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HMLCG (L) 14. Yugoslavia & The Dalmatian Islands

September 23rd 1944 – April 29th 1945

We first sailed into Komiza (Isle of Vis) on Saturday September 23rd 1944. Four days later in company with LCF 14 we were at sea again for the purpose of patrolling the area south of Ploca Point and westward of Arkandjel Island. Returning to Komiza on September 28th.

On October 1st in company with LCG 8 we sailed on an Operation to carry out a Bombardment of Ploca Harbour. This was carried out at the request of the Partisans, and was reasonably successful. We returned to Komiza on October 2nd.

We left Komiza on Wednesday October 4th to return to Man Fredonia and arrived there the same day. We then sailed on the 9th to Bari to take on supplies, not just for us but also for our Forces in Yugoslavia. We returned to Man Fredonia on Friday October 13th, and sailed out again the following day to return to Komiza (Isle of Vis).

We had one day in harbour before heading out to sea again on October 16th. Our ‘Skipper’ was very good in clearing lower decks and informing the crew of what each Operation was all about. This time it was to Bombard Sipan Island by Indirect shooting.

ML 1241 that had landed the FOO party on Mljet Island joined us when we had reached Lago Grande on the Island of Laosta. In the early hours of October 17th we took up our firing position near the southeast corner of Mljet Island, and awaiting instructions from the FOO. We opened fire at 06.21 hours and continued to fire as instructed until 11.08 hours when ‘Cease Fire’ was ordered.

ML 1241 took the FOO and party off Mljet Island and we returned to the Isle of Lagosta for the night before returning to Komiza on October 18th.

On Saturday October 21st we did the run again to Man Fredonia, then onto Bari on the 22nd. We stayed in Bari taking on provisions, ammunition and supplies for our Forces, before returning to Man Fredonia on October 30th. Then it was back to Komiza on the 31st October.

On Wednesday November 1st 1944, we sailed again proceeding north to the Isle of Ist, arriving there the next day. We had about 48 hours here before leaving again on the 4th November to carry out a patrol in the area of Veli Rat (Isle of Verunica). It was known that the enemy was moving troops and Equipment in Landing Craft by night. We had left Ist at about 17.00 hours and our course took us to the vicinity of the southeast corner of the Island of Molat. The night was very dark, sea was reasonably calm, hardly any wind. At about 23.00 hours dense fog came down and it was impossible to see anything. Guns Crews were ‘Closed Up’ and we proceeded at a slow rate of knots.

At about 00.30 hours on November 5th, another ships engines were heard and some of the crew went to the side to witness another Landing Craft coming alongside. It was only when the crew of the other landing Craft shouted across, that we recognised they were German, they in turn had recognised we were British, and immediately turned on all power and headed away. We managed to fire 4 rounds in the general direction they had taken, but had no knowledge of any hits. I have often wondered what the crew of the German craft had to report back at their Base.

We continued on our patrol throughout the night and did not see anything else, and returned to Veli Rat, arriving about 11.00 hours.

Tuesday November 7th just after midnight, we sailed from Veli Rat and proceeded to the Island of Ist, arriving there about 06.30 hours. No enemy shipping was seen on route. On arrival at Ist, the first part of that days programme was for a detachment from the crew, 12 Royal Marines, 6 Royal Navy and the Royal Marines Officer to attend a parade ashore to mark the 27th anniversary of the creation of the USSR.

I don’t believe the Yugoslav Partisans had ever seen such a smart turn out. The Royal Navy and the Royal Marines dressed in their Number 1’s. ‘Pusser’ enough to be inspected by the Captain General let alone the local Komandanta – Kapetan of the Partisans. All very impressive.

An invitation was made to our Captain to allow those who had attended to parade to attend a function in the evening at the local Seaman’s Home. Based on Ist was a detachment of the LRDG and their Base was a house situated in the port area.

At their request this house was to be our first ‘Port of Call’ before going onto the function at 19.00 hours in the Seaman’s Home. The LRDG Boys had a few bottles of ‘Rakia’ and Kruskova Liqueur that needed to be broken into with ‘Cheers’ all round.

The entertainment in the Seaman’s Home consisted of a number of sketches depicting the triumph of communism/socialism over the capitalist society. This was explained to us be one of the interpreters. We endured this for about one and a half hours, then the curtain came down and all the chairs were pushed to the side of the hall for the dancing to begin. A buffet and a few bottles of ‘Petrol’ had been laid on at the back of the hall. The celebrations came to a halt at midnight when we all returned to the ship, ignoring the calls of the LRDG Boys to have one for the road.

It seemed no sooner that we had crawled into our hammocks, than ‘Wakey Wakey’ was being bawled at us, and we were preparing to put to sea again.

We sailed from the Island of Ist at 08.00 hours on November 8th to return to Veli Rat, and arrived there at about 13.45 hours. Our stay in Veli Rat lasted from two days, and at about 11.30 hours on November 10th we sailed to make the short journey to the Island of Molat, arriving in the port of Molat at about 15.00 hours. We remained tied up here for eleven days, the days spent training and more training. On Tuesday the 21st November we left Molat and returned to Veli Rat.

