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Description: | British carpenter trained at HMS Victory Barracks and aboard HMS Fisguard, Portsmouth, GB, 1915; served aboard HMS Empress of Japan on East Indies Station, 1915; served aboard HMS Lunka in Red Sea, 1915; served aboard HMS Suva in Red Sea, 1916-1919; served aboard HMS Royal Sovereign in Atlantic, 1919-1921; served aboard HMS Canterbury in GB coastal waters, 1921-1922; served aboard HMS Iron Duke in Mediterranean, 1923-1928; served aboard HMS Benbow in GB coastal waters, 1928-1929; served aboard HMS Dauntless in West Indies, 1930-1932; served aboad HMS Courageous in GB coastal waters, 1933-1936; served on Royal Naval Benevolent Committee at Portsmouth, GB, 1936-1937
REEL 1 Recollections of background in army family in various postings in Ireland and England, 1898-1914: movements; death of mother and father's early retirement from army; social circumstances; father's remarriage and work as clerk at Aldershot; story illustrating poor relationship with stepmother; education; work as joiner, selling firewood and in blacksmith's shop.
REEL 2 Continues: work in blacksmith's shop and as joiner; question of continuation of education; comparison of civilian attitude to soldiers and naval seamen. Recollections of recruitment as joiner tradesman into Royal Navy at Recruitment Office, Farnborough, 12/1915: question of being underage; trade test.
REEL 3 Continues: interest in navy; question of working for brothers in building trade; civilian attitude to naval seamen; question of subsequently transferring to seamen branch; question of promotion prospects as carpenters crew including abolition of right of promotion to shipwright, 1918, difficulty in qualifying to become chief joiner and question of 'red ink' recommendations for promotion linked to membership of Freemasons.
REEL 4 Continues: Period in Victory Barracks and Fisguard Depot, Portsmouth, 1/1915-3/1915: prior basic training; pay; necessity of providing own tools; bribing master-at-arms to obtain leave pass. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine aboard HMS Empress of Japan, HMS Lunka, HMS Suva, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Canterbury, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Dauntless, and HMS Courageous, 1915-1937: role as joiner in magazine or repair parties aboard ship; nature of training; question of educational qualifications required prior to promotion to petty officer; selection of intelligent recruits for wireless and torpedo branches.
REEL 5 Continues: selection of intelligent recruits for wireless and torpedo branches; lack of specialist training in aircraft and maintenance illustrated by inexperience with crash party after aircraft crashed HMS Courageous, 1933; variety of duties; status as tradesmen; duties as petty officer on shore patrols; tension in petty officers' mess over appointment of tradesmen as mess president; relationship with and status of artificers as tradesmen.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of status and training of shipwrights; story of being elected president of petty officers' mess aboard HMS Dauntless; illustration of duties of shipwrights and joiners; duties as watch shipwright and consequent disputes with shipwrights; story of difficult trade test as petty officer joiner whilst aboard HMS Pyramus; work on furniture and ornamental deck gratings; salvage of HMS Dauntless run ashore on rocks at Halifax, Canada.
REEL 7 Continues: story of refitting ornamental gratings for HMS Dauntless on return from dockyards and subsequent jettisoning on orders of First Sea Lord David Beatty; receiving orders form commissioned shipwright; role of HMS Suva in liaising with T E Lawrence and Arab forces whilst in Red Sea; story of landing with Captain Boyle and Lawrence to erect range markers to allow guns to accurately register prior to arrival of Turkish troops; refusal of senior carpenter to delegate duties aboard HMS Lunka. Recollections of service as joiner aboard HMS Suva, 1916-1919: reception; story illustrating lack of experience whilst attempting to use windlass to haul off abandoned grounded gun running dhows and subsequent instruction; role checking levels in water tanks and supplying Arab army by hosepipe; role supervising parties cleaning out double bottoms used as water tanks during refitting; role repairing whalers used in boarding ships during patrols looking for Wolf in Straits of Bukel Mandib; role as mess caterer in mixed mess.
REEL 8 Continues: story of unloading rock ballast and over strict shipwright on running aground at Loheer. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine aboard HMS Empress of Japan, HMS Lunka, HMS Suva, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Canterbury, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Dauntless, and HMS Courageous, 1915-1937: method of coaling ship; question of frequency of coaling; story of ruse to get volunteer coaling party whilst in barracks.
REEL 9 Continues: method of coaling including subsequent cleaning of ship, baths and washing uniform.
