DeptName
Documents
IDNO
102
OtherNumber
89/5/1
ItemName
Private Papers of M W Irvin
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Photocopy of extracts from his ts memoirs (pp.27 - 118 only), written in 1979 - 1980 and covering his life in the Merchant Navy during the 1930s; his service as a deck officer in the KERMA carrying military stores from South Wales to France (February - May 1940) and iron ore from West Africa to the United Kingdom (June 1940 - March 1942), in the EMPIRE ELGAR during the bitterly contested passage of convoy PQ16 from Iceland to North Russia (May - June 1942) and her subsequent employment at the docks at Archangel (June - November 1942) and Murmansk (November 1942 - March 1943) using her heavy lift equipment to unload tanks and military supplies from ships arriving in later convoys, in an unidentified ship for passage home in convoy RA53 (March 1943) and in the EMPIRE PEAK carrying military stores around the Mediterranean, principally from Egypt to Italy (July 1943 - September 1944); and his investiture with the MBE at Buckingham Palace (March 1945). The narrative includes some interesting comments about morale in the Merchant Navy, conditions ashore in North Russia with particular reference to the harsh Arctic winter and the constant air raids at Murmansk, and on their relations with the Russian authorities, dockers and civilians. With the memoirs are twelve testimonials and certificates issued to him (May 1939 - December 1944), an ms account (4pp) of the KERMA's successful engagement with a German aircraft in the North Sea (July 1941), brief technical logs covering convoy PQ16 and then EMPIRE PEAK's voyages in the Mediterranean and a few related photocopies.
MakerName
Irvin
Forenames
M W
Honours
MBE
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
107
OtherNumber
89/6/1
ItemName
Private Papers of E F M Sowerbutts
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ts memoirs (ca 580pp in 3 volumes) covering: her early life in Newmarket and London, 1896 - 1919, with details of her career as a shorthand typist, also of her post as reader to Sir Arthur Pearson (founder of St Dunstan's) and war work (which included membership of the Women's Volunteer Reserve) as well as employment in Australia, 1919 - 1923, and the United Kingdom, 1923 - 1925, principally with the Commonwealth Migration and Settlement Department and the Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women (which entailed duties at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, 1924); her career in the Merchant Navy as a conductress and stewardess, 1925 - 1931 and 1934 - 1939, working initially with emigrants to Canada and later on luxury liners; her war work in England with the Children's Overseas Reception Board (CORB) in 1940 as a welfare officer in Central London and later with the National Service Hostels Corporation, as well as details of her postwar career which included employment at Fortnum and Mason's department store in the 1950s, together with a photograph of her.
MakerName
Sowerbutts
Forenames
E F M
Style
Miss
RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
359
OtherNumber
89/3/1
ItemName
Private Papers of W T Brookes
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Papers relating to his service in the Merchant Navy (ultimately as a Chief Engineer Writer), 1927 - 1940, comprising certificates and references together with 2 ms letters to his wife dated October 1939 and February 1940 dwelling on his unhappiness at their separation, 3 decorative GPO telegrams, a letter of condolence from HM King George VI to his widow, his scroll of commemoration and other documents relating to his death when his ship the SS BEAVERFORD was sunk in the Atlantic by enemy action on 5 November 1940.
MakerName
Brookes
Forenames
W T
RelatedIWMItems
See DCAR
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
1301
OtherNumber
91/30/1
ItemName
Private Papers of H Atkinson
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Photocopy of an ms diary (85pp) kept by a merchant seaman in the liner ARAGON, March - November 1915, and covering her voyage to the Eastern Mediterranean as a troop transport (March - April), her conversion into an emergency hospital ship to cope with the wounded following the original landings on the Gallipoli peninsula (April) and her subsequent employment from May - November as the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force Lines of Communication HQ ship in Mudros harbour. The diary includes a good description of what he saw and heard of the Cape Helles landing on 25 April and interesting references to the subsequent progress of the Gallipoli campaign, visits to the ship by Air Commodore C R Samson (26 July), General Sir Ian Hamilton (5 September) and Lord Kitchener (11 November) and of the disciplinary measures taken following the crew's refusal to work after the expiry in November of their agreement with the ARAGON's owners.
MakerName
Atkinson
Forenames
H
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
3538
OtherNumber
85/10/7
ItemName
Private Papers of O Rutter
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
An extensive collection of journals, notebooks, working and final drafts, correspondence and press reviews and features relating to his research and work during the Second World War as the author of the Admiralty booklets ARK ROYAL (1942), HIS MAJESTY'S MINESWEEPERS (1943), THE FLEET AIR ARM (1943) and THE ROYAL MARINES (1944), and of the books RED ENSIGN: A HISTORY OF CONVOY (1943), and RACK YOUR BRAIN, a naval quiz book (1944), together with journals kept while taking passage in a North Atlantic convoy (August 1943) and visiting air stations and Fleet Air Arm personnel in the United States (August - October 1943). The papers touch on almost every operation in which the subjects of these publications had been involved up to the time in the Second World War at which the respective works appeared.
MakerName
Rutter
Forenames
O
Honours
FRGS
Style
Major
RelatedIWMItems
See box list and DCAR (DEAF/DPB/DPH)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
3653
OtherNumber
85/29/1
ItemName
Private Papers of E Monckton
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ms journal (203pp) for the period November 1942 - May 1945 and revised ts transcription (82pp) describing his capture by U 163 while serving as Master of the EMPIRE STAR in the Caribbean in November 1942 and his imprisonment in Wilhelmshaven (January 1943) and Marlag-Milag Camp, Westertimke (March 1943 - May 1945). It gives excellent accounts of life in a German submarine, camp conditions, escape attempts, a prisoners' strike, 'parole walks', pastimes (including distilling), a meeting with Lord Haw Haw, recruitment for the British Free Corps, the confusion of the final days of the camp including thwarted German attempts to evacuate it, RAF attacks, heavy ground fighting and the liberation. The journal is remarkable for its ardent, unflagging hatred of Germany and the 'Nazis', extending to joy at the news of German civilian deaths in air raids. The appendix comprises a list of ships represented in camp and a ground layout. The journal is referred to in Gabe Thomas' MILAG: CAPTIVES OF THE KRIEGSMARINE (1995).
MakerName
Monckton
Forenames
E
Honours
MBE
Style
Captain
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
3887
OtherNumber
84/12/1
ItemName
Private Papers of A H Brown
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Undated ms account (9pp) by the Master of the SS HUNTSMAN describing how his ship was taken as a prize and later sunk by the German pocket battleship GRAF SPEE in the South Atlantic (10 - 17 October 1939) and relating his subsequent experiences as a prisoner of war in the GRAF SPEE, including a private interview with Captain Langsdorff (30 November 1939), and in her supply ship the ALTMARK until the crews of all the sunk British merchant ships held in the ALTMARK were freed when she was boarded by the destroyer HMS COSSACK in Norwegian waters on 16 February 1940.
