We left Gibraltar, in the midst of an air raid, the day before my twenty first birthday on Wednesday 1st April 1942 with Laforey, Hermione, Malaya and three other destroyers. We were not told where we were bound - but we hoped that it is back to the UK for a refit. Once out in the Atlantic we headed SSW and all hopes of a trip home were dashed. Moral amongst the lads fell for we had now gone almost a year with only 48 hours leave. As we neared Freetown we picked up the troop convoy WS 16. On stopping at Freetown to refuel on the 6th, we took aboard a new First Lieutenant - Duncan Carson replacing lieutenant 'Jake' Bromley. The temperature was now 109 degrees in the shade - you could fry an egg on the iron deck. As the local waters were known to be shark infested we were not allowed to bathe over the ship's side and so we kept cool by playing fire hoses on ourselves on the fo'c'sle.
On April 9th, having been joined by Illustrious, we departed Freetown with the convoy. We were now told that we would be heading for Durban - more gloom. Two days later on the 11th, at 0200, we crossed the equator but could not have the traditional ceremony due to the foul weather. This was held at 1400 the next day. 'Marmite' Rawlings spent a good while repairing a scrounged canvas pool for the ceremony. 'Slinger' Wood was His Oceanic Majesty King Neptune, 'Spegal' Spicer was queen Aphrodite and Tom King was the policeman. If you had a certificate, showing that you had already crossed The Line (the Equator) you didn't need to go through the ceremony again - you could just watch and enjoy it. I had a certificate from the Cathay, and so was saved from the ordeal. I remember how nervous some of the youngsters were who had never crossed The Line before. The new First Lieutenant was the first to undergo the ordeal followed by other officers and then the crew.
The ceremony was loosely based around the story of King Neptune's Court. Several 'prisoners' had to be initiated into the Brotherhood of the Sea by the King. It was the policeman's job to present the 'prisoners' and read out their misdemeanours. The court then decided on the most fitting punishment. This could be one of many horrible ordeals which included being shaved with a huge wooden razor or eating a 'pill' of hard Pusser's soap - they all ended up with being thrown to the four bears who dunked them several times in the water. If you tried to get out of the ceremony you would get even worse punishments. This all provided a short period of light relief as the clouds of war were getting darker by the day.
On April 14th, at 1430, we left the convoy to refuel at Jamestown on the very pretty island of St. Helena. We weren't granted any shore leave - security I guess. Leaving at 0130 the next day we rejoined the convoy during the afternoon of the 16th. After three days steaming, at 1630 on the 19th we arrived at Capetown again to refuel alongside the jetty. Again no shore leave was granted - the scenery was magnificent with Table Mountain in the background. Leaving Capetown the next day, we finally anchored in Durban at mid day on 22 April 1942. There we were joined by our new sister ship HMS Lookout . There were now three 'big Ls', we were still waiting for our eventual chummy ship and saviour HMS Loyal. (She was still delayed in the builders). The next day, after oiling at 0730, we moved to Point Docks next to the city. My mess mate Tom 'Buck' Taylor recalls his time in Durban -
" At 1430 on 23rd I went ashore and visited Marine Parade. We also went swimming in the surf - it was good to relax for a while. In the evening I met an airman called Turnbull who came from my home town. It was good to chat about home - took one's mind off the war. I remember the fruit and vegetables were very cheap. It was here that I bought a pretty locket for my girl back home (later to become my wife) - I was so delighted because I had been trying to buy her something for six months. (I still have the locket though, sadly, my dear wife passed away on May 2nd 1976). I again went ashore on April 25th at 1330. I visited the Marine Parade and then the Empress cinema. In the evening I went to the Empire Stadium to roller skate. Returning aboard at midnight I was to learn of the accident to our shipmate Doug Brooks from 1 mess".
AB Jack Hall recounts what happened to his special oppo Doug Brooks:
"Doug and I were ashore in Durban and about 9 pm that night we decided to go for tea and cakes at the Service Club opposite the Mayfair Hotel. You see neither of us drank then. We had to go up two flights to this place and, having been served, sat on the balcony outside. About six drunken Aussies came along and knocked off Doug's hat, and not knowing what lay behind he just turned and jumped over the balcony. I dashed down and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived, but I was not allowed to go with him and was told to report the accident back on the ship. The skipper was very understanding about what had happened. As I was his friend I was asked to write to his family who came from Worksop in Nottinghamshire".
Doug Brooks was the first Lightning man to die - on Monday 27th of April,
he was 20 years old and is buried in the Stellawood cemetery, Durban.
