Interview with Richard William Looker

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Description

Object description

British seaman served aboard HMS Paladin, 12th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1941-1942; served aboard HMS Woolwich in Mediterranean, 1942-1943; trained as officer at HMS Good Hope in South Africa, 1943-1944; officer commanded lighter Z78 in Mediterranean, 1944; served aboard HMS Denbigh Castle in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 1944-1945, including sinking in Kola Inlet, Soviet Union, 13/2/1945; served aboard HMS Hedingham Castle in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 1945-1946

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Luton, GB, 1922-1941: family; parent's military service in First and Second World War; employment on leaving school, 1938; education; father's employment; Boy Scout activities; anticipation of coming war, 1939; employment on milk round in London; work as messenger with Air Raid Precautions. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1941: reasons for joining Royal Navy; role as class leader; incident of German Air Force incendiary bombs; pattern of training at HMS Collingwood, Fareham; splicing ropes. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Paladin, 12th Destroyer Flotilla in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1941-1942: joining ship on River Clyde; working up trials. REEL 2 Continues: layout of ship; rations; ships' officers; atmosphere on board; prevalence of venereal disease amongst married seamen; duties as quartermaster; off duty activities in Alexandria, Egypt. Aspects of operations as seaman aboard HMS Woolwich in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: German Air Force bombing of HMS Woolwich, 11/1942; duties on board on depot ship. Aspects of period aboard HMS Paladin in Mediterranean, 1942: convoy work to Malta; voyage from GB to Mediterranean; Axis attacks on ship; degree of damage to ship; reaction to bombing of ship; behaviour of first lieutenant towards seamen on watch. REEL 3 Continues: leaving ship after period of hospitalisation, 8/1942. Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Woolwich in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: joining ship, 8/1942; atmosphere aboard ship; quarters on aboard. Aspects of officer training at HMS Good Hope, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 1943-1944: pattern of training; duration of course; return to GB, 1944; discussion of tenants of his cottage; situation for parents; public morale and mood. Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Denbigh Castle in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 1944-1945: appointment to ship; equipping of ship with Squid Mortar; working up trials with Vice-Admiral Gilbert Stephenson; attempt of German Air Force Junkers Ju 88 to torpedo ship during Convoy JW 64 in Arctic. REEL 4 Continues: torpedoing of ship by German submarine U-992 in Kola Inlet, Soviet Union, 13/2/1945; abandoning ship and sinking; relations with Soviets during war and post-war periods; return to GB aboard HMS Nairana, 2/1945; duties as gunnery and quarterdeck officer; ship's crew; survivors leave. Aspects of operations as officer aboard HMS Hedingham Castle in GB coastal waters, 1945-1946: appointment to ship, 1/3/1945; story illustrating flexibility of Royal Navy; working up trials; experimental and asdic trials; end of war; duties on board. REEL 5 Continues: air-sea rescue duties in North Atlantic; testing cold weather clothing. Reflections of service with Royal Navy in Second World War: weather conditions in Arctic; reaction to Japanese surrender; attitude towards Germans; question of German workmanship; attitude towards Italians; contrast between German and Italian tactics; duties as correspondence officer aboard HMS Hedingham Castle; adoption of ships by towns. REEL 6 Continues: survey work aboard HMS Hedingham Castle; demobilisation from HMS Oxford Castle; paying off of HMS Hedingham Castle; demobilisation process and return to civilian life. Aspects of period commanding lighter Z78 in Mediterranean, 1944: origins of landing craft; story of taking landing craft from Alexandria, Egypt to Naples, Italy; story of contracting jaundice; attitude to service in Royal Navy. REEL 7 Continues: attitude to service in Second World War.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Brooks, Toby (Recorder)
Looker, Richard William (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2006-08-14
Dimensions: whole: Duration 210, Number Of Items 7
Catalogue number: 29078

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Interview with Richard William Looker

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