DeptName
Documents
IDNO
732
OtherNumber
91/17/1
ItemName
Private Papers of E E Barringer
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Photocopy of a well-written ts account (328pp), written in 1989, of No 835 Naval Air Squadron, flying Swordfish, Hurricanes and Wildcats, January 1942 - April 1945, by the first member and later commander of the Squadron, January 1942 - August 1944, including: the formation of the Squadron at RNAS Eastleigh, January 1942; the journey in SS ANDALUCIA STAR to Jamaica, February 1942; anti-submarine patrols from HMS BUZZARD, RNAS Kingston, Jamaica, February - March 1942; the journeys in SS ALISTER, a banana boat, to Norfolk, Virginia, USA, March 1942, and then in the carrier, HMS FURIOUS, providing anti-submarine patrols, to Britain, April 1942; working up at HMS DAEDALUS, RNAS Lee on Solent, April - June 1942; HMS SPARROWHAWK, RNAS Hatston, Orkney Islands, June - September 1942; HMS BLACKCAP, RNAS Stretton, September - November 1942; HMS LANDRAIL, RNAS Machrihanish, November - December 1942 and January - April 1943; RAF Kirkston, Belfast, December 1942 - January 1943; training with the carriers HMS ARGUS, September - November 1943, and HMS CHASER, November - December 1943; service in the Battle of the Atlantic with the carriers HMS BATTLER, April - June 1943, and HMS NAIRANA, 2nd, 4th, 9th, 15th, 20th and 21st Escort Groups, protecting convoys to Gibraltar and Russia, December 1943 - April 1945, including Operation SAMPLER, a strike against enemy shipping off Norway, January 1945; disbandment of the Squadron, April 1945; describing resentment of the RNVR by RN officers; the neglect of convoy work and the Fleet Air Arm; the changes in technology; comparisons between British and American escort carriers; life in carriers and the Squadron; low morale caused by friction between the Squadron and non-flying senior officers; and mentioning Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham; Lieutenant Commander the Hon J R Godley (later Lord Kilbracken); Vice Admiral Sir Peter Gretton, Admiral Sir Lumley Lyster, Captain V N Surtees and Captain F W Walker.
MakerName
Barringer
Forenames
E E
Honours
RNVR
Style
Lieutenant Commander
Weighting
100
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
471
OtherNumber
80/36/1 & PP/MCR/C28
ItemName
Private Papers of R E Childers
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
8 volumes of ms diary covering his service as an Observer in the RNAS in the seaplane carrier HMS ENGADINE, August 1914 - March 1915, including the Cuxhaven Raid, Christmas 1914, then with the seaplane carrier HMS BEN-MY-CHREE in Turkish and Egyptian waters, December 1915 - March 1916, his service with the Coastal Motor Boats in the Channel, March - July 1917, as Intelligence Officer, the Advanced Seaplane Base, 'Dunkirk', July 1917, then his duties on the Secretariat of the Irish Convention in Dublin, July 1917 - April 1918; followed by a posting to the naval section of air intelligence A.1.26 at the Air Ministry, May - September 1918; then an Intelligence Officer with No 27 Group HQ, RAF Bircham Newton working on the planned air raid on Berlin, September - November 1918, and finally in Belgium preparing a report on bomb damage, November - December 1918; together with official letters concerning his service career and a few interesting letters from him on Irish politics.
MakerName
Childers
Forenames
R E
Honours
DSC RNVR
Style
Lieutenant Commander
RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue and DPH (ref PC 1574)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
2176
OtherNumber
92/53/1
ItemName
Private Papers of Dudley Pound
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
A very interesting and opinionated ms diary (150pp) kept during his appointment as the executive officer of HMS ST VINCENT (1st Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet), July 1914 - January 1915, with detailed entries describing the Grand Fleet's sweeps in the North Sea, the various submarine alarms in Scapa Flow and their other anchorages and the measures taken to improve their anti-submarine defences; useful references to the outbreak of war, the supercession of Admiral Sir George Callaghan as C-in-C Grand Fleet, the morale of ST VINCENT's ship's company, the camouflage adopted by Grand Fleet warships and Lord Fisher's appointment as First Sea Lord; and some lengthy analyses of the efficiency of the Grand Fleet's logistical preparations for war and its staff arrangements, the Royal Navy's response to the submarine threat, likely German naval strategy and the major operations and events in the war at sea; together with a photograph of some of the officers of the battleship HMS COLOSSUS taken just before Jutland in May 1916, printed copies (2pp) of congratulatory signals following Jutland, an undated ms letter (4pp) from Captain T E Crease RN to Pound and other printed ephemera.
MakerName
Pound
Forenames
Dudley
Honours
GCB OM GCVO
Style
Admiral of the Fleet Sir
RelatedIWMItems
See also Special Miscellaneous G6 and H6
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
3129
OtherNumber
95/5/1
ItemName
Private Papers of J A J Dennis
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Bound copy of a very interesting and extensively illustrated wordprocessed memoir (312pp), written in the 1980s, covering his training on his Sub Lieutenant's courses (1938), his service as a junior officer and, from November 1940, as First Lieutenant in the destroyer HMS GRIFFIN (January 1939 - October 1942) embracing her deployment on patrol and escort duties with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet (January - October 1939), in the North Sea (November 1939 - March 1940), in the Norwegian campaign including the capture of the German Q ship POLARES and the evacuation from Namsos (April - May 1940), in the Dover Straits including the evacuations from the Netherlands and St Nazaire (May - July 1940) and in the Western Mediterranean (August - November 1940); and on similar duties first with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla in the Eastern Mediterranean (November 1940 - October 1941) including several major convoys to Malta, the Battle of Matapan, the evacuations from Greece and Crete, operations off Syria and supply convoys to Tobruk; and then with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and, following Japan's entry into the war, in the Indian Ocean (November 1941 - October 1942); as First Lieutenant of the newly built HMS SAVAGE (26th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet) from February 1943 - October 1944, including escort duties with North Russian convoys from October 1943, the Battle of the North Cape and supporting the Normandy landings from May - July 1944; and as Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMS VALOROUS in the Rosyth Escort Flotilla (December 1944 - June 1945) employed on escorting North Sea convoys and then on the liberation of Norway. The memoir, which includes interesting references to the professional qualities of his fellow officers, coming under air attack at sea, life ashore in North Russia, the surrender of the German forces at Kristiansand in Norway and the stress of prolonged sea-time as well as accounts of the sinkings of the destroyers GIPSY, GRENVILLE, and AFRIDI, the troopship MOHAMED ALI EL-KEBIR (August 1940), the Italian submarine LAFOLE, the SS PENNLAND (April 1941), the destroyers DIAMOND and WRYNECK, the battleship BARHAM and the cruiser GALATEA, is accompanied by a file of photocopies (ca80pp) from The National Archives, dated April - July 1940, relating to the capture of the POLARES and its aftermath and a copy of Harry Wardle's DIVE NAVY (CPW Books: 2002) which embraces the author's service as a rating in GRIFFIN from 1939 to 1942.