REEL 10 Continues: drying washing; role securing coaling ports after coaling HMS Lunka; lack of bathroom aboard HMS Lunka; equal relationship with officers during coaling; change in uniforms, 1918; activities of lower deck tailors; story of salvaging bales of linen from dhows captured taking supplies to Turks and thefts of material by crew to make new uniforms whilst aboard HMS Suva in Red Sea.
REEL 11 Continues: inappropriate nature of official uniform worn for inspections; purchase of superior doeskin uniform from shore tailors; system of paying for issue of items of uniform; method of exchanging kit between crew during admiral's kit inspection; uniform repairs and personal styling; method of washing and ironing uniform; problems with uniforms.
REEL 12 Continues: messdeck accommodation; role of cooks of mess and preparation of dishes for galley cooking; role of leading seaman in paying and dividing mess canteen bills; introduction of general messing; reversion to canteen messing during period on West Indies station; situation with canteen messes and accumulated funds in barracks; story of lieutenant commander using canteen funds to form ship's band aboard HMS Dauntless; popularity of band during overseas visits.
REEL 13 Continues: popularity of band during overseas visits; food rations aboard HMS Suva in Red Sea, 1916-1919, including issue of live sheep and goats, lascars' curry, emergency rations after being caught in storm, effect of poor rations on health, effect of replacement of successful canteen manager.
REEL 14 Continues: mess canteen bills; pay; issue of rum ration including methods of getting extra measures, strength and importance to sailors.
REEL 15 Continues: importance of rum ration; gunnery courses run aboard HMS Canterbury and story of taking rum rations for seasick Royal naval Volunteer Reserve personnel; sailors willing to exchange their rum ration for cigarette coupons; story of argument in petty officers' mess over canteen messing arrangements in barracks and question of influence of extra rum ration available due to polluted barrel; question of mixed messdeck accommodation and relationship between different branches of lower deck.
REEL 16 Continues: story of commander's fear of mutiny, dispute with commissioned shipwright over compensatory 'make and mend' time after making coffin, advice form master-at-arms prior to disciplinary proceedings, reporting unrest at conduct of commissioned shipwright and subsequent improvement in situation whilst aboard HMS Courageous; story of illicitly building model yacht and post-service meeting with commissioned shipwright aboard HMS Courageous; crowded messdecks and consequent use of improvised sleeping areas; repairs to Admiral Backhouse's bed aboard HMS Iron Duke.
REEL 17 Continues: repairs to Admiral Backhouse's bed aboard HMS Iron Duke and story of bringing to his attention conditions on badly flooded messdecks which were subsequently pumped out; story of drifter run aground on Scottish coast; opinion of Admiral Backhouse; nature of messdecks; stories illustrating rat and cockroach problems; cleaning messdeck for inspections; kitbag lockers.
REEL 18 Continues: increase in lower deck tension prior to end of ship's commission; question of recreation space; latrines; story of carrying Turkish POWs aboard HMS Suva and consequent use of washing buckets as latrines; unsympathetic approach and concentration on VD of ship's doctor; story of treatment for outbreak of crabs amongst lower deck spread by hammock bedding.
REEL 19 Continues: question of treatment for crabs; self-treatment for scabies; story of escaping draft through genuine illness and sceptical attitude of barrack doctor; stories illustrating opinion of naval doctors and dentists; period with jaundice in Haslar Naval Hospital including awareness of risk of compulsory discharges from navy and consequent premature return to duty; question of VD problem.
REEL 20 Continues: question of VD problem and treatment; fidelity of majority of married personnel; story of accident involving families of crew whilst casting off aboard HMS Dauntless and subsequent state of morale on messdecks; recreations; nature of naval friendships; dances ashore at Malta.
REEL 21 Continues: nature of naval friendships; question of homosexuality, including story of fight after unwanted homosexual approach aboard HMS Empress of Japan, stories of behaviour of Captain Turton aboard HMS Venus, lack of homosexual conduct by T E Lawrence whilst aboard HMS Suva, question of proportion of homosexuals, nature of 'winger' friendships between boys and older seamen and case of officer disciplined for homosexual approach aboard HMS Iron Duke.
REEL 22 Continues: review of advantages of experience in navy including pension for signing on for second term; recreations including 'uckers' competitions and question of Crown and Anchor.
REEL 23 Continues: Crown and Anchor games run by member of HMS Canterbury crew in Royal Naval Club, Portsmouth; nature of discipline and punishments; reports from Petty Officer Tom Merryfield illustrating strict nature of regime in naval detention barracks.
