Vichion, Denis (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

British rating served as ordinary torpedoman aboard HMS Phoebe, 1948-1951; served as able torpedoman aboard HMS Birmingham during Korean War, 1952-1953

Content description

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Stepney and Barkingside, London, 1929-1947: family background and social circumstances; childhood games; education; part-time work as laundry delivery boy; issue of gas masks; story of German air raid whilst in cinema; 9/1940; move to Barkingside, 9/1940; evacuation arrangements for siblings; Anderson and Morrison shelters; education; sporting activities and games; effects of German air raids and damage to house; work as garage mechanic, 1943-1945. REEL 2 Continues: duties as firewatcher at garage; pay; work as general labourer in building trade repairing bomb damage, 1944-1945; VE Day, 8/5/1945; V1 raids; redundancy on return of servicemen, 1946; background to volunteering to join Royal Navy, 3/1947. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at HMS St George's Shore Station, Gosport, 5/1947-6/1947: prior period in Sea Cadets at Ilford, 1944-1945; reception; barrack rooms; kitting out and uniform; PT; food rations; drill; seamanship training including Knots and rowing; preparing for kit and room inspections; relationship with recruits and instructors; good conduct badges. REEL 3 Continues: canteen; visits to Gosport pubs; passing out parade. Period training aboard HMS Anson during cruise around GB with 7/1947-9/1947. Recollections of period aboard HMS Superb based at Portland, 9/1947-12/1947: introduction to 21 torpedo; nature of messdecks and hammocks; general messing and role of cook of mess; run ration; story of falling aboard in Portland harbour; fatality and auction of effects. Period at HMS Pembroke Barracks, Chatham, 12/1947. Period aboard HMS Scott, 2/1948-5/1948: nature of ship; surveying activities in Rochester area; cleaning duties; canteen messing system and food. REEL 4 Period on torpedo training aboard HMS Bleasdale based at Sheerness, 5/1948-8/1948: routine maintenance of torpedoes; theoretical training; question of asdic training and changes in torpedo rating terminology; stories of soldiers visiting ship. Recollections of period as torpedoman aboard HMS Phoebe, 9/1948-5/1951: nature as light cruiser; training in use of paravane; torpedomens' messdeck; watch system; action station as No 1 on torpedo tubes; cruising station on asdic and method of operation; firing practice 21 torpedo and method of recovery in ship's whaler; torpedo magazine for explosive warheads; prior training on setting and laying mines; use of explosive charges in sea fishing. REEL 5 Continues: voyage out to Gibraltar, 10/1948; base at Valetta harbour, Malta; recreations on visits ashore; infantry training assault course with Royal Marines; rest camp; recreations on visits ashore; 'tidily suit' uniform; exercises with Mediterranean Fleet including stories of minor collision with HMS Liverpool, propeller damage in collision with HMS Gambia and cases of faulty torpedoes; presence of Admiral Lord Mountbatten aboard ship and consequent removal of torpedo tubes; 'showing flag' visit around Mediterranean ports; leave in Cairo, Egypt; shore patrol duty in Cyprus; crew morale; precautions against frogman sabotage during visit to Beirut, Lebanon; 'bum boats' in Port Said, Egypt; return to GB, 3/1951; question of length of commission. REEL 6 Continues: leave based in Chatham; effects of storm in Bay of Biscay; leaving ship, 5/1951. Period at Royal Naval Torpedo Training School, HMS Vernon Shore Station, Portsmouth, 8/1951-1/1952: acting as blood donor; fault finding in torpedo engine; hearing tests for asdic operators. Story of defusing mine washed ashore during period at HMS Pembroke Barracks, Chatham, 1/1952-3/1952. Recollections of period as able torpedoman aboard HMS Birmingham, 3/1952-11/1953: volunteering for posting; joining ship and living ashore at Portsmouth docks; action stations on 21 torpedo tubes; asdic duties and training exercises; voyage out to Sasebo, Japan; patrols off Korean coast including close escape from mine, shore bombardments, shore party to destroy rockets from crashed US aircraft and cold conditions; visit ashore to China Fleet Club, Hong Kong; recall to ship and effects of typhoon; visit to Japanese opera at Kure, Japan; sending tea set home to family; buying Japanese camera. REEL 7 Continues: relationship with ratings; dysentery outbreak; white uniforms; recreations during visit to Singapore; leaving ship. Voyage as passenger aboard HMS Ocean to GB and demobilisation, 5/1954: war gratuity; 11/1953: minimal commitments with Royal Naval Reserve, 1954-1957; demob suit. Post-service career: work as storeman and capstan operator for electrical firm; work as plumber's storeman; work as storeman and on work study of Bank of England printing works; membership of British Korean War Veterans' Association.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Hart, Peter M (Recorder)
Vichion, Denis (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2008
Dimensions: whole: Duration 210, Number Of Items 7
Catalogue number: 31446

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