Charles, John Alexander: my Navy recollections (June 10, 1983)
Interviewee: Charles, John Alexander, b. 1918
ABSTRACT: Rear Admiral John A. Charles, C.M.M. Royal Canadian Navy (Cassette 1, Side 1) Born in Rouleau, SK (1918). Attended the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in 1935. Describes the strict life at RMC and the very strong attachments to the members of his class. Opted to join the Navy and ten of his class did naval training at Halifax in the summer of 1936. The "Snotty's Nurse", the officer in charge of midshipmen and cadets, was Lt. Cmdr. W.B.L. Holmes. With Charles were "Scruffy O'Brien" (later V/Adm. J.C. O'Brien), "Frew", Freddie Frewer (later Capt. F.C. Frewer). In 1937 was interviewed by Cmdr. E.R. Mainguy regarding the posting to the Royal Navy as a cadet and later, midshipman. Sailed for England in August, 1937 with several of his class and a few others including two from Conway, the British Merchant Navy training college. Ten days in London including uniform fitting and sightseeing. In Sept. they joined their training ship, HMS Erebus (monitor). The uniformity of training for all cadets of Empire countries was a distinct advantage in the future. Discusses ships routine. (Cassette 1, Side 2) Posted to HMS Vindictive (cadet training cruiser) for two terms. Cruise to the West Indies. Describes constant boat work. NOTE: The term "Tankey" - a cadet or midshipman who assisted certain officers, originally one who sounded the ship's tanks: water, oil fuel, etc. "Doggie", one who did errands, carried messages for the Captain and perhaps for the Commander (XO). Instructions by "Boomer" Hope (Cmdr. G.B. Hope) on the proper attire for naval gentlemen. In Madeira was late returning to the ship due to a bit too much time spent in a winery and was punished by leave stoppage and several days of No. 11 punishment, doubling around the upper deck with rifle and full pack. Comments on the high quality of their instructors. Senior term, again in Vindictive and a cruise around Britain. Describes 'day clubs' in London as an entertaining place for a drink. Later to the Baltic in Vindictive. With O'Brien and Frewer was posted to HMS Royal Sovereign (battleship) in Sept. 1938. Sailed for Scapa Flow. Considerable time spent preparing for war, a common expectation at that time. Describes gunnery practice including rudimentary anti-aircraft equipment. Commanded a steam picket boat when in harbour and his duties in her. Midshipman's Journal. Training in the Home Fleet intensified after the Munich Crisis. Played hockey with a local team, the Dumfermline Flyers. Account of serving in a RN drifter (basically a fishing boat used as a tender in harbour) on a voyage to Sheerness. Slang terms for naval Port Divisions: Guz - Plymouth, Chats, Chatham, Pompeii, Portsmouth from which ships were manned. Ticketed by the police for driving a car without a license in a car without insurance. Got off!! Appointed Midshipman to HMS Berwick, a County Class cruiser and sailed to the West Indies in Jan. 1939. This was the America and West Indies Squadron (AWI) (Berwick, Exeter, Ajax, and Orion). (Cassette 2, Side 1) The squadron practiced paper operations against German pocket battleships. Tales of running a boat, drunken liberty men, life in Bermuda. Summer cruise including the World's Fair in New York. Visited Canadian ports. Lt. Governor's reception in PEI where liquor ran short and was renewed by prescription at a local drug store! After a month's leave Charles rejoined the ship in Halifax. Comments on the lack of a motorized whaler that would have been a valuable sea-boat. Compares British system of discipline with the American. Prepare for War message rec'd on Sept. 1, 1939. Explains the "degrees of readiness" and the watch system. Charles is in charge of an air defence position (ADP). HA (high angle) directors control the 4" anti-aircraft guns. The Berwick sent to New York to try and catch the German liner Bremen. KR & AI (King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions) laid down the appropriate procedures. Order rec'd (3 Sept. 1939) to commence hostilities. To Halifax to refuel and take on ammunition. AWI squadron required to deal with German pocket battleship and merchant ships. Limited to visual sightings, no radar. Sailed with the first convoy from Halifax and another from the West Indies. Charles was midshipman of a boarding party inspecting foreign merchant ships. To Portsmouth in mid-December and then joined the 1st Cruiser Squadron (CS1), Devonshire, Suffolk and Norfolk patrolling the North Atlantic, north of Iceland. Extremely cold and only inefficient electric heaters in the ship. Scapa for fuelling then returned to patrol. Met and escorted a