REEL 24 Continues: stories illustrating occasionally unsympathetic nature of naval discipline and consequent unpopularity of captains responsible including Captains Rose and Forbes of HMS Iron Duke; second hand stories from Petty Officer Tom Merryfield illustrating strict disciplinary reputation of Captain Robert Arbuthnot including his challenge to stoker he had punished to a boxing match; story of sailor deserting in effort to get discharge form navy.
REEL 25 Continues: story of sailor deserting and attacking officer in effort to get discharge form navy; unrest amongst petty officers and consequent formation of Jerram Committee, 1918; relationship with officers; status of warrant offices; pastoral role of divisional officers; story of sailor confined on detention in work bench area in absence of cells during long cruise aboard HMS Dauntless; story illustrating lower deck reaction to promoted unpopular officers on them leaving ship.
REEL 26 Continues: illustrations of activities of officer determined to gain promotion; story illustrating seaman's right of appeal to higher authorities; story illustrating difficult position of Captain John Moore Casement on hanging of his brother Roger Casement; nature of good officers; powers of naval police and Master-at-arms; stories illustrating willingness of naval police to accept bribes including ruse to get back into barracks when late back from leave.
REEL 27 Continues: stories illustrating successful disputes with naval police over leave tickets whilst acting as admiral's joiner; stories illustrating varying character of naval police and master-at-arms including advice form master-at-arms prior to disciplinary proceedings and subsequent improvement in situation whilst aboard HMS Courageous.
REEL 28 Continues: state of crew morale and reporting unrest at conduct of commissioned shipwright aboard HMS Courageous; opinion of fast promotion opportunities and endemic bribery within naval police; story of petty officers combining together in protest to reign in behaviour of master-at-arms aboard HMS Iron Duke; story of accidental loss of lives in accident whilst master-at-arms and party of sailors were returning to HMS Dauntless in Vancouver harbour and subsequent enquiry; resentment amongst petty officers at behaviour of naval police aboard HMS Iron Duke.
REEL 29 Continues: resentment amongst petty officers and success in combining together to protest at behaviour of naval police aboard HMS Iron Duke; story of failing to attend open list muster as admiral's joiner and question of unpopularity of admiral's personal staff; story of being caught smoking during admiral's inspection. Recollections of periods in Portsmouth Barracks, 1915-1937: story of successful appeal to commander in chief after being unfairly disciplined for carrying out duties connected with position as member of Royal Naval Benevolent Committee; nature of discipline; shore patrols.
REEL 30 Continues: stories illustrating problems with shore patrols; question of role of favouritism in obtaining and retaining posting to shipwright's office; duties; inspections prior to shore leave; barrack accommodation.
REEL 31 Continues: barrack accommodation and improvements made by Petty Officer Tom Merryfield president of petty officers' mess; stories illustrating popularity of Petty Officer Tom Merryfield, circumstances of sentence to period in naval detention barracks and subsequent award of George Medal; lifestyle; question of getting shore posting; relationship with Portsmouth personnel with men from Chatham and Devonport Home Ports.
REEL 32 Continues: relationship with ships from different Home Ports illustrated by story of fights between crews of HMS Suva and HMS Odin; story of fight between two shipwrights from different Home Ports; general messing arrangements and meals provided.
REEL 33 Continues: story of application to become artificer diver, warnings from friends and subsequent rejection on health grounds whilst aboard Fisguard, Portsmouth; recreations in Portsmouth including pubs, brothel areas and walking; relationship with dockyard personnel.
REEL 34 Continues: recreations in Portsmouth; question of accommodation in Portsouth including bed and breakfast establishments, sailors rest homes and securing rooms with friends; continued relationship with ex-messmate after his commission and his subsequent career; opinion of sailors' rest homes.
REEL 35 Continues: opinion of sailors' rest homes including Aggie Weston's. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine aboard HMS Empress of Japan, HMS Lunka, HMS Suva, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Canterbury, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Dauntless, and HMS Courageous, 1915-1937: status as Roman Catholic including stories of taking Catholics party ashore on Sunday for service in Columbo cathedral, decision to change to Church of England after being caught evading shore service in Malta, attitude to religion and Sunday services; opinion of padre aboard HMS Suva.
REEL 36 Continues: opinion of padres; question of promotion handicap as Catholic and not being Freemason; crossing the line ceremony aboard HMS Dauntless, 1930; head gear worn aboard HMS Suva.
