Interview with John Capon

British ordinary seaman served aboard HMS Obedient, 17th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet in North Sea, Arctic and English Channel, 12/1942-6/1945

REEL 1 Background in Islington, London, GB, 1926-1942: family; social circumstances; education; evacuation and closure of schools, 1938-1939; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; employment as apprentice plumber, 1939-1942; German Air Force raids; use of communal air raid shelter; presence of German Air Force delayed action bombs; rationing and black market; dance halls; boxing activities; membership of Sea Cadets at HMS President, Westminster, London, 1939-1940; background to enlistment underage into Royal Navy, 6/1942; parent's reaction. Recollections training as seaman at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB, 6/1942-8/1942: reception and kitting out; hutted accommodation; rations; muster parade; drill and physical training; masthead drill; seamanship training; preparing for kit inspection; relation with fellow recruits, officers and instructors. REEL 2 Continues: period after completion of training at Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Pembroke, Chatham GB, 8/1942-12/1942. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Obedient, 17th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet in North Sea, Arctic and English Channel, 12/1942-6/1945: nature of destroyer and armament; reception on joining ship at Kingston upon Hull, 12/1942; nature of messdecks and hammocks; action station role as anti-aircraft gun loader; cleaning ship; watch system; canteen messing system and food; move to Scapa Flow; visits ashore to canteen and drinking habits; acceptance trials; escort duties with Convoy JW 51B to Polyarno, Soviet Union, 12/1942, including sea conditions, question of seasickness, nature of action on encountering German Navy heavy cruisers Lützow and Admiral Hipper, 31/12/1942; smoke screen, personal morale, shell damage, question of picking up survivors, arrival of Royal Navy cruisers and withdrawal of German Navy warships, submarine threat, question of fatigue, lookout duty and relationship with ratings and officers. REEL 3 Continues: period at Polyarno, Soviet Union and return convoy; leave; background to suspension of convoys 1943; re-equipping ship as minelaying destroyer; minelaying of Tromsø, Norway; submarine contacts; escort role and loss of HMS Mahratta, 25/2/1944; convoy losses; new anti-submarine tactics; personal morale; participation in Operation Neptune off Normandy, France in English Channel, 6/1944; story of clash with German Navy E-Boats off Slapton Sands and subsequent collection of American service personnels' corpses from English Channel, 28/4/1944; restricted gun range; taking anti-aircraft gunnery qualifications; background to leaving ship, 6/1945; prior period spent in Kiel, Germany, 5/1945-6/1945. Aspects of voyage aboard HMS Finisterre from GB to Australia, 1945-1946: character of ship; route and visits ashore; question of restrictions of former building workers signing on as regular in Royal Navy; voyage back to GB, 1946. REEL 4 Continues: Post-war life and employment: demobilisation, 6/1946; question of demobilisation suit and buying made to measure suit; return to employment as apprentice plumber; career as plumber and taxi driver; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; question of signing on as regular in Royal Navy; membership of 17th Destroyer Flotilla Association, North Russia Convoy Club and Royal Naval Association; question of underage status in Royal Navy; effects of wartime service in Royal Navy.