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Description: | British seaman served aboard Q Ship HMS Antwerp in Atlantic, 1915; served aboard Q Ship HMS Baralong in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1915-1916; served aboard HMS Indomitable in North Sea, 1916-1919
REEL 1 Background in Port Chares, Ireland and Liverpool, 1891-1908; recruitment into Royal Navy, 6/10/1908. Aspects of period of training aboard HMS Ganges, HMS London and HMS Victorious, 1908. Aspects of period as ordinary seaman aboard HMS Formidable, 1908-1910: gun crew duties on 6" casement gun; routine duties; food rations; story illustrating discipline and nature of '10A' punishment; shore leave; relationship with crew. Aspects of period as able seamen aboard HMS Nubian, 1911-1914: duties as quartermaster; general duties; conditions of service; dispute over rum rations and consequent three days imprisonment in cells.
REEL 2 Continues: illustration of victimisation; football; efforts to change ship. Aspects of period with skeleton crew aboard HMS Venerable in River Medway, 1914. Aspects of period aboard HMS Mars in Humber estuary, 7/1914-10/1914: reactions to outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; coastal defence role. Aspects of training at Gunnery School, Pembroke Barracks, Chatham, 10/1914-1/195. Aspects of period as able seaman gunner aboard HMS Antwerp, 1/1915-4/1915: briefing on Q Ship role by Captain Herbert and reactions; crew; concealed 12 pdrs on poop deck and their reduced range; gun crew duty and ammunition supply; civilian clothes worn, necessity for concealment and relaxed discipline; story of near encounter with U Boat.
REEL 3 Continues: reasons for failure during near encounter with U Boat. Recollections of period aboard HMS Baralong operating in North Atlantic, 4/1915-9/1915: transfer of navy personnel from HMS Antwerp; preparations as Q Ship; presence aboard of various Merchant Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel; concealed 12 pdrs on poop deck; use of false ship names and flags; funnel painting; resentment expressed by Merchant Navy personnel; cruising patrols; necessity for secrecy when in port including civilian clothes worn ashore, white feather incidents, refusal to use harbour pilots and special status for coaling and stores; awareness of submarine war including attitude to U Boat crews and Herbert's attitude to taking prisoners.
REEL 4 Continues: account of sinking of U 27 by HMS Baralong, 19/8/1915: alarm on signal from Nicosian; approach to range of 600 yards and clearing for action; opening fire with 12pdrs and Royal Marines and sinking of U 27; question of removal of US flag prior to opening fire; restricted view of events; fears of presence of second U Boat; order to cease fire; question of fate of U Boat crew survivors in water; request from Captain Manning to save Nicosian; question of presence of German boarding party aboard Nicosian prior to sinking of U 27; reports of marines among boarding party of shooting members of German boarding and attempt to dispose of corpse in ship's furnace; reactions to marines' attitude to shootings; contacts with Nicosian crew; Mr Blake's role in reporting incident; question of trial for war crimes; question of Herbert's use of alias 'McBride'; role in towing lifeboats back to Nicosian; question of Nicosian crew accompanying Baralong boarding party; opening fire on Nicosian prior to intervention by Manning; Blake's role in caring for mule cargo aboard Nicosian.
REEL 5 Continues: role of signalmen in removal of US flags; fear of second German U Boat; escorting Nicosian into Falmouth and lack of contact with shore. Recollections of period aboard Baralong operating in North Atlantic, 8/1915-9/1915: ; replacement of Herbert with Captain Wilmot Smith; return to cruising patrols; Wilmot Smith's attitude to prisoners; panic party rehearsals. Account of sinking of U 41 by HMS Baralong, 21/9/1915: alarm signal; situation on arrival; sinking of U 41; attempt to run down lifeboat containing German survivors; helping survivors aboard; fear of second U Boat; restricted view of events; state and treatment of survivors. Recollections of period aboard HMS Baralong/Wyandara based at Malta and operating in Mediterranean, 10/1915-10/1916: question of Baralong's notoriety following sinking of U 29; replacement of Wilmot Smith with Captain Simons; threat from Moeuw; change of name from Baralong to Wyandara; story of manning tug during sinking of Franconia.
REEL 6 Continues: story of manning tug during sinking of Franconia; successful night action with U Boat; confusion over alternative names of Baralong; problems with floating mines and censure of Simon after he revealed guns to deal with them within sight of Malta; preparation of food; question of replacement of disaffected merchant seamen amongst crew; state of morale and discipline; drinking habits; recreations; decommission of Baralong. Aspects of period at Pembroke Barracks, 10/1916: reaction to air raids at Le Havre during journey back; loss of Baralong papers; gunnery school training. Recollections of period aboard HMS Indomitable, Battlecruiser Fleet based at Rosyth, 2/1917-2/1919: duties in charge of magazine and shell room including movement of shells and degree of anti-flash precautions.
REEL 7 Continues: general duties; uniforms; recreations; washing clothes; changes in routine when at sea; coaling ship; surrender of German Fleet, 21/11/1918; subsequent scuttling of German Fleet, 21/7/1919; peacetime civilian attitudes to sailors; return to Pembroke Barracks, 2/1919. Recollections of period aboard HMS Whitley, 3/1919-11/1920: secrecy over prior service aboard HMS Baralong; initial bases; question of discipline; duties running naval stores and on 4" gun crew.
REEL 8 Continues: operations in Baltic, 1919, including strategic situation, refusal of destroyer crew to sail, control of unrest amongst crew, shelling Soviet controlled area in co-operation with army, picking up Russian refugees, reactions to situation and storm during return voyage to Chatham, 24/12/1919; operations off Ireland including supplying coastguards and relationship with Irish civilians. Various aspects of post-war career: background to accepting discharge from Royal Navy and subsequent career with Merchant Navy; absence of contemporary interest in 'Baralong incident'. Recited monologue, 'British Sailorman' on living conditions at sea in Merchant Navy ships. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Hart, Peter M | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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