Description
Object description
British telegraphist served aboard HMS Scorpion in GB coastal waters, Arctic and during Normandy landings, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Hucknall, GB, 1923-1942: family; education; character of Hucknall; reasons for volunteering for Royal Navy; degree of support for disarmament amongst civilian population in area prior to 1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; father's mining work during war; membership of Home Guard; question of effectiveness of Home Guard.
REEL 2 Continues: degree of concern over German invasion, 1940; German Air Force raids on Nottingham area; supplementing rations; grandparents and family members. Aspects of enlistment and training as telegraphist with Royal Navy, 1942: parent's reaction to enlistment; process of enlistment in Royal Navy; arrival at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness, 12/1942; induction course at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness; accommodation, winter 1942-1943; rations; reaction to treatment of recruits by officers; move to Ayr; recreational activities in Ayr; pattern of telegraphist training.
REEL 3 Continues: reaction to drafting to Dartmouth. Recollections of operations as telegraphist aboard HMS Scorpion in GB coastal waters, Arctic and during Normandy landings, 1943-1945: drafting to ship at Scapa Flow; reception on arrival on destroyer; watch keeping system; leave; background of ship's officers and crew; mess deck relations; ashore in Iceland; behaviour of crew ashore; nature of Arctic convoys; psychological effects of operating in darkness of Arctic; clothing worn; washing facilities and kit inspections.
REEL 4 Continues: lack of recreational facilities at Scapa Flow; leave from Scapa Flow and Rosyth; ashore in Polyarnoe, Russia; contact with Russian civilians; degree of contact with German surface vessels during Russian convoys; outline of Battle of North Cape and sinking of Scharnhorst, 12/1943; voyage from Iceland to Arctic prior to Battle of North Cape, 12/1943; Christmas Day lunch, 25/12/1943; first contact with Scharnhorst and signals sent.
REEL 5 Continues: signals work during engagement with Scharnhorst; transfer to radio office and sight of gun flashes; reads signals log relating to messages sent during engagement; firing of torpedoes at Scharnhorst; sight of Scharnhorst in light of star shells; further details from signals log; details of sinking of Scharnhorst; picking up survivors; treatment of survivors who had been in frozen water; reads signals log in aftermath of sinking of Scharnhorst; conversation with English speaking German survivor; attitude of ship's crew to survivors; transfer of survivors to HMS Duke of York.
REEL 6 Continues: degree of knowledge of interrogation of German POWs; second hand knowledge of treatment of Germans by Russians; story of washing of towels used on German POWs after sinking of Scharnhorst; personal morale during action; character of HMS Scorpion; bombardment of beaches during Normandy landings, D-Day, 6/6/1944; first indication of invasion about to take place; escorting minesweepers; atmosphere on board ship during Normandy landings; sight of V1 flying bomb, c13/6/1944; role cruising along and bombarding French coast, 6/1944; escort duties off Norway, 1944; change in German Air Force attacks on convoys in Arctic after D-Day.
REEL 7 Continues: duration of Arctic convoys; nature of Arctic convoys; memories of VJ Day. Aspects of demobilisation from Royal Navy, 1946: demobilisation; state of hammock; return to civilian life and subsequent career; family details; conditions in GB in immediate post-war period; 1945 general elections. Reflections on period as telegraphist aboard HMS Scorpion, 1943-1945: opinion of officers.
REEL 8 Continues: age of officers on board ship; attitude towards Germans; attitude towards war; enrolling in post-war history course and contract with former Scharnhorst crew members.