MakerName
Brown
Forenames
A H
Style
Captain
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
5144
OtherNumber
96/21/1
ItemName
Private Papers of C H Durrant
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
Ms account (57pp) written in 1919, with an edited ts transcript (29pp) and copies of a number of related presscuttings and photographs, covering his service as a Marconi wireless operator from July 1916 (when aged seventeen) - December 1919 and describing in particular his experiences as a survivor of the torpedoing of the liner ARABIA in the Mediterranean (6 November 1916); of HM hospital ship DOVER CASTLE in which he served in the Mediterranean from December 1916 until she was torpedoed off the Algerian coast (26 May 1917); of the SS BRODSTONE, a cargo vessel torpedoed in the South West Approaches (15 August 1917) when he was rescued by a Q-ship that was subsequently involved in an abortive attempt to salve the liner DELPHIC; and of the SS KUT SANG which he joined in September 1917 and which made a series of voyages, principally in the Mediterranean, till she was torpedoed while in convoy (29 April 1918) and he was rescued by an American warship; as well as giving an account of his voyages as a wireless operator in the liner BERWICK CASTLE (February - October 1919) which ended when she was destroyed by fire in harbour in Mombasa, East Africa. There were only a few casualties on the first three occasions when he was sunk, but Durrant was among the small number of survivors from the loss of the KUT SANG.
MakerName
Durrant
Forenames
C H
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
10838
OtherNumber
P355
ItemName
Private Papers of G Calwell
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
2 ms letters (31pp and 10pp) written in diary form in August 1914 by a lady passenger in the SS GALICIAN during her voyage from South Africa to the United Kingdom and describing in considerable detail the actions and reactions of the passengers and crew following the news of the outbreak of war in Europe and at the time of the ship's capture off the Canaries on 14 August by the German armed merchant cruiser KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE and her release on the following day; together with a presscutting from an unidentified Irish newspaper giving her husband's account of the voyage, a printed notice requesting passengers in GALICIAN not to show lights at night and a composition photograph of scenes taken during the voyage.
MakerName
Calwell
Forenames
G
Style
Mrs
RelatedIWMItems
See also DPH (Q 113907)
Weighting
1
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DeptName
Documents
IDNO
11647
OtherNumber
Con Shelf
ItemName
Private Papers of G S Prichard
ObjectType
Private Papers
ShortSummary
An important collection consisting of 140 ms/ts letters written to her and her son Mostyn by survivors from the RMS LUSITANIA and 47 ms/ts letters from relatives and acquaintances of survivors, May 1915 - May 1917, recounting their individual experiences of the disaster when the ship was sunk off the coast of Ireland on 7 May 1915 by a German U-boat, including some excellent eye-witness accounts of the sinking and responding in particular to Mrs Prichard’s appeal for information on the whereabouts of her son Richard Preston Prichard, who was a passenger aboard the ship during its fateful voyage. Also held with the collection are 20 ms/ts letters from official sources including the Cunard Steamship Company regarding their inquiries into the fate of Preston, as well as 28 ms/ts letters from friends offering their condolences, May 1915 - July 1916; 2 ms letters written by Mostyn in May 1915 while in Queenstown, Ireland where many of the bodies from the LUSITANIA were taken, describing his efforts to identify his brother; 14 ms letters from Mrs Prichard, returned to her undelivered, June 1915 - March 1916; and various related documents including printed handbills requesting information on Preston, ms/ts lists of passengers and crew from the LUSITANIA, two copies of a printed booklet advertising Boddy life jackets and several press cuttings regarding the disaster.
MakerName
Prichard
Forenames
G S
Style
Mrs
RelatedIWMItems
See full catalogue and also Special Miscellaneous V5
RelatedTextFile
GPrichard.doc
Weighting
500
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
published
UncatTransferDate
23/06/2006 12:46:31
URLEncodedDeptName
Documents
Access
Unrestricted
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
2399
ProductionDate
28/Aug/1941
ObjectType
Recording
IndexPeople
Hersee, C E W xxx
IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Navy
GB.O & Ship, Fowberry Castle
ShortSummary
British officer served with Merchant Navy as captain of Fowberry Castle account of sinking and rescue by Royal Navy in Atlantic, 12/5/1941
FullSummary
REEL 1 Account of sinking and rescue by Royal Navy in Atlantic, 12/5/1941: low level German Air Force attacks on ship; increase in attacks after moon rose; effects of bombing of ship; fate of crew; rescue by Royal Navy; rescue of officer trapped on bridge with both legs broken.
ContextDescription
BBC Sound Archives: Second World War 1939-1945
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1945
Duration
3' 11"
NumberOfParts
E/B
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Hersee, C E W
ProductionCompany
BBC 3308
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
002399S01.mp3
Hersee-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
Educational use only
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
10799
ProductionDate
10/Aug/1989
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Ellerby, Donald Arthur xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Hull, Yorks
AC, South
FK
FK & San Carlos Water
FK & San Carlos Bay
FK & South Georgia
IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Ship, Norland
GB.N & Ship, Sheffield
GB.N & Ship, Antelope
GB.A & Parachute Regt, Bn 2
GB.O & Shipping Coy, Headlands
GB.O & Merchant Navy
ShortSummary
British captain served with Merchant Navy aboard Norland during Falklands War, 1982
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Hull and with Merchant Navy, 1931- 1982: family; education; joining Merchant Navy; employment with Headlands Shipping Company; aspects of Norland's North Sea ferry work. Recollections of period as captain of Norland during Falklands War, 1982: requisitioning of ship by Royal Navy; volunteering of crew for service in South Atlantic; attitude towards crisis; question of ship's handling in Atlantic; military personnel carried on board; vehicles carried; daily meetings of senior officers on board; lack of security on sailing from GB; pressmen on board.
REEL 2 Continues: operating in convoy from Ascension Island; reaction to decision to use Norland as landing ship; result of consulting crew on decision; reaction of crew to loss of HMS Sheffield; navigating into San Carlos Water; landing of 2nd Parachute Regt at San Carlos Water; entering and anchoring in San Carlos Bay; sight of first Argentinean Air Force attack; instructions not to move in daylight in San Carlos Bay; loss of HMS Antelope; impressions of Gurkhas; stability of ship; transporting Argentinean POWs to Montevideo; duties ferrying troops after end of war; resumption of routine duties as captain of Norland, 1982-1987.
