Photo of Royal Marine died 1944 HMS Fiji

[mare]

I've only just looked at this for the first time. To me it looks like he's leaning against a sink bench? with a couple of basins and hand soaps on the wall 

Can't make out if that hard case looking thing on the floor beside him in the shadows is actually a case or not 

Agree the wheels are some operating thing, perhaps for a fire door ( a bit high for that maybe  ... added, I'll stick with what James said  )

  mare

[garyatkinson]

With regards to the photograph of James Arthur Philip Smith. The lighting, along with the shadow to his right, strongly suggests that the photograph was taken outside. He seems to be looking towards the sun and the shadow is at an angle from the same direction. As for the bench looking object behind him, might that be a platform which would enable people to more easily reach the various wheels above it? I agree that it appears to be some sort of gun turret, perhaps anti-aircraft?

His hand does appear to be holding on to the strap of a bag, which, for this spare of the moment shot, he has rested on the deck, without actually letting go of it.

Great picture.

[mare]

Now that you mention the lighting and angle of the shadows, the lower left shadow is probably the photographer 

[joboy]

As for the bench looking object behind him, might that be a platform which would enable people to more easily reach the various wheels above it? I agree that it appears to be some sort of gun turret, perhaps anti-aircraft?

His hand does appear to be holding on to the strap of a bag, which, for this spare of the moment shot, he has rested on the deck, without actually letting go of it.

Great picture.

You are quite correct Gary .... it is a gun platform and we are looking at the breech end (rear end) with all the controls that is 'training' (moving gun from left to right) and 'laying' (moving gun up and down) anyone who has been trained for this would understand.
He is holding his kit bag.
We really dont know what ship he is on when the photo was taken and at this moment I am trying to identify what sort of gun it is ...... oerlikon? bofors? or other??.
Joe

[garyatkinson]

I'm no expert on guns, so, cannot help with that.
I just had a look at photographs on the internet of the Fiji, and there are quite a few of them. I haven't seen anything close up, showing smaller guns but the bigger ones for and aft can be seen. The turrets to these guns are enclosed.
Nevertheless, could the photograph have been taken on the Fiji?

[youngtug]

Not only to stand on and reach the "wheels" but being that the turret turns you want to go with it, otherwise it might be a bit awkward.

   http://youtu.be/X6q2PWJaBos

[garyatkinson]

Good point. Not a good idea to loose ones head in an emergency.

[macintosh]

I stand corrected, the "shelf" is a platform of the HA gun position for men either side of the gun to use the wheels for elevation. Out of sight on the pic would be a handrail that a  gun crew member would be positioned inside of, his feet would be on that "shelf".

google gun transmitting station on british ww2 lightcruisers,  then images, look at first pic then HMAS Sydney.
Another interesting article on Royal Marine Musicians and their battle stations
www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/churches/cathedrals/fiji.htm
Your man is named on the caualty list and a biographical acount at the end by a RM musician.
Extremely interesting.
The pic did look like the inside of a ships space or a pedestal of some sort, but it is a gun.

James

James

[bugle boy]

hi G/S I found this site and james is given as one of those who died,also gives an account of what took place that day. hope I have got the web side correct.

royalmarinesbands.myfreeforum.org/.../in-memory-hms-fiji_

Im sorry it didn't come up in blue,hopefully you or someone with more computer skills than me  can find out where I went wrong.