´óÏó´«Ã½

This story has been written onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by Storygatherer Lucy Thomas of Callington U3A on behalf of Douglas Mahoney. They fully understand the terms and conditions of the site.

Extracts from DOUGLAS MANHONEY’S W.W.2 MEMORIES part 2

Destination Malta

It was obvious to all by now that our worst fears were to be realised — destination Malta. We moved rapidly through the Suez Canal to Port Said where we topped up with oil until we couldn’t squeeze another drop in. We were so low in the water that the bridge structure and poop deck looked as if they rose straight out of the sea. In addition we shipped a load of guns, with gunners to operate them, ammunition and a balloon floating innocently above to deter dive bombers. There was also a group of naval signallers and a RN Lieutenant Liaison officer. The ship was very full; well over its marks.

We moved out to sea on Friday evening, 12 June. Just after breakfast,
at 9am the next day, the Naval Liaison Officer (NLO) called everyone together to explain what was happening. He was a shy, hesitant speaker not at all relishing his job. He told me later that, among his crowd, it was reckoned as a suicide assignment and showed me a small box of suicide pills in case the worst happened.

‘We are going to Malta. Malta is in a very bad way and, unless it gets some supplies, it is in danger of being taken. This would be a pity, just when Germany is starting to crack up so here we are. As we sail west, another convoy is sailing east from Gibraltar and some of us are sure to get through. The whole of the Med fleet is in this and our escort has 7 cruisers and 28 destroyers. There will be 20 of our subs ranged on either side of the convoy. There are also some MTBs being towed by ships and, when the battle starts, they will go into action. And we want a battle. Our intention is to lure out the Italian fleet and have a smack at it. Four ships left earlier to act as a decoy, and they will join us later today.

The other convoy is not so well protected as ours so we must get the Italian fleet. We will have fighter protection, starting with two at 0830, and increasing as we go along until we get to Malta.

Malta has 300 fighters. Everything has been prepared so that cargoes will be discharged as quickly as possible. Some ships are carrying soldiers and stevedores to facilitate this. Discharging is to go on during air raids: only when dive-bombing starts does it stop.

Malta puts up smokescreens so we will probably have some fun going in. Malta is also short of water. We won’t get any there, so please be careful with water. Some of the escort are fitted with Radio Locators which will pick up and plot planes if an air attack is imminent. A red flag will go up on the escort and a series of ( . _ ) sound on the alarm.

The escort might leave us on the last night. In that case we will have to make a dash at full speed to get under Malta’s air umbrella. If the Italian fleet attacks, we may get the order to scatter and then we make our way as best we can.

Good Luck to us all.’

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.