Description
Object description
British telegraphist served aboard HMS Eagle, 1953-1954; served aboard HMS Illustrious, 1954-1955; served at Krangi Wireless Station, Singapore, 1956-1957; served as leading telegraphist at HMS Mercury Shore Station, Petersfield, GB, 1957-1957; served leading radio operator at Admiralty Wireless Station, London, GB, 1957-1959; served aboard HMS Tiger, 1959-1960; served at Admiralty Wireless Station, London, 1960-1961
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Melton Mowbray, 1936-1952: family background and social circumstances; question of effects of war, 1939-1945, including German air raid, close escape from bomb, visiting aircraft crash sites and VE Day street party, 8/5/1945; education; activities with Air Training Corps, ca 1948-1952, including flight in Lancaster and weekend camps; first aid training with St John's Ambulance Brigade; Boy Scouts activities; interest in joining Royal Navy; work as newspaper office boy, 1951-1952; volunteering to join RN, 5/1952. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during basic training at HMS Ganges Shore Station, Shotley, 5/1952-9/1953: reception; kitting out; hair cut; barrack room accommodation; sewing name into uniform; morning routine; climbing mast.
REEL 2 Continues: food rations; education classes; PT including boxing; drill; seamanship training; relationship with boy recruits and instructors; preparing for room and kit inspections; pay; interview prior to selection for training as wireless telegraphist; training in Morse code, typing, teleprinter, wireless, High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF and naval codes; assessment; training exercises; swimming test.
REEL 3 Recollections of period as boy and ordinary Telegraphist aboard HMS Eagle, 9/1953-6/1954: first impressions on joining ship at Invergorden; boys' messdeck and hammocks; watch system; nature of wireless rooms and routine telegraphist duties; nature of Exercise Mariner in Arctic including effects of severe weather and question of seasickness; cafeteria messing system and food; cleaning wireless office; emergency aerials; 'make and mend'; recreations; cigarette ration; latrines; laundry and washing clothes in bucket; Mediterranean cruise and visits ashore.
REEL 4 Continues: visit by Elizabeth II; exercises in Mediterranean; rating as ordinary telegraphist and change in service length; decommissioning and leaving ship, 6/1954. Period in Drake Barracks, Devonport, 6/1954-7/1954. Recollections of period aboard HMS Illustrious, 7/1954-1/1955: cockroach problem; general messing system; exercises and cruise around GB; leaving ship. Period at HMS Drake, Devonport, 1/1955-2/1956: coal fatigues; visiting pubs; background to draft. Recollections of period at Krangi Wireless Station, HMS Terror Shore Station, Singapore, 2/1956-8/1957: flight out including overnight stops and emergency landing; first impressions; nature of wireless station; conditions of service and daily routine; duties monitoring merchant marine wireless traffic; relationship with Malayan wireless operators and attending Malayan wedding; acclimatisation to climate; story of escorting Malayan workers during Malayan student riots.
REEL 5 Continues: increased security precautions following Malayan student riots; recreations; awareness of prior occupation of Krangi by Japanese troops; visits to restaurants; question of marriage; period in Changi Camp prior to flight back to GB, 8/1957; qualification as acting leading telegraphist, 8/1957. Period at HMS Mercury Shore Station, Petersfield, 8/1957-10/1957. Recollections of period as leading radio operator at Admiralty Wireless Station, HMS President Shore Station, Whitehall, London, 10/1957-1/1959: billets in Islington; nature of underground wireless station; role as teleprinter operator; part-time work in hotel kitchens; weekend leaves. Period aboard HMS Messina at Chatham, 1/1959-2/1959: preparation of landing craft for voyage to Christmas Islands; cancellation of voyage due to engine faults. Period at HMS Mercury Shore Station, Petersfield, 2/1959-3/1959. Period aboard HMS Tiger, 3/1959-12/1960: nature of cruiser; communications messdeck and bunks; wireless office and equipment; sea trials and exercises; Baltic cruise including 'showing flag' and monitoring of movements by Soviets; Mediterranean cruise and exercises; prior marriage and question of state of naval career.
REEL 6 Period at Admiralty Wireless Station, HMS President Shore Station, Whitehall, London, 12/1960-10/1961: billets in Victoria; routine duties. Demobilisation process, 11/1961. Post-service career: work at steelworks; lack of opportunities for career in communications; career at pet food factory; minimal commitments during period with Royal Fleet Reserve, 1961-1966; membership of British Legion, Melton Mowbray.