ContextDescription
Service Operations Since 1975: Falklands War, 1982
Duration
60
NumberOfParts
2
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Ellerby, Donald Arthur
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photo in file
RelatedSoundFile
Ellerby-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
11764
ProductionDate
8/Jan/1991
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Bradford, Michael Verney Nigel xxx
Southby-Tailyour, Ewen
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants
FK
FK & Falkland Sound
FK & San Carlos Water
AC, South
Ascension Island
South Georgia
IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Navy, Canberra
GB.O & Merchant Navy, QE2
GB.N & Royal Naval Reserve
ShortSummary
British officer served with Merchant Navy aboard Canberra during Falklands War, 1982
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of period as deputy captain aboard Canberra during Falklands War, 1982: background to service with Merchant Navy and aboard Canberra prior to 1982; character of ship; reactions to crisis; initial proposed role of ship; construction of helicopter decks; role as liaison officer between P&O and military; ship's crew; military units on board; opinion of military's morale; behaviour of media on board; movement of supplies at Ascension Island; problems of achieving blackout in South Atlantic.
REEL 2 Continues: Argentinean Air Force reconnaissance of Task Force heading south; crossing decking, 19/5/1982; entrance into Falkland Sound; Argentinean Air Force attacks during landings at San Carlos Water; memories of Ewen Southby-Tailyour; rendezvous with QE2 in South Georgia; disembarking 5 Bde at San Carlos Water, 2/6/1982; use of loitering areas for ships; picking up Argentinean POWs at San Carlos and Port Stanley; treatment of Argentinean POW on board; disembarkation of POWs at Puerto Modryn; conditions in Port Stanley, 6/1982.
REEL 3 Continues: problem maintaining beer supplies to troops on voyage to GB; question of troops discussing actions; expectation of British victory; reaction to reception in Portsmouth; benefits to being in Royal Naval Reserve; amusing story of Argentinean POWs stealing alcohol on board.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1975-2005: Falklands War, 1982
Duration
75
NumberOfParts
3
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Bradford, Michael Verney Nigel
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
Bradford-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
13242
ProductionDate
8/Jun/1993
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Wharton, Joseph xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Blackpool, Lancs
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs
GB, England & Plymouth, Devon
GB, England & Southampton, Hants
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & River Clyde
GB, Scotland & Greenock
AC, North
AC, South
AR
AR & Buenos Aires
CA
CA & Halifax
CA & Nova Scotia
LC
LC & Port Castries
IC
LK
LK & Trincomalee
US
US & Boston
IN
IN Cochin
Eritrea
Eritrea & Massawa
IndexUnits
GB.O & Shipping Line, Clan Line
GB.O & Shipping Line, Lever Brothers
GB.O & Shipping Line, Larinaga
GB.O & Ship, Clan Macfadyen
GB.O & Ship, Clan Stuart
GB.O & Ship, Buteshire
GB.O & Ship, Clan Alpine
GB.O & Ship, Empire Mersey
GB.O & Ship, Khedive Ismail
GB.O & Ship, Monarch of Bermuda
AR.O & Order of the Bellows
DE.O & Ship, Hugo Stiennes
FR.O & Ship, Notre Dame
GB.O & Ship, Raymond Larinaga
US.O & Federal Bureau of Investigation
DE.N & U161
GB.N & Convoy SC 104
GB.N & Bustler
GB.N & Aimwell
GB.O & Ship, Begum
ShortSummary
British cadet served with Merchant Navy aboard Clan Macfadyen in Irish Sea, 1939; served aboard Clan Stuart in GB coastal waters, 1940 including sinking during collision, 10/3/1940; officer served aboard Buteshire in Atlantic and Indian Ocean, 1941-1942; served aboard Empire Mersey in Atlantic, 1942 including sinking, 14/10/1942; served aboard HMS Bustler and HMS Aimwell in Atlantic and Indian Ocean, 1943-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Blackpool, 1920-1937: family; education. Period as Merchant Navy cadet with Clan Line, 1937- 1939: joining Clan Line as cadet, 1937; conditions of service for cadets; character of his service; medical problems amongst Lascars; carrying horses aboard Clan Stuart; use of Hindustani crewmen aboard ship. Period as cadet aboard Clan Macfadyen, 9/1939: sight of German ship Hugo Stiennes in Irish Sea, 2/9/1939; fitting of armaments to ship; strike by Lascars for danger money. Recollections of period with Clan Stuart in GB coastal waters, 1940: joining ship in Liverpool early 1940; sight of floating mines in Schelde estuary; degaussing ship; collision and sinking of ship off Plymouth, 10/3/1940; rescue by Notre Dame.
REEL 2 Continues: routine trips in Clan Alpine after sinking of Clan Stuart, 1940. Recollections of period as officer aboard Buteshire, 1941-1942: joining ship, early 1941; damage to ship after fire in jute cargo at Buenos Aires; differences in attitude to Second World War of Argentinian Navy and Army, 1941; character British residents' Order of the Bellows; coaling in St Lucia; torpedoings by U161 at Port Castries, St Lucia, 10/3/1941; joining convoy at Halifax, Nova Scotia; return to River Clyde, 9/1941; re-joining ship, 10/1941difference in reputation between Clan Line and Lever Brothers; New Year celebrations, 31/12/1941; character of ship's master.
REEL 3 Continues: effect of ramming floating whale off Durban; arrival in Trincomalee. Recollections of period as officer aboard Empire Mersey in Atlantic, 1942: background to joining Larinaga; history of ship when she was named Raymond Larinaga; fitting of flight deck to ship; Atlantic crossing to Boston, Massachusetts; US crewman arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation; losses to return convoy, SC 104; U-boat danger in 'The Pit' off Halifax; sinking of ship by U-boat, 14/10/1942. Aspects of rescue from sea, 14/10/1942: clothing worn on entering sea.
REEL 4 Continues: condition on rescue from sea; US seamen's rescue suits; U-boat which watched rescue; use of HFDF to detect U-boats; survivors' leave in Blackpool; attitude towards U-boat crews. Recollections of period as officer with rescue tugs HMS Buster and HMS Aimwell in Atlantic and Indian Ocean, 1943-1945: background to joining Royal Navy and rescue tugs; lack of recognition for rescue ships; joining HMS Bustler; salvage money received for rescue of Begum in Atlantic, 3/1943; joining HMS Aimwell at Greenock, 1943; burials of sea; voyage from Mediterranean to Ceylon; arrival in Trincomalee.
REEL 5 Continues: work of ship at Trincomalee; ashore at Massawa; towing dry dock to Cochin; news of loss of Khedive Ismail, 1944; VJ Day in Trincomalee. Voyage from Ceylon to GB aboard Monarch of Bermuda, 1945: problems with RAF personnel and Italian ex-POWs; reaction on arrival in Southampton.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1945
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Duration
150
NumberOfParts
5
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Wharton, Joseph
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
013242S01.mp3
Wharton-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
14282
ProductionDate
14/Sep/1994
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Hooker, James Redwood xxx
Laidlaw<Captain>
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Budleigh Salterton, Devon
GB, England & Birkenhead, Cheshire
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Glasgow
GB, Wales
GB, Wales & Newport
JM
JM & Kingston
JM & Port Royal
CU
CU & Guantanamo
TT
TT & Port of Spain
US
US & New York
AC
AC, North
AC, North & Grand Banks
MI
DZ
DZ & Algiers
BR
BR & Rio de Janeiro
IT
IT & Brindisi
IT & Naples
GM
GM & River Bathurst
GM & Da'ur
GM & Bathurst
LY
LY & Tobruk
LY & Tripoli
YU
YU & Dubrovnik
GR
GR & Salonika
GR & Kavalla
EG
EG & Alexandria
IndexUnits
GB.O & Ship, New Brooklyn
GB.O & Ship, Fort Ellice
GB.O & Ship, Fort Kootenay
GB.O & Ship, Samfinn
GB.O & Ship, Frans Hals
GB.O & Merchant Navy
GB.O & Radio Company, Marconi
IndexConcepts
Sexual Relations
ShortSummary
British radio officer served with Merchant Navy aboard SS New Brooklyn in Atlantic and Caribbean, 8/1942-1/1943, served aboard SS Fort Ellice, SS Fort Kootenay, SS Argyll, and SS Samfinn in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1943-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Budleigh Salterton, 1922-1939: family, education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Memories of German Air Force raids on Budleigh Salterton, 1942-1943. Enlistment and training with Merchant Navy, 1941- 1942: background to joining Merchant Navy; radio training, 1941-1942; application to join Marconi Company; travel and clothing costs. Recollections of period as Third Radio Officer aboard SS New Brooklyn in Atlantic and Carribbean, 8/1942-1/1943: joining the ship at Liverpool, 18/8/1942; initial impressions of ship; duties on board; the ship's armament and attitude to having guns on board merchant ships; living conditions on board; atmosphere on board; initial reaction to first voyage.
REEL 2 Continues: character of Freetown anchorage; tallying cargo at Freetown; gunnery course at Freetown; duties along coastline; reaction to potential German U-boat wolf pack outside Freetown; personal morale in Merchant Navy; crossing Atlantic independently, c11/1942; problems of with communications; attack by US aircraft off Trinidad; coaling at Port Royal, Jamaica and comparison with other ports; ashore at Kingston; visit to Guantanamo, Cuba; arrival in New York, 12/1942; huge waves on Grand Banks, 12/1942; hurricane blizzards south of Iceland, 12/1943-1/1943.
REEL 3 Continues: potential of ship catching fire from temperature of palm nuts; orders to stop ship to repair storm damage; arrival in GB, 1/1943. Recollections of period as Third Radio Officer aboard SS Fort Ellice in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1/1943-6/1943: joining ship at Newport, 30/1943; living conditions on board; question of ignoring the Plimsoll Line; voyage carrying vehicles from GB to Algiers; attack on ship by Focke Wolfe Kondor on return voyage to GB; dock strike in Glasgow; reaction to sight of Hawker Hurricane carried on transport; discovery that US merchant seaman received bonus for returning to ship before air raid sirens ceased in Algiers; filling ship's bath with red wine in Algiers; method of passing time whilst lying in Algerciras Bay, Gibraltar; importance of tobacco; move to King Tom's Anchorage at Freetown, early 1943; orders to sail independently for Rio de Janeiro.
REEL 4 Continues: contracting illness. Period of hospitalisation and awaiting ship in Rio de Janeiro, 6/1943-9/1943: character of illness and suspicions of his captain that he was malingering; hospitalisation and his attitude towards German nurse; story of Scottish seaman ordered back to his ship by his captain; hospitality of British expatriate; status as Distressed British Seaman; story of behaviour of British consul; attitude towards his financial situation; people he associated with.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as radio officer aboard SS Fort Kootenay in Atlantic, 9/1943- 11/1943: signing on in Rio de Janeiro, 8/9/1943; sailing independently with iron ore for Freetown; loss of ships in convoy from Freetown to GB; hearing of pursuit of SS Frans Hals by U-boat on radio; reaction to arrival in GB; news of brothers serving in RAF; commandeering of part of family home by Home Guard. Recollections of period as radio officer with SS Argyll in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 11/1943-5/1944: joining ship at Hebburn, 26/11/1943; background of ship; accommodation on board; attending convoy conference; story of merchant captain who used pretext of a faulty radio to avoid convoy to Russia; loading in Glasgow, 12/1943; amusing of ship's cook, 25/12/1943; method of negotiating Straits of Gibraltar.
REEL 6 Continues: reasons for fight between officers and crew; character of Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1943; threat from mines; German Air Force attack on convoy off Sardinia, c1/1944; unloading in Brindisi; fraternisation between engineering and radio officers; sailing into minefield off Cape Bon; reasons for not having shore leave in Gibraltar; method of checking ship for limpet mines; loss of merchant vessels to Italian frogmen in Gibraltar; voyage to Dakar; loading peanuts at Da'ur on Bathurst River; smallpox epidemic at Da'ur; character of voyage from Bathurst to GB.
REEL 7 Continues: threat by Marconi representative to be marooned in Freetown; sight of naval rating doubling around deck of corvette off Gibraltar; water shortage on board; how ship ran out of food; damage sustained to ship early 1944; signing off from ship, 5/5/1944. Reflections on service with Merchant Navy during Second World War: sight of Allied air armada whilst on leave, 6/6/1944; precautions taken on board merchant vessels including radio equipment; methods of keeping station in convoys. Recollections of period as Second Radio Officer aboard SS Samfinn in Mediterranean, 1944-1945: joining ship at Birkenhead, 6/7/1944; conditions on board; character of ship and description of Kaiser system of mass production; design fault in liberty ships; armament of ship; problems with wooden lifeboats; radio equipment; layout of ship.
REEL 8 Continues: facilities on board; opinion of Captain Laidlaw; relations between officers and crew; reception in Salvation Army hostel in Liverpool; move to Mediterranean; sight of loose mines in Mediterranean; signals used by U-boats to muster wolfpacks; unloading cargo of occupation money at Naples; bathing facilities; method of unloading cargo at Naples; ashore in Naples; question of Merchant Navy personnel not being able to use NAAFI in GB until 1944; method of relaxation in Naples; question of access to damaged ports of Tripoli and Tobruk; collecting scrap cargo from Tobruk.
REEL 9 Continues: football matches played in Libya; story of flight with US Air Force to Malta; reports of ammunition ship that exploded in Bari harbour during German Air Force attacks; sight of hospital ships in Mediterranean; sight of scuttled French warships in Toulon harbour, 8/1944; visit to abandoned German signal station; gale at Marseilles, 8/1944; reaction to manning Oerlikon gun; question of Merchant Navy discipline during Second World War; difference in morale between men on troopships coming from and going to Far East, c1945; reasons for initial refusal of shore leave Dubrovnik harbour, 3/1945.
REEL 10 Continues: bartering with civilians in Dubrovnik, 3/1945; personal relations with girl friend from Dubrovnik; effect of post war politics on his relationship; post war visit to Dubrovnik, 1957; socialising with family in Dubrovnik; attitude to sailing to Salonika during Greek Civil War; role taking on board civil dignitaries in Salonika driven out by ELAS; reception by Greek civilians at Kavalla; evacuation of British troops cut off by ELAS at Kavalla.
REEL 11 Continues: storm in Aegean, 12/1944; story of visit to Alexandria brothel and raid by military police; fraternising with French civilians at Dualla; receiving radio message of VE Day and instructions to surrendering U-boats , 5/1945; near collision off GB coast, 5/1945; return to GB and attitude to leaving ship.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Mediterranean, 1940-1943
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Duration
330
NumberOfParts
11
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Hooker, James Redwood
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
014282S01.mp3
Hooker-waratsea.mp3
Hooker-waratsea(2).mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
15448
ProductionDate
23/May/1995
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Starkey, Edward xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Hull, Yorks
GB, England & Hull, Yorks <Prospect Street>
GB, England & Hull, Yorks <Beverley Road>
GB, England & River Humber
EG
EG & Alexandria
US
US & Baltimore
SU
SU & Murmansk
IndexUnits
GB.O & Ship, Frances Massey
GB.O & Ship, New Westminster City
GB.O & Ship, Queen City
GB.N & Edinburgh
GB.N & Harrier
GB.N & Somali
GB.N & Matchless
GB.N & Trinidad
GB.N & Nigeria
GB.O & Cinema, National, Hull
IndexConcepts
Medical Services
ShortSummary
British officer served with Merchant Navy aboard SS Frances Massey in Mediterranean, 1939; served aboard SS Queen City in Atlantic, 1940; served aboard SS New Westminster City in Arctic, 1942 including its being set alight at Murmansk, 4/1942; torpedoed aboard HMS Edinburgh in Arctic, 4/1942; returned to GB from Russia aboard HMS Somali, 4/1942
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of period as radio officer with SS Frances Massey in Mediterranean, 1939: background to joining Merchant Navy, 1938; joining ship, 10/1939; carrying coal from Hull to Alexandria; loading cotton-seed in Alexandria; problems negotiating River Humber estuary on return; reasons for leaving sea service on return. Recollections of period as radio officer with SS Queen City in Atlantic, 1940: character of voyage to Baltimore; loading gunpowder during thunderstorm in Baltimore Harbour; near collision with tanker on return convoy; medical problems encountered with Merchant Navy diet. Recollections of period as radio officer with SS New Westminster City in Arctic, 1942: amount of danger money offered for Arctic service; background to joining ship at Hull, 2/1942; fitting out ship for Arctic service; loading war supplies.
REEL 2 Continues: setting sail for Iceland, 23/2/1942; threat from German surface raiders; break-up of convoy in bad weather off northern Norway, 3/1942; receiving messages of German Air Force attacks on convoy; arrival at Murmansk, c1/4/1942. Recollections of sinking of SS New Westminster City in Murmansk Harbour, 1/4/1942: under German Air Force attack; opinion of German pilots; wounding in arm and escaping from blazing ship; rescue from water; hospital treatment in Murmansk.
REEL 3 Continues: playing chess in hospital in Murmansk. Recollections of sinking of HMS Edinburgh, 4/1942: transfer to sick bay on board ship; torpedoing of ship; attempt to tow ship back to Murmansk; his rescue from sinking ship by HMS Harrier and return to Murmansk. Recollections of return to GB from Russia aboard HMS Somali, 4/1942: HMS Somali escorting of HMS Trinidad; German Air Force attacks on HMS Trinidad and escorting destroyers; sinking of HMS Trinidad by HMS Matchless; further German Air Force attacks on convoy; role of HMS Nigeria in protecting convoy; role as part of chain gang passing shells on board HMS Somali. Treatment for broken arm in Hull, c5/1942.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as civilian living during German Air Force attacks on Hull 5/1941: aiding fireman in Prospect Street; bombing of National Cinema showing film 'The Great Dictator'.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Arctic, 1941-1945
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Duration
100
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Starkey, Edward
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
015448S01.mp3
Starkey-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
16761
ProductionDate
17/Jul/1996
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Langton, Henry xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Liverpool
US
IN
IN & Bombay
JP
KP
KP & Chosin Reservoir
KP & Koto-Ri
KP & Hagaru-Ri
KP & Wonsan harbour
IndexUnits
GB.O & Ship, Southern Empress
GB.O & Merchant Navy
GB,O & Ship, Southern Princess
GB.O & Ship, Colyto
GB.O & Ship, Daldorch
GB.N & Royal Marines
GB.N & Wing, Small Raids
GB.N & Special Boat Squadron
GB.N & Sheffield
US.N & Perch
US.N & Marine Div 1
ShortSummary
British civilian in Liverpool, GB, 1940; seaman served with Merchant Navy in Atlantic, 1940-1944; marine served with Royal Marine police during Royal Indian Navy mutiny in Bombay, India, 1946; NCO served with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines in Korea, 1950-1951; served with Rhine Squadron of Special Boat Service in Germany, 1952-1956
FullSummary
REEL 1 Recollections of Liverpool Blitz, 1940: destruction in docks area; reaction of Liverpool population to bombing; job in docks; use of Anderson shelter. Recollections of period with Merchant Navy, 1940-1944: signing on Southern Empress and Southern Princess as mess boy, 5/1940; role as coal trimmer in SS Colyto; German air attacks off Gibraltar; hard work of coal trimmers when ship was flat out; joining SS Daldorch, 12/1942; abortive Arctic convoy; living conditions aboard ship; story of panic caused when he thought his ship was sinking; relations between officers and men; question of personal morale; differences of pay aboard ship; spending pay on real milk in US; use of slicers to break clinkers up in fires; reaction to shovelling dry coal. Joining Royal Marines and posting to HMS Sheffield, 1/1944.
