Budge, Patrick David: my Navy recollections (January 17, 1984)

Interviewee: Budge, Patrick David, b. 1904

Rank: Rear Admiral. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom); Mentioned in Despatches

An interview/narrative of Patrick D. Budge's experiences during World War II. Rear Admiral Budge served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on January 17, 1984.

Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal

ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral Patrick D. Budge First Interview (Cassette 1, Side 1) Comments on the initial battle trainer and the operational training of newly commissioned corvettes. The battle (RYPA) trainer had a bridge built on it to improve the training of look-outs, captain and bridge staff. Refers to improvements made by Capt. J.C. Hibbard. Notes that the early ASDIC training required the use of a seaman's cap and a pom-pom shell case. Later the real equipment was issued. Then to HMS Vernon (gunnery training establishment) where Budge qualified as torpedo gunner and where he first used ASDIC equipment (worked by bicycle pedals). Joined HMS Moosejaw (corvette) for work-ups. The operations - WACI's: Western Approaches Convoy Instructions. Promoted to Lieutenant and sent to HMCS Huron as First Lieutenant. Mentions early radar training. R/Adm. Budge was born in Dover, England, brought up in Canterbury. Choir boy at the Cathedral at seven years of age. Joined the Navy at sixteen, January 1921, as a Boy Seaman, second class. Sent to HMS Impregnable, an old dreadnaught moored at Plymouth. Drafted to HMS Courageous (battle cruiser) to undergo training. Offers an account of his illness and tonsillitis under somewhat rough conditions. Posted to HMS Despatch (cruiser) preparing for the Far East (June 1922). Details of Boy Seaman instruction, school in the morning etc. Rapid early promotion. Opted to be trained as a torpedo-man which necessitated much electrical instruction. Became a leading Torpedo Operator. His action station was in the TS (Transmission Station) where he operated the gunnery switchboard. Sailed to Yokohama to offer assistance after the 1923 earthquake. Qualified Seaman Torpedo-man and posted to HMS Badminton (minesweeper) where he was responsible for all the electrical systems. Excellent training in seamanship. Promoted to Leading Seaman and was also Leading Hand of the mess. (Note: a "Killick" is a Leading Seaman). He was responsible for cleanliness and discipline and also to ensure that meals were provided. They were on canteen messing in which meat, vegetables, tea and sugar were issued and if more was desired, the men had to pay for it. The mess was responsible for preparing the food which was then taken to the galley to be cooked. Desert was a often a "three decker", a layer of pastry, currants and more pastry, the ingredients for which had to be bought at the canteen. Extra messing was limited to one shilling a day/man. The account was kept by the Leading Hand of the mess. Budge qualified as Leading Torpedo-man. Joined the RCN in 1928, Many instructional duties. Studied hard for his Higher Education Test. Names a number of RCN officers who assisted him. Acting Petty Officer in 1929. Qualified Torpedo Gunners Mate and appointed to the newly built HMCS Saguenay (destroyer) in 1931. After a year's training at HMS Vernon became Warrant Officer , Torpedo Gunner (1935). Returned to HMCS Saguenay in that rank. Escorted Great War vets to the dedication of the memorial at Vimy Ridge and participated in the Royal Guard with Lieut. Cmdr. H.F. Pullen as Colour Officer. Later to England for the Coronation. Anecdotes: Budge's quarterdeck party allowed a mooring line to become entangled in a propeller, etc. (Cassette 2, Side 1) During WWII Budge was sent to England for the commissioning of HMCS Assiniboine. Later they assisted in the capture of the German merchant ship Hanover. They were in company with HMS Duneden (cruiser). More sea time and training duties, especially with corvettes. HMCS Sambro (former US yacht) was their depot ship. Promoted to Lieutenant. Appointed to command of HMCS Sorel, a corvette training ship. Seaman killed during gunnery practice. Appointed First Lieutenant in HMCS Huron, then building in Newcastle. Brief accounts of various actions against German shipping, damage sustained etc. Ship visited by R/Adm. A.H. Downing and subsequent invitation to dinner. In 1944 promoted to Acting Lieut. Cmdr. And given command of HMCS Ontario (cruiser). Appointed to command of HMCS Cornwallis (training base near Halifax). The account now returns to Naden and an anecdote where on a frosty day at morning divisions the band played the Skater's Waltz. Second Interview (Cassette 3, Side 1) More of the Assiniboine. Speaks of his brother aboard HMS Empire Audacity (escort carrier) formerly the German Hanover. At Cornwallis he trained naval reservists and RMC cadets, including W.M. Landymore who later became an admiral. Experiences with Capt. A.P. Musgrave. Several anecdotes about naval choirs directed by Budge. Strict training at Cornwallis. Participated in the celebration of the Halifax bicentennial with a 200 man gymnastic team performing to music. Established a Petty Officer's Leadership course with Lieut. Cmdr. J.C. O'Brien after a fact finding trip to England.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Lawrence, Hal
• Budge, Patrick David, b. 1904

Subject

• Military history
• Canada. Royal Canadian Navy
• World War (1914-1918)
• World War (1939-1945)
• Naval history

Language

• eng

Date created

• January 17, 1984

Relation

• Part of the Hal Lawrence collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 8 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• England

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312

Additional physical characteristics

• Original sound recordings on four audio cassettes also available.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• sound recordings
• reminiscences
• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)

Archival item identifier

• BPD_255

Fonds title

• Hal Lawrence collection

Fonds identifier

• SC066

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection

Date digitized

• March 4, 2013

Technical note

• 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 2013. 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/jq4f-ys55

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