Shimmin, Robert Allen: my Navy recollections (May 24, 1979)
Rank: Commander.
An interview/narrative of Robert Allen Shimmin's experiences during World War II. Commander Shimmin served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on May 24, 1979.
Interviewee: Shimmin, Robert Allen, b. 1924
ABSTRACT: Cdr. Robert Allen Shimmin Royal Canadian Navy Shimmin_R_0134_01.mp3 Born on June 20, 1924 in Vancouver and educated in that city. In 1942 he became a member of the first senior term at Royal Canadian Naval College, H.M.C.S. Royal Roads. Went overseas in 1943 as a midshipman to serve with the Royal Navy at Scapa Flow. The account returns to the regime at Royal Roads, discipline, academics, etc. (15:00) At Scapa he joined H.M.S. Jamaica (Colony class cruiser) which was engaged in protecting convoys to Murmansk. Royal Navy clothing was not, in his opinion, fully adequate for Arctic operations. Feels that formal training for midshipmen was a little skimpy due to the war, but operational experience very valuable. Enemy activity largely consisted of aircraft attacks during the long daylight hours of summer and attacks by surface vessels during the darkness of winter. Enemy submarines were more interested in attacking merchantmen than naval vessels such as his. The heavier convoy defenses, usually three cruisers supported by a battleship, were somewhat remote from the convoy itself in order to intercept German surface ships, the Scharnhorst (battleship) in particular. He was present at the sinking of the Scharnhorst during which the Jamaica was in action and, near the end, delivered a torpedo attack at a range of about eighteen hundred yards. (45:00) The next day the whole ship's company suffered from stiff ankles produced by the constant shocks to the hull by much firing of their main armament. Shimmin_R_0134_02.mp3 Comments on the lack of icing on the ships, but the real danger was the effect of the freezing water on humans who were unfortunate enough to be in it. In winter 1945 he was posted to destroyers on the east coast of England. (15:00) Sub-lieutenants' courses. Volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm. Returned to Canada. In Feb. 1946 began flying training with the Royal Air Force. Graduated to North American Harvard trainers which were excellent: they had all the drawbacks of more powerful aircraft, but not so harshly obvious. Awarded wings in 1947. (38:00) Shimmin_R_0134_03.mp3 (Side 2) Returns to his wartime service in H.M.S. Jamaica; near disaster off Iceland due to instability in rough seas. Again much damage to the ship off Norway due to heavy winds. Comments on the equipment of the Royal Navy. Much of it was antiquated, perhaps due to a lack of interwar development. Fire control certainly not as good as it should have been. During his flying training his course was split between fighter pilots (which he was) and anti-submarine pilots. (25:00) Describes progressively larger single-engine aircraft which he flew. While training he was not impressed with English cooking and what he felt was a lack of weapon training at the Operational Flying School. (45:00) Shimmin_R_0134_04.mp3 Finally he was trained in deck-landing on an aircraft carrier. Flew Fireflies (fighters) aboard H.M.C.S. Magnificent (carrier). Cruises to the Caribbean. Served for a year in H.M.C.S. Micmac (Tribal class destroyer). Returned to No. 870 Squadron, Hawker Sea Fury (fighters). The Air Arm obtained the excellent Grumman Avenger for anti-submarine aircraft. In his opinion, during the period 1950-1955 the R.C.N. reached its peak of efficiency airwise and perhaps in the skill and technical knowledge available. He began to conclude that anti-submarine warfare was essentially a losing battle, especially against missile-equipped boats. Discusses the practicality of using the Canadian forces to open the Canadian North. (35:00) Canadian Coast Guard should be a paramilitary force. Unification destroyed much at the behest of one man with a somewhat impractical idea about economy and efficiency which were not achieved. Left the navy when his flying days were over. No interest in a "desk job". (47:00)
Interviewer: Main, Chris D.
- In Collection:
- 4 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 180 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- SRA_134
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- July 26, 2007
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. 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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