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Charles-Bull

A veteran interview with

Charles Bull

Charles Bull provides an interesting account of his time onboard HMS Kenya. He worked in Payroll.

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About Charles Bull

Charles Bull joined the Navy at 17 out of disillusionment with his initial career as a clerk, serving for 27 years and reaching Warrant Officer. His first ship assignment was HMS Kenya, where he worked in the pay office. The Kenya was never really in reserve, and most the ship’s company were National Servicemen. During his time in Korea, he worked long hours, even more than during his defence stations. Bull and his team had to manage the pay documents for these servicemen, which was a major challenge.

His Navy training was a stark contrast to his previous life, involving rigorous discipline and new responsibilities like preparing meals and seamanship training. He found the transition to ship life was challenging, with long hours and the need to catch up on paperwork. Despite the hardships, he found the experience valuable. He also talks about his first overseas experience in Malta, where he encountered cultural differences, including the taste of imported eggs and the presence of licensed prostitutes.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Andy Voase
Transcribed by:
Megan Hardwick

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

If you would like a version of the transcript that has been transcribed manually by Megan Hardwick, please complete this form or email info@legasee.org.uk.

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Home | Veterans | Charles Bull

A veteran interview with

Charles Bull

Charles-Bull

Charles Bull provides an interesting account of his time onboard HMS Kenya. He worked in Payroll.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Bull, Charles. A Veteran Interview with Charles Bull. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 26 Oct. 2017 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-bull/. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.
APA Style:
Bull, C. (2017, October 26). A Veteran Interview with Charles Bull [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-bull/
Chicago Style:
Bull, Charles. 2017. A Veteran Interview with Charles Bull. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, October 26. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-bull/
Harvard Style:
Bull, C. (2017). A Veteran Interview with Charles Bull. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 26 October. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-bull/ (Accessed: 21 July 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Bull, C. A Veteran Interview with Charles Bull [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2017 Oct 26 [cited 2026 Jul 21]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/charles-bull/
An interview with

Jeff York

Far reaches and new challenges, Jeff York served as a Sonar operator during his underwater voyage aboard HMS Spartan in the Falklands War.

Jeff York offers a gripping tale of his service as a Sonar operator aboard HMS Spartan during the Falklands War. Raised in Northampton, Jeff grew up far from the sea. His first sample of seamanship began after becoming a member of the Sea Cadets. However, at the young age of sixteen, he received permission to enlist in the Royal Navy, seeing it as the natural course for his career. Even before his basic training, Jeff was determined to become a submariner, recalling a trip to Portsmouth where he went down in a submarine. From that moment, he was hooked. Once he was given the choice, he joined HMS Dolphin to do his submarine training. During this period, he served aboard ships from HMS Sceptre to HMS Aurora in the Mediterranean before being assigned to HMS Spartan, a new type of submarine which had a trial system implemented. During an exercise in the Bay of Biscay, the Ship's captain, Jim Taylor received an order to head for Gibraltar to make preparations for something. The young crew remained oblivious all throughout until Taylor revealed that they were preparing to join the Task Force in defending the Falklands from Argentinian rebels. HMS Spartan would become one of the first vessels to reach the islands. Jeff describes some of the ship's systems, including a dependable sonar which was used to locate enemy targets from a long range. He discusses the difficulties of being in unfamiliar waters, from the uncertainty of submarine combat to facing many navigational problems. The crew was not immune to a sense of confusion and vulnerability, feelings that increased after the loss of HMS Sheffield. Their unfamiliarity led to many precarious situations, including the ship getting trapped in a forest of kelp which jammed their systems. This posed a serious threat to the Spartan since it was fuelled by a nuclear power source. Despite these hardships, the crew managed to pull through, benefited by the strong comradery shared among everyone onboard. Jeff reflects on the overlooked contributions of submariners, taking pride in their obscurity whenever the topic of the  Falklands War is brought up in a conversation. His interview reveals their importance to the War effort as well as providing a glimpse into how submarine warfare changed during the period.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Colin ‘Sam’ Smee

Falklands submariner recalls life onboard HMS Spartan as a Sonar Operator

Colin Smee, better known as Sam, joined the Navy in 1960 and became a Submariner. He joined HMS Spartan (S-90), a Swiftsure-class nuclear-powered submarine and served in the Falklands War.
In his amusing interview, he praises Captain James ‘Buck’ Taylor for fostering a positive atmosphere on the Spartan, which was put through rigorous training. In early April 1982 Sam learns of a new operation via the onboard 'telephone'. He details life on the Spartan, including the concern over the indefinite Falklands deployment and the impact of the sinking of the Argentinian Cruiser Belgrano. As a Sonar Operator, Sam explains his duties and the equipment used, operating under London rather than Task Force commander Admiral Sandy Woodward. He humorously recalls the lack of celebration post-war until they reached Plymouth and the impact of a fresh food delivery of strawberries.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker