A Senior Flotilla Officer Writes From Australia in 1990
His LCTs Landed at How Sector About 50 Years Earlier
"...my Flotilla landed 8th Army (aka Monty's) tanks in Howe (sic) the most
Eastern of the landing beaches. We did ship to shore..." Details from a letter
by SFO Cyril Masterman, RANVR, Comb. Ops. Map is from St. Nazaire to
Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War 1941- 1945, Vol. 1, pg. 179
Introduction:
In the first of four letters from former SFO Cyril Masterman, Australia, written in the early 1990s to Clayton Marks (former member of RCNVR and C. Ops, i.e., Combined Operations), London, Canada, it seems clear that the basis of their connection was shared experience related to the Dieppe Raid, August 19, 1942. The 50th Anniversary of the raid was forthcoming and they both shared information back and forth about those who had taken part, according to their recollection and lists in their possession.
In his second letter Cyril shares information about his time in the Mediterranean during the invasions of Sicily, beginning July 10, 1943, and Italy about two months later, beginning September 3. A goodly portion of the two page letter refers to difficulties in getting about 3 dozen LCTs (Landing Craft, Tanks) back to the UK without them sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cyril's cursive style is a challenge at times so I will share some parts of the letter as is followed by my interpretation. I think I've managed to translate sufficiently well to pass the grade with a 98% success rate.
Note in 1st sentence one more reason for the two sailors to connect
fairly easily, i.e., "your exploits in L.C.T.s," something in common
I was pleased to receive your letter of April 5th and to hear of your exploits in L.C.T.s.
I was the Senior Flotilla Officer L.C.T.s in the Med. My Flotilla landed 8th Army tanks in Howe (sic), the most Eastern of the landing beaches. We did ship to shore for a few days, then moved up to Augusta. Later we moved to Catania then did the landing across the Straits of Messina at Reggio. Then Vibo Valencia (sic)* (a minor op.). Then Salerno.
(*Vibo Valentia, Italy. Not much has been written or found about this minor operation).
To assist readers with the location of How Beach, one of the Allied "Eastern landing beaches," I share two maps below, the first from the book entitled Combined Operations by Clayton Marks, the second from another volume of stories literally inspired by Clayton's book and called St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War 1941- 1945, Vol. 1.
SFO Masterman supplied Monty's 8th Army at How Beach alongside the 81st
Flotilla of Canadian Landing Craft (LCMs) near Avola (see far right). Page 76
In the map at the top of this entry one can see How Beach is subdivided into 3 sections (Red, Amber and Green) and Red and Amber Beaches now make up part of modern day Gallina.
However, Masterman was incorrect in his view that How was the "most Eastern of the landing beaches" because just north of How Beach was George Beach, with the Eighth Army being serviced by the 80th Flotilla of Canadian LCMs (Landing Craft , Mechanised). The buzz of many landing crafts and even larger ships would have been hidden from view to some degree by the large peninsula, Punta del Cane (see map below).
"MOST SECRET" Map is from St. Nazaire to Singapore... Vol. 1, pg. 179
Noto and Avola (inside blue circle) are located incorrectly on the above map.
Many sailors lived in two cattle caves, aka 'grottazze' in Italian, for 2 - 3 weeks while unloading LCMs into the first week of August. The caves are difficult to see and impossible to access due to the growth of thorn-covered shrubs and cactus over the last 80 years or so. That being said, the shrubs and cactus did not keep my son and I from swimming last September.
More about GEORGE Sector and sinking of HMHS Talamba found here
Canadian LCMs were unloaded from HMS Empire Charmian at HOW Sector
Photo from D.J. Lewis' book St. Nazaire to Singapore... Vol. 1, pg. 138
Email Editor at gordh7700@gmail.com for more details about the book
A view of GEORGE Sector and Fontane Bianche, partially hidden by the
NE shore line of Punta del Cane (rock was cut away for building material)
Being the S.O. I attended a meeting each day on the HQ Ship* where I was told which supply ships were required to be unloaded first then alloted (sic) the L.C.T.s accordingly.
