大象传媒

My father spoke very little about his experiences in the war, but after his death a few flimsy pages of his diary, written on the HMS Anthony, were found in his effects. Had he been found to be writing this he would undoubtedly have been court marshalled.

Operation Ironclad
6th May 1942

The purpose of this mission as I understand it, was to secure control over important convoy routes round Africa and Suez. It was thought that the Japanese were likely to try to take the island of Madagascar if the British did not take it first and so gain control of the sea passages. In 1942 the island was under the control of the Vichy French who were using shipwrecked sailors to add to their land defences. The French were asked to surrender the island, but they declined the offer.

In order to surprise the resistance, the plan was to enter Diego Suarez harbour under the cover of darkness and attack the town of Antsirane from the opposite direction to the army. To achieve this the HMS Anthony had to negotiate coral reefs, previously thought impassable and run the gauntlet of the French guns.

On 5th May 1942 50 British marines transferred from HMS Ramillies to HMS Anthony. They sailed into the harbour in pitch darkness at 8 pm, under heavy fire. The ship ran along the wharf to let the marines off. In the following battle the marines captured the artillery HQ and main barracks, which led to the rapid collapse of the French.

Diary of William Smith, written whilst serving on
HMS ANTHONY in May 1942

Sat 25/4 Ashore in Durban.
Sun 26/4 Sailed 鈥� for where? Co. NE. sea mild 鈥� hot.
Mon 27/4 Destination still unknown 鈥� with Convoy, 9 boats. Co still NE 鈥� very hot
Tues 28/4 Buzz that we are for MADAGASCAR. Bit of a swell on 鈥� not uncomfortable 鈥� but heat is.
Wed 29/4 Heat gets worse 鈥� Mess deck like an oven 鈥� God help the poor old stokers.
Thurs 30/4 Madagascar buzz persists, but nothing official
Fri 1/5 May Day 鈥� tomorrow starts Chester race week in normal times 鈥� blast the war!! Heat is terrific the only comfort obtainable is on the upper deck after sundown 鈥� impossible to sleep below decks.
Sat 2/5 Sea beautifully peaceful and blue 鈥� its strange but people pay big money to seek weather conditions like these, but its getting me down.
Sun 3/5 We were told officially by the skipper today where we are going to take the place (I hope) 鈥� Zero hr.Tuesday dawn. Wonder if it will prove as quiet as the Spitzbergen 鈥榙o鈥�. Other ships joined the force today 鈥� I counted 32 including 2AC, 1BS and 2 CRs.
Mon 4/5 Heat murderous today. Action stations 5 am false alarm. Again at 6pm when we separated from the main force in co. with lightning and 鈥�. Then followed a lot of mysterious movements which I did not understand, but from what I gather we laid a channel of buoys for the other ships to follow
Tues 5/5 During the early hours we were dashing about the ocean on what can best be described as 鈥渟heep dog鈥� movements 鈥� getting all the AMCs into position for entering the bay. Our news of what exactly is happening is vague, but apparently everything is going 鈥渁ccording to plan鈥�. Only a sloop has been encountered up to now. An ultimatum had apparently been sent to the Governor of the island asking for surrender and the following is a copy of his reply as received by W/T:
鈥淪ir, La defense en diago a ete confice sar鈥檒e marechal mon honneur militaire Diego Suarez defendez jusqua au bout conformement our traditions de l鈥檃rmee de la marine et le l鈥檃viation from couse = Colonel de l鈥檃rtiliere commandant defense.鈥�

