Chance, Peter Godwin: my Navy recollections (October 1, 1981)
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
Interviewee: Chance, Peter Godwin
ABSTRACT: Cmdr. Peter G. Chance First Interview (Cassette 1, Side 1) Cmdr. Chance was born in Ottawa in 1920 and attended Lisgar High School. Influenced by neighbouring naval officers, in 1938 he joined the Ottawa Division RCNVR as a Cadet passing shortly to Midshipman. Posted to Halifax June 1939. He was the first Midshipman RCNVR to report. Not knowing anything about it Mid. Chance became officer-of-the-day for the Dockyard complete with Chief Petty Officer, bugler, lantern bearer an another who made sure that assorted persons stood aside as they proceeded. Appointed to HMCS St. Laurent (destroyer) where he was to be in charge of the confidential books and to stand watches with one other officer. Early convoy duty out to about the Grand Banks. Fog made for a harrowing experience dodging huge ships, ably handled by Harry de Wolfe, the captain. In 1940 Chance resigned (Midshipman RCNVR) and became a cadet RCN and sent to HMS Britannia (Royal Naval College, Dartmouth). Upon graduation in Jan. '41 joined HMS Mauritius (cruiser). He and one other were the only Canadians. The ship was in Scapa Flow, a grim place in winter. Put to sea to chase the two heavy German ships that had put to sea. Glad to return safely. (Cassette 1, Side 2) Anecdote of life at Scapa. Mauritius sent to Freetown, Sierra Leone and visited Gambia. Sent in a 45-foot launch, with two depth charges to patrol the mouth of the Sierra Leone River - because of a submarine warning. Two weeks leave in Simonstown and Capetown, South Africa. Sailed to the Seychelles, Mauritius and Durban, patrolling for enemy surface raiders. Escorted troop convoys into the Red Sea, then six months working out of Trincomalee. Mentions "Port T" at Adu Atoll, defended by Marines and eventually a large port was established there. Elaborate compliments were presented by the local Sultan and returned by the slip - the Captain, guard, band etc. Ship-board food was poor - lime juice, oatmeal, dehydrated milk that tasted like chalk, herrings in tomato sauce. Terrific heat, up to 120oF below deck. Midshipmen attended classes that eventually were cancelled due to the heat. Drydock in Singapore. Midshipmen sent on tours of Malaya and had a six-week air course on ancient biplanes. Returned to the ship in the Dockyard and on Dec. 7, 1941 were bombed by the Japanese. Part of one of three heavily armed groups commanded by midshipmen who were to board "Japanese junks" in the harbour. Some Japanese casualties. Junks were found to be full of Japanese-made cigarettes - by a British company in Tokyo - and small Japanese flags to be used by British P.O.W.'s to the incoming Japanese army (propaganda pictures). The ship required stores, fuel, and ammunition - the aircraft crane and the "Old Purser's Stringbag" (walrus aircraft) were ashore. Worked day and night for 72 hours and escaped Singapore. The ship was unable to fight as the Director Control Tower wasn't in service. Eventually to Plymouth, via Ceylon, South Africa, Sierra Leone. Appointed to HMS Liddesdale (destroyer) for three months. The following (TSS) supposedly part of the first interview does not appear on the recording. Possibly added by Lawrence as an indication of things to come. After three months in Liddesdale, Chance went to HMS Anson (battleship) to prepare for sub-lieutenant courses that lasted to January 1943. Recovered from malaria and jaundice and in April 1943 joined HMCS Skeena. Lost Skeena in Oct. 1944, grounding in Iceland. HMCS ships Gatineau and Ottawa as Executive Officer. After the war took the Long Navigation course. Korea (HMCS Cayuga) in 1951 as Squadron Operations Officer. All to be covered in subsequent interviews. Second Interview (Cassette 2, Side 1) After a short leave was sent to Hunt-class destroyers. Patrolled the East coast of U.K. from Sheerness north to Rosyth and escorted convoys. In error they shot down a Wellington bomber, because of flying at an unauthorized low level. Polish crew very annoyed! No direct encounter with German E-boats that would tie up to a channel marker and await the convoy. Hard to pick up on the not too efficient radar. A stressful time. Joined HMS Anson (battleship). Large complement of midshipmen, of whom Chance was senior mid. (Note: Anson's statistics as quoted should be checked.) "Welsh Schooly" - a Welsh school master officer. Claims that the midshipmen crammed from 6 A.M. to 9:30 or 10:00 P.M. Sent for a short time to King George V (battleship) then to sub's courses and to HMS Excellent at Whale Island where it was traditional that the graduating sub-lieutenants must produce an incident for the history books. A tree was planted at night in the middle of the parade ground and upon the order to remove it was blown up. Mentions former zoo on Whale Island - stocked by returning naval personnel. Returning to Canada ship accidentally sunk (collision) and ashore he assisted in fighting fires due to incendiary bombs. Finally, in another ship, began a 32-day Atlantic crossing ending in Halifax including storms and pack-ice. Attack of jaundice then in April 1943 