenant George Honour captain of midget submarine HMS X23 on D-Day, 6/6/1944; amusing story of physical exercise at HMS Mantis, Lowestoft.