A submarine was sunk in harbour but 2 are alleged to have escaped to sea and we spent鈥�..looking for them. We seemed to 鈥he time going round in circles 鈥�.. where. Occasional bursts of 鈥� could be heard from shore. In fact 鈥o know more about what was going on鈥�..
Wed 6/5 At last we are going to do something in this rotton war. After a quiet day we are now on the way to the harbour of Diego Suarez with 50 marines to take positions in the rear of the town. We have to run the gauntlet of some 18 guns on shore and a mine field. When we left the Flag Ship made 鈥淕ood bye and Good luck鈥� quite a Nelson touch. If I am able to continue this story after 10 pm I will consider myself very lucky.
10pm. We鈥檙e thro!! Phew!! Relax once more. It was a great run. Plenty of guns opened up at us, but their shooting was poor and they got back better than they gave. The suspense and waiting was the worst 鈥� expecting the big shore guns to blow us out of the water at any time. Anyway they didn鈥檛 so all is well. Going through the narrow channel at full speed with 12.6 guns 500 yards away was some thrill.
Thurs 7/5 As we came into anchor鈥�. All the ships we passed gave鈥� and the warship flew flags鈥�. At 1 pm we heard that the town 鈥� naval base had surrendered. Rest of the day spent screening Carriers.
Fri 8/5 Joined fast convoy of supply ships at 4 am and escorted them to Antsirane harbour, arriving evening
Sat 9/5 When alongside RAMILLIES at 8 am received more cheers. Admiral came aboard and thanked us! Quiet day alongside RAMMY
Sun 10/5 Divisions and church. Padre of RAMMY told us he prayed for us on Wed. night 鈥� Evening quarters.
Mon 11/5 Still alongside RAMMY. Had photographs taken for British Movietone.
Tues 12/5 Shifted berth. Very quiet. Feeling chocka after last weeks excitement. Heard today we were here for 3 months. God 鈥� hope its not true
Wed 13/5 Loafing at anchor. Nothing doing.
Thurs 14/5 Went out on patrol at 8 am. At 4 pm ordered to proceed 140 miles south to locate and rescue crew of crashed aircraft.
Fri 15/5 Arrived at rendezvous 11.30 鈥� late owing to 7 knot current. All men had been taken a further 50 miles S. Proceeded after them and managed to get 3 Sergeants. Officers had been flown to capital. Started back 8 pm
Sat 16/5 Own harbour 9 am oiled and anchored. Rest of the day cleaning 鈥� Mail arrived.
Sun17/5 Divisions. Quiet rest of day. Had chance of going ashore but didn鈥檛
Mon 18/5 Still in harbour 鈥� no excitement.
Tues 19/5 Sailed from Diego Suarez 鈥� where to now? 2 A.C.s 5 Drs & C鈥� in Coy
Wed 20/5 At sea 鈥� exercises. Destination MOMBASA.
Thurs 21/5 鈥� 鈥� 鈥�
Fri 22/5 Arr. MOMBASA forenoon. Never seen so many warships in one port before. No shore leave.
Sat 23/5 Alongside ADAMANT
Sun 24/5 Divisions 鈥� started boiler clean
Mon 25/5` Left ship for Rest Camp. What a do 鈥� no grub, no rum, no beer. Grand swimming.
Tues 26/5 Sent back to ship for grub, fun coming back with native boys.
Wed 27/5 Left Rest Camp 4.30
Thurs 28/5 Finished boiler clean. Ashore in MOMBASA for few hours
Fri 29/5 Ashore again with Cookie and Joe. Had watch mended. Went to pictures
Sat 30/5 Went to sea at 7 am. Picked up Resolution and turned back. 9.30 pm approx RAMILLIES torpedoed in Diego Saurez Harbour
Sun 31/5 Still with RESO. Arr. MOMBASA 6 o鈥檆
Mon 1/6 Alongside ADAMANT. Mail arrived.
Tues 2/6 Browned off for 2 days. A/s patrol. Lousy.
Wed 3/6 Finished patrolling at noon and picked up convoy with DAUNTLESS going to Diego Saurez.
Thurs 4/6 Sea
Fri 5/6 Sea
Sat 6/6 Arr. Diego about 1.30 pm
Sun 7/6 Divisions. Quiet day.
Mon 8/6 Left Diego Saurez in a panic at 11.30 am. 27 knots
Tues 9/6 Arr. Mombasa 6pm. Seems to be a number of raiders about

Fri 19 Arr Durban 鈥� Blacked out 鈥� Hell
Sat 20 Racing at Clairwood
Mon 21/22 48 hours leave
Wed 23 鈥� 26 In dock. Did not go ashore owing to cash shortage.

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