Steele, Joe (Oral history)

British signaller served aboard HM Trawlers based in GB, 1939-1942; served aboard HMS Pytchley, 21st Destroyer Flotilla based in GB, 1942-1943; served in various signal shore stations in Egypt, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Liverpool, 1916-1936: family background and social circumstances; effects of death of father, 1920; education at Catholic school; boys 'gangs' and street games; custom of burning of Judas effigy on Good Friday; difficulty in joining Boys' Clubs; difficulty in obtaining employment as Catholic on leaving school 10/1931; work for paint and glass shops, 1932-1934; work as labourer and fitter for fireplace installation firm, 1934-1936; story of unfair dismissal and consequent loss of unemployment benefit. REEL 2 Continues: work as dock labourer, 1936-1939, including problems due to lack of union membership, story of securing first job unloading oranges from ship's hold, quayside work, question of joining union, attempt to secure regular work and work unloading cotton; recruitment and service with Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at HMS Eaglet, Salthouse Docks, 2/1936-9/1939, including prior interview, drill nights, learning visual signalling flags and Morse code, cutter training, uniform, pay, qualification as signalman and attachment to HMS Cardiff during Naval Week at Chatham, 7/1936; background to camping at Leasowe; story of meeting wife and temporary break up of family. REEL 3 Continues: move into rented accommodation; marriage, 12/1938; question of approach of war and decision to remain in RNVR; call up, 28/8/1939; medical. Recollections of period at Drake Barracks, Devonport, Plymouth, 8/1939-11/1939: reception and over-crowded situation; detachment on signal duties at Rame Head Signal Station; lighting beacons during coastguard exercise; conditions of service; return to Devonport; barrack accommodation; training in convoy signals and international flag code. Recollections of period with Headquarters, Royal Naval Patrol Service at Lowestoft, 11/1939-12/1939: state of discipline; lack of proper training equipment; billets; influx of fisherman into service; abortive posting to HMS Ellsmere. Period as signaller aboard HM Trawlers Dalmatia and Darthema based at North Shields, Great Yarmouth and Portland, 12/1939-2/1942: reception and stories illustrating lack of discipline amongst ex-fisherman crew; method of minesweeping between Tyneside and Faroe Islands; sinking submerged mines; fishing off Farne Islands; relationship with seamen; improved discipline following arrival of Lieutenant Commander Benson, 3/1940; opinion of Seaman John Gregson; move with Lieutenant Commander Benson to Darthema; duties as signaller on bridge using Morse code on Aldis lamp and acting as lookout; aircraft recognition training; food; move to Great Yarmouth; temporary detachment to Motor Launch; accident in harbour whilst aboard Dalmatia; move to Portsmouth and formation of minesweeping flotilla; relationship with Sub Lieutenant Jull. REEL 5 Continues: qualification as trained wireless operator and signaller; risk form German magnetic mines and degaussing procedure; anti-invasion night patrols; stories of picking up ditched German air crew; issue of hand grenades as defence; view of E-Boat attacks on East Coast convoys and story of rescue of survivors from sunk collier; story of visit ashore to collect mail during German air raid on Portsmouth; story of firing machine guns on Germans parachuting from shot down aircraft; story of taking trawler's dog ashore and direct hit on floating crane during German air raid on Portsmouth; anti-aircraft guns fitted to trawler and participation in barrages off Eastbourne; clearing minefield off Beachy Head including acting as leading trawler and close escape when mine fouled sweep; story of German aircraft crashing near trawler; German cross-Channel shell fire and personal morale; German air attack on HMT Syringa and Reboundo; story of success in hitting attacking JU88 with Lewis gun fire. REEL 6 Continues: award of DSM from George VI at Buckingham Palace, London; move to join 9th Minesweeping Flotilla at Portland; role laying buoys in swept channels; story of attack by German aircraft while protecting lagging merchant ship behind convoy; emergency recall from shore leave during hunt for Bismarck; low flying German air attacks on Portland docks; return to Portsmouth; story of recovery of new German Type 'T' mine off St Catherine's Point; story of escorting convoy t from Osuthend to Yarmouth, 31/12/1941-1/1/1942, including new captain, sunk merchant ships and captain's refusal to pick up survivors; operations based at Great Yarmouth; story of attack by Dornier while minesweeping off Cromer, 2/1942, including captain's miss-identification of aircraft, late setting off of alarm, collapse of captain, consequent failure to open AA fire