大象传媒

This account has been transcribed from a diary kept during the Second World War by Robert Gilbert Meadows and contributed to the People鈥檚 War by the 大象传媒 Learning Centre on behalf of Valerie Harvey, his daughter, with her permission.

Robert Gilbert Meadows joined the Royal Navy in 1916, and served
therein until 1945. He was awarded the Mentioned in Despatches medal for his work as Chief Radio Officer on board HMS Princess Beatrix during its service in the Mediterranean campaign.

From Lofoten to Italy - Part 4
INVASION OF SICILY
June 26th 1943

Arrived at Malta without incident and tied up to a buoy in Dockyard Creek. Landing craft left ship soon after arrival. Plenty of evidence of the bombing Malta
has had to endure for the last couple of years.
Dwelling houses badly knocked about and EGMONT showing a number of scars. However, despite the many raids Malta has had, the civilian casualties were comparatively light due to the excellent Air Raid
shelters dug into the soft sandstone rock. Most of the casualties were amongst British troops who manned the AA defences, etc. 1700 left Malta for DJIJELLI.

June 27th

1000 arrived Djijelli and picked up our own boats and their crews. Two hours later left for Algiers.

June 28th

Arrived Algiers 1000. Large number of ships in the harbour, mostly American, some carrying British troop's fresh from the UK. Fair number of American Cruisers and Destroyers also in port, looks as though
the Continental landings will be coming off very soon now.

July 1st

Arrived Bizerta 1100 hours and disembarked troops.
Sailed again at 1400 for Malta. Once again passed through the bomb alley without any sort of interference from the enemy.

July 2nd

Arrived Malta 1000 and disembarked officers of C-in-C staff taking passage. Went ashore for a couple of hours during the afternoon, not an enjoyable experience. Weather was very hot. Valletta largely in ruins from recent air bomb attacks on the island.
Sailed at 1900 for Sfax.

July 3rd

Arrived Sfax 2000. Much activity here since our last visit. Large number of Invasion craft concentrated in the port and it seems we leave here we shall be sailing to attack the soft underbelly of the Axis, probably Sicily.

July 7th

PM - Embarked troops consisting of 8th Army 51st Highland Division (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders) and a number of other miscellaneous troops. Amongst officers embarked was Capt. Randolph Churchill, son of the Prime Minister.

July 8th

PM - Sailed for Sfax. When at sea we were informed by Captain that our destination was Sicily, he then gave us some facts about the invasion of the continent. The
huge number of ships of all shapes and sizes was probably the largest Armada of all time - no fewer than 2500 Allied ships were concerned in the attack!

3000 A/C would be in support of the Naval and Land forces. A large number of paratroops would also be employed and it was intended that these would be dropped over the island just prior to the actual assault. As regards to our own particular force, our objective was the south-eastern tip of the island near Cape Passero and with a large number of other ships we formed the Eastern Task Force. The Americans were due to land further along to the West and were know as the Western Task Force.

July 9th

At sea. No incidents occurred and not a single enemy plane sighted throughout the day, despite the fact that we are practically at the enemy's doorstep. Zero
hour for the land has been fixed for 0300 tomorrow.
2300 - approaching very close to Sicily. Friendly A/C are constantly passing overhead and we can see the searchlights and A/A fire as these A/C's arrive over
the island.
Shortly before midnight a large force of
four-engineered troop-carrying A/C passed overhead flying very low.

July 10th

0130 - Troops embarked in landing craft and leave ship. Even now it appears enemy are unaware that our invasion force are close off their shores, as there is not firing seaward.
0300 - Troops land preceded by a bombardment from ships. We are using for the first time some small craft which have been specifically fitted with a large
number of rocked guns. These guns are being used to lob the rockets on to the beach and it seems they are causing havoc and panic on the beach. The sound of their firing is unnerving itself.

0700 - Reports received that troops have gotten ashore successfully with little opposition, although one of our own landing craft was hit and sunk by mortar fire. Two soldiers in this craft were killed and several others wounded, the latter were later transferred to another ALC and brought back to the ship for medical attention. 0800 - Large number of ships arriving to land troops and equipment. Cruisers and Destroyers firing their guns intermittently at enemy targets further inland. Received three air raid warnings but no attack developed. Heard from one of the boat crews that Italians taken prisoners had volunteered to help our chaps unload their tanks! A phoney war this! Left area at 1500 for Sousse to embark more troops.

