Interview with Harry Card

Sound: © IWM (33987)

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If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British boy seaman trained with HMS Collingwood, Fareham, GB, 1943; boy seaman and seaman served aboard HMS Swift, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, Arctic and English Channel during landings in Normandy, France, 12/1943-6/1944, including sinking off Sword Beach, Normandy, 24/6/1944; seaman served as quartermaster aboard HMS Odzani, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Beckenham, GB, 1926-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as an apprentice with various civilian companies in GB, 1939-1943: memories of outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; nature of work with Dowsing Company in Sydenham; rescue of family after German Air Force bombing near home in Beckenham; move to Percy Jones (Twinlock) Ltd; move to blacksmiths making parts for Churchill Tanks; rations and social activities. Recollections of enlistment and training as boy seaman at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, GB, 1943: background to enlistment in Royal Navy; personal significance of number 23; reaction of mother to enlistment; issue of kit at HMS Collingwood; pattern of basic training and seamanship lessons; climbing mast. REEL 2 Continues: instructors; maintaining contact with his first captain; arms and gunnery training; daily routine; evening activities; pay; inspection of mess; nature of discipline; relations amongst boy seamen. Recollections of period as boy seaman aboard HMS Swift, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, 12/1943-2/1944: joining ship on Isle of Wight; description of destroyer; state of water on board; joining mess; description of mess; sleeping in hammock. REEL 3 Continues: ablutions; character of 'heads'; washing clothes; off duty activities; importance of getting along in mess and personal hygiene; uniform allowance; adaption of uniform by seamen; reasons for bell bottom trousers; rum ration and it's issue; tobacco ration; pay; 'make do and mend'; watch system worked. REEL 4 Continues: branches aboard ship; duties as lookout; night-time lookout duties; kit worn during lookout duties; aircraft warning givens; aircraft and ship recognition; character of working up trials in The Solent, 12/1943-1/1944; working up of crew; lookout work with navigator; boy seamens' roles. REEL 5 Continues: move to Scapa Flow, 1/1944; training role of experienced seaman on board. Aspects of operations as boy seaman aboard HMS Swift, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet in Arctic, 2/1944-3/1944: first convoy escort duties with Convoy JW 57 to Soviet Union, 2/1944; German Navy submarine tactics; operation of Asdic; effects of depth charges; chipping ice from ship; freezing sea spray; effects of over icing on smaller naval vessels; clothing worn; problems with frost in leather boots; German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft circling convoy; convoy escort duties; rapid sinking of iron ore ships. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Swift, 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters and English Channel during landings in Normandy, France, 5/1944-6/1944, including sinking off Sword Beach, Normandy, 24/6/1944: bombardment practice; rescue of stranded Royal Navy submarine off Norway. REEL 6 Continues: basing at Greenock, GB, 5/1944; impressions of captain Lieutenant Commander John Gower; rearming with proximity fused shells; bombardment of coast of Normandy, 6/1944; sailing for Normandy, 5/6/1944; captain Lieutenant Commander John Gower's disobeying orders to rescue survivors of HNoMS Svenner, 6/6/1944; opening fire at 5.50am, D-Day, 6/6/1944; reaction to duties on D-Day, 6/6/1944; attacks by German Air Force aircraft, 6/1944; mining of ship, 24/6/1944; abandoning ship, 24/6/1944. REEL 7 Continues: period in sea and rescue by landing craft; nature of wounds; evacuation to GB by hospital ship; description of period of hospitalisation for wounds in GB, 1944; lack of survivors leave. Recollections of period as quartermaster aboard HMS Odzani, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 1945: background to joining frigate; character of ship; route taken to Pacific; Japanese aircraft recognition; contrast in speed of HMS Odzani and HMS Swift; role as quartermaster; description of wheel house. REEL 8 Continues: steering ship; provisioning of ship by United States Navy; sleeping on upper deck; working uniform; escort duties; dealing with Japanese Kamikaze attacks; participation in landing party in Hong Kong after Japanese surrender, 1945; anti-piracy patrols off Hong Kong, 1945; transfer to HMS Indefatigable, 1945; leaving Royal Navy, 1946; attitude to service with Royal Navy.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
Card, Harry (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2014-06-03
Dimensions: whole: Duration 240, Number Of Items 8
Catalogue number: 33987

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Interview with Harry Card

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