Description
Object description
British seaman served as signaller with Royal Australian Navy aboard HMAS Countess of Hopetoun, HMAS Encounter and HMAS Melbourne in Pacific, Mediterranean, North Sea and Atlantic, 1916-1919; served as signaller aboard HMAS Warrego and HMS Renown and as officer aboard HMAS Albatross, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Warramunga in Pacific and Mediterranean, 1919-1939; served as Base Communications Officer in Darwin, Australia, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1900-1912: family background and childhood in London; joined Boy Scouts,1906; sporting activities; story of watching funeral of Edward VIII, 1910; description of voyage Australia, 22/Aug/1912. Aspects of period in Australia, 1912-1915: education and employment; played cornet in band of Military Cadets; story of joining Royal Australian Navy, 16/Mar/1915; description of basic training and as signaller on training ship HMAS Tingira: opinion of discipline; pay; leave; accommodation. Aspects of operations with Royal Australian Navy in Pacific, Mediterranean, North Sea and Atlantic, 1916-1918: mobilised and drafted to torpedo boat destroyer HMAS Countess of Hopetoun; duties patrolling heads in Port Phillip Bay; drafted to HMAS Encounter; story of coming to the aid of HMS Cumberland; description of pursuing German battleship Seydlitz; patrol duties in Pacific Islands; story of contracting skin rash and hospital treatment; sailed to Scapa Flow, Scotland; description of voyage aboard troopship HMS Wiltshire to Alexandria, Egypt; story of being paid 10 shillings for sighting submarine; sailed to Brindisi, Italy; description of rail journey in cattle trucks to camp in Cherbourg, France, 1917; opinion of army rations; sailed aboard HMS Caesar to Devonport, GB; problem of contracting scabies; story of visiting aunt in London. Aspects of operations aboard HMAS Melbourne in North Sea and Atlantic, 1918-1919: description of weather and base at Scapa Flow, Scotland; role of HMAS Melbourne escorting convoys to Bergen, Norway; loss of ships; composition of crew British and Australian crew; problem of seasickness; story of sailing in dense fog; opinion of mail service and rations; recreational activities aboard ship including gambling and glee singing club; description of Bergen and status as neutral port; weather conditions in Atlantic; speed and route of convoy; story of shooting at mines with rifle; convoy reinforced by US Navy ships; order of steaming; description of making contact with submarines at night; Fleet manoeuvres; story of receiving news of Armistice while at sea, 11/Nov/1918; description of leave and victory celebrations in London; returned to Scapa Flow, 12/1918; story of witnessing surrender of German High Seas Fleet; role of ship escorting German cruiser Nurnberg; story of meeting German signaller from West Norwood; description of voyage back to Australia and arrival in Sydney, 21/May/1919. Aspects of period with Royal Navy in Pacific and Atlantic, 1919-1930: drafted to destroyer HMAS Warrego; promoted leading signalman; story of serving as liaison signalman with staff of Prince of Wales aboard HMS Renown; drafted to submarine J7; summary of ships and appointments, 1920-1930; story of being selected for officer's signal course in GB; description of coaling procedure; role as lookout; description of winter clothing and action station flash gear; [MUSIC to end of Reel];
REEL 2 Continues: description of sailing in heavy seas and gales and loss of crew; opinion of cruisers; question of lights on ships; story of using tar rope to light cigarettes; problem of seasickness; further description of return voyage aboard HMAS Melbourne to Australia and arrival in Sydney, 21/May/1919; story of shore leave in Tahiti; story of crashing into HMAS Sydney; story about Commander Blackwood driving ship onto rocks; opinion of Australian admirals; location on ship as signalman; story of watching sinking of HMAS Australia; various memories of training and voyages during inter-war period; role as chief yeoman of signals on bridge; story about wife and admiral; played football with naval teams in Australia; story about reunion of HMAS Tingira veterans; description of naval uniforms and insignia; description of training areas in Australia and opinion of training; story of ships being opened to visitors; served aboard flag ships; attitude to discipline; description of general drills and evolutions day exercises and signals; memories of Hobart Regatta; leave and off-duty activities; drafted to HMAS Albatross, 1930. Aspects of period aboard HMAS Albatross in Mediterranean and Pacific, 1930-1932: description of ship; opinion of ship's band; duties in charge of football team and organising children's parties for naval families; role as signal examining officer; opinion of exams.
REEL 3 Continues: sporting activities; story of walking under ship while in dry dock; description of officer's uniforms; role of personal steward; religious services aboard ship; toasts in officers' mess; description of speed and gun trials; opinion of food; posted to Portsmouth, GB on officers' course; description of voyage with family to GB via Malta,11/1930; lived in Ealing, London; description of 18 months course; amusing story about Mountbatten; story of giving impromptu talk about Sydney Harbour Bridge; memories of Christmas Day in London, 12/1931;
REEL 4 Continues: description of voyage with family back to Australia, 1932. Aspects of period aboard HMAS Albatross and HMAS Canberra in Pacific, 1932-1939: story of playing cornet with ship's band; nature of independent cruise; received warrant for promotion and allotted new cabin; received allowance to purchase uniform; reason for having large number of white uniforms; price of alcohol, tobacco and clothing; attitude to retuning to ship as officer; description of duties and trips; story about breaking ankle; story of falling over during Trafalgar Day ceremony in Melbourne; role in charge of gun salute marking the death of King George V; problem of holding sword raised for 75 minutes; story of organising visit by Duke of Gloucester. Aspects of operations with Royal Navy in Australia, 1939-1945: reaction to outbreak of war , 9/1939; mobilized and posted to naval depot to train merchant officers; reaction to loss of HMAS Sydney; description of duties aboard HMAS Warramunga escorting convoys ; posted to Darwin as Base Communications Officer, 1939; story of swimming with nurses.
REEL 5 Continues: description of Japanese air raids on Darwin; story of British Admiral waving pistol at Japanese aircraft; problem with ankle; description of duties in air raid stations and in command of signal station.