Canadian troop convoy. Boarded the German ship Wolfsburg but the crew set it on fire and opened the sea-cocks. Chief ERA: Chief Engineroom Artificer. After saving the Wolfsburg's cat the boarding party returned and the ship was used for gunnery practice. They picked up the crew and shortly after found the Uruguay (Ger.) which was also scuttled by its' crew. Carrying 110 prisoners they put them ashore in the Orkneys. Arrived in Scapa to find the Home Fleet there. Air raid. Northern patrol again. Midshipman's seamanship board. (Cassette 2, Side 2) To Rosyth in Scotland to take about 700 troops on board (6 Mar. 1940) for transport to Norway. Did not sail and troops disembarked. Rejoined the Home Fleet and sailed north to be attacked by German bombers. Mentions some of the ships involved in this sweep toward the Norwegian coast. In action against enemy aircraft near Tromso. Comment on the Norwegian campaign. Ashore for sub-lieutenants' courses, leave in London, then Whale Island (Portsmouth). Air raids. Delegated as part of a gun-mounting party (6" naval guns) at various places around the coast of England. Describes this and their authority to requisition any sea-front building required. In Cardiff they also requisitioned a railway crane from Birmingham to assist them. When France surrendered he led a party of 50 seamen to take over (at 4 a.m.) a French destroyer in Portsmouth harbour. Introduced to RDF, early radar. Successful in his courses and returned to Canada. (Cassette 3, Side 1) Appointed to HMCS Annapolis (former US destroyer) then in October to HMCS Restigouche (destroyer), names officers. Began convoy escorting. Signal officer, discusses duties. Considers Cmdr. Nelson Lay a good captain. At sea, hunted for the German Deutschland (pocket battleship) with two ex-American destroyers of "uncertain quality". To the UK escorting convoys westward. As signal and cipher officer Charles knew all that was going on. Convoy communications. Almost run down by a large liner due to a missed convoy signal. Anti-submarine work-up at Tobermory on the Clyde. Put up Canada shoulder flashes for the first time. In 1941 they had some concern that their convoy was right in the path of Bismarck (Ger. battleship). Returned to Glasgow for a boiler-clean and to be fitted with RDF. Leave in London. Problems operating the RDF but it was a considerable improvement. Returned to Canada in May, 1941. Debbie Piers (Lt. Cmdr. D.W. Piers) the new Captain. Went to sea with a film crew for "shots" for the film Corvette K 225. Experience in Iceland. Formed part of the screen for HMS Prince of Wales (battleship) carrying Winston Churchill to Argentia to meet Roosevelt. (Cassette 3, Side 2) Anecdotes of the meeting. Uncharted rock damaged one of Restigouche's propellers. Returned to Halifax and posted to HMCS St. Hyacinthe (signals training base) as First Lieutenant. Here, Charles refers to his notes and photo album. Comments on the naval preparations for war in 1938/39. Points out that in early 1939 no one was bothered by the fact that Canadians in RN ships were fighting a war for a few days in which they were not legally entitled. Arrived in St. Hyacinthe (Cmdr. A.P. Musgrave) on 3 Dec. 1941. As First Lieutenant his duties included discipline, routine, working parties, leave, etc. Lt. R.W. Murdoch was Signal Officer responsible for communications training. Describes other officers. Anecdote re the train (Ocean Limited) between Montreal and Halifax, which was met daily so that service personnel who had celebrated a bit too much could be taken off for a 24-hour sobering. Good relations with the French-Canadian civilians in St. Hyacinth. Every night between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. Charles inspected the camp since the buildings were only heated by large stoves which could be a fire hazard. Favourable comments about Cmdr. Musgrave. Mentions Sam Worth, later Capt. G.A. Worth, Director of Signals. Sent to HMS Mercury in England for the Long S (Signal) Course. There were twelve on the course, the other Canadian being Lt. J.C. O'Brien. Outlines course. Included an army officer (Capt. G.B. Southerland, Royal Corps of Signals) training for Command Operations. Upon graduation Charles was appointed Signal Officer to the 19th Destroyer Flotilla shortly to be sent to the Mediterranean. HMS Lafory (Capt. R.N.J. Hutton, Captain D.) Explained his duties and the equipment carried, including the ability to monitor high frequency German transmissions. The latter operated by a cockney who spoke fluent colloquial German. Fast convoy to the Mediterranean. Troopship Strathalan torpedoed off North Africa and eventually sank while under tow by Laforey. Describes the Signal Officer's duties in