Manfield, William Alexander: my Navy recollections (June 2, and 23, 1982)
PublicABSTRACT: Cmdr. William A. Manfield Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 1) Cmdr. Manfield lived in Chilliwack, B.C. and at age seventeen joined the RCN in Victoria (HMCS Naden) as a boy seaman (pay 50¢ per day). Besides general knowledge he was taught "electricity" and as an extra, navigation and pilotage. Ordinary Seaman in 1929. Drafted to HMCS Vancouver (destroyer) where the First Lieutenant was Lieut. W.B. Holmes, a strict disciplinarian. Manfield found himself "in the rattle" (up for punishment) in due course. Comments favourably on Lt. Harry DeWolf who taught him navigation at Naden followed by an anecdote of Mr. Seabrook, the First Lieutenant, and himself. In 1930 drafted overseas to England to qualify as a Seaman Gunner and to join the new HMCS Skeena (destroyer) under Cmdr. V.G. Brodeur. Comments on life in the mess decks. Points out the large social gap between officers and men. Manfield rose to be Gunner's Mate in 1936. Applied for a Warrant Officer's course in England as a road to marry his fiancé (1939). Account of his trip to England in the "Lancastria". (Cassette 1, Side 2) Returned to Canada after completion of his course, on less than one day's notice but was still able to take his wife on the Duchess of Bedford (liner). Appointed to HMCS Assiniboine (destroyer) under Cmdr. G.C. Jones. Comments on the rift between G.C. Jones and L.W. Murray. (Interviewer wonders if this is accurate) Appointed Commissioned Gunner. Unrest in the lower deck where the seamen locked themselves in (problem: insufficient leave and inability to carry complaints to officers). Soon rectified by Cmdr. Jones. Besides being captain of Assiniboine Jones was Senior Naval Officer of the Halifax area and had administrative duties ashore. (In 1940, there was a shortage of senior officers both at sea and ashore.) At sea, rescued torpedoed seamen in life-boats. Next employed at working-up ships and then promoted Lieutenant after a short period at Headquarters, returned to sea in HMCS Huron (destroyer) in which they participated in the last Russian convoy. VE-Day excitement in Scapa Flow.
Interviewee: Manfield, William Alexander “Chili”
An interview/narrative of William Alexander “Chili” Manfield's experiences during World War II. Commander Manfield served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on June 2 and 23, 1982.
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
Rank: Commander.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original sound recording on one audio cassette also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MWA_291
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- April 21, 2017
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2017. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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Manfield_W_0291_01.mp3 | Public |
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Manfield_W_0291_02.mp3 | Public |
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Manfield_W_0291.jpg | Public |
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