joined HMCS Skeena. In Londonderry there existed a method of obtaining equipment - particularly U.S. radio equipment - which involved the paper-work following a very tortuous route to the degree that equipment could be in use for months before anyone in authority could read or authorize. Account of cutting a hole in the deck to get a piano into the wardroom and of very rough storms with Chance in danger of being swept off the ship. In April 1944 to Plymouth to prepare for the Normandy invasion. attacked enemy submarines and flak ships off Brest. Attacked Germans fleeing Brittany. Suffered damage from a collision with another destroyer. (HMCS Qu'Appelle). Drydock repair. Married - seven days leave. Back to sea. Anchored in fiord in Iceland - anchor dragged - seventeen lost - and Skeena went aground becoming a total loss. Chance was able to save the money from the canteen and eventually it was divided and sent to the families of the lost crew. Saved some of the wardroom liquor supply! Halifax for the Inquiry into the loss. Returning to Londonderry in HMCS Sea Cliff assisted in the sinking of a submarine - rescued many of the survivors (Dec. 1944) including an SS man, who was kept segregated. Joined HMCS Gatineau and HMCS Ottawa on late convoy duty, then trooping, Greenwich to Halifax - 45 officers and up to 250 men (ends @c. half-way). (Cassette 3, Side 1) Served as XO in Gatineau and the XO in Ottawa, paid off in Sydney, N.S. - story of Chance's family. Then the story of a character named Bunker Hill bosun of the repair yard and first met at Shelbourne. Chance became manager of the Navy hockey team. In 1946 appointed the first permanent force Staff Officer at HMCS Carlton in Ottawa. Good account of the Veteran's unauthorized takeover of the Barracks at HMCS Carlton. In 1947 sent to the UK on the Long ND course. (Cassette 3, Side 2) After was able to take a flying course at HMS Gosport with apparently some close shaves but was successful in that he obtained his license. Joined HMCS Magnificent (aircraft carrier). Reflects on the RCN and the general morale. Some were criticized for too much emphasis on the RN traditions and subsequent unrest. Discusses at some length including extended RCNVR commissions. Was in Magnificent when she ran aground on an unmarked rock at Port Mouton. To West Indies for flying exercises with unfortunately some casualties. Spent a short time in HMCS Iroquois (destroyer) then Senior Staff Officer at the Navigation School. Appointed Squadron Navigating Officer in HMCS Cayuga on the West Coast to return the ship for a second tour of the Korean war. Drove across the continent by car. Suffering from an infected toe he thought he might have to miss his sailing. But Joseph Sear, the infamous ship's doctor sorted it out and not very active Chance was able to eventually sail. (Lawrence calls this "Tape 2 of Peter Chance". It is the second tape re: Korea but the last tape of the Chance series.) Comments on the officers abroad. Hawaii first for work-ups then to tiny Johnston Island and Kwajalein. Then Guam and Tokyo. Based in Sasebo in the SW corner of Japan. Patrol area was north of the 38th parallel helped by the excellent radar with which they were now equipped. Also involved in support of guerrilla operations. Chance was in command of the ship's movements and in that situation actually wrote the Captain's Night Order book approved and signed by the Captain. Relied heavily on radar (down to 200 yards range) to carefully navigate in shallow water - mud flats a danger. Ventured up the Yalu River, stemming the tide, with many course changes. Bombarded junks by an island and carefully crept away. Co-operated with the RN, particularly in the guerrilla support operations. Came under artillery fire from the shore when anchored between two islands and went astern at speed - the "bow" wave was coming over the quarter deck. Anecdote about coming alongside their tanker, about extracting the Captain's tooth, tending wounded ROK personnel. Account of the discover of the imposter Joe Sear, their "good" doctor and very well thought of as part of the ship's company. Last seen at a Cayuga reunion as a priest from a hospital in California.
An interview/narrative of Peter Godwin Chance's experiences during World War II and the Korean War. Commander Chance served with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on October 1, 1981.
Rank: Commander.
- In Collection:
- 7 sound recordings (MP3)
- 51.45, 0.05
- Original sound recordings on four audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CPG_285
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- December 2, 2014
- 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 2014. 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
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chance_P_0285_01.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285_02.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285_03.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285_04.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285_05.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285_06.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285_07.mp3 |
|
|
|
Chance_P_0285.jpg |
|