Description
Object description
British seaman served aboard MGB 13, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters, 1942-1943; served aboard MGB 654, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1943; served with base staff, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1943; served aboard MGB 658, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Chiswick and Greenford, GB, 1922-1941: family; education; employment; initial attempt to enlist in Royal Navy; anticipation of coming war; wartime life in Greenford, 1939-1941; construction of family air raid shelter; reaction to German Air Force attacks. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1941-1942: parent's reaction to call up, 9/1941; selection process; train journey to HMS Collingwood.
REEL 2 Continues: issue of kit at HMS Collingwood; pattern of training including weapons training; saluting; barracks life; guard duties; discipline; move to holding camp, 12/1941; journey to HMS St Christopher at Fort William, 1/1942; training with Coastal Forces at HMS St Christopher. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard MGB 13 in GB coastal waters, 1942: drafting to motor gunboat after period in barracks at Portsmouth, 5/1942; working up at Weymouth; armament of gunboat; gunboat's officers and crew; move to Dover; duties on twin Lewis Guns; clothing worn.
REEL 3 Continues: wounding during solo action against twenty two German vessels; organisation of typical patrol; engaging E-boats; mine laying operations; incident of being told to stop singing due to closeness to French coast; engaging targets and question of accidentally opening fire on own vessels; types of vessels attacked; daily routine including cleaning Lewis Gun and gunboat; operating from Ramsgate; degree of fraternisation between Dutch, Polish and British crews; rations; rum ration; relations between crew; leaving boat. Aspects of operations as leading seaman aboard MGB 654 in Mediterranean, 1943: background to drafting to MGB 654 in Lowestoft; move to Milford Haven in preparation for overseas posting; obtaining embarkation leave.
REEL 4 Continues: character of voyage from GB to Gibraltar including seasickness and picking up German survivors in water; armament of D Class Motor Gunboats; opening fire on German aircraft at Algiers; ashore in Algiers; loss of boat to fire in Bone, 1/1943. Aspects of period with base staff, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1943: taking passage to Malta in MGB 658; duties in Malta until 7/1943; move with base staff to Sicily, 7/1943; attitude to not being part of crew and duties as spare crew; move to Corsica; attitude to being officers servant; conditions at Manfredonia. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard MGB 658, Coastal Forces in Mediterranean, 1943-1944: attitude to drafting to ship; request to leave general duties and become gunner; attempt to land agents.
REEL 5 Continues: relations with officers and crew; dealing with casualties belongings; engine change at Malta, 12/1943; Christmas celebrations on motor gunboats; return to Corsica to join 56th Flotilla; method of engaging convoys; technique of firing Oerlikon; engaging German F lighters and E-boat off Anzio, 1/1944; method of engaging targets; use of measures to deceive Germans; aftermath of operation; question of awards for actions; background to being awarded a Mentioned in Despatches.
REEL 6 Continues: replacement of armoured plate on decks; move to Komiza, Vis Island, Yugoslavia; operations off Vis Island; impressions of Yugoslavian Partisans; engaging German convoy in which nine vessels sank; repairs to motor gunboat damage; storms in Mediterranean; patrolling between Corfu and Italian mainland; losses of boats in flotilla to mines; attempts to tow grounded boats off mud flats; problems firing torpedoes; return to Ancona to escort mine sweepers; attending court of enquiry after witnessing fight in Malta, 3/5/1945.
REEL 7 Continues: hearing news of end of war during flight between Malta and Italy; making way to Manfredonia; immediate post- war duties and return to GB. Demobilisation and return to civilian life. Joining Coastal Forces Association. Relations with Len Reynolds during Mediterranean service and post-war. Service aboard MGB 658 in Mediterranean.