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Tom's Story Part Three

H.M.S. Belfast

On boarding the Belfast in Scapa Flow I was met by the Master-at-Arms (Mr. Taylor) and received a cordial welcome aboard. After completing joining ship routine I was given my own small cabin with my own mess man, a Royal Marine Corporal. Later I was introduced to the ship Commander - Toswill - and several officers. It was a few days before I actually met the Captain - Royer Dick (later in my memoirs I will relate how I again met Royer Dick, then an Admiral, and Commander Toswill - also an Admiral).

H.M.S. Belfast was the Flagship of the 10th Cruiser Squadron and we also carried a Rear Admiral of the Squadron. The 10th Cruiser Squadron consisted of H.M.S. Belfast, Argonaut, Ajax, Achilles (two famous cruisers which were involved in the Graf Spee incident), Dido and Diadem. But the Squadron seldom went to sea as a Squadron, usually it was singly or occasionally in pairs with the rest of the Fleet, and often one was in for a re-fit, etc.

The job of the Regulating Branch was that of policing the ships and also at sea having, like everyone else, an Action Station. My Action Station was in a group under an officer in charge of the Damage Control for the after part of the ship.

The Master-at-Arms, my immediate boss was not enjoying very good health and I was saddled with his duties. I had three Petty Officers working for me and then I was responsible to the Commander (Toswill). Commander Toswill was a typical regular R.N. Officer, he was a gentleman, extremely well liked by all and a pleasure to serve under. Captain Royer Dick was another such man but a real death and glory man. I found all the Officers - both senior and junior very likeable people and got on extremely well with them all. Most of the Ship’s Company did so too. Consequently H.M.S. Belfast was a very happy ship.

Regulating Petty Officers, by tradition in the R.N. were not liked by members of the lower deck, but I changed all that on the Belfast. I was firm but fair. I think that because I played football (was soon put into the Ship’s team), boxed with them and generally took part in all their games and functions I was well liked and accepted as one of them. I often spent time on their Mess Decks playing cards, talking and often skylarking with them. I had a lot of fun with the Officers and other Chief and Petty Officers, (one of the officers was Ronald Howard, son of the famous film and theatre star).

We were at sea quite a lot, covering Atlantic convoys in the Denmark Straights, convoys to Murmansk and generally out looking for what remained of the German Capital Ships - we got one eventually - the Sharnhorst - well written about now and quite an epic occasion.

We did a foray or two along the Norwegian Coast along with other Fleet Ships. (Little did we realise then that these trips were really to confuse the Germans as they were expecting to be invaded but did not know where the attack was to take place - all this has now been publicised and as we now know Hitler was convinced the Allies would invade in either Norway or the Pas-de-Calais area of France, and of course he was completely fooled).

One episode I remember was a visit to the Fleet at Scapa by King George VI. We were all in Scapa Flow, Capital Ships, Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Frigates, Destroyers, Sloops - the lot, submarines as well. The Belfast was to do the honours. Pick up the King on the mainland, take him to Scapa Flow and sail up and down the lines of Warships and then take him back to the mainland port of Thurso. As the Master-of-Arms was sick I was as usual to deputise for him and that meant walking in front of His Majesty as he toured our particular ship. It was an honour and a delight to carry out this duty, which I did with no mishaps and even on occasion speaking to him to warn him of difficult ladders and watertight doors we had to negotiate. He was very kind and really a very ordinary man when one was in his company. I shall never forget the journey back to Thurso after he had reviewed his Fleet. The programme was running late and we had to do a high speed run in heavy seas to get back in time. The Belfast had a nasty roll in heavy seas and it was quite a rough ride but I understand The King enjoyed it.

There came the day when we were in harbour at Scapa and felt that something big was on. For once all the members of the 10th Cruiser Squadron were together. All leave was cancelled. The ships were all re-victualled, refueled and rearmed, more close weapons were mounted, drills and exercises were carried out - what was it all about?

Late in May the 10th Cruiser Squadron with Belfast leading the line of six Cruisers, set sail. We ordinary people still did not know what was on. We got into the Irish Sea having gone north round the top of Scotland and to our amazement we came upon, I think it was six or eight very old decrepit ocean going cargo ships led by an old cruiser (I think it was H.M.S. Emerald). No information was passed so we had no idea what these cargo vessels, heavily laden and low in the water were doing at sea, unescorted except for the old cruiser.