MakerName
Dennis
Forenames
J A J
Honours
DSC RN
Style
Commander
RelatedIWMItems
See also DPH (DOC 521-525)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
12/04/2007 05:50:03
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
3320
OtherNumber
95/5/1
ItemName
Private Papers of M G Haworth
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ts memoir (40pp), written in 1995, recording his service as a Lieutenant RN attached to the Fleet Air Arm as an observer, 1939 - 1942, and covering in particular his appointments in the aircraft carrier HMS GLORIOUS flying Swordfish on patrols over the Indian Ocean (September - November 1939); with an unidentified squadron based on RAF Bircham Newton (March - May 1940) and then with No 826 Squadron, initially also based on RAF Bircham Newton and flying Albacores, principally on anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea (May - September 1940), then in the aircraft carrier HMS FORMIDABLE for operations against Italian East Africa (early 1941) and in the Mediterranean including the Battle of Matapan and the fighting for Crete (March - May 1941) and finally ashore with the Desert Air Force on night operations over the Western Desert (June - December 1941); as a naval liaison officer with the RAF Maritime Reconnaissance Group in Alexandria (January - March 1942), his passage back to the United Kingdom via the United States, Bermuda and Newfoundland (April 1942) and his service as the Assistant Operations Officer in the aircraft carrier HMS FURIOUS, including Operation Pedestal, the major supply convoy to Malta, when she flew off Spitfires to the island (June - August 1942). The memoir includes particularly interesting descriptions of the air operations at the time of Matapan and analyses of the factors contributing to the high morale of No 826 Squadron.
MakerName
Haworth
Forenames
M G
Honours
CBE DSC RN
Style
Captain
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
3353
OtherNumber
86/58/2
ItemName
Private Papers of G M Eady
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ms Midshipman's Journal covering his service in HMS VENUS (Cruiser Force E) on patrol duties off the south coast of Ireland, August 1914 - April 1915; ts recollections (31pp), written during 1916, of his service in HMS NEW ZEALAND (2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron), January - August 1916, including a lengthy description of the Battle of Jutland together with a later memoir of the battle; a series of articles published in "The Navy", 1922 - 1928, giving his impressions of life as a midshipman during the First World War; ts account (124pp) of his service as a junior officer in the sloop HOLLYHOCK on patrol and escort work in the Mediterranean, June 1917 - September 1918; and his flimsies, September 1914 - September 1918.
MakerName
Eady
Forenames
G M
Honours
RN
Style
Commander
RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR (DPB/DPH)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
5615
OtherNumber
96/33/1-4 & PP/MCR/C34
ItemName
Private Papers of Richard Phillimore
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Important and extensive ms and ts papers, such as diaries, lectures, letters, official papers, photographs and reports, April 1905 - December 1937, relating to his career with the Royal Navy, 1905 - 1929, including: his service as Flag Captain at Portsmouth, 1905 - 1907; commanding the cruiser HMS ABOUKIR in the Mediterranean, 1909 - 1911, with reference to amphibious operations; Chief of Staff to the C-in-C, Mediterranean, 1912 - August 1914, participating in the pursuit of the GOEBEN and BRESLAU, August 1914; commanding HMS INFLEXIBLE, August 1914 - March 1915, as part of the 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron, Battle Cruiser Fleet, taking part in the action off the Falklands, December 1914, and the attempt to force the Dardanelles, March 1915; Principal Beach Master for the landings at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, April - August 1915; liaison officer to the Imperial Russian Headquarters, October 1915 - December 1916, commenting on the many places and people he saw, notably Tsar Nicholas II and his court; Admiral Commanding Aircraft with responsibility for the seaplane carriers, seaplane tenders, and aircraft of the Grand Fleet, December 1917 - June 1919, and referring to the raid on Tondern, July 1918, and the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, November 1918; President of the Committee on Special Post War Questions, June 1919 - November 1920, with particular reference to the development and future of naval aviation; command of the Reserve Fleet, 1920 - 1922; and C-in-C, Plymouth Station, 1924 - 1926, relating to the rearmament, education and training of the postwar Royal Navy; mentioning or corresponding with many senior officers, notably Admirals of the Fleet Earl Beatty, Sir John de Robeck, Earl Jellicoe, Sir John Kelly and Lord Keyes, Sir Doveton Sturdee; Admirals Sir Sackville Carden, Sir Walter Cowan, Sir Archibald Douglas, A A Eberhard, I K Grigorovitch, P F A H Guepratte, Sir Reginald Henderson, B A Kanin, Sir Berkeley Milne, Sir William Pakenham, Hon Sir Alexander Ramsay, Sir Morgan Singer, A P Stoddart, Sir Ernest Troubridge, Sir Richard Webb; Vice Admirals Sir Lewis Bayly, R Bell Davies VC, B W M Fairbairn, V A Kolchak, C R Payne; Rear Admirals Sir Robert Arbuthnot, T P H Beamish, T W Kemp, E A Taylor; Captain Sir Bryan Godfrey-Faussett RN; Field Marshal Earl Kitchener, Generals M V Alexieff, Sir Richard Haking, M Janin, I Korostovich; Lieutenant General Sir John Hanbury-Williams; Major General Sir Alfred Knox; and Brigadier General F G Marsh.
MakerName
Phillimore
Forenames
Richard
Honours
GCB KCMG MVO JP
Style
Admiral Sir
RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue and also the papers of Captain G E C Acheson DSO MVO RN (P160); Air Commodore R M Groves CB DSO (69/34/1); Brigadier-General F G Marsh CMG DSO (67/252/1); Miss D N Seymour (95/28/1); Captain B A Smart DSO RAF (79/44/1); and Admiral Sir Ernest Troubridge (66/12/1).
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
7695
OtherNumber
98/1/1
ItemName
Private Papers of W H N Martin
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Edited wordprocessed memoir (150pp), written ca 1980 - 1986, recording his early life and education, his commissioning into and training ashore in the Royal Marines (1927 - 1930), his service in the Mediterranean Fleet battleship HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN (1930 - 1931), his five year attachment to the Fleet Air Arm embracing service as a pilot with Nos 811 and 822 Squadrons RAF in the aircraft carrier HMS FURIOUS (1933 - 1935) and with No 824 Squadron RAF in the aircraft carrier HMS HERMES on the China Station (1936 - 1937), his service as a flight commander, flying Swordfish, with No 810 Squadron RAF in the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL including operations in Home waters and the South Atlantic and during the Norwegian campaign (September 1939 - May 1940), as Commanding Officer of No 821 Squadron RAF based on ARK ROYAL and RNAS Hatston (May - December 1940) and then of No 814 Squadron in HERMES during operations in the Indian Ocean, but ashore at RAF China Bay, Ceylon when HERMES was sunk (February 1941 - July 1942), as an Assistant Superintendent British Air Training at Quonset Point air station, Rhode Island, USA (November 1942 - December 1944), on the staff of the Admiral (Air) at Lee-on-Solent (August 1945 - June 1946), as Fleet Aviation Officer, British Pacific Fleet and Commanding Officer RNAS Kai Tak, Hong Kong (1946 - 1948), as Commander (Air) in the aircraft carrier HMS VENGEANCE in Home waters (1949 - 1950), as a student at the United States Naval War College (1950 - 1951), on the staff of the School of Land and Air Warfare in Wiltshire (1951 - 1953), as Commanding Officer RNAS Simbang, Singapore (1953 - 1956) and on the staff of SACLANT in Virginia, USA (1956 - 1958). The memoir, which is accompanied by a file of photocopies (35pp) of presscuttings and correspondence, 1943 - 2004, relating to the use of Major Martin's identity as 'The Man Who Never Was' in Operation Mincemeat, the deception plan devised by the Naval Intelligence Division in 1943, also covers Martin's transfer from the Royal Marines into the Royal Navy in 1944, and includes sympathetic portraits of Admiral Sir Denis Boyd and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Lambe.
