Description
Object description
British seaman and petty officer served with Royal Navy Beach Parties in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bognor Regis, GB, 1924-1942: family; memories of childhood; civilian work; attempt to join Royal Navy; family members joining services; leisure activities during early war years; service of friends in armed forces; membership of Local Defence Volunteers including duties and air activity in area; learning to drive; joining of Royal Navy including lie about age and reaction of mother. Aspects of period as seaman with Royal Navy in GB, 1942-1944: posting to motor mechanics course; Commando training received including assault course; tests; details of motor mechanics branch; posting to and activity in Dartmouth; duties; story of fall into River Dart during air raid and reactions; posting to and details of Royal Navy Beach Parties; landing exercises including visit home; knowledge of approaching invasion; voyage from Tilbury, 5/6/1944; scenes on morning of 6/6/1944; population and load of landing craft; talking about experiences; scenes of wounded. Aspects of period as seaman and petty officer with Royal Navy Beach Parties in North West Europe, 1944-1946: disembarkation and setting-up of base; problems keeping generator running; role of unit; air activity including description of butterfly bombs.
REEL 2 Continues: rations; advance through France including story of overshooting frontline and contact with German POWs; period in Antwerp including reception from civilians and bombing raids; hospitalisation with diphtheria in Antwerp and Donk including illicit visit into Donk; further details of advance to Antwerp; promotion to petty officer; leave activities including visits to mess; marriage; VE Day celebrations in Brussels; duties while posted in Brussels; winding-up of depot; story of final duty; journey to Devonport. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: short period in Brussels; move to Bognor Regis; civilian work transporting POWs to work; leisure activities; changes in local area; issue of medals; 60th Anniversary of D-Day celebrations including medical problems and meeting with Mayor of Arromanches; family; reflections on service; troops suffering from stress.
REEL 3 Continues: duties as motor mechanic.