and sinking of accompanying HMT Cloughton Wyke. REEL 7 Continues: story of attack by Dornier while minesweeping off Cromer, 2/1942, including return to Great Yarmouth and removal of captain; opinion of Lieutenant Gibbs; leaving trawler on recommendation for commission. Period at HMS King Alfred Shore Station, Hove, 2/1942-3/1942: attending and passing boards on navigation and signals; reactions to rejection due to absence of private income. Period at HMS Drake Barracks, Devonport, 3/1942-4/1942: failing leading signallers course due to limited experience available on trawlers; promotion to acting leading signaller; question of posting to submarine. Recollections of period as leading signaller aboard HMS Pytchley, 21st Destroyer Flotilla based at Sheerness, Solent and Scapa Flow, 4/1942-1/1943: nature of ship and armament; reception on joining ship at Chatham; nature of messdeck; hammocks; canteen messing system; watch system and duties as signaller on bridge; 10" projectors used for Morse code signals; move to Sheerness; flotilla exercises; incapacity of yeoman of signals through chronic seasickness; methods employed in flag signal exercises; damage control exercises. REEL 8 Continues: role escorting East Coast convoys including route, success in countering E-Boat attacks and question of German air attacks; opinion of Lieutenant Commander Unwin; move to act as emergency destroyer force based in Solent; story of failed attempt to rendezvous with boat off Channel Islands; role as emergency destroyer; survival briefing from medical officer; story of being unfairly blamed for failure to salute senior ship; move to Scapa Flow; anti-submarine exercise at Loch Ewe. Recollections of period on Russian convoys, 1/1943-3/1943: story illustrating rough sea condition and necessity for reduced speed; move to Seydiz Fjord, Iceland; uniform worn and extra woollens supplied by US seamen. REEL 9 Continues: oiling ship; visits to US cinemas ashore; story of HMS Glasgow running ashore in storm; formation of Convoy JW53 and escort; effects of severe storms; effects of fatigue and question of leaving bridge on watch; story illustrating difficulty in sending signal using 10" projector in rough weather; maintaining wireless impossibility of hoisting flags; ice problem; story of ship nearly rolling over; use of run ration as currency; cocoa and story of eccentric seaman; exchange of escorts in Kola Inlet; loss of merchant ships breaking apart in storm; drying oilskin and sleeping in engine room off duty; story illustrating danger of being washed over board in rough weather. REEL 10 Continues: story of depth charges breaking loose on deck; return voyage with HMS Mesnil; passing through pack ice; sighting German cruiser and detachment of destroyers to counter possible threat; return to Alureys Fjord; story of checking mail; return to Scapa Flow. Period with 21st Destroyer Flotilla on East coast convoys, 3/1943-7/1943. Background to leaving HMS Pytchley after being unfairly blamed for failure to salute senior ship, 7/1943. Period attending advance signalling course at Signal School, Devonport, 7/1943: confidence in passing course; suspension of course due to drafting. Voyage aboard Rhuys to Port Suez, 8/1943: conditions; story of soldiers' problems with hammocks; route; acting as signalman; canteen messing and food; relationship with Dutch crew. Period at Adibayh Camp, 8/1943: temporary issue with khaki uniform; signal exercises in desert; attack of diarrhoea. Recollections of period at HMS Nile Shore Station, Alexandria, 9/1943-3/1944: lighthouse signal station and billets; role on move into distributing signal office. REEL 11 Continues: partial replacement by WRENS and problems in handover of shifts; recreations; relationship with Egyptian civilians; pet dog shot due to rabies outbreak. Period attending advanced course at Signal School, HMS Canopus Shore Station, Alexandria, 3/1944-8/1944: preference for sea postings; drill using signals; introduction to signal books. Period as acting yeoman of signals at Signal Station, HMS Stag Shore Station, Port Suez, 10/1944-3/1945: failed attempt to secure posting to destroyer; story of attending mass, 25/12/1944; role running signal distributing office; problems with WREN officer unfamiliar with signal protocols; story of visiting US camp and cinema. Period at HMS Nile Shore Station, Alexandria, 3/1945-9/1945. Period at transit camp, 8/1945-9/1945. REEL 12 Role in charge of baggage party during voyage back to GB, 9/1945. Demobilisation, 9/1945: story of meeting former comrade; question of extending service as regular. Post-war career: background to return to work in docks; changes in attitude and reputation of dock labourers; police raids on docks; work as cargo planner; death of first wife; re-marriage; move to London; collapse of second marriage; question of effects of war service; membership of Royal Naval Assoc.