Skip to content
Submariners Stories Logo (Submarine)
  • Home
  • Profiles
  • Themes
  • Listen
  • Photos
  • Home
  • Profiles
  • Themes
  • Listen
  • Photos

David White

Ami Burns | Ian (Pony) Moore
Following in his Father’s footsteps, David joined the Royal Navy after leaving school aged 15-years-old.

He trained as a chef at the Royal Naval Cookery School, coming top of his class and was assigned as an Officer’s Cook attached to the 809 Squadron.

Having already asked to join the Submarine Service but told he was too young, when he turned 18, David was called to HMS Dolphin for submarine training.

Although their responsibility was feeding the crew, cooks also had to know every part of a submarine and be able to stand in for other duties, so went through exactly the same training process as other submariners.

A first-rate story-teller, David easily conveys the importance of the cook’s role on board a submarine and shares many great dits about life on board.

Family life

Born: 1947
Erith, Kent
Mother: Freda
Father: Albert (Bert)
Wife: Mary

Working life

Joined the Royal Navy aged 15 (served 24 years)
Joined the Submarine Service aged 18
Became a Lettings Manager after leaving the Service
Went on to work in Rent Service for Hampshire County Council
Became National Health and Safety Manager for the Valuation Office
Tour guide on HMS Alliance

HMS Oracle (1967-70)
HMS Porpoise (1972-74)
HMS Orpheus (1976-78)
HMS Renown (1982-84)
HMS Sovereign (1985-87)

Full interview

Conducted: Simon Perry, 25th March 2022, Fareham
https://archive.org/download/david-white-submariners-stories-interview-no-dob-25-mar-2022-v-2/David%20White%20Submariners'%20Stories%20interview%20(No%20DOB)%2025%20Mar%202022%20v2.mp3

Read the interview transcript

Loading...
David White: Interview transcription
Portrait of David 'Knocker' White by Julian Winslow for Submariners' Stories Oral History project

David White's audio clips​

Loading...
1977, HMS Dolphin, receiving my long service and good conduct medal from Captain SM 1 - David White - IMG_2736
David White – DSRV exercise one of the greatest achievements in David’s life
HMS Oracle - David White
David White – Meeting and working with Ted Briggs, one of the three survivors of HMS Hood
Submarine Escape Tank Staff Volleyball team winning the inter part competition - David White
David White – Exercise enabled longer time spent in SETT, so they played volleyball at lunch
Test rescue with Italian SPAG team Taranto, Italy mid 2000s - Brian Wood
David White – Escaping from a submarine at 400 feet deep
Commencement of trials to assessed the survivability of the latest submarine escape suit - Early 80s - David White
David White – Testing new survival suits
Chief Tiff making tea for everyone - proof!
David White – The camaraderie of submariners
5053 Gosport Hardway Priory Road The Old House at Home - Gosport Society
David White – Fond memories of Gosport
5097 Gosport Postcard Views of Gosport - Gosport Society
David White – Memories of Gosport – Brickwood’s pubs
Families day, HMS Porpoise C. 1973 - My Dad with the Captain (Lt Cdr Jim Taylor)
David White – Captain Jim Taylor – a real gentleman. Let David’s Dad use the periscope
Office scenes composite
David White – Becoming a rent officer
FOSM requalifying SETT top of the tank early 1990s - Brian Wood
David White – SETT training process
Escape training & SETT composite #4
David White – BBC filmed David for ‘Diving Mammals’ TV programme
Escape training & SETT composite #4
David White – Testing new survival suit leads to mortgage
DSVR-2 Avalon unloading at Glasgow Prestwick airport from Galaxy aircraft May 1979 - Brian Wood
David White – If a submarine gets in trouble anywhere in the world, they’ll send a DSVR
Supply and catering staff of HMS Renown (Stbd crew) c.1983. I'm far left - David White
David White – Why I joined the Navy
Food & Drink composite #1
David White – Why I became a chef
Joining up composite #1
David White – Suggesting elasticated cap tallies – Genius idea rejected
General submarine composite #13
David White – Slept in, so late to swimming class, forced to jump off top board
General submarine composite #46
David White – Reacting to sudden noises still now
Food & Drink composite #3
David White – Process of loading food into a submarine’s freezer
Food & Drink composite #5
David White – Lazy chefs lead to weight loss
Blockhouse - Aerial 1950s - Neg 5759
David White – HMS Artemis submarine sunk down next to Dolphin
FOSM requalifying SETT top of the tank early 1990s - Brian Wood
David White – First time doing SETT
Food & Drink composite #4
David White – Disproportionate importance of food
HMS Otter
David White – Diesels had people sleeping were others were eating right on top of each other
HMS Warspite Atlantic on way to South Africa 1975 - Colin Hamilton - (comp) IMG_1937
David White – Dad’s PTSD
Food & Drink composite #6
David White – Cheese Ush and getting drafted to HMS Orpheus because the Captain loved his
Food & Drink composite #2
David White – Challenge of baking bread on board a submarine
Food & Drink composite #1
David White – Building a false deck of canned food
Food & Drink composite #2
David White – A typical day for chefs

David White's photos

Gosport HAZ logo
Built by Meeja
  • About
  • Take down policy
  • About
  • Take down policy