MakerName
Martin
Forenames
W H N
Honours
RN
Style
Commander
RelatedIWMItems
See also the memoirs of his wife Mrs P T Martin (02/36/1)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
12080
OtherNumber
72/113/5, 5A & DS/MISC/100
ItemName
Private Papers of C R Samson
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Microfilm copy of 18 ms/ts letters (total 34pp) written to him between August 1911 and September 1930, the correspondents including Admiral the Marquess of Milford Haven, Commodore C F Lambert (April 1916), Field Marshal Lord Plumer (December 1926, March 1927), Admiral Sir Richard Phillimore (April 1930), Princess Louisa of Sweden (July 1930), Winston Churchill (July 1930), and an ms testimonial from Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes (July 1930); together with two ms memoirs written by Samson entitled 'Night Flights in Flanders' (3pp) covering December 1914 - February 1915), and 'Night Flights in the Dardanelles' (5pp) covering June - September 1915, plus a large collection of certificates and letters of appointment (1899 - 1922). The microfilm is accompanied by an extensive collection of original documents which include his Midshipman's log books (January 1899 - December 1900 and January 1901 - May 1902), Pilot's flying log books (1911 - 1927), RNAS reports and orders (1914 - 1926), papers concerning the Official History of the War in the Air and various miscellaneous records of his early flying career.
MakerName
Samson
Forenames
C R
Honours
CMG DSO AFC
Style
Air Commodore
RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
4096
ProductionDate
1963
ObjectType
Recording
IndexPeople
Farmer, C xxx
IndexPlaces
EI & North Sea
DE
DE & Wilhelmshaven <Naval Barracks>
DE & Wilhelmshaven
IndexUnits
GB.N & Ship, Indefatigable
GB.F & Fleet, Battle Cruiser
G.F & Sqdn, Battle Cruiser, 2
DE.N
IndexConcepts
POW
ShortSummary
British signaller served aboard HMS Indefatigable during Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of service as signaller aboard HMS Indefatigable at Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916-1/6/1916: sinking of HMS Indefatigable on detonation of magazines; situation on being thrown into sea; treatment on rescue as POW by German destroyer, ca 02.30, 1/6/1916; opening fire and manoeuvres to close range ca 15.30, 31/5/1916; climbing mast to clear tangled signal flags; state of German morale in Naval Barracks, Wilhemshaven following Battle of Jutland; treatment on rescue as POW by German destroyer; view of Seydlitz and state of damage; reception from German soldiers in Wilhemshaven; opening fire and closing range ca 15.30, 31/5/1916; climbing mast to clear tangled signal flags; view of German fleet; sinking of HMS Indefatigable on detonation of magazines; situation on being thrown into sea; rescue as POW by German destroyer, ca 02.30, 1/6/1916.
ContextDescription
BBC Interviews: Great War
Naval Operations, 1914-1919: Naval Warfare, 1914-1919
Duration
10
NumberOfParts
C/A
OtherFormats
Part : 3pp
MakerName
Farmer, C
ProductionCompany
BBC
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
004096S01.mp3
Farmer-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
Educational use only
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
4125
ProductionDate
1963
ObjectType
Recording
IndexPeople
Hazelwood, J J xxx
Beatty, David
Jellicoe, John R
IndexPlaces
GB, Scotland
EI & North Sea
IndexUnits
GB.N & Ship, Warspite
GB.N & Sqdn, Battle, 5
GB.N & Fleet, Battle Cruiser
ShortSummary
British gunnery officer served aboard HMS Warspite based at Rosyth; GB and in North Sea, 1915-1916 including Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of period as gunnery officer aboard HMS Warspite based at Rosyth and operating in North Sea, 1915-1916: opinion of Beatty and Jellicoe; view of damage to Warspite during interval in Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916; submarine lookouts and making makeshift rafts during voyage back to Rosyth without escort, 1/6/1916; view of damage to Warspite during interval in Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916; opinion of Jellicoe; reactions on joining Warspite, 15/4/1915. Recollections of Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916: voyage out with Battle Cruiser Fleet; commencement of action; action station in B turret; loading 15" guns; methods of escape and isolated situation in turret; firing and reloading guns; state of morale; firing and reloading guns; coming under heavy German fire whilst circling through jammed rudder; retirment after clearance of rudder.
ContextDescription
BBC Interviews: Great War
Naval Operations, 1914-1919: Naval Warfare, 19114-1919
Duration
22
NumberOfParts
B/A
OtherFormats
Part : 2pp
MakerName
Hazelwood, J J
ProductionCompany
BBC
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
004125S01.mp3
004125S02.mp3
Hazlewood-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
25 June 2007
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
Educational use only
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
11307
ProductionDate
10/Apr/1990
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexObjects
missile, British: Sea Dart
missile, British: Sea Skua
aircraft, US: Douglas Skyhawk
IndexPeople
Adams, Raymond John xxx
Hart-Dyke, <Captain>
Woodward, Sandy
IndexPlaces
GB, England
FK
AC, South
IndexUnits
GB.N & Ship, Coventry
GB.N & Ship, Sheffield
GB.N & Ship, Broadsword
GB.N & Ship, Fort Austin
GB.N & Ship, Stromness
GB.N & Exercise, Spring Train
GB.N & Task Force, South Atlantic
GB.O & Merchant Ship, QE2
AG.N & Belgrano
ShortSummary
British officer served aboard HMS Coventry during Falklands War, 1982
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as signals officer aboard HMS Coventry during Falkland Wars, 1982: participation in Exercise Spring Train off Gibraltar prior to move to South Atlantic; receiving signal relating to crisis; reaction to crisis, 2/4/1982; question of ships excluded from Task Force; re-supplying of ships heading for South Atlantic; character of ship; expectations of war and training; role of ship during wartime; weapons systems on board; formation of Task Force; impressions of Ascension Island, early 4/1982; fuel re- supply; degree of knowledge of crisis; gradual build up of intelligence picture; Admiral Sandy Woodward's visit to ship.