REEL 2 Continues: Period with Royal Marine police during Royal Indian Navy mutiny in Bombay, India, 1946: incident when his motor-bike broke down on patrol ashore; dealing with mutinous Royal Indian Navy medical orderlies; escorting female personnel; riot in which mob set fire to Indian constable tied to tree; use of Royal Marine snatch squads. Period with Small Raids Wing (Special Boat Squadron) in GB, 1948. Recollections of coastal operations with 41 Independent Commando in Korea, 1950: unit formation; journey to Japan; raid from submarine USS Perch; burial of comrade at sea; joining 1st US Marine Division. Recollections of operations with 41 Independent Commando at Chosin Reservoir in Korea, 1950: perimeter defence, Koto-ri; taking of hill by Dog Troop against light resistance; Chinese corpse burnt by napalm; Chinese mass attack on vehicle convoy; use of carbine against Chinese.
REEL 3 Continues: attempt to rescue group cut off by Chinese; reaching US positions, Hagaru; perimeter defence of Hagaru; role as section leader; techniques employed against Chinese mass attacks; mass Chinese night attacks with bugles; riding on tank; withdrawal from Hagaru and sight of dead on way; Chinese harassment; withdrawal from North Korean coast to Japan; use of Communist POWs for manual work at Hagaru; Chinese tactics; US advice about using fire-power; personal morale; attitude towards Chinese. Period with 41 Independent Commando garrisoning Wonsan harbour islands, 1951: menace of Communist torpedo tubes on island.
REEL 4 Continues: clearing of lepers' island when he was coxswain of landing craft; conditions of lepers; occupation of leper colony; canoe reconnaissance in Wonsan harbour; daylight raid on railway line and tunnel using Amtraks, 1951; civilian casualties ashore; award of Military Medal. Period with Rhine Squadron, Special Boat Service, Germany, 1952-1956: demolition role in case of Soviet attack; opinion of Germans.
ContextDescription
Military Operations 1945-1975: Korea, 1950-1953
Naval Operations: Royal Marines
Naval Operations, 1945-1975: Korea, 1950-1953
Duration
115
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Langton, Henry
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photographs (1940s/50s,1990) in file
RelatedSoundFile
016761S01.mp3
Langton-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
11 May 2007
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
19021
ProductionDate
22/May/1999
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Thurgar, George Arthur xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Isle of Dogs, London
GB, England & Millwall, London
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs
GB, England & Falmouth, Devon
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Glasgow
GB, Scotland & Butt of Lewis
NO
NO & Narvik
US
US & Baltimore
US & Cape Hatteras
US & Williamsburg
US & Pearl Harbor
US & Waikiki Beach
AC, North
IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Navy
GB.O & Ship, Hardingham
GB.O & Ship, Harmala
NZ.O & Ship, Dorset
NZ.O & Ship, Tekoa
NZ.O & Ship, Suffolk
NZ.O & Ship, Durham
NZ.O & Ship, Cornwall
NZ.O & Ship, Pipiriki
NZ.O & Shipping Company, New Zealand
ShortSummary
British seaman served with Merchant Navy in GB coastal waters, Atlantic, Norway and Far East, 1939-1946
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Isle of Dogs and Millwall, London, 1920-1939: family; education; attempt to join Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1938; attempts to join armed services in some capacity, 1938-1939; joining Merchant Navy, 12/1939. Recollections of service aboard Hardingham, 1939-1940: joining ship at Middlesborough, 28/12/1940; loading iron ore at Narvik; sight of German merchantmen; de-gaussing of ship; story of being nearly washed overboard; methods of loading iron ore at Narvik, 1940; relations between German and British sailors off Narvik; escort from Polish destroyer, 4/1940. Recollections of service aboard Harmala, 1940-1941: joining ship at Glasgow, 6/8/1940; experiences of being struck by storm off Butt of Lewis, 8/1940; discharge of ballast at Cape Hatteras, 8/1940; effects of hurricane off Baltimore, 8/1940; loading ammunition at Baltimore; news of German bomb on family home in Millwall, 7/9/1940.
REEL 2 Continues: inability to learn about ship due to tiredness. Aspects of service aboard MV Dorset, 1941: reasons for joining New Zealand Shipping Coy, 4/4/1941; joining ship at Liverpool, 4/4/1941; fate of ship during Operation Pedestal; loss of discharge book in Liverpool Blitz, 1941. Aspects of service aboard SS Tekoa, 1941: joining ship at Glasgow, 21/8/1941; character of living conditions aboard; weather conditions in Atlantic. Recollections of service aboard MV Suffolk, 1942-1943: joining ship in Liverpool, 1/4/1942; armament aboard; reaction to rumour of voyage to Malta; description of T124X system; experiences of convoy to Malta, late 1942; German Air Force attack on return from Malta; allocation of ship's guns to 8th Army; sight of gauchos in Argentina, early 1943; avoiding U-boats in Caribbean, early 1943. Recollections of service aboard MV Durham, 1943-1944: joining ship in Falmouth, 28/Jul/1943.
REEL 3 Continues: method of controlling fire on board in Pacific, 1943; re-organising Mosquito aircraft cargo at Tahiti in attempt to deal with fire; relief supplies delivered to Pitcairn islanders; life in Tahiti, 1943. Aspects of service aboard SS Cornwall, 1944: joining ship, 1/4/1944; reasons for leaving ship, 4/7/1944. Aspects of service aboard MV Pipiriki, 1944-1945: joining ship, 14/9/1944; sights ashore at Williamsburg; memories of VJ night in Williamsburg; move to Pearl Harbor, ca 8/1945-9/1945; experiences at Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. Aspects of service with Merchant Navy, 1939- 1946: medical problems and discharge from service, 1/1946; attitude to having served in Merchant Navy in Second World War.
REEL 4 Continues: his patriotism in 1938-1939; work in ship's chandlers office; reasons for MV Suffolk was his favourite ship; rations aboard ship; question of luck in Second World War; contact with civilians ashore in ports; explanation of term fender; question of Hardingham's master in failing to observe need for camouflage, 1940; dangers of using lifebelts; life saving innovations.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Duration
110
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Thurgar, George Arthur
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
019021S01.mp3
Thurgar-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
20939
ProductionDate
7/Dec/2000
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Clark, Alexander xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & River Thames
GB, England & Liverpool, Lancs
GB, England & Birkenhead, Cheshire
GB, Scotland
GB, Scotland & Grangemouth
GB, Scotland & Buckie
GB, Scotland & Aberdeen
GB, Scotland & Glasgow
GB, Scotland & Kyle of Lochalsh
AC, North
US
US & New York
US & Detroit
CA
IndexUnits
GB.N & Ship, City of Athens
GB.O & Ship, Baltrader
GB.O & Ship, Empire Diplomat
GB.O & Ship, Athelregent
GB.O & Ship, City of Cape Town
GB.O & Ship, Manchester Commerce
GB.O & Ship, San Vulfrano
GB.O & Ship, Empire Crest
GB.O & Ship, Empire Bardolph
GB.O & Ship, Samconstant
GB.O & Ship, Fort Capot River
GB.O & College, Aberdeen Wireless
GB.O & Company, Marconi
GB.O & Merchant Navy
ShortSummary
British wireless operator served with Merchant Navy in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1940-1945
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Buckie, 1920-1939: family; education; employment as drift fisherman, 1930s; effect of loss of Russian market on herring industry after 1917; comparison of different fisheries; job as cook; fish caught; competition between fishermen to get fish to market; contact with trawlers; degree of danger in drifting; women who gutted fish; training as wireless operator at Aberdeen Wireless College, 1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Recollections of period as wireless operator aboard City of Athens, early 1940: joining ship in Glasgow, 26/1/1940; leaving convoy in Atlantic.
