大象传媒

鈥楳ore should be written about Walcheren before the last of us cross the Bar鈥� says R. Blyth, LCG(L)1. I agree, and having read his harrowing account of the battle, I append my own contribution to the story.

Having had about two years in a destroyer commanded by an RN Officer, my next ship was LCG(L) 9, and what a let-down that was. After 30 knots in a ship which has a name, instead by a craft that has a number; 10 knots flat-out; flat bottomed, ugly and unseaworthy coffin-shaped boat, was a terrible blow.

The Skipper was an RNR Lieutenant, a right Tarter, but he knew his business because he got us through the battle unscathed, or very lucky! Of the 25 vessels of Support Squadron Eastern Flank, nine were sunk, nine were damaged and seven, including LCG(L)9, were safe.

I will never forget that terrible day. I was one of the bridge party and I saw everything.

The assault by the SSEF started about 0900 GMT on 1.11.44 and concluded in the late evening. One day, but what a day! The weather was appalling; air cover grounded, including the spotter plane; Warspite, Roberts and Erebus, our monitors, firing blind because of the weather. And hurried by a flashing light in morse: 鈥楪et closer to the shore,鈥� the SSEF craft sailed into action.

At Walcheren, the 鈥榣ittle ships鈥� sailed into history. With incredible gallantry and grievous losses, the SSEF made a success of the landing which could easily been a disaster. I saw craft, including my own, being under terrible withering fire from the shore batteries. Hit, disabled and sunk, but the rest of us carried on, giving everything they could, blow for blow.

In LCG(L) 9, I saw the Royal Marines manning our two 4.7 inch guns wading through spent cartridges cases after firing the shells at the enemy over open sights; a machine gun for aircraft being used for taking out soldiers on the shore; the cook who gave me a sandwich, and the whole crew madly cheering two gunboats, LCG(M)鈥檚, who passed down our port side with battle ensigns trailing in the water as they surging to the shore. Sadly, one of them had no survivors.

By this sacrifice, the Commandos got ashore and fanned out south and north of the gap in the dyke and by Thursday evening all the batteries from Domburg to Zoutelands were silenced. Our job was done.

Commander K A Sellar, DSO, DSC, RN, n/c SSEF, signalled:

鈥業 cannot express to the officers and men of the remnants of our squadron my pride and admiration in you and your lost comrades.

鈥榊ou held the key to the speedy end of the war against Germany, and you turned it with the utmost determination and courage.

鈥楾hose we have left behind remain a memorial to Support Squadron Eastern Flank.鈥�

Dr. D. Cameron, LCG(L)9

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