REEL 2 Continues: estimations of Argentinean submarine and air threats; role of Sea Dart missiles; opinion of Captain Hart- Dyke; attitude towards Argentineans; rules of engagement; vastness of South Atlantic; question of feeling part of Task Force; his signals role; watch duties; placing the ship on war footing and securing ship for action; mail; attitude towards potential US help; shortcomings of early warning system; reaction to British air attack on Port Stanley, 1/5/1982; opinion of sinking of Belgrano.
REEL 3 Continues: first successful use of Sea Skua by ship's helicopter; reactions to sinking of HMS Sheffield, 4/5/1982; use of Sea Dart missile against Puma helicopter; use of Type 42-22 combination of ships; reaction to ship losses; opinion of Royal Navy's role in amphibious operations; relations between Royal Navy and army; description of Falkland Islands. Recollections of sinking of HMS Coventry, 25/5/1982: significance of 25th May to Argentineans; engaging Argentinean aircraft with Sea Dart; sight of Sea Harriers strikes on Argentinean aircraft; question of moving position.
REEL 4 Continues: going to actions; Argentinean Air Force Skyhawk attacks on ship; damage sustained; launch and inflation of life rafts; abandoning ship and swimming to life raft; use of respirators to bail out life rafts; being picked up by Sea King helicopters; treatment of survivors on board Fort Austin; reaction to transfer to Stromness; ship's casualties; immediate reaction to hits on ship; actions of Captain Hart-Dyke; reaction to sinking of ship; question of after effects of sinking. Reflections on service aboard HMS Coventry during Falklands War, 1982: opinion of lessons learnt by Royal Navy during Falklands War; potential effects of 1981 Defence Review; role of Royal Marines; question of performance of British missiles.
REEL 5 Continues: question of development of counter-measures against Exocet missiles; return to GB aboard QE2; reaction to lack of media interest in sinking of HMS Coventry in comparison with HMS Sheffield; reception on arrival in GB, 1982; effects of experiences on his attitudes; role establishing lists of dead and organising compensation claims for survivors.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1975-2005: Falklands War, 1982
Duration
135
NumberOfParts
5
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Adams, Raymond John
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photograph (1990) in file
RelatedSoundFile
Adams-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
13722
ProductionDate
31/Jan/1994
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Pattison, Kenneth Stuart xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Finchley, London
MI
AC, North
IndexUnits
GB.N & Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 818
GB.N & Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 810
GB.N & Ark Royal
GB.N & Hood
GB.N & Sheffield
DE.N & Bismarck
ShortSummary
British officer served with 818 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in English Channel, 1940; served with 810 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1940-1941
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Finchley, London, 1916-1939: family; education; reasons for enlisting in Fleet Air Arm, 1939. Aspects of operations with 818 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1940: patrols of French coast; abortive mission to Channel Islands, 6/1940. Recollections of operations as pilot with 810 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1940-1941: joining ship, 1940; deck landing on carrier; anti-submarine patrols in Atlantic and Mediterranean; his crew; reaction to sinking of HMS Hood; start of hunt for Bismarck, 5/1941; accidental attack on HMS Sheffield; attack on Bismarck, 5/1941; landing on HMS Ark Royal after operation; sight of sinking of Bismarck, 5/1941; reception of ship in Gibraltar after Bismarck action; reaction to attacking Bismarck; impressions of Bismarck; damage to aircraft from shrapnel.
REEL 2 Continues: effect of his torpedo hit on Bismarck's rudder; character of his attack on Bismarck; effects of German gunnery during attack.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945
Duration
45
NumberOfParts
2
OtherFormats
Full
MakerName
Pattison, Kenneth Stuart
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
BBC interview on AC 2474
RelatedSoundFile
Pattison-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
13763
ProductionDate
22/Feb/1994
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Clark, George William xxx
Mountbatten, Louis, Lord
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Bedford, Beds
GB, England & Devonport, Devon
GB, England & Plymouth, Devon
GB, England & Greenwich, London
MT
MT & Valletta
MI
IT
IT & Camalderli
AC, North
DE
DE & Flensberg
DE & Schleswig-Holstein
IndexUnits
GB.N & Defiance
GB.N & Jackal
GB.N & Maori
GB.N & Illustrious
GB.N & Laforey
GB.N & Cleveland
GB.N & Orion
GB.N & Phoebe
GB.N & Catterick
DE.N & Bismarck
GB.N & Wireless Station, Dingli, Malta
GB.N & Y Service
GB.N & Naval Party 1741
GB.N & Naval Party 1743
ShortSummary
British seaman trained aboard HMS Defiance, GB, 1940; served aboard HMS Jackal in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1940-1941; served aboard HMS Maori in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1941-1942 including sinking of ship in Malta, 12/1941; served aboard HMS Illustrious and HMS Cleveland in Mediterranean, 1942-1944; officer served as interpreter with Naval Parties 1741 and 1743 in Germany, 1945-1947
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Bedford, 1918-1939: family; education; employment. Period of training with the Royal Navy in GB, 1940: reasons for joining Royal Navy, 1939; attitude towards living conditions at Devonport; duties aboard HMS Defiance; request for German speakers. Recollections of operations as writer aboard HMS Jackal, 1940: reasons for his change from teetotallism; anti-aircraft duties during Plymouth Blitz; story of near mutiny over Lord Louis Mountbatten's refusal to allow crew ashore to look for families during blitz; character of Lord Louis Mountbatten's U-boat hunt in Bay of Biscay, late 1940. Period as writer with Royal Naval College, Greenwich, early 1941: interception of U-boat signal traffic in North Sea; contrast in damage in Greenwich and Plymouth; prior recollections of near mutiny aboard HMS Jackal, 1940.
REEL 2 Continues: how he was reported for being in a Wren's room. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Maori during pursuit of Bismarck in Atlantic, 5/1941: convoy escort duties; news of Bismarck's presence in Atlantic; his interception and plotting work; shelling of ship by Bismarck; his discovery that Bismarck had become unmanoeuvable; lack of effect of torpedoes fired at Bismarck; rescue of Bismarck survivors; German Air Force after sinking of Bismarck. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Maori in Mediterranean, 1941-1942 including sinking, 12/2/1942: transfer to Mediterranean, summer 1941; bombardment of Sardinia; how Italian midget submarine followed ship into Alexandria Harbour.
REEL 3 Continues: duties in Mediterranean; sinking of ship in Malta and his rescue from sea, 12/2/1942. Period in Malta after sinking of HMS Maori, 1942: treatment of survivors; killing of survivors by land mine on cinema in Valetta; his work at Royal Navy Wireless Station at Dingli; interception of German Air Force signal traffic; state of health. Period as seaman aboard HMS Illustrious in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: problems with signals interception. Period with Y Service ashore in Italy, 1943: taking over German Y Service at Camalderli; reasons for his arrest by US troops. Recollections of operations with HMS Laforey in Mediterranean, 1943-1944: drafing to ship, 1943; character of Anzio landing, 1/1944; German Air Force bombing at Anzio; signal interception work.
