Description
Object description
British seaman served as navigation officer with Merchant Navy in North Atlantic, 1939-1945.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1919-1939: reasons for joining Merchant Navy; pacifist beliefs; reaction of family to joining Merchant Navy; father's service with Royal Army Medical Corps during First World War. Recollections of period with Merchant Navy in North Atlantic, 1939-1945: description of trip aboard first ship SS St. Rosario, 10/1939; nature of cargo carried and change to military supplies as war progressed; role as cadet and question of being commissioned; description of navigation techniques and duties as lookout; formation of convoys and comparison to First World War; role in operations during Battle of the Atlantic, 1940-1943; attitude to Germans; awareness of progress of war; communication with family while at sea; length of journeys; description of trip aboard SS St. Esalt to New York, 1942; story about officer dying from smallpox and quarantining of crew; duties as ordinary seaman aboard merchant vessel including routes and cargoes; problem of seasickness; friendships at sea.
REEL 2 Continues: relations with officers; opinion of trawlermen as skippers; relations with Royal Navy; opinion of food; description of convoy SL118 coming under attack and rescuing survivors; various memories of sailing round Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego; reaction to death of President Roosevelt and end of war, 1945; story of sounding V for Victory on siren; post-war life after leaving Merchant Navy; attitude to serving in North Atlantic and dangers of being at sea; story about tanker on Humber and bomber; description of being bombed; reaction to news of sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse; story about HMS Wellington escorting convoy SL118; description of using Aldis lamp and Morse code.
REEL 3 Continues: further memories of period in GB prior to joining Merchant Navy; pay; various memories of shore leave in Brazil and in GB; description of training for 1st and 2nd Mate qualifications and navigation; recreational activities; attitude to leaving Oxford University to join Merchant Navy; story of meeting friends on Suez Canal; further comments on joining Merchant Navy and pacifist beliefs; multinational nature of crews; description of food and clothing; weather conditions; received supplementary provisions from family; story of celebrating 21st birthday at sea; Christmas celebrations.