大象传媒

Chapter Three

On 1st July, 鈥楽tygian鈥� left Holy Loch bound for the Far East theatre of war. She joined an outward, bound convoy off the Clyde estuary. Also in this convoy H.M.S/M. Vizigoth, a small boat, bound for Malta. Other than having a rough crossing of the Bay of Biscay, the voyage to the Mediterranean was uneventful. The convoy was left at Gibraltar, Vizigoth at Malta where we had three days ashore before going through the Suez Canal and on to Aden. After leaving Aden we spotted one of our Catalina aircraft and before we got a proper recognition signal out, she dropped a bomb at us; fortunately it missed us by a mile. On the 17th August, 鈥楽tygian鈥� tied up along side the depot ship H.M.S. Wolfe at Trincomalee in Ceylon. (Now Srilanka) 鈥楽tygian鈥� completed seven patrols in the Far East, the first was from Trincomalee, one from Freemantle in Australia and two from Subic Bay in the Philippines.

On the 29th August 1944, Stygian left Trinco on her first patrol, off Thailand, expected to be reasonably quite area, which it was. On 6th September, a Junk carrying supplies for the Japs was stopped, the three crew taken prisoner and the boat sunk with a demolition charge. The patrol continued off Port Blair and the Andaman Islands. Several other junks were boarded but allowed to go. The three prisoners became very ill during a short spell of bad weather and were happy when we got to Trinco on 20th September. One half of the crew went on leave while my half stayed to get the boat ready for the next patrol.

The second patrol started on 7th October to the Malacca Straits area which proved to be a better hunting ground. On 17th a large junk was boarded and sunk by demolition charge, the crew left to the small boat they carried. Shortly after, two coasters were sunk by gun fire before two Jap motor torpedo boats chased us off and forced us to dive. On 18th an enemy submarine was sighted, but no attack was possible, so we sank another junk. On 19th one coaster was sunk and another badly damaged by gun fire before we had to dive to avoid rapidly approaching enemy aircraft. The following day a convoy of coasters and landing craft were sighted. A large landing craft was hit by two torpedoes and disintegrated, another coaster was sunk and several others damaged by gunfire. On 24th October, two torpedoes were fired a Jap submarine which turned away and disappeared as two explosions were heard. We were unable to confirm a sinking but it was more than possible. On 29th October, returned to Trinco after a successful patrol.

On 30th October, left for leave to a tea plantation at Bandarawela, with the planter Mr Maclachlan. Returned to the boat on 11th November and met up with Lt Chandler who had taken command of 鈥楾horough鈥�.

On 22nd November left on 3rd patrol to an area further down the Malacca Straits. On 28th November a coaster was shot and sunk. On 7th December, surfaced and chased a large coaster which was escorted by two gun boats and two landing craft. Sank the coaster and one landing craft, before ceasing action because of shallow water. On 10th December a convoy of five coasters, escorted by a submarine chaser was sighted off Sabang. Six torpedoes were fired, sinking one ship and damaging another. On 14th December returned to Trinco and met up with Billy Garlick (brother in law) who was on 鈥楾rident鈥�.

On 4th January 1945 left Trinco for fourth patrol to area 鈥楬,鈥� a busy area. On 5th met up with H.M.S/S Shakespeare. She had been near Port Blair when she had been hit and sustained a hole in the pressure hull. She was unable to dive or transmit any signals. She identified herself to our signal, on signal lamp 鈥淲hat is the Christian name of your wife鈥� with 鈥淪heila and yours is Stella鈥�. We did what we could to help, radioed for assistance and stood by until the arrival of a destroyer escort of 鈥淩aider鈥� and 鈥淲help鈥�.

On 15th January opened fire at long range on three coasters but had to call off the action due to shallow waters. We also caught up in a mine cable near that anchorage but managed to break free without alerting the escorts. On 16th January, sank three more junks. On 17th sank a tanker by gun fire and a junk with demolition charge. Spent all the next day looking for S/M Porpoise; reported missing in our area, no sign of her. On 22nd sank three more Junks and saved three chickens. On 25th carried out an unsuccessful torpedo attack on a small convoy, chased off. On 29th January arrived back at Trinco after a fairly hectic patrol.

ON 4th February 1945 left Trico for Freemantle, West Australia. Arrived on 22nd and on 24th left for seven days leave at Narrogin, a small country town, with Tommy Mann and Jamo James. We were very well looked after by Mr and Mrs Mowday and friends.

On 15th March left for patrol in the Java Sea, our fifth Far East patrol. After four days at sea, stopped off at Exmouth Gulf on North West coast of Australia, to top up with fuel, water and stores. On leaving, headed north and through the Lambok Straits at night to avoid anti-submarine patrols and on 23rd entered our patrol area. On 24th sank a tanker and took 10 prisoners, later transferred to a fishing boat. There were no Japs among them. The crew had taken to the water when we started firing and had hidden until we picked up one and they saw we were not harming them as they had been told to expect. On 27th fired the stern torpedo at mine layer and although she was hit and down by the bows she still turned to attack us and was able to escape when a prolonged air attack kept Stygian down. On 29th an attack on a convoy was frustrated when it changed course. On surfacing to chase it, Stygian was detected and attacked by the escort which dropped fourteen depth charges. On 2nd April, a coaster at anchor was sunk be gun fire. On 7th surfaced to try and intercept a cruiser and two destroyers, no luck. On 8th a torpedo attack was made on two torpedo boats off Surabaya. One was hit and became enveloped in dense black smoke. The final result was not seen as Stygian was forced to dive deep nearly all day by aircraft bombing.