*the HQ Ship (for the SNOL - Senior Naval Officer of Landings) is the Reina
Del Pacifico (Queen of the Pacific). Many ships nearby are U.S. Liberty ships
After a couple of weeks at Salerno* I took 24 L.C.T.s back to Sicily where we prepared for the return to the U.K. We eventually left Gib. (i.e., Gibraltar) on the 5th November, 1943.
(*Salerno was invaded by Allied forces under the leadership of U.S. Gen. Mark W. Clark beginning on September 9, about a week after the initial invasion of Italy - Operation Baytown - at the toe of the boot beginning September 3, 1943).
Cyril continues:
Most of our crafts' engines were the worse for wear and most days we had 2 or 3 or more L.C.T.s in trouble. Three days from home we received a gale warning from Admiralty. The seas became mountains and the wind registered 80 KTS (knots) at the Scillies weather station. I left Gib. with 36 (LCTs) and arrived at St. Marys, Scilly Isles with 3. One craft was lost, another with two engines out was washed right across the Bay of Biscay and dropped anchor in Spain.
The next group to return to the U.K. were 3 days out when they were advised German destroyers were in their area. So they turned tail and returned to Gib. One of their group had dropped behind with engine trouble and didn't know the group had turned back. He went flat out trying to rejoin his group and arrived in the U.K. on his own. He was a Canadian whom I knew well but I can't recall his name. He was in the 5th Flotilla.
There were no R.N.R. (Royal Navy Reserve) in L.C.T.s but the F.O. (Flotilla Officer) of L.C.I.(L) (i.e., Landing Craft for Infantry, Large) were both R.N.R. and R.N.V.R. (Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve). Strange to say the first L.C.T. Flotillas were commanded by Australians.
I had a close association with the Canadians Tank boys when training for Dieppe (see War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (1)) and had many happy times with them. They taught me to drive a Churchill Tank.
I found the writings of Lt. Cdr. (Jake) Koyl very interesting and thank you very much for sending them to me. I have taken a copy of the Naval Forces involved in Dieppe and trust you will find them of interest.*
(*Clayton Marks reported about Naval Forces that participated in the Dieppe Raid and perhaps Cyril Masterman provided some of the details - Lists of Naval Forces at Dieppe)
The Dieppe Veterans' Assn. appears to be dead because although I am a Life Member I haven't heard from them for years. I thought I may have at least received their Annual Report.
We Australians on loan to the R.N. were supposed to serve with them for 2 years* but they (R.A.N.) (i.e., Royal Australian Navy) forgot about us. I spent 3 and 1/2 years, others longer.
(*2 years was the duration for many Canadian Navy boys like my father and his mates, i.e. from December 1941 to December 1943. After returning to U.K. barracks after three months in the Mediterranean (July - early October, 1943), they were eventually shipped back to Canada on leave - but many were back in service with RCNVR and Combined Operations by January, 1944 (e.g., my father and many mates were sent to a Combined Operations training school on Vancouver Island until fall, 1945).
I did a short term as Gunnery Officer on the Queen Elizabeth 8 x 8 inch guns trooping New York to the Clyde. I was relieved in New York, joined the Ranee (Aircraft Carrier) in San Fransisco and off loaded in Perth (Aust.) then to our Naval H.Q. in charge of Combined Operations. So ended another of life's experiences.
PS. Our Sicily problems were (German) Aircraft. We shot down one the first night. When I say 'we' (I refer to) the ships in the anchorage, 12 of us. Reggio and Salerno was the same story. F. W. Fighters (i.e., German Focke Wulf) with 2 x 100 pound bombs.
One scored a direct hit on a heavy ack ack battery just as it left our ramp. One direct hit straight through the side and bottom and didn't explode. We kept the tail fins as a souvenir.
I would sooner face all these than an 80 KT. (knot) Atlantic Gale.
Kindest Regards, Clayton, and thanks again for the mailings.
C.M.
More about War Correspondence will follow.
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