July 11th

Arrived Sousse 0900.

July 15th

Left Sousse 0700 in company with Queen Emma for Malta, escorted by Destroyers Oakley and Lauderdale.
1930 - Arrived Malta and anchored outside harbour. As we arrived Nelson, Rodney and Formidable with escorting Cruisers and Destroyers were leaving. Malta
must be feeling very bucked these days to see these large Fleet units again.
2300 - Left Malta for Syracuse.

July 16th

0600 - Arrived Syracuse without incident, although just before dawn Syracuse was attacked from the air and we had a grandstand view of the flares being
dropped over the port and heavy A/A barrage being put up. On our arrival we found a number of ships in the harbour busily unloading supplies for the army. Port
seems very little damaged and it should prove a big asset to use.
During the forenoon we embarked 250 Marine Commandos.
It seems that our next job is to land them behind the Axis forces in the vicinity of Catatonia.
1400 - Left Syracuse for Augusta.
1600 - Arrived Augusta and dropped anchor in its fine harbour. It seems it was used by the Italians as a Naval Base. Away to the north we can discern the faint
outline of Mount Etna and now and again we can hear the rumble of heavy guns firing as our troops advance towards Catatonia. Heard during the evening out job for tonight has been cancelled because the 8th Army
has made better progress than was expected.

July 17th

Last night we had a visit from Axis A/C taking advantage of a full moon. They gave us a very hectic night of it until dawn. One stick of heavy bombs fell
very close to the ship. The Queen Emma was not so lucky. We heard this morning that a bomb splinter had penetrated the ship and set off some mills bombs and hand grenades. Unfortunately the compartment where these were stowed was occupied at the time by a large number of Marines and other ratings. As a result there were 11 killed and about 60 injured, the ships doctor was amongst those killed. A sad affair. During the day our Marines left the ship to go ashore and the Q.E. sailed for Malta.

July 18th

We had another air attack last night, but not so sustained as the previous night. The ships in the harbour put up a fierce barrage and this very probably
scared off the raiders as after dropping a few bombs they disappeared and left us alone for the remainder of the night.
1500 - Left Augusta for Malta in company with PRINCE ALBERT & ULSTERMONARCH and escorted by Destroyers BLANCATHNA & HAMBLEDON.

August 7th

Left Malta at 1100 for Augusta. Prince Leopold and Prince Charles in company. Destroyer escort LAUDERDALE. Arrived Augusta 1530.

August 9th

Surprize attack by 5 dive bombers. They dived down and dropped their loads of bombs before most ships could open fire. Luckily though no ships sustained direct hits, although 2 bombs fell quite close to the
Princess Beatrix.
2200 to 2300 - Night attack by enemy A/C, probably six to twelve. After dropping a number of flares which brilliantly illuminated the harbour, they dropped
several bombs but once again no ships appeared to have suffered any hits.

August 10th

Another air attack just after 0400, but this attack was shorter and less concentrated then the one we
experienced a few hours earlier. This place is decidedly an unhealthy spot at the moment and we shan't be sorry to be on the move again, even if it means doing another job which seems we are likely to
do in the very near future.

August 14th

Embarked about 250 troops of No.2 Commando.

August 15th

Sailed at 2230 in company with Prince Charles and escorted by three Destroyers. In the early hours of tomorrow morning we hope to land the Commandos some
six miles ahead of the 8th Army. We understand that these Commandos have to destroy a German gun battery
which is holding up the advance of the 8th Army.

August 16th

0300 - Troops successfully landed without opposition.
During the forenoon we patrolled up and down the coast awaiting the return of three Prince Charles' landing craft. Good view of Mount Etna, from which we can plainly see a small plume of smoke. Also seeing the
rocky and volcanic nature of the coast, one can fully appreciate the difficulty the 8th Army have had to advance. Returned to Augusta just after noon.

August 17th

Fall of Messina announced and finish of the Sicilian campaign. Now for the next move which presumably will be Italy proper.

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