We remained at Veli Rat until 21.00 hours on December 2nd 1944, when in company with LCG’s 4 and 8 and LCF 14 we sailed to join up with a Naval Force outside the harbour and proceeded to the Island of Lusino for Operation ‘Antagonise’.

After the action of Operation ‘Antagonise’ we proceeded to Lucina Cove, Island of Molat, and remained here until December 5th, then put to sea again at about 07.15 hours. We arrived in the port of Ancona at about 20.00 hours the same day.

For the next four months our Tour of Duty took us back to the West coast of Italy and more Operations and Patrols, before returning to the Adriatic on Saturday April 7th 1945. We arrived back in Bari at about 11.00 hours on April 8th and berthed in the small harbour (Port Vecchio).

The morning of April 9th we were taking on board provisions and ammunitions, it was a fine sunny day. At noon in the Main Harbour an Ammunition Ship blew up, causing massive destruction to the docks and many lives lost. Fortunately for us we were away from the full blast.

On the instructions of the Flag Officer (Italy) a detachment of Royal Marines from LCG 14 were landed to Police and Picket the Docks area. This we did for 24 hours until relieved of this duty by 31 Royal Marines who had arrived from Barletta.

Within a short time of the disaster about 20/30 RN personnel from the Base came on board for treatment to injuries and stayed. Also five Royal Marines from the Shore Base were accommodated on board. The Flag Officer signalled his appreciation to the Officers and Men of LCG 14 for their quick response to the disaster.

After completing the task of taking on board supplies for two months, we sailed from Bari at 08.00 hours on April 12th and joined up with LCF 16 and LCF 17 who were waiting outside the harbour. An uneventful voyage saw us arrive in the port of Zara, Yugoslavia, at about 14.00 hours on April 13th, where we joined company with LCG’s 4, 19 and 20.

On April 15th we sailed from Zara at about 09.30 hours for the Island of Pag, staying only an hour, joining up with some LCT’s and escorting them to the Island of Rab, arriving there at about 08.00 hours on April 16th. We remained in Rab whilst the LCT’s were loaded with Partisans and equipment, and at 23.00 hours sailed out to join up with some LCI’s and in convoy sailed on to the Island of Krk, where in the early hours on April 17th 1945 the Partisans were put ashore. We stood by to give Support Fire if require. The Landing went ahead unopposed. Thereafter we remained in the area to engage pre-arranged targets in Krk town if called upon by the FOO.

Because of the rapid advance of the Partisans, no targets were made available. The Island capitulated in the late afternoon.

We had been joined by LCG 19 in the morning and cruised in the area until the surrender of the enemy was confirmed. We then proceeded to the Island of Rab and arrived there about 20.00 hours.

In the early hours of April 18th in the company of LCG’s 4, 19 and 20 we sailed from Rab, escorting five LCT’s to make a Landing on the Island of Cherso. It was the same routine as the landing on the Island of Krk. We stood to give Support Fire, but again we were not called for, as the landing was unopposed.

In company with LCG 19 we proceeded northwards and took up firing positions to engage pre-arranged targets in the town of Cherso, if required.

The FOO had landed with the initial assault. Once again because of the rapid advance of the Partisans, our services were not called for. However LCG 19 was given a target, a small craft trying to escape from Cherso harbour.

We stayed in the vicinity until receiving confirmation that the enemy garrison had surrendered.

At about 18.00 hours on April 18th we left the area of Cherso and in company with LCG’s 4, 19 and 20, and a collection of Landing Craft and Partisans Boats, preceded as instructed to make a landing on the Island of Lussin. This took place in the early hours of April 19th 1945; this followed the familiar pattern of the Partisans going ashore and the LCG’s waiting to give Support Fire when required. This time we were given targets to shoot at. A total of 21 rounds were expended at enemy position before we were ordered to ‘Cease Fire’. After this the Partisans again made a rapid advance, although the enemy garrison did not surrender until April 20th. We remained in the vicinity of Lussin just in case we were called upon for any assistance.

We finally departed the Island of Lussin at about 10.00 hours on April 21st and proceeded to the Island of Rab, where we stayed overnight, and sailed the following morning at about 08.30 hours for the port of Zara, arriving there in the early evening of April 22nd.

The weather had been fine and clear and the sea reasonably calm during our ‘Excursions’ to the northern islands of Dalmatia in the last 7 days.

We remained in Zara until April 29th when we left Yugoslavia for the last time and headed for Bari, arriving there at about 15.00 hours on April 30th.

Wednesday May 2nd 1945 was to see the end of the war in Italy, and where the crew thought we may get a decent ‘Run Ashore’, the Naval Authorities had different ideas and we were put to sea to ‘Wallow About’ 5-10 miles out, and then returned to Bari harbour the following morning.

We remained in Bari until May 8th, when the war in Europe ended, and once again we put to sea, this time heading for Messina, where we arrived at about 10.00 hours on May 10th 1945.

Our final voyage on board LCG 14 commenced on Sunday 17th when we sailed out of Messina at about 11.00 hours and headed for Gibraltar, arriving there on June 23rd. We departed Gibraltar on Thursday June 28th and headed for home, and after a very stormy voyage we arrived back in Falmouth at about 16.00 hours on July 4th. (Having departed from here at about 18.00 hours in June 9th 1943). We paid off on July 10th 1945.

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