Timbrell, Robert W.: my Navy recollections (June 5, 1982)
Rank: Rear Admiral.
An interview/narrative of Robert W. Timbrell's experiences during World War II. Rear Admiral Timbrell served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on June 5, 1982.
ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral Robert W. Timbrell Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 2 of Caldwell) R/Adm. Timbrell joined HMS Conway, the merchant navy training ship in 1935, aged fifteen years. Described a senior cadet applying a "teaser" (a rope) across his bottom! Two years in Conway then in Aug. 1937 to Dartmouth to new entry cadets and joined the HMS Erebus. In January 1938 ten RCN cadets joined the training cruiser HMS Vindictive in which they had two cruises, the West Indies and the Baltic. As midshipman joined HMS Barham (battleship) in the Mediterranean. Set to return to the UK but they were diverted to the River Plate (Admiral Graf Spee incident) but then diverted to Halifax to escort the first Canadian troop convoy to the British Isles. Approaching the Clyde, Barham rammed and sank one of the escorting destroyers. North Sea patrol. (Cassette 2, Side 1) Torpedoed on the West Coast of Scotland. Repairs at Liverpool where the ship was attacked by members of the IRA! Posted to HMS Hood that was in a poor state of naval readiness. On a patrol was damaged by a bomb near-miss. Transferred to HMS Warspite (battleship). However, finished and sent to Portsmouth for sub's courses (April 1940). While there he suddenly discovered himself the CO of a large, brand new yacht, Llanthony, to be part of the evacuation at Dunkirk. The crew were inexperienced but they made passage to Ramsgate where charts and orders were obtained. Describes the beaches and the embarkation of British troops. Bombed on the third or fourth trip to the beach. Lost several of the crew, engines stopped due to fuel-line breakage but it was a small bomb (or shell) and the boat drifted on to the beach. Able to dig the sand away from the propellers and rudder after the tide came in again. Reached Ramsgate with troops. Found himself part of a four-trawler "fleet". Acquired some British guardsmen and some Bren guns and anti-tank rifles as a part of the crew and on the last trip were able to fight off a German E-boat. Also took one soldier -- drunk -- who had a case of brandy -- his ticket to England. Humorous tale of the crew, including guardsmen, anti-tank rifles, rifles, ammunition and the case of brandy boarding a bus in England which diverted to Whale Island. The soldiers were returned to their unit by train -- after Timbrell had guaranteed that the Royal Canadian Navy would pay the cost of tickets should there be any dispute! A few weeks later the sub-lieutenants were called out, wearing running shoes, to command seamen in seizing the French naval ships in British harbours. Timbrell led his group aboard at midnight, disarmed the captain and peacefully took over the Chasseur -- a sub-chaser. Anti-invasion guard duties. (Cassette 2, Side 2) Appointed to HMCS Margaree, fitting out in London. Describes some of the officers. Subjected to heavy air raids. Joined a convoy in Londonderry. Collission with the freighter Port Fairy. A good description follows -- evacuating the remaining crew to the freighter but he and a few others left on board when the ships drifted apart. Good details of this and a final pick-up from a Carley Float by the Port Fairy. Landed in Bermuda, after eight days returned to Saint John NB, then by rail to Halifax. Survivor's leave. Appointed to HMCS Annapolis (ex-US) in January 1941. Executive Officer in April and left the ship in January 1942 to take the long anti-submarine course in the UK. Describes the ex-US destroyers and their local convoy duty. Describes the usually inexperienced crew with a small permanent force nucleus. Timbrell did not notice any of the rumoured, so-called friction between RCN and VR. Finished his Long A/S course and remained for three months at the school, HMS Osprey. Returned to Canada to set up a Canadian A/S school. In 1943 joined HMCS Ottawa as an A/S staff officer to a group commanded by Cmdr. Hugh Pullen. Later Capt. Chummy Prentice took command. Anecdotes about both and what superior commanding officers they both were. (As an aside: just before D-Day, in Qu'Appelle (destroyer)) More about Hugh Pullen and Cmdr. Chummy Prentice and his ever-present monocle. In HMCS Chaudiere (destroyer) the captain, A/Lt. Cmdr. C.P. Nixon, contacted U-678 off Beachy Head where because of the current was unable to destroy the U-boat with hedgehog but because of the shallow water did so by dragging a depth charge the sea bottom by a cable. Prentice as destroyer group commander thought this a bit unsportsman-like! Later U-321 was sunk and again in the Bay of Biscay. U-984 was sunk by the Group commanded by Capt. Prentice. Near the war's end Timbrell was appointed Executive Officer in HMCS Micmac (destroyer) then building in Halifax. During the Halifax D-Day riot, took a large truck and some seamen to pick up and return rioters to their barracks.
Interviewee: Timbrell, Robert W.
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
- In Collection:
- 3 sound recordings (MP3)
- 45.41117, -75.69812
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recordings on two audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- TRW_267
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- October 16, 2013
- 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
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