Description
Object description
British seaman served with Royal Navy aboard HMS Decoy and HMS Whimbrel in Mediterranean and North Atlantic, 1940-1945.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1917-1940: family background in Hackney Wick, London; called up, 1940; description of training with Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood; drafted to HMS Decoy. Recollections of operations aboard HMS Decoy and HMS Whimbrel in Mediterranean and North Atlantic, 1940-1945: role in operations in North Africa and with Malta convoys; story of ship being attacked by Japanese aircraft in Colombo harbour, Easter Sunday, 1942; returned to GB, 11/1942; drafted to HMS Whimbrel in Glasgow; duties as gunner and watch keeper on the wheel; role in operations during landings in Sicily and at Gibraltar; speed of ship; description of trip to Norfolk, Virginia, US; damage sustained by ship; description of torpedo course at Chatham, GB; role sailing motor boat between Medway towns and Sheerness; duties as gunner and carpenter aboard HMS Decoy; leave; attitude to war; family and friends; story of being advised to get married, 8/1940; description of role in various actions in Mediterranean; opinion of living conditions aboard HMS Whimbrel; story of sinking U-boat during convoy to Sicily; various memories of leave in London, including V1 and V2 raids; further comments on role sailing motor boat on Medway; story about John Mills filming 'Great Expectations'; opinion of living conditions and food at Chatham Barracks and messing arrangements aboard ship.
REEL 2 Continues: description of sleeping in hammock; watch system; comparison of weather conditions in Mediterranean and North Atlantic; problem of ice on ship during convoys to Newfoundland; question of suitability to be a seaman and problem of seasickness; story about seasick skipper; further comments on hammock and sleeping arrangements; various memories of crewmates; story of meeting school friend in Alexandria; maintenance of ship including painting; length of service; description of various ships; family; description of training at Toba Mori; further comments on HMS Whimbrel and Admiral Sir Gilbert Stephenson; opinion of training; attitude to duties as helmsman and with gunner party; reflections on wartime service and attitude to Germans and Japanese; communication with family and censorship; access to newspapers; reaction to sinking of HMS Hood and US entering war; friendships; story of deafness caused by gunfire on first trip; further reflections on wartime service; description of last trip to Sicily; story about running out of water in Indian Ocean.