Description
Object description
British seaman served with Combined Operations, Royal Navy in GB, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Burma, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Poole, GB, 1923-1940: memories of childhood and education; family. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1940: opinion of self when joined Royal Navy; outbreak of war and reaction of parents; own reaction to war; story of departure to join Royal Navy; reason for joining Royal Navy; reaction of mother to when receiving his call-up papers; medical at Dorchester; war service of brothers; reactions of parents to war; details of medical; memories of parents; posting at and journey to Portsmouth. Aspects of period with Royal Navy Combined Operations in GB, 1940-1942: shock on arrival in Navy; nickname; summary of training; ability with fists; knowledge was being trained for Commandos; orders from commanding officer to start Combined Operations Camp at Bracklesham Bay; troops presented with to train; details of work and relationship with civilians; badge issued.
REEL 2 Continues: reactions to posting in Combined Operations Camp; opinion of fighting with knives; instructors; details of training received; approach to unarmed combat; fighting with a knife; training in and discussion of methods for attacking sentries; number of troops taken on to killing techniques; opinions of training; opinion he was selected early for Commandos; story of 16 year old put in hospital when a teacher; cowards in forces; length of time in Portsmouth; duties at Bracklesham Bay; Christmas leave; camp in Kelshot; train journey to Gourock. Aspects of operations with Combined Operations, Royal Navy in Atlantic, 1942: boarding of Queen Elizabeth; duties on stern gun and loss of 12 " and 6" guns and damage to ship.
REEL 3 Continues: reliance on speed; arrival in New York; rations; accommodation; capacity of ship; time in Brooklyn Navy Yard and work on LCI; time in Bermuda following engine problems; crew of ship; details of LCI; conditions on Queen Elizabeth; disembarkation at New York; length of time in Bermuda; civilian collection of water; water shortages during war; return to convoy after Bermuda; U-boats and pride in Atlantic Star; leisure activities on Bermuda; swimming proficiency and life saved; religious beliefs; state of Algiers. Aspects of operations with Combined Operations, Royal Navy in Mediterranean, 1942-1944: landing at Bizerte; hospitalisation with dysentery; comradeship and memories of crew; conversion of LCTs into rocket ships; duties collecting and landing troops; story of Stuka attack on neighbouring LCT; stories from landing and explosives training on Isle of Arran.
REEL 4 Continues: later duties with depth charges; relationship with civilians on Malta including role on island; bottles of port kept hidden in armoury; process of firing depth charges; training with depth charges; story of rations gained from an American destroyer; hospitalisation and return to LCT; state of Malta; length of time in North Africa; work carrying supplies; involvement with Operation Torch; story of U-boat seen during reconnaissance mission including role of mission; landings on Sicily at Catania; surrender of Italian civilians; reaction to scenes on arrival at Reggio landing; weapons carried; story of lift given to Field Marshall Montgomery and attitude of troops with him; reaction to Italian civilians.
REEL 5 Continues: nicknames given; rank; more on weapons carried; proficiency with rifle; service as Local Defence Volunteer; story of landing at Pisa and items looted; leaving of LCI following a landing; more on items looted; relationship with skipper; story of charge received following night on buoy off Burma; memories of Field Marshall Montgomery and his disgruntled troops; scenes on arrival in Taranto harbour and story of sugar almonds bought in Taranto; Italian children playing on beach in Italy.
REEL 6 Continues: German use of mines; scenes on Italian beaches; story of fruit taken from a garden; opposition faced during landings and opinion on fighting at Monte Cassino; news of posting in Far East; opinion of French troops. Aspects of journey to Burma, 1944: voyage to Bombay including story of patrol inland at Aden; story of oil explosion in Bombay harbour; cholera epidemic in Calcutta; civilian workers in India and story of buying eggs; restaurants visited around world. Aspects of operations with Combined Operations, Royal Navy in Burma, 1944-1945: casualties at Chittagong; leave in Jabalpur; visit from Lord Louis Mountbatten; opinion of Ghurkha troops; landing of troops in Burma; story of ringing Houses of Parliament about date Second World War ended.
REEL 7 Continues: stories of adopted puppy found in Italy; problems with flies; terrain in Burma; opinion of heroes; memories and opinions of Ghurkha troops; interview with commanding officer about distribution of medals; medals awarded; story of visit from sister's boyfriend in Burma; story of getting stuck in a chaung and Japanese plane seen; method of getting out of situation; 21st birthday telegram; reception from civilians in Mandalay; events between 21st birthday and end of war; opinion of atomic bombs and arrival home in GB.
REEL 8 Continues: reactions on arrival in GB; story of seeing baggage handlers looting kit; leave; posting on HMS Dundonald; duties survey of Rosneath; clothes given when demobilised at Westcliff-on-Sea; civilian work and ease of adjusting to civilian life; lasting mental effects of war and outlook on life; army number and highest rank achieved; reason for not taking commission.
