Description
Object description
British midshipman served aboard HMS Hood in GB, 5/1939-4/1940; commanded Dutch coaster during rescue of British troops from St Valery, Le Havre and Cherbourg, France, 5-6/1940.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of operations as midshipman aboard HMS Hood in Portsmouth, GB, 5/1939-4/1940: story of joining crew of Hood with two friends; first impressions of ship and size; story about Lt Commander Jessell; duties piloting second steam picket boat; story of friend running picket boat aground; role as watch keeper in plot; three watch system; no radar; duties plotting air searches by RAF Coastal Command; attended educational classes; duties as assistant to focsle divisional officer; accommodation and sleeping arrangements in hammock; boy seaman lashed up hammock; locker for uniform and kit; washing facilities; daily routine; messing arrangements in gun room; opinion of food; description of Hood firing 15-inch guns during exercise; action station in plot; firing of anti-aircraft guns; joined Home Fleet in Scapa Flow; role of ship during first winter of war; duties at base; accompanied French battleship Dunkirk; opinion of Hood's vulnerability to attack; story of hearing news about sinking of Hood while aboard submarine HMS Torbay in Mediterranean, 24/May/1941. Aspects of operations in command of Dutch coaster in English Channel, 5-6/1940: description of ship and crew; sent to rescue British troops from St Valery.
REEL 2 Continues: further comments on taking command of Dutch coaster in Poole Harbour; escorted by destroyer to St Valery to rescue soldiers from 51st Highland Div; sailed to Le Havre but all troops already taken prisoner; sailed to Cherbourg; story of ship being bombed and emergency repairs; took on board 300 soldiers at Cherbourg; story about French naval officer laying mines; returned to Weymouth; given Bren gun and ammunition by soldier to protect ship; opinion of ship's crew; sailed to Channel Islands to help evacuate civilians; story of seizing three French destroyers in Portsmouth Harbour and reaction of officers and crews.