Hebditch, Douglas William (Oral history)

British leading signalman served with Royal Navy aboard HMS Beaufort and HMS Aldenham in Mediterranean, 1943-1945 and at HMS Royal Caroline, Travemunde, Germany, 1945-1946

REEL 1: Aspects of operations with Royal Navy at shore establishment HMS Royal Caroline, Travemunde Germany, 1/Apr/1945-10/Feb/1946: problem of illness caused by inoculations; role as leading signalman; description of HMS Royal Caroline; summary of political and military situation, 4/1945; role as stabilising force controlling west bank of River Trave; attitude to Russians controlling east bank of River Trave; used Royal Navy chocolate and tobacco as currency; story of marriage in GB, 8/1945; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; story of sailing captured German ships to Libau, Latvia and bringing back crews; role as signalman aboard German cruiser; weather conditions, 2/1946; relations with Russians aboard ship; story of mending Russian sailor's watch; use of flag book to communicate with Russians; opinion of messing arrangements and food; description of messing arrangements on Royal Navy ships and duties as cook of the mess; description of making Pusser's Kye; conditions aboard Hunt class destroyer; demobilized at HMS Collingwood, 18/Mar/1946. Aspects of operations as leading signalman aboard HMS Aldenham and HMS Beaufort in Mediterranean, 4/1943-5/1945: description of voyage to Alexandria via Tripoli and Malta; sailed in convoy to Gulf of Sirte; story of encounter with German U-boat; correspondence with girlfriend in GB. REEL 2 Continues: description of anti-submarine exercises and gunnery practice; patrol duties off Cape Bond; rescued boatload of German survivors; story of bombarding German troops on island of Zembra and forcing surrender; further rescue of German and Italian survivors; story of seeing film 'French Without Tears'; story of buying new collar and tapes; description of making 'clacker' (pastry) as cook of the mess; convoy formed up in ten columns; story of Wellington bomber flying over convoy taking photographs; reflections on wartime service; attitude to naval church services; reads poem by crew member aboard HMS Aldenham entitled 'Fighting 22' and other poems about naval life.