REEL 37 Continues: officer's funeral arrangements; deaths from heat stroke and funeral arrangements for burials at sea whilst aboard HMS Suva in Red Sea; custom of allowing coffin maker to keep lining cloth and use flannel as replacement; burial of suicide in coffin at sea in Baltic; temporary measures to preserve corpse prior to burial aboard HMS Suva in Red Sea; auctions for family following death.
REEL 38 Continues: effects of vaccinations and treatment of those refusing aboard HMS Iron Duke; stories concerning secret confidential files and 'red ink recommends' for co-operative personnel as opposed to those willing to act as spokesmen for lower deck complaints. Recollections of period aboard HMS Suva in Red Sea, 1916-1918: reactions to first foreign service.
REEL 39 Continues: story of dissent shown by Royal Naval Reserve seaman during inspection by Admiral Weymss; conditions of service in hot climate and taking up cigarette smoking to counter boredom; different pay scales and temporary loss of papers; story illustrating incompetence of gunnery officer whilst pursuing possible German raider; story of incompetent officer wrecking armed dhow used to check Arab dhows and subsequently allowing crew to drink all rum ration.
REEL 40 Continues: salvaging guns from sunk dhow; role stopping Turkish supplies crossing Red Sea and supplying Arab forces commanded by T E Lawrence; escorting ship carrying 'holy carpet' and Moslems to Mecca; problems with seasickness and flooding in forecastle aboard HMS Empress of Japan; continued problem with seasickness throughout naval service; story of fitting lookout post at top of wireless mast and lookout subsequently being sick near captain on bridge.
REEL 41 Continues: captain's reaction to lookout being sick on bridge; question of seasickness; raid on Aquaba flying US flag; questions of contact with T E Lawrence including cabin provided aboard ship, operations at El Weijh and Aqaba and story of sentry's failure to recognise Lawrence in Arab regalia, belief Lawrence was not homosexual and question of his subsequent reputation; question of merchant marine personnel aboard HMS Empress of Japan, ca 1914-1915.
REEL 42 Continues: role of HMS Empress of Japan as decoy ship for Emeden; relationship with merchant marine personnel aboard HMS Empress of Japan; relationship with Royal Naval Reserve personnel; stories of fights and boxing matches; beri beri.
REEL 43 Continues: question of news of progress of war; letter contact with GB; story of fight whilst assisting mess caterer to buy food supplies during visit to Aden; story of drinking with soldiers, breaking leave and subsequent punishment during visit to Suez. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine aboard HMS Empress of Japan, HMS Lunka, HMS Suva, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Canterbury, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Dauntless, and HMS Courageous, 1915-1937: question of status of sailors on shore leave whilst on foreign service; question of relationship with civilians in Weymouth.
REEL 44 Continues: question of status of sailors on shore leave whilst on foreign service; period in army barracks during refit at Columbo, Ceylon; aspects of naval regattas including tough nature of races, training and story of HMS Iron Duke team beating HMS Benbow team.
REEL 45 Continues: aspects of naval regattas including story of mixed fortunes of HMS Iron Duke crew, gambling run by Petty Officer Tom Merryfield; various stories of naval regatta in Bermuda including forming crew, problem with inadequate coxswain, problem on breaking oar and narrowly losing key race; case of lack of boat crews for naval regatta due to poor crew morale aboard HMS Iron Duke.
REEL 46 Continues: case of lack of boat crews for naval regatta due to poor crew morale aboard HMS Iron Duke; story of footballer playing for Weymouth and naval teams; naval regattas and sports on American and West Indies station; nature of basic training at Victory Barracks and Fisguard, Portsmouth, 1/1915-3/1915; story illustrating importance of weapons training whilst forming landing party from HMS Suva to land at Loheer; inexperience on joining HMS Empress of Japan; opinion of hostilities only personnel; lost property 'scram bag'.
REEL 47 Continues: story of officer's clothes accidentally put in 'scram bag'; captain's inspection; review of improvements in conditions of service after First World War; initial reaction to civilian lifestyle on leaving navy, 1937; comparison of naval and prison lifestyles; necessity of subterfuge to avoid unjust disciplinary punishments in navy; nightmares related to problems of naval service; story illustrating differing treatment of officers and ratings guilty of equivalent disciplinary offences.
REEL 48 Post-naval service: work as joiner in department store in Portsmouth and stories illustrating different attitudes to employers in civilian life; story of sailor in sea illustrating deferential lower deck attitudes; work as prison officer including victimisation of union officials and versatility of ex-naval personnel; question of employment situation as joiner. Recollections of selection and duties during final naval posting as member of Royal Naval Benevolent Committee at Portsmouth, 1937. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | McMurray, H Campbell | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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