Interview with Edward Donald Palfrey

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Description

Object description

British boy with Marine Society training ship HMS Warspite on River Thames, GB, 1938-1939; boy signaller trained at HMS Ganges, Shotley, GB and with HMS St George, Douglas Isle of Man, 10/1939-2/1941; boy signaller and signaller served aboard HMS Norfolk, 1st Cruiser Sqdn in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and Arctic, 1941-1942; signaller and petty officer served aboard HMS Searcher, Home Fleet in United States of America, North Atlantic and North Sea, 1/1943-6/1945; petty officer served aboard HMS Searcher, 21st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Indian Ocean, 7/1945-12/1945; served on shore duties with Royal Navy in GB and Hong Kong, 1945-1948; served aboard HMS London during Yangtse Incident, China, 1949; served with Royal Navy in GB, Malta and Far East, 1949-1968

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Bratton Clovelly, GB, 1924-1938: family; effects of father's military service in First World War; family life; education. Aspects of period as boy with Marine Society's training ship TS Warspite on River Thames, GB, 1938-1939: arrival on training ship; initial impressions of ship; education; sporting activities; captain's assessment of his abilities; messing arrangements; evening inspections on quarter deck; uniform worn; discipline; lack of homesickness; reasons for being sent home, 9/1939. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as boy signaller with HMS Ganges at Shotley in GB, 1939-1940: arrival at HMS Ganges 10/1939; daily routine; pattern of training; issue of kit; character of discipline; instructors and signals training; sporting activities; shore leave; punishments for smoking; effects of inoculations; later German Air Force raids experienced at HMS Impregnable, Devonport, 4/1941; punishment for being late on parade. Aspects of period as boy signaller with HMS St George, Douglas, Isle of Man, 1940-1941: move to HMS St George; opinion of training; end of training, 2/1941. REEL 3 Continues: period after training in Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, 2/1941-5/1941; work clearing bomb damage in Plymouth area. Recollections of operations as boy signaller and signaller aboard HMS Norfolk in GB coastal waters, North Atlantic and Arctic, 1941-1942: journey to join cruiser at HMNB Rosyth; initial duties in Firth of Forth, 5/1941; duties as flag lieutenant's messenger; nature of signal duties; method of sending and receiving signals; structure of Communications Branch; arrangements for boys seamen and signallers on boys mess deck; further details of duties; receiving advanced information as signaller. REEL 4 Continues: watch system worked; patrolling in Denmark Strait, North Atlantic, 5/1941; sighting of German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen and subsequent action; period at continuous action stations for four days, 5/1941; reasons for HMS Prince of Wales turning away from action with German battleship Bismarck, 5/1941; action station on bridge; impressions of Admiral William Wake-Walker; signalling to Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish aircraft operating from HMS Victorious; sight of German battleship Bismarck on final day of action, 27/5/1941; Royal Navy warships closing in on German battleship Bismarck and attitude to firing on her, 27/5/1941; retiring from action. REEL 5 Continues: sighting of German Air Force aircraft in Irish Sea; role escorting Arctic convoys, including Convoy PQ 17; use of protective clothing in Arctic; German attacks on Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 4/7/1942; noise of anti-aircraft guns firing; reasons for Royal Naval ships withdrawing from Convoy PQ 17; leisure activities; mail; Warrant Officer Ivor Mason's issue of chocolate to signallers on day of sinking of HMS Hood, 24/5/1941. Recollections of operations as signaller aboard HMS Searcher, Home Fleet, Home Fleet in United States of America, North Atlantic, North Sea and Indian Ocean, 1/1943-6/1945: standing by construction of escort carrier in United States of America and hospitality of American civilians; ship's breaking down in North Atlantic, 12/1943. REEL 6 Continues: raids carried out by carrier's aircraft on coast of Norway, 5/1945; duties as yeoman of signals; incident of accidental firing of aircraft's gun; uncomfortable conditions on board; role as chief yeoman of signals; types of signals sent at sea; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945. Aspects of period as petty officer aboard HMS Searcher, 21st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Indian Ocean, 7/1945-12/1945: voyage from GB to Trincomalee, Ceylon, 7/1945; repatriation of former Indian prisoners of war; personal precautions taken against sunburn; uniform worn; character of crew; disciplining for being late back to ship in Ceylon; opinion of system of charging ship's company. REEL 7 Continues: handing escort carrier over to United States Navy, 29/11/1945; return to GB aboard HMT Queen Mary. Aspects of period as petty officer with Royal Navy in GB and Hong Kong, 1945-1948: pattern of drafts in GB, 1945-1947; attending petty officer course at HMS Royal Arthur, Corsham; drafting to HMS Tamar, Hong Kong, 1947; recreational activities in Hong Kong. Aspects of operations as petty officer aboard HMS London during Yangtse Incident in China, 1949: drafting to HMS London, 1948; increase in signals traffic during incident, 4/1949; under fire by Chinese People's Liberation Army artillery during incident; casualties during incident; disappearance of Chinese pilot. REEL 8 Continues: taking on board casualties from HMS Consort and HMS Black Swan and subsequent transfer to United States Navy hospital ship; standing by off coast of China; return to GB, 1949. Recollections of period as petty officer with Royal Navy in 1949-1968: duties at HMS Drake, Devonport; marriage; drafting to South Africa; duties with South African Navy; drafting to HMS Illustrious, 1953-1955; posting to Persian Gulf, 1955-1956; drafting to HMS Newfoundland in Far East. REEL 9 Continues: visit to Australia and rapid move to Persian Gulf; beard growing competition aboard HMS Newfoundland; visit to Japan; period as communication instructor in GB and Malta, 1959-1963; transporting troops to Borneo, Malaysia aboard HMS Albion; fatal accident on board; accommodation on board; running leave centre in Penang, Malaysia; leaving Royal Navy and obtaining employment in Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, 1968; lack of problems adjusting to civilian life. REEL 10 Continues: reaction to leaving Royal Navy, 1968; reasons why HMS Norfolk was his happiest ship; formation of association for communication personnel; relations with officers.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), 1945-1989 (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
White, Jo (Recorder)
Palfrey, Edward Donald (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2003-07-22
Dimensions: whole: Duration 300, Number Of Items 10
Catalogue number: 25184

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Interview with Edward Donald Palfrey

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