Hayes, Godfrey Harry: my Navy recollections (May 18, 1985)
PublicRank: Captain. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Cross
Interviewee: Hayes, Godfrey Harry
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
An interview/narrative of Godfrey Harry Hayes's experiences during World War II. Captain Hayes served with the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, and the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on May 18, 1985.
ABSTRACT: Captain G.H. Hayes D.S.C. Royal Naval Reserve Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Royal Canadian Navy NOTE: Tape almost inaudible; summary taken from transcript. (Cassette 1, Side 1) Naval career started as a naval cadet in Winnipeg. After high school was accepted at the Merchant Navy Training ship HMS Conway at Liverpool (1936). Not favourably impressed by the academics at Conway. Discusses life as a cadet. Went to sea in S.S. Silver Fir, as small grubby ship of British registry sailing out of New Orleans. Virtually no instruction given to apprentices such as Hayes but learned by example of the First Mate. The Ship called at various African and Indian ports ending in Singapore. A general cargo carrier following the same route back to North America to Halifax. As Senior Apprentice he had charge of the fresh water supply. In 1939, being part of the Royal Naval Reserve he was told to report although not accepted until Feb. 1940, by then returned to the UK. Appointed to HMS King Orrery, in Isle of Man ferry boat, then a guard ship based in Ramsgate where she monitored the coastal convoys in the English Channel. Participated in the Dunkirk evacuation as one of the first ships there and where they were shelled by the Germans as they left. The soldiers were loaded from the mole at Dunkirk. They were sunk due to bomb damage on their next trip, but luckily had not loaded any troops. Picked up and transferred to a destroyer. In Dover sent off on survivor's leave (14 days). (Cassette 1, Side 2) To Falmouth where Hayes was a boarding officer for a few weeks and participated in the disarming of the French naval ships then in the U.K. Now an Acting Sub-Lieutenant and was appointed to Southampton where they were to pick a ship suitable for towing barrage balloons in the Channel. Joined convoys from Southampton to Sheerness for nearly a year. Their ship was HMS Gatinais a small former cargo vessel. The balloons were not entirely successful as the Germans shot many down. The convoys were also shelled from Cape Griz Nez. Discovered that the Germans also had an RDF (radio direction finder) and were using the convoy balloons for ranging. In Hayes' experience no ships were actually sunk by shell fire. The ship was armed with two French Hotchkiss machine guns and an Oerlikon at the stern manned by gunners who joined the ship for each trip, bringing their guns with them. Awarded a D.S.C. for good service in the English Channel. Found it a useful award when Hayes transferred to the RCNR (for better pay in 1941) as at that time not many Canadian sub-lieutenants had received that decoration. Joined HMCS Trillium as Navigator (corvette) at Greenock. Stayed with her for about eighteen months. Discovered that RCNR officers could obtain their Second Mate Ticket and applied for extended leave and after some schooling he obtained his ticket. Appointed to HMCS Kenogami, a Lieutenant RCNR, as First Lieutenant with a captain who knew nothing about convoy work as all his experience had been in large ships. In 1943 sent to the first Canadian command course and then to be a Working-Up Officer for a few months at Pictou, N.S. Describes the work. Appointed captain of HMCS Guelph, a new corvette, and sent to Bermuda for work-ups. Convoys from Newfie to Londonderry. Escorted an RN submarine from Portsmouth to Philadelphia for refit and while there underwent a boiler clean. When the war ended gave up command and was given leave before proceeding to the Pacific war, thirty days for the year, thirty days for " liars" leave (for all the leave missed during the war) and thirty days for the Pacific. Joined the newly commissioned HMCS Warrior (Light Fleet Carrier) in Jan. 1946.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 32.30444, -64.75167
- Original sound recording on one audio cassette also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- HGH_278
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- November 10, 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
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Hayes_G_0278_01.mp3 | Public |
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Hayes_G_0278_02.mp3 | Public |
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