REEL 4 Continues: handling of threat of German shells; interception work aboard HMS Phoebe, HMS Orion and HMS Catterick in Mediterranean, early 1944. Aspects of operations with HMS Cleveland during Operation Anvil, 8/1944: character of landings; lack of German opposition. Recollections of period as officer interpreter with Naval Parties 1743 and 1741 in Germany, 1945: capture of German naval documents in Flensburg area; character of Doenitz's messages to German people, 5/1945; attempt of Nazis to assume Danish nationality; story of officer court martialled for fraternisation; repairing German merchant ships at Travemünde and Russians behaviour about allocation of ships; suspected corruption of town majors in Schleswig-Holstein; items he acquired; demoblisation, early 1947.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945
Duration
120
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Clark, George William
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
Clark-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
14021
ProductionDate
26/Apr/1994
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Northcott, Patrick William xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Plymouth, Devon
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Rosyth
GB, Northern Ireland
GB, Northern Ireland & Belfast
AC, North
AC, South
MI
IT
IT & Pantellaria
MT
LK
LK & Trincomalee
MY
MY & Port Swettenham
IndexUnits
GB.N & Ganges
GB.N & Exeter
GB.N & Bonaventure
GB.N & Kelvin
GB.N & Whitaker
GB.N & Lively
GB.N & Devon City
GB.O & Ship, Jervis Bay
DE.N & Admiral Hipper
DE.O & Ship, Baden
ShortSummary
British boy seaman trained at HMS Ganges, GB, 1937-1938; seaman served aboard HMS Exeter in Atlantic, 1938-1940; served aboard HMS Bonaventure in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1940-1941 including sinking, 31/3/1941; served aboard HMS Kelvin in Mediterranean, 1942-1943; petty officer served aboard HMS Whitaker in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1944-1945; served aboard HMS Devon City in Malaya, 1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Rosyth and Plymouth, 1921-1937: family; education. Aspects of training as boy seaman at HMS Ganges, 1937-1938: character of treatment by instructors; instances of physical abuse by instructors; character of training. Aspects of period with HMS Exeter, 1938-1939: drafting to ship, 9/1938; duties on board; work during Chilean earthquake. Recollections of operations with HMS Exeter during Battle of River Plate, 12/1939: role in cordite and shell handling room of Y turret; attitude to being at his action station when ship was hit during action; damage sustained to ship during action; reception in Falkland Islands after action; repairs to ship and reception on return to Plymouth. Recollections of operations as seaman aboard HMS Bonaventure in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1940-1941: role of ship in GB coastal waters and Atlantic; escorting HMS King George the Fifth after accident, 7/1940; transporting gold to Canada; engagement with Admiral Hipper during convoy escort duties in Atlantic, 25/12/1940.
REEL 2 Continues: capture and sinking of German merchantman Baden in Atlantic, 26/12/1940; move to Mediterranean, 1941; Axis air attacks on ship off Pantellaria, 1941; engagements against Italian destroyers off Pantellaria; demand for ship on convoy duties due to RDF equipment, 1941; damage sustained in Malta and reasons for missing Battle of Matapan; sinking of ship by torpedo off Crete, 31/3/1941; memories of search for survivors of Jervis Bay in Atlantic, 1940. Recollections of operations with HMS Kelvin in Mediterranean, 1942-1943: reasons for turning down draft to HMS Lively prior to drafting to ship; duties in Mediterranean; attempts to return to GB, 1943; success against Axis convoys. Recollections of operations as Petty Officer aboard HMS Whitaker in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1944-1945: character of ship; opinion of Atlantic convoy work; escorting convoys to Normandy, 6/6/1944.
REEL 3 Continues: explanation of term 'D.E.D.'; sight of destroyer blown up off Normandy, 6/6/1944; torpedoing of ship off Northern Ireland and his decision to stay on ship, 16/2/1945; loss of all officers and towing into Belfast. Aspects of period with HMS Devon City in Malaya, 1945: joining ship at Trincomalee, Ceylon; character of ship; role providing harbour installations at Port Swettenham. Question of lack of need for counseling after Second World War.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Battle of the River Plate, 1939
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1945
Duration
75
NumberOfParts
3
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Northcott, Patrick William
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
014021S01.mp3
Northcott-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
15450
ProductionDate
26/May/1995
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexObjects
aircraft, British: Hawker Sea Hurricane
IndexPeople
Grenfell, William Edward xxx
Hay, Ian
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & North Shields, Co Durham
GB, England & River Mersey
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland &Peterhead
NO
NO & Lofotens Islands
MT
MT & Valletta Harbour
AC, North
AI
SU
SU & Murmansk
SU & Vaenga
IndexUnits
GB.N & Edinburgh
GB.O & Ship, Empire Lawrence
DE.O & Ship, München
DE.O & Ship, Lech
GB.N & Hyderbad
GB.N & Hussar
GB.N & Leander
GB.N & Volage
GB.N & Saumarez
ShortSummary
British seaman served aboard HMS Edinburgh in Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 1940-1941; served aboard Empire Lawrence during Convoy PQ 16 in Arctic, 5/1942 including sinking, 27/5/1942. Officer served aboard HMS Leander during Corfu Channel incident, 1947
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Peterhead, 1920-1935: family; education. Period as sea cadet with Merchant Navy, 1935-1939: background to becoming sea cadet; attitude to service with Merchant Navy, pre-Second World War; friendship between British and German sailors, 1930s. Enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1939-1940: volunteering, 1939 and call-up, 1940; assignment to radar work, 1940; his reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Recollections of operations as able seaman with HMS Edinburgh in Atlantic, Mediterranean and Arctic, 1940-1941: joining ship at North Shields, 1940; reaction to ship's discipline; Atlantic convoy duties, 1940-1941; covering duties during commando attacks on Lofotens Islands, c3/1941; capture of German weather ship, München, c4/1941; capture of supply ship, Lech; convoy to Malta, 7/1941; Italian Navy attacks on Valletta Harbour, 1941; reception by civilians in South Africa; character of voyage to Murmansk, Russia, 12/1941. Recollections of operations as leading seaman with Empire Lawrence during Convoy PQ 16, 1942: background to drafting to ship in River Mersey, 1/1942-2/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: composition of convoy on sailing from Iceland, 21/5/1942; arrival of German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft; first German Air Force attacks, 25/5/1942; pilot Ian Hay's attack on attacking German aircraft in his Hawker Sea Hurricane; radar watches at actions stations, 26/5/1942; repairing radar cables during German air attacks, 26/5/1942. Recollections of sinking of Empire Lawrence, 27/5/1942: sinking of ship by German aircraft; his blowing into the sea by massive explosion; period struggling in sea; German air attacks on survivors in water; rescue by HMS Hyderabad. Period ashore in Russia, 5/1942-6/1942: arrival at Murmansk, 30/5/1942; conditions in Murmansk; treatment received from Russians; move to Russian Army camp.
