Oral History Recording with Charles Fielder Part 2
Digital sound recording in two parts
Subject: Merchant Navy, Thames Barges; Deck Department: Second Mate
OHY/6/84/2 - 0.8 GB; 00:37:26
Quality: 2/5
Charles Fielder was born in 1903 in Chatham. He was the eldest brother in the family and all of them went to work on the water. His interview primarily concerns his work on river barges on the Thames and around the Medway. His father, paternal grandfather and uncles owned river barges. He worked with his father for some time and seems to have left to become a mate on the barge H Pierpont. It’s unclear which vessel he was on but he describes spending much of the First World War running barges across the Channel.
Ultimately, Fielder says he understood the days of sailing barges were over and joined the steamship Tosca where he worked as a Second Mate. He discusses the differences between coasters and barges including crew and their duties.
Fielder also talks about the 1912 strike when his father was out of work for 16 weeks. He describes going door-to-door collecting bread and receiving food from neighbours. There is also some discussion of unions, including the Waterman’s Union.
Administrative / biographical background
Oral history with Charles Fielder conducted by Campbell McMurray
Subject: Merchant Navy, Thames Barges; Deck Department: Second Mate
OHY/6/84/2 - 0.8 GB; 00:37:26
Quality: 2/5
Charles Fielder was born in 1903 in Chatham. He was the eldest brother in the family and all of them went to work on the water. His interview primarily concerns his work on river barges on the Thames and around the Medway. His father, paternal grandfather and uncles owned river barges. He worked with his father for some time and seems to have left to become a mate on the barge H Pierpont. It’s unclear which vessel he was on but he describes spending much of the First World War running barges across the Channel.
Ultimately, Fielder says he understood the days of sailing barges were over and joined the steamship Tosca where he worked as a Second Mate. He discusses the differences between coasters and barges including crew and their duties.
Fielder also talks about the 1912 strike when his father was out of work for 16 weeks. He describes going door-to-door collecting bread and receiving food from neighbours. There is also some discussion of unions, including the Waterman’s Union.
Administrative / biographical background
Oral history with Charles Fielder conducted by Campbell McMurray
Record details
| Item reference: | OHY/6/84/2 |
|---|---|
| Level: | ITEM |
| Date made: | 1970 - 1980 |
| Creator: | Fielder, Charles Henry; McMurray, Campbell |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |