Rhodes, Dermot (Oral history)

British as cadet at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, GB, 1953-1955; served as cadet aboard HMS Triumph, 1955; served as midshipman aboard HMS Forth based at Malta, 1955-1956; detached to serve aboard HMS Dilston, 108th Minesweeper Sqdn patrolling off Cyprus, 1956; served as officer board HMS Ceylon, 1956-1957; served aboard HMS Springer, 1957; served aboard HMS Girdle Ness, 1959-1961; served aboard HMS Devonshire, 1964-1965; served aboard HMS Tartar, 1966-1969; served as staff officer at HMS Excellent, Gunnery School, Whale Island, GB, 1969-1970; served aboard HMS Bacchante, 1970-1972; served as staff officer with Procurement Executive, Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, Portsdown, GB, 1972-1974; served in command of HMS Ashanti, 1975-1976; served in command of HMS Jaguar, 1976; served as gunnery/missile specialist at Maritime Tactical School, HMS Dryad Shore Station, Southwick Park, Portsmouth, GB, 1977-1979; served as executive officer aboard HMS Invincible, 1979-1982; served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Naval Forces Southern Europe, Niseda, Italy, 1982-1984; served inc command of HMS Gloucester, 1984-1986; served as Naval Director, Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff based at RAF Turnhouse, GB, 1986-1988; served as captain of fleet on Commander in Chief's Staff, Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, GB, 1988-1991

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Sheffield, Matlock and Rotherham, 1937-1953: family background; German air raids; education; swimming and sports activities; background to decision to join Royal Navy and passing Dartmouth entrance examination and interview, 1953. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with St Vincent House, Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, 4/1953-4/1955: prior issue of uniforms; reception; dormitory; uniforms, kit and sea chest; house organisation; status as junior cadet; morning routine; food; educational classes; naval history. REEL 2 Continues: introduction to marine engineering and navigation; overcoming problems with mathematics; seamanship and signals training; daily sports and sailing activities; evening routine; relationship with cadets; punishment canings; relationship with instructor and informal training in behaviour expected of officers; recreations and pay; dancing classes; Sunday divisions parade; absence of homesickness; assessment and exams; privileges as cadet; story of missing passing out exams with influenza; passing out parade; question of status of cadets; attending fleet review. REEL 3 Recollections of period as cadet aboard HMS Triumph, 1955: role as training ship; messdeck and hammock; scrubbing decks; practical and theoretical instruction; painting and cleaning ship; bridge lookout duties; question of seasickness; nature of 'showing the flag' cruise in Baltic; visit to Leningrad, Soviet Union including visit ashore, visitors to ship and dragging anchor in storm; visit to Bantry Bay, Eire; flight in Sea Balliol; Mediterranean cruise; visit to Gibraltar; detachment to HMS Venus and nature as frigate; effects of storm; practical examinations and subjects covered. Recollections of period as midshipman aboard HMS Forth based at Malta, 1955-1956: role as submarine depot ship; role as midshipman and responsibility for boat crew; prior training in practical seamanship and lifeboat drills aboard HMS Triumph. REEL 4 Continues: period on detachment aboard HMS Dilston, 108th Minesweeper Sqdn, 4/1956-7/1956, including crew establishment, anti-arms smuggling patrols off Cyprus, watch keeping duties, recreational visits to Beirut, Lebanon and mine sweeping methods and exercises; rejoining ship; visit to Fleet regatta; teaching swimming; keeping midshipman's journal; techniques of astro-navigation, dead reckoning and radio navigational aids; attending defaulters' parade; question of 'request men'; relationship with lower deck; importance of Malta as British base; singing in Malta Cathedral choir; drinking habits; minimal contact wit submariners; trip aboard submarine; assisting in submarine minelaying exercises. REEL 5 Continues: Mediterranean cruise; return to GB. Recollections of period as midshipman aboard HMS Ceylon, 1956-1957: emergency move to join Suez landing force at Malta, 11/1956; Suez situation; escorting landing force to Suez, 11/1956; action stations role on local direction of Bofors gun; cruising stations role as assistant gun director on gun direction platform; supporting landing at mouth of Suez Canal, 11/1956; acting as air defence for aircraft carriers; awareness of lack of US support and political situation in GB; suspension of operations and return to GB, 12/1956; ship bugle calls; commencing voyage out to East Indies; attending independence celebrations at Accra, Ghana; visits ashore and formal handover to South Africans of Simonstown dockyard, South Africa; passing examinations as acting sub lieutenant, 4/1957. Voyage aboard Athlone Castle to GB, 4/1957. Recollections of period aboard HMS Springer, 1957: nature as 'S' class submarine; reception on joining submarine at Portland. REEL 6 Continues: training; prevailing smell; uniform worn; understudy role; crowded conditions and shared bunk; visit to Wilhelmshaven, Germany; food; shower and latrines; living ashore in harbour; exercises with escorts; firing and retrieving torpedoes; character of submarine personnel; visits from civilians on Navy Days. Recollections of attending Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1957-1958: nature of courses and tutors; recreations; choice of specialist subjects; assessment. Attending various specialist courses in GB, 1958-1959. Recollections of period aboard HMS Girdle Ness, 1959-1961: nature of ship; role as laundry officer; role as sports officer; qualifying for bridge watch keeping certificate; opinion of Captain Andrew Lewis. REEL 7 Continues: disputes with Captain Andrew Lewis over his laundry; voyage out to Malta; nature of Sea Slug surface to air missile trials including presence of scientists, firing against drone targets and opinion of missile performance; swimming; deck hockey; PT; fleet sporting competitions; social life; cruise around Mediterranean; night patrols; effects of promotion to lieutenant and changing relationship with lower deck. Period on GB, 1962-1962: abortive posting to command towing crew; attending advanced navigational course; background to cancellation of posting as navigation officer. Recollections of attending long gunnery course at HMS Excellent Gunnery School, Whale Island, 1962-1963: technical scientific courses; taking drill; relationship with drill instructors. REEL 8 Continues: visits to study air, artillery and tank weapons; studying 6", 4.5", 4" and 3" guns, Bofors and Oerlicken guns and small arms; visiting missile factories; examinations. Recollections of period as 2nd Gunnery Officer aboard HMS Devonshire, 1964-1965: ship's armament and nature as guided missile destroyer; responsibility for twin 4.5" turret and director crews; role as gun director in operations room identifying, tracking and engaging targets; cabin accommodation; nature of officers' wardroom and drinking habits; opinion of Captain David Williams; visit to Mediterranean; firing trials of Sea Slug and Sea Cat missiles; 'showing the flag' cruise to West Indies; Far East and Australasian cruise; story of cocktail party with MCC cricket team in Sydney; ship's choir activities in Perth; story of deserters at Freemantle. REEL 9 Continues: visit to Japan; opinion of Rear Admiral Hill-Norton; reception from Japanese civilians and story of acting as guard to Princess Alexandra; storm; prior marriage, 1963. Recollections of period as course officer and story of dispute over saluting at HMS Excellent Gunnery School, Whale Island, 1965-1966. Recollections of period as gunnery officer aboard HMS Tartar, 1966-1969: nature as Tribal Class frigate; move to Persian Gulf; opinion of Captain Cameron Rusby; route out to Bahrein; tour of Trucial Oman States including political and social situation in Muscat, hot climate and visits to sheikhs; role of Wasp helicopter; patrols in Gulf; cooperation with RAF; oil embargo patrols organised by UN off Beira coast, Southern Rhodesia; sporting competitions; RAF mail drops. REEL 10 Continues: beard growing competition; recreational visits ashore at Mombasa, Kenya, Capetown, South Africa and Gibraltar; effects of promotions to lieutenant commander through seniority; 'trickle drafting' system. Recollections of period as staff officer (policy) at HMS Excellent, Gunnery School, Whale Island, 1969-1970: role on command team training exercises at Maritime Tactical School, HMS Dryad Shore Station, Southwick Park, Portsmouth; role as submarine flotilla gunnery officer; role liaising over naval gunnery tactics and new weapons; controversy over future of specialist officers following introduction of Principle Warfare Officers within RN. Recollections of period as first lieutenant aboard HMS Bacchante, 1970-1972: reputation of ship; story of journey out to join ship at Puerto Rico; reception and first impressions; nature as Leander Class frigate; cabin; opinion of Captain Julian Oswald; role as second in command and president of wardroom mess. REEL 11 Continues: establishment and role of specialist officers; daily orders; liaising with chief bosun's mate and master at arms to maintain conditions of ship and crew discipline; evening rounds and reporting to captain; 'showing the flag' visits and hosting parties aboard ship in Caribbean; visits to Jacksonville, Florida, US and Columbia; return to join Home Fleet; fleet exercises and advantage of working with NATO fleets; role as guard ship at Gibraltar; refit at Portsmouth; background to selection for promotion to commander, 8/1972. Recollections of period as staff office with Procurement Executive, Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, Portsdown, 1972-1974: role during trials of Sea Dart missile including nature of Sea Dart and initial problems. REEL 12 Recollections of period commanding HMS Ashanti, 1975-1976: attending prior commanding officer courses and visiting specialist schools; nature as Tribal Class Destroyer; reception on joining ship at Portsmouth; relationship with officers and necessity of maintaining degree of isolation from wardroom; relationship with lower deck and informal visits around ship; captain's rounds; responsibility for safety of ship; fire exercises; role as captain on bridge; relationship with steward; exercises; stories of visits to Blyth including difficult navigation in rough weather on entry into port and liaison with civilian police. REEL 13 Continues: period as guard ship at Gibraltar; anti-smuggling patrols; relationship with army and RAF; problems with corrosion in main propeller shaft; slow voyage back for repairs in GB; story of severe engine room fire put out by 'steam drenching' method and question of casualties; tow by tug to Portsmouth; reception and media reaction to casualties; reaction to funerals; refit at Portsmouth. Recollections of period in temporary command of HMS Jaguar, 1976: background to problems with frigate damaged by collisions with Icelandic gunboat during 'Cod Wars' and consequent introduction of reinforced frigates from Reserve Fleet; nature of strength and buoyancy adaptations to ship; makeshift nature of crew; joining ship at Chatham; working up trials and successful exercises against patrol craft acting in