Description
Object description
British seaman served as DEMS gunner with Merchant Navy in Atlantic and Pacific, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1922-1942: family background in Gravesend, Kent; story of unsuccessful attempts to join Army and Royal Air Force on outbreak of war, 9/1939; called up as DEMS gunner, 10/1941; posted to HMS Glendower, Pwllheli, North Wales for training; various memories of period at Shirehampton prior to first drafting; description of 12 weeks training at HMS Glendower; attitude to being called up and reaction of family. Recollections of operations as DEMS gunner aboard SS Port Dunedin, SS Donaghadee and SS Drammensfjord in Atlantic and Pacific, 1/1942-1945: description of first trip to Buenos Aires; question of having no previous experience of ships; attitude to danger; problem of bad weather; description of ship, accommodation and messing arrangements; story of being taught about stars by second mate; relations between officers and crews; story about cadet bringing back gramophone for gunners; attitude to serving with Merchant Navy; discipline aboard ship and in port; story about 14 days leave in Liverpool; description of first three trips to South America, Australia and New Zealand; comparison of pay as DEMS gunner with other merchant seamen.
REEL 2 Continues: description of daily routine and duties aboard SS Port Dunedin; watch system; transferred to Irish ship SS Donaghadee sailing from Belfast; opinion of crew and sleeping quarters; story about gunner going missing in Preston; description of ship, cargoes and destinations; story about visit to village in southern Ireland for drink; further comments on Irish crew; story about crew paying for home leave; comparison of trips aboard SS Port Dunedin and SS Donaghadee; opinion of facilities aboard SS Donaghadee; method of washing; story of being reprimanded for state of hammock; opinion of food and messing arrangements; served aboard SS Donaghadee for eight months; reason for preferring longer trips; spending money on shore leave; story about visiting pubs in Belfast wearing uniform; relations with civilians in Belfast and Preston; story of being beaten up by American soldier in Preston; story of being transferred to SS Drammensfjord; description of ship and crew.
REEL 3 Continues: description of trips to North Africa, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Canada; story about hearing news of end of war during trip to Montreal; memories of VE Day in Newcastle, GB, 5/1945; opinion of living conditions and food aboard SS Drammensfjord; nature of extra paid work given to DEMS gunners towards end of war; description of last trip to Canada following end of war; story of voyage from Bergen to Leith, Scotland, aboard Polish destroyer; problem of adjustment to post-war civilian life and losing touch with friends; story about friend Stan in Royal Air Force; description of various flights and attitude to flying; story of being swept overboard on the Port Dunedin; description of situation in Pacific and attacks on convoys; story of U-boat being sunk by corvette on trip back from Panama Canal; problem of air attacks on convoys during early part of war; role of Sunderlands escorting convoys; attitude to Germans; problem of lack of intelligence information for DEMS gunners; story about hearing news of atomic bomb while aboard SS Drammensfjord, 8/1945; opinion of living conditions and food aboard SS Drammensfjord and comparison to SS Port Dunedin; description of trip along coast of America; attitude to homesickness and home leave; question of civilians and seamen having little in common.
REEL 4 Continues: comparison of relations between Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force; reasons for joining up and attitude to war; question of merchant ships not receiving welcome on arrival in port; attitude to carrying dangerous cargoes and question of luck; opinion of Irish and Norwegian crews; story about brother-in-law surviving sinking off Gibraltar; question of contribution of merchant seaman during war not being fully recognised; description of armaments aboard SS Port Dunedin, SS Donaghadee and SS Drammensfjord; amusing story about firing Oerlikon gun aboard SS Donaghadee; reason for not being allowed to fire vertical rocket launcher ('Pig Trough') aboard SS Port Dunedin; description of 'Pillar Box' aboard SS Drammensfjord.