We entered the English Channel, hugging the Cornish coast. I think it was about 2nd June, 1944.

We were, as a Ship’s Company, told what it was all about - the Invasion of France. The 10th Cruiser Squadron, led by Belfast, which we realised was carrying some very high ranking Navy and Army Officers (we learned later that Winston Churchill had planned to be aboard but was persuaded not to come as there could be too much danger), was to lie off the coast of France (Normandy) 24 hours before the invasion in an effort to confuse the Germans who still thought the Allies would land in the Pas-de-Calais region (he was of course, as history now shows, completely duped).

The Squadron - all at Action Stations of course - dropped anchor in line ahead a few miles off the coast of Normandy on schedule, 24 hours before the invasion was to start but as we all now know, owing to the weather conditions it was postponed for 24 hours, to commence at dawn on the 6th June. Consequently the Squadron was placed in this very precarious position for 48 hours. But it was not like one would imagine - everything was so quiet, no response from the German Navy, nor its Air Force, not even from their short batteries. It was uncanny. Unbelievable really. There we were, on our own, expecting hell to be let loose at us, but not a murmur, until the evening of the 5th June when we suffered air attacks. They were ineffective and the raiders were driven off by the intense anti-aircraft fire put up by all six cruisers. I still believe the Germans were not expecting the invasion on this coastline and probably thought we were a raiding commando force.

Dawn on 6th June, I was at my Station which was on the after control position with the Commander and his staff. (The ‘aft Control position would take command of the ship if the Captain and Bridge staff were knocked out). This after control position lay astern and just forward of X and Y 6" gun turrets. Looking forward we had the superstructure and funnels. The Ship lay with the Starboard side facing the coast. All 6" guns and the 4" guns on the Starboard side were trained to Starboard.

Then the invasion started, X turret on H.M.S. Belfast fired one gun - a signal, and then all hell was let loose. I had been watching the Normandy coast (Sword Beach) when the noise of gun fire, other than our own, made me turn round and I was amazed at the shipping - a huge Armada which seemed to rise from the sea and from nowhere. Behind us and firing over us was a Monitor (I believe it was H.M.S. Roberts) flinging over its 16" shells. Capital Ships were also firing, aircraft of the R.A.F. were above and swooping down on the coastline defences, bombers high above bombing German emplacements and hundreds and hundreds of landing craft, crammed with troops and equipment driving forward to the coast. It was a wonderful sight.

But the German defences had become awake by then and they retaliated strongly. Ships were hit and sunk, landing craft blown out of the water with all its crew, sailors and soldiers. Aircraft shot down and crashing into the sea, but on went the invasion - nothing would stop them.

We bombarded coastal emplacements, gun sites, etc. all day. In the evening we fought off bombers, there was no rest, no proper meals. The Navy had to get the Army ashore and help them stay ashore - and it was done.

There was horrible incidents, joyous moments, fear and weariness by all involved, but this was the day everyone had been waiting for for four long frightening years.

When ammunition ran low we would up anchor at night - go hell for leather to Portsmouth - re-ammunition, refuel and re-victual (this was expertly done by shore people who would be waiting and ready for us) and back at our position before dawn to continue bombarding.

A destroyer, H.M.S. Swan, was lying a few cable lengths on our port bow when suddenly the German shore batteries opened up on us. It was a tragic and sickening sight to see when the Swan was hit several times and she sank. We got off lightly once again. By now a couple of cruisers of our Squadron had suffered damage, from shell fire, bombings and mines and had to return home. One by one all the other three cruisers were damaged and returned to the U.K., leaving the Belfast. We were the only cruiser left and although we had been hit by shell fire and had damage to our superstructure and upper decks we were still capable of carrying on - which we did.

On one occasion we moved down the coast to Cherbourg where the U.S. Forces had landed but were held up by a very determined German defence and we stayed there for 24 hours bombarding their defences which helped the U.S. Forces to hold their lines and eventually take the initiative.

It was a sorrowful sight to see bodies floating in the sea - both sailors and soldiers, and the dead were brought aboard, and when we returned to Portsmouth overnight to get supplies we took them home.

I personally had two lucky escapes, the first was when a landing craft tied up alongside our starboard quarter carrying wounded to transfer to us to take to the U.K. when shelling started and the landing craft was hit and sank, killing everyone on board. I was on the port side of the Quarterdeck making my way to the starboard side of the landing craft to give assistance when the shelling started and splinters flew around all over the place, but I was not hit.