REEL 3 Continues: visit to Russian Army artillery site; transfer to Russian camp at Vaenga; sailor who had lost all his limbs; rats in camp; sedan chair made for limbless sailor; rest and relaxation; character of rations; sight of German POWs; drinking bouts with Russians; execution of Russian petty officer for drinking; return to Iceland aboard HMS Hussar, 6/1942. Period with Royal Navy in GB, 1942-1946: arrival in GB, 1942; period as radar instructor at Portsmouth, 1942; commission into Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 1945; transfer to Royal Navy, 1946. Recollections of Corfu Channel incident as officer aboard HMS Leander, 7/1947: duties on board ship; question of decision to sail through mined channel; how HMS Saumarez hit mine.
REEL 4 Continues: mining of HMS Volage; towing crippled ships back to Corfu; memories of scrapping of HMS Leander. Aspects of Portsmouth Blitz, 1940: sight of German Air Force raid on town, 11/7/1940; further German attacks on Portsmouth; danger from butterfly bombs; public morale; post-war meeting with German Air Force pilot captured on 11/7/1940; contact with German POWs.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945
Duration
105
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Grenfell, William Edward
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Newspaper photograph (1995) in file
RelatedSoundFile
Grenfell-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
17118
ProductionDate
30/Nov/1996
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Caldwell, Eric Dick xxx
Prien, Gunther
Churchill, Winston
Knight, Esmond
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Scapa Flow
GB, Scotland & Scrabster
GB, Scotland & Glasgow
AC, North
IC
IndexUnits
GB.N & Royal Oak
GB.N & Prince of Wales
GB.N & Hood
DE.N & Bismarck
GB.O & Ship, Daisy
NL.O & Ship, Johan Oldenbareveldt
ShortSummary
British officer served aboard HMS Royal Oak in GB coastal waters, 1939 including sinking, 10/1939; served aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Atlantic and Indian Ocean, 1941 including sinking, 12/1941; escaped from Singapore to GB aboard Johan Oldenbareveldt, 2/1942
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of sinking of Royal Oak in Scapa Flow, 10/1939: background to joining ship as Royal Navy Surgeon, 8/1939; torpedoing of ship by U-boat; period in sea; hanging onto lifeboat for survival; rescue by drifter Daisy; reaction to loss of life and effects of oil in the sea; reception of survivors at Scrabster and Glasgow; lack of long term effects; loss of personal effects; attitude towards U-boat captain Gunter Prien; effect of lack of secondary lighting aboard ship. Memories of contact with French naval personnel in Plymouth, 1940. Recollections of operations as naval surgeon aboard Prince of Wales in Atlantic, 1941: background to joining ship, c1/1941; George the Sixth's visit to the ship, early 1941.
REEL 2 Continues: memories of Winston Churchill crossing the Atlantic for Atlantic Charter signing, 8/1941; fate of Winston Churchill's cigar butts; hearing news of Bismarck break-out; sight of loss of HMS Hood; blinding of Esmond Knight by shrapnel during engagement with Bismarck; reception received from British sailors in Iceland after engagement; work he did for casualties. Recollections of sinking of Prince of Wales in Indian Ocean, 12/1941: reasons for transfer to bridge; opinion of Japanese Air Force pilots; Japanese Air Force attacks on Singapore, 7/12/1941.
REEL 3 Continues: sending of ship towards Kota Bahru; reaction to news of ship withdrawing southwards, 10/12/1941; question of degree of accuracy of ship's anti-aircraft fire and Japanese Air Force attacks, 10/12/1941; reaction to sight of HMS Repulse sinking, 10/12/1941; dealing with casualties on upper deck; abandoning ship; period in sea; rescue by HMS Electra; hospitialisation for effects of taking in oil. Memories of period as ship's doctor aboard Johan Oldenbareveldt from Singapore to GB. Story of treatment of Winston Churchill aboard Prince of Wales, 8/1941.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Far East, 1941-1945
Duration
90
NumberOfParts
3
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Caldwell, Eric Dick
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
Caldwell-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
21552
ProductionDate
29/Jun/2001
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexObjects
depth charge, British: Squib
depth charge, British: Hedgehog
IndexPeople
Venables, Raymond Briggs xxx
Haddow, 'Spike'
Stannard, Richard B <VC>
Knight, J K N
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Peterborough, Cambs
GB, England & Cambridge, Cambs
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Scapa Flow
AC, North
AC, North & Bay of Biscay
AC, South
AI
MI
ZA
FR
FR & Normandy
FR & Omaha Beach
BE
BE & Antwerp
IndexUnits
GB.N & Vimy
GB.N & Raleigh
GB.N & Shippigan
GB.N & Tadoussac
GB.N & King Alfred
GB.N & Edinburgh
GB.O & University, Leicester
GB.O & Railway Station, Plymouth
DE.N & submarine, U-162
DE.N & submarine, U-187
ShortSummary
British seaman served aboard HMS Edinburgh in GB coastal waters, Arctic and Mediterranean, 1941; officer served aboard HMS Vimy in Atlantic, 1942-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Peterborough and Leicester, 1920- 1939: family; education; sporting activities; anticipation of Second World War. Period as student at Leicester University 1938-1940: degree of political knowledge amongst students, late 1930s; reasons for continuing studies after 9/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; personal war aims; attitude to taking exams; public morale and effect of Winston Churchill on it; attending tribunal in Peterborough to continue education. Recollections of enlistment and training as ordinary seaman with Royal Navy, 1/1941-3/1941: background to call up; medical examination at Cambridge; reception at Plymouth Railway Station; accommodation at HMS Raleigh; mixture of people; rank.
REEL 2 Continues: character of petty officers instructors; rations; attitude towards drill; instruction on knots; gunnery drill; importance of sport especially rugby; method used to clear rubble during Plymouth Blitz; leave and rail travel. Recollections of operations as ordinary seaman aboard HMS Edinburgh in Scapa Flow, Arctic and Mediterranean, 4/1941-10/1941: drafting to ship at Scapa Flow; character of Scapa Flow and HMS Edinburgh; treatment of ordinary seaman; duties with seaplane handling detachment; incident caused by his drying overalls over funnel; his action station.
REEL 3 Continues: relations between officers and men; rumours amongst crew; character of mess deck and rations; method of supplementing rations; rum ration; personal hygiene; clothing worn in Arctic and Mediterranean; encounter with Master of Arms; lack of problems of discipline on board; Sunday Divisions; issue of rum ration; Crossing the Line ceremony; question of what makes a happy ship; cleaning and painting ship; watches; reading amongst sailors.
REEL 4 Continues: first patrol in Arctic; length of patrols in Arctic; capture of German POWs from scuttled raider in Bay of Biscay; discussion with German POWs; feeling of fellowship with naval POWs; ship's movements during pursuit of Bismarck, 5/1941; memories of 'Spike' Haddow lost on HMS Hood; leave in Gibraltar; size of Malta convoy from Gibraltar; reaction to first Malta convoy; Axis torpedo bomber attacks on ship; behaviour of soldiers on board ship during Malta convoy; role interrogating captured Italian pilot; Italian motor boat attacks on convoy; question of Italian pilots attacking Royal Navy ships rather than merchant vessels; reaction to being in action.
