Hayes, Godfrey Harry: my naval experiences (February 24, 2005)
PublicAn interview/narrative of Godfrey Hayes's experiences during World War II. Captain Godfrey served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on February 24, 2005.
Interviewee: Hayes, Godfrey Harry
Interviewer: DeBeck, Ned
ABSTRACT: Captain Godfrey Hayes Royal Canadian Navy GH Hayes.mp3 0:00-2:30 -- Born in Winnipeg to a widowed mother and completed schooling through eleventh grade. Then joined HMS Conway of the British merchant marine. Had few expectations for Canada because of the depression, and Hayes had wanted to travel. 2:30-4:30 -- Began working for the Silver Line cargo company. He made many voyages down the eastern U.S. down south, then across to Africa, and around to India. Once war broke out, ship was called back to Birkenhead, England. Hayes had a warrant for a commission and was honoured to accept and became a midshipman. 4:30-10:30 -- Was immediately mobilized when he arrived back in England but received no formal naval training. Experienced in navigation from merchant marine service, thus served as navigator. Part of Dunkirk operations, sunk on second trip and took survivors leave. Served a short stint in the mobile balloon barrage. 10:30-18:30 -- Transferred to the RCNR and was stationed on the Corvette HMCS Trillium, was to be turned over to the British, but remained an RCN vessel on account of personnel shortage. Became navigator onboard Trillium. Time on Iceland run escorting convoys, out to 30 degrees West and back to Britain, then later based in Canada. 18:30-23:00 -- Discussion of equipment available, specifically ASDIC and its usage. Details on depth charges, and their deployment. 23:00-25:00 -- Measures to avoid u-boats; situation reports. Submarine detection equipment available. 25:00-27:00 -- Some discussion on tactics when a convoy was attacked; search patterns. 27:00-28:30 -- Discussion of the morale aboard, how it was improved or diminished throughout service. 28:30-35:00 -- The advantage of the new gyro compass in ships serving in the Atlantic, and its relation to new ASDIC. Changes in equipment over the period of the war, their efficiency, and effectiveness. 35:00-37:30 -- Story of a close call with a storm in the Atlantic, and subsequently getting back to Ireland. 37:30-40:30 -- Opinions on the role of the RCN in the Battle of the Atlantic and ASW -- escorts don't get prestige for U-boat kills, because had to stick with their escorts. 40:30-44:00 (end) -- Escorting a submarine across the Atlantic to the U.S.
Rank: Captain.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original recording (MP3) on compact disc (CD-R) in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- GHG_436
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 26, 2005
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Digitized by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2005. 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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