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Description: | British boy seaman trained aboard HMS Black Prince in Queenstown, Ireland, 1903-1904; seaman served as signaller aboard HMS Vengeance on China Station, 1904-1907; served aboard HMS Triumph in GB coastal waters, 1907-1908; served aboard HMS Locust, HMS Lysander and HMS Retriever with Harwich Force in GB coastal waters, 1914-1918
REEL 1 Background in Dundalk, Northern Ireland and Liverpool, 1888-1903: family circumstances; story of recruitment underage and subsequent consequences on retirement. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine as boy seaman aboard HMS Black Prince, Queenstown, Southern Ireland, 1903-1904: prior voyage out aboard HMS Kenmare; reception and initial impressions; morning routine; messing system and food; question of desertion.
REEL 2 Continues: selection as signal boy; signal training; washing uniform; discipline; punishments including caning and birching; seamanship and signal training; education classes; recreations; swimming lessons.
REEL 3 Continues: uniform issued and common adaptations; uniforms run up by 'tailoring firms' aboard ships; inspections before going ashore. Aspects of period at Devonport Barracks, 1904: discipline; daily routine duties; recreations; opinion of Aggie Weston's Sailors' Rest Home. Recollections of period as signal boy aboard HMS Vengeance on China Station, 1904-1907: voyage out to join ship; illumination of White Ensigns of China Fleet whilst at Singapore waiting for Russian Fleet to pass during Russo-Japanese War; move to Hong Kong.
REEL 4 Continues: recreations during visits ashore at Singapore and Hong Kong; Chinese laundry services; 'dhobying firms'; monitoring of sailors' brothels; comparison of canteen and general messing; movements; question of 'spit and polish' including scrubbing decks, polishing brasswork and special attention given ships boats.
REEL 5 Continues: gambling; nature of disciplinary offences and punishments; role of commander and ship's police; coaling ship.
REEL 6 Continues: stories illustrating nature of entertainments and reception provided during world cruise aboard HMS Repulse during visits to Malaya and US; preference for overseas service. Aspects of period as signaller aboard HMS Triumph, 1907-1908: improved food through provision of refrigerators and bakery; salted pork barrels. Aspects of period as signaller aboard HMS Locust with Harwich Force, c1914: conditions aboard destroyers.
REEL 7 Continues: relaxed discipline aboard destroyers; use of Chatham canteen for extra food provisions; preparing ship for war, 4/8/1914; story of success in sinking German liner Konigin and subsequent efforts to pick up survivors, 5/8/1914; story of death of survivors of Konigin after HMS Undaunted sank after hitting mine, 6/8/1914.
REEL 8 Continues: Recollections of period as signaller aboard HMS Lysander and HMS Retriever with Harwich Force, c1914-1918: reception of new Captain, Lieutenant Commander G W Taylor; responding to SOS signal from HMS Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy; escorting seaplane carriers on raid on Cuxhaven; story of being bombed by German aircraft during attempts to rescue of survivors from SMS Blucher after Battle of Dogger Bank, 24/1/1915; story of paying off and following Lieutenant Commander G W Taylor to his new ship HMS Retriever following collision with HMS Liberty, c1917; crew morale; shore leave during routine boiler cleaning. Period as instructor at Chatham Barracks, 1921-1922: daily routine; shore leave in Chatham and visits to London. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Wallace, Thomas | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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