REEL 5 Continues: return to Gibraltar and use of zig zagging techniques; voyage to Cape Town; importance of mail; behaviour of civilians in South Africa; memories of dog 'Able Seaman Nuisance' in South Africa; reaction to going into action on second Malta convoy; use of tannoy system; length of Italian torpedo bomber attacks; armament on board HMS Edinburgh; arrival back in Gibraltar; morale after successful convoys; importance of Malta convoys; adjusting to life in Royal Navy; return to GB; reaction of his petty officer to prospect of Venables becoming officer.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of officer training with Royal Navy in GB, 1941-1942: interview for officer training; importance of sporting activities to promotion; amusing story of sailor's exploits ashore; move to HMS King Alfred; character of officer training; opinion of Australian and New Zealand officer cadets; rugby playing; degree of navigational training; use of sextant; attending destroyer course; asdic training; degree of confidence after training; relations between regulars and hostilities only officers. Recollections of operations as navigation officer aboard HMS Vimy in Atlantic, 1942-1945: character of ship; joining ship at Falmouth; refitting of ship; degree of understanding of ship's role; ship's officers.
REEL 7 Continues: role of ship's officers; voyage to Freetown; dinner with uncle in Freetown; additional duties as education officer; question of loss of supplies; hunt for German U-boat in Atlantic; ramming U-162 and capture of POWs; techniques for interrogating German POWs; amusing story of impersonating Hitler to German POWs; reception in Trinidad; attitude towards captured U-boat personnel; escorting tankers; use of box search to detect U-boats; ship's armament and depth charges; plotting U-boat by Asdic; development of Hedgehogs and Squib depth charges.
REEL 8 Continues: improvements in radar and signals detection; limitation of Asdic; routing of convoys; knowledge of capability of U-boats; role as U-boat boarding officer; opinion of Commander Richard Stannard VC; sinking of U-187, 2/1943; contrast in ship's captain and crew member to sinking of U-boat; question of when to ram and not to ram submarines; sinking of U-187 by depth charges; reasons for convoy being mixed up; inability to pick up survivors; position of convoy escorts; question of being placed on wrong station during U-boat attack on convoy; broadcast by Commander Stannard VC after action; opinion of new ship's captain J K N Knight; character of marriage in wartime; exercising with escort carriers of Gibraltar, c6/1943.
REEL 9 Continues: degree of knowledge of German developments; duties in GB coastal waters, 1943-1944; method of going ashore in congested Portsmouth, early 1944; character of his commanding officers; arrival off Omaha Beach on Normandy coast, 7/6/1944; escorting landing crafts; Allied air superiority; refit in Liverpool, summer 1944; rotation of crew leave whilst in port; anti-E-boat patrols off east coast of GB; threat of acoustic mines, 1944-1945; problems navigating into Schledt; behaviour of civilians in Antwerp; leaving ship to attend Long Navigation Course, 3/1945. Memories of VE Day in Liverpool, 5/1945.
REEL 10 Continues: Period as navigation officer aboard HMS Shippigan and HMS Tadoussac in GB coastal waters, 1945: reaction to posting to minesweepers; method of navigating minesweepers; sweeping for mines. Demobilisation, 1946. Attitude to having served with Royal Navy during Second World War. Story of rescuing survivors from raft in Atlantic, 1943 and its post war aftermath.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1945
Duration
300
NumberOfParts
10
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Venables, Raymond Briggs
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photographs x2 in file
RelatedSoundFile
021552S01.mp3
Venables-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
EPH 1722
ItemName
badge, painted, HMS Pegasus
ObjectType
misc
IndexPeople
Wright, E
IndexUnits
GB.N & Pegasus
FullSummary
Mr Ewart Wright served on the seaplane carrier, HMS Pegasus. The ship's Night Order Book for August- December 1917 is held in the Department of Documents.
RelatedIWMItems
EPH 1721 & DOCS
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
A piece of canvas, 22 cms in diameter, painted with the badge of HMS Pegasus
Access
Access by prior appointment
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MAR 66
ItemName
Ship's lifebelt, HMS Formidable
ObjectType
survival equipment
IndexPeople
Manning, S C (Captain)
IndexPlaces
Channel and North Sea
IndexUnits
GB.N & Royal Navy & HMS Formidable
IndexHistPeriod
First World War
FullSummary
This lifebelt, from HMS Formidable, was washed up on the Dutch coast during the First World War and stored in Magazine Kattenburg, Amsterdam. It was later handed over by the Dutch authorities to Captain S C Manning, who presented it the Imperial War Museum in June 1920. HMS Formidable was a pre-Dreadnought battleship, built in 1901. She was obsolete by the outbreak of the First World War, when she was in the 5th Battle Squadron. She was sunk on 1st January 1915 in the English Channel, off Portland Bill, by torpedoes from the German U-Boat U-24. 547 men were lost, from a complement of 780. The high loss of life was attributed to the speed of her sinking, combined with bad weather.
RelatedImageFile
MAR_000066.jpg
Weighting
1000
900
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
27/09/2007 05:50:20
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
circular lifebelt bearing the inscription 'H.M.S. FORMIDABLE.'
Access
On display at IWM North
IndexPlace
English Channel
Theme
Naval Warfare 1914-1918
Royal Navy 1914-1918
CoLStatus
Published
DigitalAsset
Y
IWMImageOwned
Y
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MAR 556
ProductionDate
1937
ItemName
Ship, Fishing Boat 'Tamzine', British
ObjectType
ship
IndexPeople
Bennett, R L (Mr)
IndexPlaces
England and the English Channel
IndexUnits
The Little Ships of Dunkirk
IndexHistPeriod
Second World War
FullSummary
Tamzine is a light yet strong 15 foot long, clinker-built, wooden fishing and sailing boat built at Margate, Kent in 1937. She was requisitioned for use in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the BEF from the beaches of Dunkirk, 27 May - 4 June 1940, and is the smallest vessel known to have participated in this dramatic event. Tamzine was named after a sailing skipper’s eighteen year-old wife who was drowned off the Scilly Isles in the 1700s in a shipwreck, and is buried in the St Mary’s Cemetery, Isle of Scilly.
ProductionCompany
Len C Brockman and John Titcomb, boatbuilders, of Margate, Kent.
RelatedImageFile
MAR_000556.jpg
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
23/02/2009 05:51:12
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
clinker-built wooden-hulled open fishing boat, equipped with sails, and with removable centre thwart. It was designed for year-round fishing off the Birchington Shore.
