Description
Object description
British radio officer served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Nalon in North and South Atlantic, 1940, including bombing and sinking, 6/11/1940; served aboard SS Settler in North and South Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1940-1942; served aboard SS Empire Ocean in United States and North Atlantic, 1941-1942; civilian worked for staff of Director of Harbour Craft, Western Mediterranean, Ministry of War Transport, Naples, Italy, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Kilmarnock and London, GB, 1916- 1940: family; education; employment as racing manager at greyhound stadiums during 1930s; restrictions in wartime greyhound racing in London, 1939-1940. Aspects of period as Second Radio Officer aboard SS Nalon in North and South Atlantic, 1940 including sinking: background to joining Merchant Navy as radio officer; threat to merchant vessels in North Atlantic; cargo carried from South Africa to United States of America; receiving coded message about threat of German Navy submarines on route to Bermuda; sailing on inland waterways in United States of America; morale aboard ship; German Air Force Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft attack on ship and subsequent sinking; abandoning ship and rescue by HMS Viscount, 6/11/1940; attitude of civilians in New York, United States of America and Cape Town, South Africa; watch system in radio room aboard ship; character of ship's officers and captain.
REEL 2 Continues: survivors leave on return to GB. Recollections of period as radio officer aboard SS Settler in North and Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1940-1942: joining ship, 11/1940; narrow escape from shelling by German cruiser Admiral Hipper in South Atlantic; scattering of convoy in South Atlantic; carrying tank landing craft; negotiating Suez Canal, Egypt; transporting Australian and New Zealand troops to Greece; incident of being mistaken for spy in Piraeus, Greece; damage caused by explosion of ammunition ship in Piraeus; reaction to loading with ammunition for convoy to Malta; Royal Navy escort for Malta convoy, 5/1941; composition of convoy; Admiral Andrew Cunningham's message about speed of convoy; cloud cover; method of clearing channel of mines on approach into Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta; reaction to arrival in Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta; opinion of General Dobie; reasons for sleeping ashore.
REEL 3 Continues: use of shelters during Axis air raids on Valletta, Malta; occasion when he narrowly escaped machine gunning in small boat in Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta; under German Air Force machine gun fire during visit to bombed church; opinion of Maltese civilians; importance of Malta during Second World War; recreational activities during twelve week stay on Malta; occasion when he spent night on ship; second hand account of bombing of HMS Illustrious.
REEL 4 Continues: attempt to deceive the Italian Air Force by flying Italian flag during escape from Malta; spotting of ship by Italian Air Force reconnaissance aircraft; preparations for Italian Air Force attack; technique employed by captain to avoid Italian Air Force bombing and dealing with Indian crew's attempting to abandon ship; narrow escape from torpedoing by Italian Air Force aircraft; arrival in Gibraltar; contrast in behaviour of German and Italian Air Force pilots; opinion of Royal Air Force pilots operating from Malta; captain's German background; attitude towards Germans; behaviour of Indian crew members; memories of storm in Bay of Biscay on return to GB; supply situation on Malta.
REEL 5 Continues: reaction to initial voyage to India; storm in Bay of Biscay during return voyage to GB; shipmates reaction to installing of armament on ship; impressions of Calcutta, India. Aspects of period as radio officer with Merchant Navy in North Atlantic and North Sea, 1941-1944: role as radio officer aboard SS Empire Ocean in United States of America and North Atlantic, 1941-1942; character of service aboard coaster in North Sea; attitude of American civilians towards Merchant Navy personnel, 1942; character of SS Empire Ocean; character of coaster served aboard in North Sea. Recollections of period as civilian with Ministry of War Transport in Naples, Italy, 1944-1945: background to joining staff of Director of Harbour Craft, Western Mediterranean; impressions of Naples; accommodation in Naples; transporting Gracie Fields aboard tug to Naples from Capri Island.
REEL 6 Continues: theft of one of the harbour craft he was responsible for; relations with American colleagues; visit to Arthur Conan Doyle's former home; visit to Monte Cassino; social activities; character of Italians; return to GB, 12/1945. Reflections on service with Merchant Navy, 1940-1944: question of how Merchant Navy has not received recognition for its role during Second World War; opinion of Royal Navy's role in protecting convoys; taking wireless telegraphy course prior to Second World War; operating Aldis Lamp; amusing story of sending private message by Aldis Lamp in convoy.
REEL 7 Continues: attachment to Ministry of War Transport; duties dealing with shipping in Dakar, French West Africa, 1942; dealing with Vichy French admiral; how wife joined him in Dakar, French West Africa; reasons for return to GB.
