Description
Object description
British seaman served with HMS Venomous in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1942-1943; officer cadet with HMS King Alfred, Lancing, GB, 1943; officer served aboard HMS Magic, 40th Minesweeping Flotilla in US, Atlantic, GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1943-1944 including sinking off Normandy, 6/7/1944; served aboard HMS Coquette, 8th Minesweeping Flotilla in Mediterranean and Far East, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Edinburgh, GB, 1923-1942: family; decision to join of Royal Navy; outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; German air raids; changes to education; employment; sheltering from German air raids; details of blackout. Aspects of training as seaman with Royal Navy in GB and Northern Ireland, 1942: call-up; train journey to Torpoint; period at HMS Raleigh including recreational activities; pattern of training; attitude to discipline. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Venomous in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1942-1943: abortion of first convoy escort; pay; sleeping arrangements; character of destroyer; memories of commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton; duties and watches; memories of shipmates; messing arrangements; cocoa; bath in Belfast; washing facilities onboard.
REEL 2 Continues: degree of knowledge of next draft; description escort of convoy from Freetown. Sierra Leone to Gibraltar; Axis air attacks during convoy escort off North African coast, 12/1942; seasickness; further details of convoy escort duties; drinking ashore. Aspects of period of officer training at HMS King Alfred, Lancing, GB, 1943: selection tests; pattern in officer training; subsequent courses undertaken. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Magic, 40th Minesweeping Flotilla in US, Atlantic, GB coastal waters and English Channel, 1943-1944 including sinking off Normandy, 6/7/1944: duties in New York; draft to Savannah; accommodation; theft of ship's keys; re-fit of ship at Charlestown; character of minesweeper; move to Bermuda; details of watches.
REEL 3 Continues: story of stop-off in Azores; process of minesweeping; description of mine sweep; return of minesweepers to GB during delay to D-Day, 5/6/1944; minesweeping for 5th Cruiser Sqdn on D-Day, 6/6/1944; minesweeping on Trout Line in English Channel, 6/6/1944-6/7/1944 including problems from oyster mines; re-supply on Isle of Wight; description of ship's sinking by German Neger human torpedo, 6/7/1944; story of flight in Fairey Swordfish and meeting of future wife during survivor's leave, 7/1944-8/1944. Recollections of operations as officer aboard HMS Coquette, 8th Minesweeping Flotilla in Mediterranean and Far East, 1944-1946: journey to and joining ship in Newfoundland, Canada; minesweeping in Mediterranean including becoming flotilla leader after sinking of HMS Regulus in Corfu Channel, 12/1/1945 memories of commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Charles 'Bud' Abbott and Lieutenant Commander David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton of HMS Venomous; minesweeping with US Navy minesweepers in Far East, 10/1945; sailing into Hong Kong harbour; relations with civilians; recreational activities.
REEL 4 Continues: supply of rations; Christmas 1945; end of war, 8/1945; return to Mediterranean, 3/1946 including duties as commanding officer; visits of officers to ship; process of demobilisation and return to civilian employment.