On 10th April attacked two coasters off Mandalipe Island, sinking one and seriously damaging the other. On the same day on the return passage in this area, the port of Bewleleng on the North coast of Bali was investigated. Up till then this had been a no go area due to it proximity to the Lombok Straits. We entered the harbour dived and found three coasters, a tug, and a small minesweeper laying along side the pier. Stygian surfaced and a gun action took place with the minesweeper which stopped firing after 10 minutes. Torpedoes were then fired. Sinking two coasters and seriously damaging the pier. The third coaster was sunk and more damage caused to the pier and warehouses by gun fire from the three inch and oerlikon guns. One torpedo was left and this was fired at the pier. Shortly after leaving the tube it was seen to go off course and circle. Everybody had to get below quickly, and the boat down out of the way. The torpedo was heard to pass very close to the boat. We heard the propellers of submarine chaser coming into the bay. We sank to the bottom, put the kettle on and waited for dark. Stygian suffered minor gunfire damage during the action.

After dark she surfaced and made her way through the Lombok Straight avoiding the anti-submarine patrols we expected and arrived at Exmouth Gulf where some much needed stores, fuel and water was taken on board. While this was being done an American submarine 鈥淐hub鈥� came in. She was detected in the 鈥楽traits鈥� and had been fired on. Arrived at Freemantle on the 19 to a signal of congratulations on the work on the patrol from the Commander Submarines U.S. 7th Fleet. Tied up alongside depot ship Adamant.

On 29th April, the three of us once again left for seven days leave at Narogin where we were very warmly welcomed. A ships dance had been organised before we left on patrol, for 8th May so were able to celebrate in style.

On 11th May said cheerio to Freemantle and sailed for Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands and on the 25th made fast alongside the depot ship Maidstone. Subic was nick-named 鈥淪uper 鈥攈eated Scapa鈥� it was just as deserted.

On 29th May left on patrol with sister boat 鈥楽park鈥� and on 31st carried out a combined bombardment of Storm Island. Spark then left on air/sea rescue duties. On 6th June, Stygian took up a position at the entrance to Baka Strait to Asigara a Japanese heavy cruiser and destroyer escort. Early the next ay H.M.S/M Trenchant arrived and after a conference Stygian went through a minefield and parked. Trenchant followed but continued on to the other end of the straits.

Sometime later she was detected by the destroyer, which after a short action lost contact. Later in the morning we saw what was believed to be the same ship carrying out anti-submarine sweep. She was allowed to pass as the cruiser was the main target. There was still no sign of the cruiser when the destroyer returned; Stygian fired two torpedoes form eight hundred yards rage. Unfortunately the tracks were spotted by the destroyer which steamed up between them and counter attacked by dropping thirty depth charges, fifteen to close for comfort. The destroyer remained in the vicinity and kept Stygian deep down but lost contact. In the mean time heavy under water explosions had been heard. These were caused when the Trenchant sank to cruiser. We tied to intercept the destroyer later but was unsuccessful.

On 14th June, Stygian again returned to Banka Strait and opened fire at extreme range with guns on a convoy which was close to the coast but after hitting one ship had to break off action due to shallow water and return fire from coastal guns. The remainder of the patrol off Linga was spent on air/sea rescue duties. On the return passage we investigated anchorages on the North coast of Burma.. A number of junks were boarded none carrying military cargos and were allowed to go. On 27th June returned to Subic. On 28th left for a short leave at an American rest camp. The water was almost undrinkable due to chemical treatment after the wells had been poisoned by the Japs. On 17th July had to lie off shore when Subic was hit by a typhoon. When a second typhoon hit the area on the 22nd Stygian broke adrift and had to anchor.

On 23rd July left Subic with sister boats, 鈥楽park鈥� and 鈥楽pearhead鈥� on passage to Brunie where we moored along side S.S. Bonaventure, midget submarine depot ship on the 26th. Left later on the same day on 鈥淥peration Struggle鈥�. Stygian was towing XE3, 鈥楽igyn鈥� with Lt Ian Fraser and diver James McGinnis, the target was the heavy cruiser Takap in Singapore harbour. Spark with XE1 was to attack the cruiser Myoko also at Signapore. He passage out was uneventful and at 2300 on 30th both midgets were cast off at the eastern end of the Johore Straits. XE3 laid her side charges under the Takao and for good measure McGinnis also attached limpet mines to the hull after clearing off the barnacles. The tide was falling and the X craft was caught under the hull. McGinnis went back out and eventfully the boat got clear and returned to Stygian using an infra-red signal lamp and special glasses. Both Fraser and McGinnis were awarded the Victoria Cross for their part in the operation. On 4th August, both midgets and crews were returned to Bonaventure.

On 10th August heard the Japanese had surrendered and the war was over for us. On 16th left Brunei for Subic Bay and Maidstone. The boat was cleaned through, stores, fuel, water and kit taken on board and on 24th August left Subic on passage to the U.K. On 6th September stopped off at Trincomalee and finally arrived at H.M.S. Dolphin on 17th October1945 after what is believed to have been a satisfactory commission in which thirty one successful attacks on shipping were carried out, three useful prisoners were brought back to base, essential assistance was give to Shakespeare and a successful operation with XE3.

After home leave, got accommodation ashore with a MR and Mrs Sells in Alverstoke. Worked for a couple of Months in the galley ashore and the drafted to S/M Truant which had been fitted with a 鈥楽norkel鈥� until I was demobilised on 3rd March 1946.

Stygian was 217 feet long, 24 feet beam and had a displacement of 990 tons and a crew of forty seven.

Author of this piece died on the 8th December 2005 up until then he was still in contact with ex crew Members of Stygian

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