On another occasion I was walking along the upper deck, a Royal Marine was some yards ahead of me when a shell fell alongside and splinters from the shell hit and wounded the poor Marine. I again was not hit.

However, on another occasion when I was on the upper - it was at night - I was caught in the blast of an exploding shell, knocked down and dazed. When I got to my feet I felt dazed and made my way to the First Aid Post. On entering the Post the Sick Bert P.O. was there and a couple of other people and I could see their mouths working as they were talking but I could not hear anything. It was one of the most frightening experiences I had. I remember feeling sick, went pale and sweated. The Sick Perth P.O. took me to the Sick Bay where I was seen by the Surgeon Commander. After examining my ears he spoke - I couldn’t hear him, so he wrote down on a pad of paper that my ear drums had been damaged but luckily for me my ears were so full of wax that he thought there would be no permanent damage. Was I relieved, for if I had lost my hearing I would have been sent home and discharged from the R.N., but worse still, the Police Force would have no use for a deaf Policeman. However, for two days I was confined to the Sick Bay and treated and gradually my hearing returned. This loss of hearing from shell and bomb blast was quite a common occurrence amongst servicemen on active service.

I remember another occasion when we were under fire and Jerry was really going for us from his well concealed gun positions (very big calibre guns they were too), so we hurridly moved away out of range, but in doing so we had no time to weigh anchor and it was slipped at its cable and left on the sea bed. What amazed me was on the following day we returned to the same position, accompanied by a salvage vessel, which promptly set to work and recovered the anchor for us. I believe that it dented the pride of the Captain of a ship to loose his anchor and despite the situation with the War at its height our Captain was determined not to have his pride dented. Laughable when you think of it but the Royal Navy, steeped in the Nelson tradition was not going to let a little thing like a War cause the loss of an anchor, even if we lost millions and millions of pounds-worth of ships. Remarkable really.

What impressed me was the accuracy of Naval Gunnery. Signals would be received from Army personnel ashore, asking for assistance and naming and identifying a target, troops, gun positions, Panzer tanks, etc. One gun would fire and the Army spotter ashore would reply telling us of the fall of shot; high, short, to left or to right, and usually this was enough and the signaller ashore would transmit by his radio ‘On target’ and then the ships whole broadside of 12 6" guns would open fire. After perhaps only a minute or two we got a signal ‘Target obliterated. Moving forward. Thanks a lot.’ So good to know we were doing so much to help.

To my amazement, one morning soon after we had arrived off the Normandy beaches and the invasion was under way, up steamed the six decrepit old cargo ships we had passed in the Irish Sea many days ago and low and behold they went straight into the beach, line ahead and one by one scuttled themselves, all in a line, thereby making a breakwater, or harbour, for landing craft. This was some time before the famous Mulberry Harbour was towed across the Channel and put into position. I often thought what a brave lot of men those were who manned those six ships, unsung heroes like many a thousand others who did what was their duty without fear.

As I said, one by one the other five cruisers of the 10th Squadron withdrew, damaged and needing repairs, until only the Belfast of the Squadron remained. We carried out bombardments daily and every now and again slipped back to Portsmouth for supplies.

The invasion was going well after the hold up at Caen, and things got quieter for us and the other warships still on station and after about 7 or 8 weeks of this we too were sent home, battered a bit, shell and splinter scars everywhere, the funnels were holed like a colander, but still seaworthy and capable of fighting - weary and tired perhaps but still safe and sound.

We were sent to South Shields on Tyneside for a complete refit and overhaul. On our arrival in the Tyne we were met by hoards of people lining the banks of the river, cheering and waving, ships sirens were blowing - it was one hell of a welcome home (the B.B.C. had, on ‘D’ Day, announced that H.M.S. Belfast had been at the forefront and had fired the first shot in the Invasion).

The local people, true to the reputation of the Tynesiders hospitality really spoilt us. Parties, dances, taken everywhere and a welcome in every home - we were spoilt.

On arrival at South Shields we rather thought the Ship’s Company would be paid off and a new Commission would come aboard (we were the second Commission), and a lot of us hoped to get a shore base until we could be demobilised - but not to be - a few people were drafted, the Ships Company virtually remained intact. We had suffered few casualties during the invasion.

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