Description
Object description
British wren and NCO served with Women's Royal Naval Service in GB, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Kingston-on-Thames, Devonport, GB and Hong Kong, 1920-1939: family; life during period in Hong Kong including work of father and activities of Japanese; return journey to GB including scenes at Port Said and off Spanish coast; father's work with Admiralty; accommodation in Admiralty Row in Devonport; family connections with Royal Navy; social life; awareness of approaching war; preparations for war; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. Recollections of period as wren and petty officer with Women's Royal Naval Service in GB, 1939-1945: enlistment, 1939; accommodation and duties; mines in harbour; arrival of Polish Navy; memories of admirals; relationship with Polish sailors including Christmas 1939; arrival of Free French Navy including fallout from interrogation of sailors.
REEL 2 Continues: story of Royal Navy officer killed aboard French submarine, Surcouf, 1940; later activities of Surcouf; memories of bombing raids on Plymouth and Devonport including involvement with fighting fires; story of search for parents during a raid; story of taking father to Saltash during an air raid and subsequent attempt to drive to Torquay, 3/1941.
REEL 3 Continues: cover taken in Plympton during drive to Torquay; completion of journey to Torquay; story of later narrow escape from bomb; cockroaches on HMS Andromeda; compassionate posting and duties at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; stories of leaving post whilst ill; German bombing of Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; story of attack from German aircraft during visit to Dartmouth; activity and duties during build-up to D-Day; presence of Combined-Operations troops; contact with and activities of US troops; duties and promotion to petty officer; story of illicit visit to Slapton during Exercise Tiger.
REEL 4 Continues: events at Slapton; US landing craft at Dartmouth; stories of contact with US troops; relationship with officer killed aboard HMS Dorsetshire and having his death confirmed by aunt who was a medium; later contact with survivors of HMS Dorsetshire; activities of 52nd Flotilla; memories of Guy Hamilton; contact with French and US troops including relationship between French and Americans.
REEL 5 Continues: duties and activity in Dartmouth before D-Day including story of mailing letters for US troops; memories of D-Day and subsequent days, 6/6/1944; VE Day celebrations; story of boat trip on final day with Women's Royal Naval Service. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: accommodation in Torquay; radiography training; civilian work; marriage; memories of life in dockyard. REEL 6 Continues: scenes of HMS Hood; experiences of fiancé aboard HMS Dorsetshire; memories of Admiral Darling including stories of sherry parties attended; memories of Admiral Brockman.