Imperial War Museum
On October 6th 2004 I visited the Imperial War Museum in London. I was actually there with my father to present some documents regarding the Battle of the North Cape (sinking of the Scharnhorst) so I didn’t have much time to look around. However, I did briefly see the museum’s exhibition on Survival at Sea – Stories of the Merchant Navy in the Second World War - and took some photos. There are items that mention four Radio Officers, whether or not they attended the Wireless College I have no idea. I didn’t reproduce the items on display because of copyright concerns. I just hope the Museum doesn’t mind me showing these few things. If you get chance, the Imperial War Museum London is well worth a visit. They also have other locations. Details on their website http://www.iwm.org.uk I mention the Scharnhorst because I have digital copies of signals exchanged during the battle (my father had a message pad from 1943, which is now in the Museum). If anyone is interested in seeing them please contact me.
The jollyboat from SS Anglo-Saxon. Click on the picture for the story.
Radio Officer Jesse Vyse
Radio Officer P le Q Johnson
Transcript: Harold Goord, who served as Chief Radio Officer on board MV Cromarty, kept a journal during his wartime voyages. On 24 August 1942, while sailing from South Africa to New York, he wrote: "In the last three days have had reports of at least 20 submarines...the sea seems to be alive with them. No wonder that ships are being sunk at the rate of two a day in this locality. We are going to steam right into the thick of them. The next 24 hours will be the worst, and I, and most other officers, will not be going to bed. My own 'hurry up' case is handy, containing station documents, logs and private papers. Also have put in it a sweater, socks, beret, cigarettes and a few medicines. It is a continuous strain ...like being in a silent blitz, a game of hide and seek..."
The museum states that over 30,000 merchant seamen were lost during the war - a greater proportion of deaths than in any of the armed forces. It doesn’t mention the fact that The Marconi Company alone lost 956 Radio Officers.
Imperial War Museum
On October 6th 2004 I visited the Imperial War Museum in London. I was actually there with my father to present some documents regarding the Battle of the North Cape (sinking of the Scharnhorst) so I didn’t have much time to look around. However, I did briefly see the museum’s exhibition on Survival at Sea – Stories of the Merchant Navy in the Second World War - and took some photos. There are items that mention four Radio Officers, whether or not they attended the Wireless College I have no idea. I didn’t reproduce the items on display because of copyright concerns. I just hope the Museum doesn’t mind me showing these few things. If you get chance, the Imperial War Museum London is well worth a visit. They also have other locations. Details on their website http://www.iwm.org.uk I mention the Scharnhorst because I have digital copies of signals exchanged during the battle (my father had a message pad from 1943, which is now in the Museum). If anyone is interested in seeing them please contact me.
The jollyboat from SS Anglo-Saxon. Click on the picture for the story.
Radio Officer Jesse Vyse
Radio Officer P le Q Johnson
See transcript Below
Transcript: Harold Goord, who served as Chief Radio Officer on board MV Cromarty, kept a journal during his wartime voyages. On 24 August 1942, while sailing from South Africa to New York, he wrote: "In the last three days have had reports of at least 20 submarines...the sea seems to be alive with them. No wonder that ships are being sunk at the rate of two a day in this locality. We are going to steam right into the thick of them. The next 24 hours will be the worst, and I, and most other officers, will not be going to bed. My own 'hurry up' case is handy, containing station documents, logs and private papers. Also have put in it a sweater, socks, beret, cigarettes and a few medicines. It is a continuous strain ...like being in a silent blitz, a game of hide and seek..."
The museum states that over 30,000 merchant seamen were lost during the war - a greater proportion of deaths than in any of the armed forces. It doesn’t mention the fact that The Marconi Company alone lost 956 Radio Officers.