REEL 2 Continues: live sheep that died of fright; contacts from Buckie he had in each port; return from Ceylon to GB via English Channel; employment by Marconi Company. Recollections of period as wireless operator aboard Baltrader including sinking, 11/11/1940: joining ship, 29/5/1940; conditions on board; supplies loaded in Iberia; Vichy French bombing of Gibraltar; German Air Force strafing attack on ship; sinking of ship by acoustic mine in mouth of River Thames, 11/11/1940; handling of shipwrecked mariners. Period as wireless operator aboard Empire Diplomat in GB coastal waters, 1940-1942: joining ship in Grangemouth, 2/12/1940; sight of London Blitz, 1940-1941; guns put on ship at Newcastle; depot ship duties at Kyle of Lochalsh, 1941-1942. Period as wireless operator aboard Athelregent in Atlantic, 1943: joining ship at Liverpool, 9/2/1943; U-boat attack on convoy on route to Curacoa; question of personal morale.
REEL 3 Continues: strength of convoy escort in Atlantic, c3/1943; wealth of bananas on return voyage, 4/1943. Period as wireless operator aboard City of Cape Town, 1943: joining ship at Birkenhead, 20/4/1943; weather during Atlantic crossing; opinion of stay in New York; question of being glad to get ashore. Period as wireless operator aboard Manchester Commerce, 1943: appointment to ship, 4/6/1943; journey to family wedding in Detroit. Period as wireless operator aboard San Vulfrano, 1943-1944: joining tanker at Ellesmere Port, 24/8/1943; giving up smoking; visit to Belgian Congo; problems with tombo fly. Period as wireless operator aboard Empire Crest: standing by the building of the ship in Sunderland, autumn 1944; use of anti-torpedo nets; story of finding storaways on board Empire Bardolph, autumn 1945. Period as wireless operator aboard Fort Capot River, 2/5/1945- 21/8/1945: voyages to Canada.
REEL 4 Continues: friend he made in US. Iron ore carried aboard Empire Bardolph, 1945. Period as wireless operator aboard SS Samconstant, 1945: duties in Mediterranean; character of liberty ships; occasion when steward deteriorated under influence of drink ashore. Aspects of his service with Merchant Navy, 1940-1945: opinion of Merchant Navy captains; commandeering of merchant ships by Royal Navy; attitude towards serving in Merchant Navy; conversion to Christianity, 1944-1945.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1945
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Duration
105
NumberOfParts
4
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Clark, Alexander
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedIWMItems
Photograph of identity card (1943) in file
RelatedSoundFile
020939S01.mp3
Clark2-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Sound
IDNO
21629
ProductionDate
18/Jun/2001
ObjectType
IWM interview
IndexPeople
Shaw, Harry xxx
IndexPlaces
GB, England
GB, England & Hull, Yorks
GB, England & Sunderland, Cleveland
CN
CN & Shanghai
PL
PL & Danzig
SU
SU & Murmansk
SU & Novaya Zemlaya
SU & Archangel
IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Navy
GB.O & Navigation School, Hull Trinity House
GB.O & Shipping Company, United Steam Navigation
GB.O & Ship, Dalmore
GB.O & Ship, River Afton
GB.O & Ship, Dalblair
GB.N & Daisy
GB.N & Lotus
GB.O & Empire Deed
GB.O & Empire Tide
GB.N & Convoy PQ 13
GB.N & Convoy PQ 17
ShortSummary
British cadet served with Merchant Navy aboard Dalblair in Atlantic, 1940 including sinking, 8/1940; served aboard Empire Deed in Atlantic, 1940-1941; officer served aboard River Afton in Arctic, 1942 including sinking, 5/7/1942
FullSummary
REEL 1 Background in Hull, 1921-1937: family; education at Hull Trinity House Navigation School. Period as cadet with Merchant Navy, 1937-1939: joining United Steam Navigation Company; ashore in Shanghai whilst serving on board SS Dalmore, c1937; discharging iron-ore from SS River Afton at Danzig, 1/9/1939; running aground in Baltic, c2/9/1939. Aspects of period as officer cadet aboard SS Dalblair in Atlantic including sinking, 28/8/1940: danger from German E-boats off GB east coast' torpedoing of ship, 28/8/1940; rescue by HMS Daisy, 28/8/1940; question of seaman's attitude towards being torpedoed; attitude towards German submariners; treatment of survivors aboard HMS Daisy.
REEL 2 Continues: treatment of survivors in Scotland. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Empire Deed in Atlantic, 1940-1941: reception of apprentices in Halifax, Canada; sight of suspected U-boat in Atlantic; reasons why his ship was stopped and searched by US warship. Recollections of operations as third officer aboard River Afton during Convoy PQ13 in Arctic, 1942: German Air Force attacks; ashore in Murmansk; Russian guards who demanded passes for embarking on board his ship; night he spent in nurses home in Murmansk; treatment by Russians in Murmansk. Recollections of operations as third officer aboard River Afton during Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 1942: order to scatter convoy; torpedoing of ship, 5/7/1942; aid to survivors from German U-boat captain; rescue by HMS Lotus.
REEL 3 Continues: two day period at Novaya Zemlya and sight of trawler escorting three surviving ships; character of accommodation at Archangel; work he did in Archangel; medical treatment survivors received in Archangel; return to GB aboard Empire Tide. Story of bombing of Empire Deed in Sunderland. Story of working and living in Kuwait from 1947. His feelings about Convoy PQ17.
ContextDescription
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Atlantic, 1939-1940
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Merchant Navy, 1939-1945
Naval Operations, 1939-1945: Arctic, 1941-1945
Duration
85
NumberOfParts
3
OtherFormats
None
MakerName
Shaw, Harry
ProductionCompany
IWM
MakerGender
Male
Language
English
RelatedSoundFile
021629S01.mp3
Shaw-waratsea.mp3
Weighting
750
900
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
WebStatus
Published
UncatTransferDate
17 November 2006
URLEncodedDeptName
Sound
Access
IWM copyright
Nationality
British
DigitalAsset
Y
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MAR 21
ItemName
ship's bell, RMS 'Lusitania'
ObjectType
bell
IndexUnits
GB.N & Merchant Navy & 'Lusitania'
FullSummary
The 'Lusitania', a 30,396 ton Cunard liner carrying 1,257 passengers, was sunk by U-20 ( Walter Schweiger ) on the 7 May 1915 in the Irish Sea. The sinking and the loss of 1,198 lives (including 197 American lives) inflamed American public opinion against Imperial Germany.This ship's bell was recovered from the wreck of the RMS 'Lusitania' by divers in 1982. Formerly in the Hutton-Williams family collection.
