Cutmore, Fred (Oral history)

British served as ordinary seaman aboard HMS Anson, 1948; served aboard HMS Bicester, 1948-1949; served aboard HMS Whirlwind, 1949-1950; served as able seaman gunlayer aboard HMS Belfast during Korean War, 1950-1951; served aboard HMS Jamaica, 1953-1956

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Hackney and Dagenham, London, 1930-1948: family background and social circumstances including father's military service, 1914-1918; education; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; family war service; question of following progress of war; view of aerial fighting during Battle of Britain, 1940; Anderson shelter; food and clothes rationing; gas mask; effects of German air raids; visit to site of crashed German aircraft; playing on bomb sites and collecting shrapnel; personal morale; mobile anti-aircraft guns; stories of V1, bombing and V2 raids; work at manufacturing factory, 1944-1945; work as grocery delivery boy, 1945-1946; work in carpet warehouse, 1946-1948. REEL 2 Continues; street parties on VE and VJ Days, 1945; background to volunteering for Royal Navy, 1948. Recollections of basic training at HMS Royal Arthur Shore Station, Crosham, 1948: question of bullying; reception; kitting out; hair cut; hut accommodation; food rations; drill; rifle and bayonet training; PT; seamanship and signals training; relationship with recruits and question of bullying; relationship with instructors; preparations for kit inspections. Recollections of period as ordinary seaman aboard HMS Anson, Portland Flotilla, 1948: composition of flotilla; nature of battleship; messdeck and hammocks; seamanship training and rowing cutter; cleaning 14” gun barrels; scrubbing decks; role as 'cook of mess' and food. REEL 3 Continues: visit to Torbay during Olympic Regatta. Recollections of period aboard HMS Bicestor based at Gillingham, ca 1948-1949: reception; nature of destroyer; routine duties; role as bowman with motorboat crew; training as gunlayer and gun trainer on twin 4” guns; effects of rough weather and seasickness; latrines; washing clothes; 'showing flag' visits to ports; visits ashore; relationship with ratings, leading semen and officers; watch system and duties. Recollections of period aboard HMS Whirlwind based at Rosyth, 1949-1950: opinion of Commander Stephen Beattie VC; conditions; sailing in whaler around Scotland; canteen messing system and food. REEL 4 Continues: role as gunlayer on 4,7” gun; illustrations of ship role as 'emergency destroyer'; status of Chatham as 'home port'. Recollections of period as able seaman gunlayer aboard HMS Belfast during Korean War, 1950-1951: first impressions of ship; crew morale and opinion of Captain Aubrey St Clair Ford; nature of 32 Messdeck; food; role with quarterdeck party; role as gun trainer and gun crew roles on 'Y' Turret; shells from magazines; flash gear and precautions; practice firing; visits ashore on voyage out to Far East; visit to China Fleet Club, Hong Kong; base at Sasebo, Japan; personal morale. REEL 5 Continues: recreational visits ashore at Sasebo including drinking habits and relationship with Japanese civilians; nature of patrols off Korea including cruising station as layer on S1 4” gun, defence station on 'Y' Turret, passing through Formosa Straits, shore bombardments and noise of guns firing, question of targets; move up Yalu River to bombard Pyongyang; story of being hit by Chinese shell during operation with HMS Amethyst in support of marines on Changi Do Island; effects of cold weather; question of British contribution to US Fleet operations; length of patrols; relationship with US sailors and question of pay differentials; opinion of Captain Duckworth and non-uniform clothes worn on patrol; send off on departure of Captain Aubrey St Clair Ford. REEL 6 Continues: movements around Japanese ports and visits ashore; acting as mine lookout from crows nest; landing parties and marine casualties; voyage back to GB; reception at Chatham; leave and leaving ship. Period at Pembroke Barracks, Chatham, 1952-1953: guard duties; advanced gunnery courses; funeral and coronation guard duties, 1953; desire for sea posting. Recollections of period aboard HMS Jamaica, 1953-1956: train journey; initial role preparing ship for new commission as skeleton crew at Portsmouth; role on director and method of fixing targets; filming for feature 'Battle of River Plate' in Mediterranean; base at Malta; 'showing flag' visits; duties in bosun's party; duties securing ship's cable as buoy jumper on entry to harbour. REEL 7 Continues: background to delayed demobilisation, 1956. Post-service career: work in London docks; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; membership of HMS Belfast Association and reactions to visiting ship.