Rouse, Graham (Oral history)

British signalman trained at HMS Impregnable in Plymouth, GB, 1941-1942; served with Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1942; served aboard HMS Vidette in Atlantic, 1942-1943; officer served aboard ML 146, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1943-1944; served aboard and commanded ML 197, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters, during Normandy landings and North West Europe, 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, 9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as signalman at HMS Impregnable, Plymouth in GB, 1941-1942: call up, 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 in Atlantic, 1942-1943: conditions in 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 Lancing College; distinction for CW candidates; amusing story of attending torpedo course at Roedean School; course at Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Aspects of operations as officer aboard ML 146 with Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1943-1944: posting to Lowestoft; use of depth charges on back of MTB; 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 on navigational course on Hayling Island, GB, 1943: drafting to course, 9/1943; navigational training. Recollections of operations as navigational officer and commanding ML 197, Coastal Force in GB coastal waters, during Normandy landings and North West Europe, 1943-1945: character of ML 197; pattern of training; briefing for D-Day landings; issue of Benzedrine; navigational role and need to contact miniture submarine X23; crossing English Channel; solving problem of jammed navigational equipment; first contact with X23 off Sword Beach; carrying artillery officer and NCO; bombardment of beaches and first landings; shelling of vessels off Sword Beach from Le Harve; establishment of defence line Trout; success of navigation on D-Day; damage to motor launch; aiding wounded crew of mined HMS Swift; rescuing crew of torpedoed MTB; taking command of motor launch, 7/1944. REEL 4 Continues: character of landings at Walcheren, Netherlands; loss of Coastal Forces craft in Ostend, Belgium, 1945; VE Day celebrations; proposed drafting to deception unit; posting up to Cuxhaven, Germany; obtaining German car; fraternisation with 51st Highland Div; order that German officers were to salute Allied officers; paying off motor launch in GB; drafting to Far East on HMS Suffolk. Period as officer aboard HMS Wo Chang in Ceylon, 1945-1946: character of submarine depot ship; duties; problems of cutting ships cables in harbour; posting to Singapore on Landing Ship Tank; conditions in Far East; amusing story of mishap with uniform; return to GB. Demobilisation and return to civilian life, 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 George Honour captain of X23 on D-Day, 6/6/1944; amusing story of physical exercise at Lowestoft.