gunboat role at Portland; end of conflict following resolution of 'Cod War' with Iceland; role as fleet frigate with Home Fleet. REEL 14 Continues: fishery protection patrol duties within Arctic Circle including changeable weather conditions, role assisting British trawlers; role as guardship at Gibraltar; visit accompanying Admiral to Casablanca, Morocco; return to GB, 1977. Period aboard HMS Ashanti during continuing refit at Portsmouth, 1977. Recollections of period as gunnery/missile specialist at Maritime Tactical School, HMS Dryad Shore Station, Southwick Park, Portsmouth, 1977-1979: role and composition of school; students' tactical war games recreating various scenarios and subsequent debriefing; lectures on guns/missiles; research on latest Soviet weapons and tactics; lectures to Army and RAF staff courses; question of career progression. Recollections of period as executive officer aboard HMS Invincible, 1979-1982: joining ship while still under construction at Vickers Shipbuilders, Barrow in Furness; administrative role of EO; background to Invincible Class including loss of 'fixed wing' aircraft carriers, inability of RAF to provide fleet worldwide air cover, concept of through-deck helicopter cruisers, impact of Harrier jump-jet and redesignation as aircraft carrier; use of ski-jump ramp on take-off; state of ship on taking up post; role organising crew billets ashore; relationship with Captain Michael Livesey; role co-ordinating specialist commanders. REEL 15 Continues: increasing size of ship's company; sea trials under control of shipbuilders to demonstrate capabilities of ship; acceptance of ship and handover procedure at Portsmouth; sea and weapons trials; stories of Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attending commissioning ceremony; nature of working up trials at Portland; move to be based at Portsmouth; advanced trials including effects of healing ship over, storm and cold weather; embarking Harriers of 800 Sqdn, RAF and Sea King Helicopters of 829 Sqdn, RAF; opinion of Prince Andrew serving with 829 Sqdn; flying trials with Harrier; loss of Harrier due to engine failure; visit to demonstrate ship's capabilities to US Navy at Jacksonville, Florida, US; noise ranging trials odd Norway; trials based at Gibraltar; advanced maritime tactical course run by Joint Maritime Operational Staff based at Rosyth; reactions to proposals to sell ship to Australian Navy at instigation of Defence Secretary Sir John Nott; stories of visits by Archbishop of Canterbury Donald Runcie and Terry Waite; visit by Prince of Wales. REEL 16 Continues: opinion of Captain Jeremy Black; crew morale; selection for promotion to captain and question of next posting; preparations of ship for active service on commencement of Falklands War, 1982; question of remaining with ship and background to accepting staff posting. Recollections of period as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Naval Forces Southern Europe, Niseda, Italy, 1982-1984: multi-national command structure; operations room; emergency NATO war headquarters in mountain; role running minesweeping exercise; organising programme carried out by NATO Sqdn; lifestyle and enjoyment of posting; NATO support during Falklands War. Recollections of period commanding HMS Gloucester, 1984-1986: nature of ship as 'stretched' Type 42 destroyer; joining ship while still under construction at Vosper-Thorneycroft Shipbuilders at Southampton; relationship with shipbuilders; sea trials; signing for ship; commissioning ceremony attended by Duchess of Gloucester; stories illustrating relationship with Gloucester including ceremony commemorating sinking of HMS Gloucester sunk; working up trials at Portland. REEL 17 Continues: joining 5th Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth; detached nature of relationship with flotilla; relationship with officers and state of crew morale; question of movements; success of 'stretched' Type 42 design; status as captain; reaction to last sea command. Recollections of period as Naval Director, Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff based at RAF Turnhouse, 1986-1988: role and problems in preparing for sea exercises; nature of tactical exercises; personal staff and servants; role as senior naval officer in entertaining senior naval officers; story of reaction of RAF officer to sea trip and subsequent flight in Phantom during exercise in attacking ships; debriefing reports and relative performance of ships of different nationalities; career prospects and reasons for rejection of Ministry of Defence postings. Recollections of period as captain of fleet on Commander in Chief's Staff, Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, 1988-1991: responsibility for naval personnel; visits to ships to collect information appertaining to crew morale and to give briefings on current developments; role as informal contact between captains and C in C; relationship with Admirals Sir John Oswald and Ben Bathurst; question of typical lower deck grievances including pay and allowances, controversy over shape of pullover and status of new rank of warrant officers. REEL 18 Continues: reaction to meeting various senior politicians including Denis Healy, Archie Hamilton and Alan Clarke; visits to Falkland Islands and Hong Kong; visit with C in C to Muscat; reaction to failure to gain promotion to admiral and consequent imminent retirement; role writing rules for WRENS serving aboard ships as part of crew; attending resettlement courses; leaving RN, 7/1991. Post-service career: interest in career as cathedral administrator; career as master of Lord Leicester Hospital tourist attraction, Warwick, 1991-2003; question of acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; value of naval service.