establishing anti-submarine and anti-aircraft configurations. Basically this required ships of the same radio frequency to keep close to each other. A real learning period. Then to Bone to provide anti-aircraft protection and at night to attack German shipping between Sicily and North Africa. Heavy bombing attacks. (Cassette 4, Side 1) To sea to "sink at sight" area in shallow but mined areas. To Gibraltar where Canadian corvettes were met for the first time. HMCS Louisberg torpedoed and sunk shortly afterwards. HMCS Camrose severely criticised by Captain D. for picking up survivors rather than hunting the submarine. Corvettes generally concentrated on anti-submarine tasks since they had no anti-aircraft armament. Mentions landing craft and motor torpedo boats. Charles became very adept at pirating radar and wireless equipment from ships hit by bombs. Provided gun-fire to assist the army. NOTE: Part of a signal "number fives, negative sword" means best uniform as for a parade, but not including the naval sword. (re Camrose, above) Night sweeps as far as Malta, returning to port before day-light. The sweeps were very tiring as the crew were at action stations for twelve or thirteen hours. Sunk several supply ships. Also, in one night, sank three German E-boats, one by ramming which caused some flooding and reduced speed. To Algiers for quick repairs. Operation Retribution - ordered to sink, burn, or destroy all German ships engaged in saving the German army in Tunisia. For identification all ships were painted with red lead. Shore bombardment during which Laforey was hit by German 88mm return fire. Sank three German ships by very accurate radar sighting and picked up four survivors, one of whom was forced to plot a course through a minefield off Tunis. Accepted the surrender of a small island (Plane Is.) off Bone. Later picked up a number of soldiers leaving North Africa in small boats. Sailed for Malta for more permanent bow repairs. Acquired an artillery BLO (Bombardment Liaison Officer) who worked in co-ordination with a FOO (Forward Observation Officer) ashore. Explains communication procedure, largely a form of Morse code. Aside: In 1943 Laforey expended fifty-five hundred rounds of 4.7' ammunition and wore out the gun-tubes four times. Bombarded the island of Pantelaria, which surrendered. (Cassette 4, Side 2) Huge convoys assembled for the invasion of Sicily and offered close in fire support once the landing started. On July 15th picked up Gen. Alexander, Admiral Ramsey, Admiral Hewitt (U.S. Navy) and Air Marshal Conyingham for an inspection tour of the invasion sites. Remarks on the Air Force and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) and some improper use. Much shore bombardment with army FOO's and several returns to Malta for fuel and ammunition. Firing on shore was a delicate business since it was nearly all indirect fire with considerable difficulty identifying our troops, made even more difficult by the movement of the ship. Describes ranging shots and subsequent broadsides. Returning to Malta they avoided two torpedoes and blew the submarine to the surface. The Italian survivors were taken to Malta. Missed naval opportunity when the Germans retreated across the Strait of Messina. Poor intelligence? Crowded condition of Malta. Anecdote: Admiral A.B. Cunningham visits Laforey. Operation Avalanche: Supported British troops in landing at Salerno. Suffered considerable damage from German 88 mm battery before knocking it out. Hole in the hull plugged by stuffing hammocks in it. Direct fire against the enemy and on D+1 returned to FOO-directed fire. To Malta for repairs, returned to Salerno where for the first time came under fire from very effective radio-controlled bombs. Night collision with HMS Berwick (Cruiser). Some repairs done in Salerno. Acquired an 80-bottle wine supply in return for cans of Spam and supply of cigarettes. Escorted the first convoy of several into Naples. Returned to Malta and acquired a new Gunnery Officer, Lt. Bud Boyer, a Canadian. Capt. Hutton replaced by Capt. "Beaky" Armstrong. Dropped agents on the coast of Yugoslavia. Bombarding the Italian coast. Serious casualties from a bomb attack. Charles hit in the hand by shrapnel. British rations were not great but meals considerably better when along-side an American destroyer (their food and movies and our RN liquor). Sailed for Sardinia and Corsica to negotiate with the Free French navy for anchorages prior to the invasion of southern France. Provided close support for the landing at Anzio in Jan. 1944. HMS Sparton (cruiser) sunk by a flying bomb. Laforey avoided another. HMS Jervis (destroyer) close by had her bow blown off. Comments on Anzio. Received message that