Interview with Peter George Wells

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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
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.
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Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
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.
213142670
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
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 seaman served aboard HMS Saladin, 21st Escort Group in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 10/1943-11/1943; trained at HMS King Alfred, Brighton, GB, 1943-1944; midshipmen served aboard HMT Elm and HMS Bouvet 3 in GB coastal waters, 1944; officer served aboard HMS Seabear, 8th Minesweeper Flotilla in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1944-1946

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Sheffield, GB, 1925-1943: father's service with Royal Engineers in First World War; family; early education; evacuation to Hassop at start of Second World War, 9/1939; later education. Aspects of enlistment and training as seaman with Royal Navy in GB, 1943: background to volunteering for Royal Navy, 7/1943; initial training at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness; selection for commission, including eye test; nature of later officer training at HMS King Alfred, Hove, 1944. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as seaman aboard HMS Saladin, 21st Escort Group in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 10/1943-11/1943: drafting to ship as c/w candidate; escort duties to Iceland, 11/1943; loss of seaman off Iceland; damage to ship from bad sea conditions; story of nearly being washed overboard in rough seas. Aspects of period as midshipman aboard HMT Elm and HMS Bouvet 3 in GB coastal waters, 1944: commissioning as midshipman at HMS King Alfred in Brighton, 1944; appointment to trawler HMT Elm; opinion of captain; transfer to HMT Bouvet 3; attending Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) concert at Scapa Flow; destroyer accident at Scapa Flow. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Seabear, 8th Minesweeper Flotilla in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1944-1946: joining minesweeper at Leith; relations with captain Lieutenant Commander Walter Harvey. REEL 3 Continues: move to Malta; sight of Axis E-boat being hit in harbour at Genoa, Italy; move to Indian Ocean after VE Day; incident of minesweeper going around in circles in minefield; practical jokes at Christmas, 25/12/1945; minesweeping technique; amusing story of party with Chinese Nationalist Navy; return to Mediterranean, 1946; trips in tank landing crafts to United States of America and back to GB. Post-war and life: initial employment; obtaining student place at University of Sheffield; medical career. Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Seabear, 8th Minesweeper Flotilla in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1944-1946: types of mines dealt with. REEL 4 Continues: question of what makes a happy ship; sleeping arrangements and rations; smoking; discussion of post-war career in psychiatry; prior recollection of discovery of airman's body whilst serving with Home Guard.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
King, Fiona (Recorder)
Wells, Peter George (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2017-02-20
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 34511

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Interview with Peter George Wells

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