Access
On display at IWM London
IndexPlace
English Channel
Dunkirk, Nord, France
IndexEvent
Operation Dynamo, Dunkirk 1940, France and the Low Countries, Second World War
Theme
France and the Low Countries 1939-1940
CoLStatus
Ready
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MAR 557
ProductionDate
1939
ItemName
Ship, Lifeboat 'Jesse Lumb', British
IndexPeople
Lumb, A (Miss)
IndexPlaces
English Channel
IndexUnits
GB.N and Royal National Lifeboat Institution
FullSummary
The RNLI’s lifeboat Jesse Lumb was built in 1939 at a cost of £9,000 by J S White of Cowes. She was based at Bembridge, Isle of Wight from 1939 to 1970, when she entered the RNLI’s reserve fleet and served at various stations. Jesse Lumb, operating during the Second World War and the post-war era, saved nearly 300 lives. She displaced 20.5 tons full load and was officially classed as a twin-screw Watson Cabin-type lifeboat.
Jesse Lumb is a National Historic Ships Committee Core Collection vessel.
ProductionCompany
Messrs. J S White (Cowes, Isle of Wight)
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
'Jesse Lumb' is a twin-screw Watson Cabin-type lifeboat, powered by two Parsons Barracuda diesel engines each developing 65bhp. Maximum speed was 8.8 knots. She was built of double skin mahogany diagonally planked, and with calico and white lead between the skins.
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MOD 283
ItemName
HMS Argus
ObjectType
model
IndexUnits
GB.N & Royal Navy & HMS Argus
IndexHistPeriod
3 & 4
FullSummary
Begun as a liner, the Conte Rosso, in 1914, she was purchased for the Navy in 1916 and completed as an aircraft carrier in 1918, but too late to take part in any active operations. When she joined the Grand Fleet in1918, she carried eighteen aircraft, including Sopwith Cuckoo torpedo bombers.
In view of the difficulties experienced in landing on deck of HMS Furious due to air eddies caused by hot furnace gases from the funnel, and displacement currents from upper-works, HMS Argus was designed with a perfectly clear flying-deck from stem to stern, and furnace smoke gases were expelled by fans through big horizontal smoke ducts opening out aft. Her chart house was raised and lowered on a lift and the two wireless masts were hinged to fall flush with the deck. Twenty aeroplanes could be stowed in the hangar, which was divided into four sections by fire-proof screens and communicated with the flying deck by means of two lifts. Amidships were wind-breaking palisades, which could be raised to protect machines on deck, and two derricks were fitted and two cranes for lifting aircraft from the water. The hull contained the carpenters' and engineers' workshops, equipped for maintenance and repair of aircraft.
The ship was launched on 2 December 1917, became an accommodation ship in 1944, and was sold for scrap in 1946.
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
21/09/2006 05:50:52
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
This full-hull model of HMS Argus represents the appearance of the ship at the end of the First World War.
The model is 70in x 8.5in, and built to a scale of 1/96.
Access
On display at IWM London
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
OMD 176
ProductionDate
1941
ItemName
Distinguished Service Cross & DSC
ObjectType
medal
IndexPeople
Sparke, P D J (Lieutenant (A))
IndexPlaces
English Channel & France
Italy & Taranto
Mediterranean Sea
IndexUnits
GB.N & Royal Navy & Fleet Air Arm
GB.N & Royal Navy
GB.N & Fleet Air Arm, 815 Squadron
GB.F & Fleet Air Arm, 815 Squadron
FullSummary
Lieutenant (A) Philip Donald Julian Sparke DSC** Royal Navy, was a Swordfish Pilot serving with 815 Naval Air Squadron. 815 Squadron was formed at Worthy Down in October 1939 from remnants of 811 and 822 squadrons who survived the sinking of HMS Courageous the previous month, and disbanded in November. Later that month the squadron was reformed under the command of Lt Cdr S Borrett RN and, equipped with nine Swordfish Mk 1 Aircraft, was attached to RAF Coastal Command based at Bircham Newton. In May 1940 815 Squadron flew in support of the Dunkirk Evacuation and it was for his gallantry during these actions that Sparke was awarded his first DSC, which was gazetted on 5 July 1940. In June 1940, the squadron embarked on HMS Illustrious and sailed for the Mediterranean in August attacking and minelaying Benghazi, Rhodes and Tobruk. In November 1940 the entire squadron took part in the attack on the Italian Fleet at Taranto. The paucity of honours awarded for the action at Taranto became something of a cause celebre in the Fleet Air Arm and, as a result of the outcry, a second longer honours list was published in which Lt Sparke was awarded a Bar to his DSC for his gallantry in this operation. Ironically, by the time this list was published Sparke had been killed in action. In December 1940 815 Squadron sank two Italian convoy ships off Sicily. However, HMS Illustrious was severely damaged in a dive-bombing attack in January 1941. Five of the squadron's aircraft managed to make it to Malta and there combined with the remnants of 819 and 821 to reform as the new 815 Squadron. In January 1941 815 Squadron operated from Crete, minelaying and attacking enemy shipping. After the evacuation from Crete in April, the squadron went to Dekhelia and then to Cyprus where it was in action against Vichy French shipping off the Syrian coast. Lt Philip Sparke was killed in action on 11 May 1941. The award of a second bar to his DSC was gazetted on 2 December 1941, some eight months after his death.
ProductionCompany
Garrards (The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company)
RelatedIWMItems
one of a group of 5 medals, OMD 176-180
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
The decoration consists of a hallmarked silver cross pattée of convex design. The obverse design comprises a central boss with the cipher of King George VI, 'GRI’ ornate and interlaced, surmounted by an Imperial crown. The reverse is plain apart from the date of award `1941’ engraved on the lower vertical arm. Below the date, are the hallmarks indicating The Silversmiths and Goldsmiths, sterling silver, and London/1940-41. The cross is suspended from a plain ring. The ribbon is navy blue with a central vertical stripe of white. The two bars are straight with flared ends with the Imperial crown in the centre. The date of award is engraved on the reverse of the bars; in both instances this date is 1941. This example of the DSC is a George VI first type.
Access
On display at IWM London
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MAR 595
ItemName
Japanese Kamikaze pilot's aircraft dinghy
ObjectType
dinghy
IndexPlaces
Sakishima & Formosa
IndexUnits
JN.N & Imperial Japanese Navy
GB.N & Royal Navy & HMS Illustrious
FullSummary
This Japanese pilot's aircraft dinghy was picked up from the flight deck of HMS Illustrious after a kamikaze attack on 6 April 1945. The ship was operating with the British Pacific Fleet attacking Sakishima and Formosa, in support of the American landings on Okinawa in April 1945, when look-outs sighted the enemy aircraft emerging out of cloud about 3000ft above the ship, to begin its dive on the target. The first burst from one of Illustrious's Bofors chipped pieces off the tail. With the aircraft only 500ft from the ship, the gunners sheared off one of the wings where upon the aircraft began to fall apart. The fuselage hit the water a few feet from the carrier. Later the pilot's body, parts of the aircraft, including one cylinder head, and this dinghy, were recovered from the flight deck. Film footage of a gun crew, holding this dinghy on the deck of HMS Illustrious, is held by the Film & Video Archive (Film ref. ADM 587/02)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
AboveTheWaves
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
This dinghy is made of rubber, fabric and rope, and its dimensions are approximately 220m long, 110cm wide and 25cm deep.
Access
Access by prior appointment