he was to return to Canada via Algiers and England. Sailed in the Aquitania (liner/troopship) to New York and then to the Signal School at HMS St. Hyacinthe. Tells of the loss of Laforey during a hunt for a submarine. Suggests that, for a destroyer, Laforey had a longish life in the Mediterranean, more than 18 months. At the end there were only two L class left out of eight. Found many changes at St. Hyacinthe. In April, 1944 there were about four thousand personnel there. Capt. A.B. Musgrave still in command. Training consisted of new entry telegraphists, RCNVR signal officers, Wren signal officers and for the first time, a Long Signal Course. describes the training establishment and some of the officers and their qualifications. Charles was the second most senior wireless instructor. Explains the different training for Reserve and Wren signal officers. Telegraphist trained to eighteen words/minute in Morse code. Charles did all the radio technical training, instructed in the Long Course and officers courses. Many types of equipment, British, Canadian, and eventually, American. Discusses various radio equipment, RDF/Radar training and equipment. (Cassette 5, Side 2) By Oct. 1944 consideration had to be given to the USN system if Canada was to send ships to the Pacific War. Visited HMCS Uganda (cruiser) in refit at Charleston, S. Carolina and partially fitted with American equipment. Obtained his qualification in American communications, methods, procedures and tactics. Started conversion courses for Canadians. Canadians required to volunteer for the Pacific. Some discussion of the effect of the large English-speaking group on the French-Canadian town. Partly smoothed out by having special trains with personnel "going ashore" from the base to Montreal. Unruly sailors did cause some trouble, but on VE-Day a party was held on the base and then the sailors were offered a train-ride to Montreal. In Charles' opinion the Canadian signal school was the equal of other schools in his experience and better than the UK in Electrical Engineering. Taught great emphasis on convoy work. Comments on the Canadian Wrens, limits to fraternization and some information of the establishment of Canada's Wrens. The base was quickly run down after VE-Day although a certain capability was retained due to the uncertainty of the Pacific War. In Sept. 1945 posted as Staff Communications Officer to R/Adm. V.G. Brodeur, initially in Vancouver. Prime job was to convert to the American signal system. The Admiral, unlike many others, favoured this change. West coast operations were with the US Navy but exercising with east coast vessels they had to revert to the British system. This was very awkward until the NATO signal books came in to use in 1949/50. Comments on the efficiency of the American ships vis-à-vis our own and the Canadian problem of the lack of the latest modern fighting equipment. Noticeable during the Korean War, especially in gunnery. As senior naval officer and captain of HMCS Haida Charles commanded our three destroyers in Korea, HMC Ships Cayuga (Cmdr. W.P. Hayes) and Crusader (Lt. Cmdr W.H. Wilson). Later the St. Laurent class with their sophisticated operations room tended to even the score. Mentions HMCS Uganda at Esquimalt in 1945 and how badly Capt. E.R. Mainguy felt about having to return early from the Pacific War. In Nov. 1945 the naval headquarters was organized in Esquimalt. Val Godfrey (Capt. V.S. Godfrey) was Chief of Staff. R/Adm. V.G. Brodeur retired to be succeeded by Commodore E.R. Mainguy. Other officers in that difficult time included Duchy Edwards (Cmdre J.C.I. Edwards) Creery (Capt. W.B. Creery) Commandant of Royal Roads, Fluffer Hart (Capt. F.G. Hart), Tingley (A/Cmdr. Hall R. Tingley) and others. Speaks of Dr. Jack Arnell (Defense Research Board) who was a source of much information regarding major decisions affecting the Navy during the period 1953-1967/68.
Interviewer: Lawrence, Hal
An interview/narrative of John A. Charles's experiences during World War II. Rear Admiral Charles served with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on June 10 1983.
Rank: Rear Admiral. Medals and Honours: Commander of the Order of Military Merit; Mentioned in Despatches
- In Collection:
- 10 sound recordings (MP3)
- 44, 19.75
- 45.50884, -73.58781
- Original sound recordings on five audio cassettes also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CJA_256
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/hal-lawrence-collection
- March 6, 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.
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- 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
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