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
Access
On display at IWM North
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MOD 954
ProductionDate
30/May/1994
ItemName
Liberty Ship Type EC2-S-C1, 'James Blair'
ObjectType
model
IndexUnits
US.O & Merchant Marine
FullSummary
Liberty Ship was the name given to the EC2 type of ship designed for 'Emergency' construction by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II.
The Liberty Ship was an 'emergency' type of cargo liner, supplied by America to Britain under the Lease-Lend scheme, and over 2,700 of this type of ship were built in 18 shipyards during the Second World War.
The type was based on British designs, and manufactured on a mass production basis by assembly lines methods.
The speed of construction reflected the fact that the ships were built in sub-units which were then welded together. One well-publicised Liberty ship, the 'Robert E. Peary', was launched on 12 November 1942, only 4 days and 15.5 hours after her keel was laid, in the Kaiser-managed Permanente Metals Corporation Yard No. 2.
The original 'James Blair' was 441 feet long, and had a maximum speed of 11 knots.
ProductionCompany
Lamond C
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
This waterline model depicts the 'James Blair' Liberty Ship, built to a scale of 1/192, and is 84cm x 13cm x 20cm high.
Access
On display at IWM London
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
UNI 560
ItemName
jacket service dress, Captain, Merchant Navy (Cunard)
ObjectType
uniform
IndexPeople
North, Ian (Captain)
IndexUnits
GB.O & Merchant Navy & ATLANTIC CONVEYOR
GB.O & Cunard
FullSummary
Captain Ian Harry North, Merchant Navy was captain of the Cunard ship SS 'Atlantic Conveyor' when, on 25th May 1982, she was hit by an Argentine Exocet Missile. The last to leave his ship, North perished before he could be rescued. Eleven other members of the crew also died. For his leadership and gallantry North was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross. The announcement of the award appeared in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 8th October 1982 and reads as follows: `On 14th April 1982 SS ATLANTIC CONVEYOR was laid up in Liverpool. On 25th April she deployed to the South Atlantic converted to operate fixed and rotary wing aircraft and loaded with stores and equipment for the Falkland's Task Force. This astonishing feat was largely due to Captain North's innovation, leadership and inexhaustible energy. SS ATLANTIC CONVEYOR joined the Carrier Battle Group on 19th May 1982 and was immediately treated as a warship in most respects. Almost comparable in manoeuvrability, flexibility and response Captain North and his ship came through with flying colours. When the ship was hit on 25th May Captain North was a tower of strength during the difficult period of damage assessment leading up to the decision to abandon ship. He left the ship last with enormous dignity and calm and his subsequent death was a blow to all. A brilliant seaman, brave in war, immensely revered and loved his contribution to the Campaign was enormous and epitomised the great spirit of the Merchant Service.'
RelatedIWMItems
UNI 561
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
navy blue barathea cloth double-breasted, four buttoned, jacket with one breast pocket and two hip pockets. The jacket is lined in black material. On each cuff the gold rank lace of a Merchant Navy Captain (Certified Master). Above the left breast pocket two rows of undress medal ribbons as follows: 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star with Rosette; Africa Star; Pacific Star with Rosette, War Medal 1939-45.
Access
On display at IWM London
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
OMD 140
ProductionDate
1920
ItemName
Mercantile Marine War Medal (1914-1918)
ObjectType
medal
IndexPeople
Mills, J S P
IndexUnits
GB.N & Mercantile Marine
FullSummary
This bronze medal, issued by the Board of Trade, was awarded to members of the Mercantile Marine who served on one or more voyages through a danger zone. It was given in bronze to officers and men alike. A total of 133,135 medals were issued.
ProductionCompany
Royal Mint
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
The medal is made in bronze and is 37 mm in diameter. The ribbon, which is 31 mm in width, comprises two equal vertical stripes of green and red with central vertical stripe in white 4mm in width. The obverse design bears the uncrowned head (coinage effigy) of King George V with the legend 'GEORGIVS V. BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:'. The obverse design shows a ship, steaming left to right through heavy seas. In the foreground, to the right, the raised stern section of a submarine. In the background, to the right, a three-masted sailing ship and in the exergue the text,: 'FOR.WAR.SERVICE MERCANTILE.MARINE.1914-1918:'. The whole surrounded by a laurel wreath. The medal is suspended by a straight non-swivelling suspender bar. The name of the recipient, JOHN S.P.MILLS, is impressed on the rim. Sir Bertram MacKennal, designed the obverse and Mr. Harold Stabler, the reverse. Mackennal's initials appear on the obverse to the right and immediately beneath the King's head. Harold Stabler's initials appear on the reverse to the right, immediately above the exergue line.
Access
Access by prior appointment
DeptName
Exhibits
IDNO
MAR 574
ItemName
boat, Jolly Boat from SS 'Anglo-Saxon'
ObjectType
boat
IndexPlaces
Atlantic
IndexUnits
GB.N & Merchant Navy
FullSummary
On 21 August 1940 the German armed merchant raider 'Widder' sank the SS 'Anglo Saxon', 5,596 tons (Nitrate Producers SS Co) carrying a cargo of coal from Newport to Bahia Blanca , approximately 800 miles west of the Canaries. Seven men managed to escape in the jolly boat which drifted 2,700 miles across the Atlantic finally grounding with only two survivors, Able Seaman Robert Tapscott and Roy Widdicombe, on an island in the Bahamas after 70 days. Thirty nine of the 'Anglo Saxon's' crew died. After the war the'Widder's' captain, von Ruckteschell, was found guilty of failing to provide for the safety of the ship's crew, since 'Widder' had fired on the ship's lifeboats. This boat was generously transferred to the Imperial War Museum from Mystic Seaport Museum, with the help of P&O Nedlloyd and the support of the Newport SS Anglo Saxon Jolly Boat Association, Mr Anthony Smith and Mr Ted Milburn.
SubThemeTag
MerchantNavy
UncatTransferDate
30/06/2006 11:14:35
URLEncodedDeptName
Exhibits
FormatDescription
Wooden boat from SS 'Anglo-Saxon', length 18 ft, beam 6.5 ft.
Access
On display at IWM London