On the 26th we heard that a chap from the next ship to us - HMS Peckingham,
had been drowned at Marine Parade. On the 27th I learnt that a good mate
of mine from 1 mess, AB Charlie Hussey, had sustained a fractured skull
whilst roller skating. He was put on the danger list. Things were now getting
a bit rough between the matelots and squadies and so all beer bars and
hotels were put out of bounds.
We left Durban the next day, April 28 1942, with the (now very large)
battle fleet. We still did not know our destination, but the buzz went
around that it was to be Diégo Suarez.
On the 29th, we found ourselves in company with the Illustrious, Hermione, six destroyers including our sisters Laforey and Lookout and eight merchant ships carrying troops and equipment for the invasion. We spent the day carrying out manoeuvres, and an Army captain and a war correspondent (Graham Thompson) joined the ship.
Whilst still underway, on May 2nd we were practising bombardment when AB Cowmelow badly injured his finger in the shell hoist of B turret - he nearly lost his finger. The next day we met up with the second section of our convoy - Indomitable, Devonshire, various minesweepers, corvettes and ten transport ships. Things were getting serious!
Early on Monday May 4th we had a lecture by the Army captain on what our role would be that night in taking the Naval Base at Diégo Suarez (now called Antseranana) in the northern tip of the island of Madagascar.
The plan was that we were to steam into Courier Bay and anchor about 5000 yards from the enemy shore batteries - to draw their fire! We were not allowed to return fire because the commandos would be landing in the bay to attack and hopefully silence the guns. When this had been accomplished the troops from the Royal Scots Fusiliers and Welsh Fusiliers would land in the bay, cross the peninsula and attack the Naval Base from the rear, whilst more commandos would provide a frontal attack on the Base, supported by fire from Ramillies and Devonshire. Zero hour was to be 0430 on the 5th. It all sounded very easy, we just had to sit there and hope that the enemy gunners had a poor aim!
At 1630 on the 4th we closed up to action stations and were to remain so for the next couple of days. 'Marmite' Rawlings recalls that he was the masthead lookout during this critical time. At 1800 we spotted the small islands on the outskirts of Courier Bay . Shortly after that we spotted a light on a small boat, which we ignored as it was considered an enemy decoy that would have run us aground. We were heading for Nosy Bé. In company with Laforey and Anthony we finally found the safe passage that the minesweepers had prepared through the islands and entered Courier Bay. To my astonishment the Captain then ordered the large searchlight switched on to guide the rest of the ships into the Bay (this was obviously prearranged, but it made us feel very vulnerable).
The following is a blow by blow account of the action:
May 5th 1942
0230 We drop anchor at the allotted position in the Bay, and wait to be shot at. I later found out that this was the middle of an enemy minefield! The Lords of the Admiralty must have really liked HMS Lightning.
0430 Zero Hour - the commandos go ashore from the assault ship Royal Ulsterman and shortly report that they have captured a battery of four guns - aimed at us - well done the crabs. They then head inland to take the town of Ambilobe on the only main road from the south of the island to Diégo Suarez.
0445 The Fusiliers go in - fierce fighting breaks out as they advance. As day breaks we are told to look out for enemy aircraft that are machine gunning our men on the ground - none are spotted.
1100 Our commandos report the capture of the town of Ambilobe. The resistence at Diégo Suarez continues.
1315 The corvette Auricula hits a mine but does not sink. We weighed anchor and went alongside her but she did not need our assistance. We were all scared stiff floating around in a mine field all that day.
1430 We are told that Diégo Suarez has fallen.
1710 Action stations. We are ordered to bombard a hill position. Apparently,
they initially showed a white flag but then opened up again on our men
as they approached. They didn't live to regret it!
The night passes quietly aboard our little ship. We are still tense,
and are getting tired and hungry. Food at action stations is only sandwiches
and soup.
May 6th 1942
0700 We are ordered to bombard a castle on a hilltop. We saw several fires ashore as a result of our handy work.
0845 We changed target to a town inland where scored a direct hit on an ammunition dump and could see the smoke rising over the hills and get confirmation from our FOO (Forward Observation Officer).
1000 Our troops signal from the castle that they have captured it. Later that afternoon the Auricula sank. To compensate in a way for her loss an enemy submarine was sunk in the Naval harbour.
1530 We weigh anchor go round th enorth of the island and, with Laforey and Lookout, escort the battleship Ramilles out to sea to search for a reported enemy battleship and maybe two cruisers - none are seen, although Laforey did sink an enemy submarine in the night.
May 7th 1942
During the night, an aircraft from the carrier Illustrious sank another enemy submarine. This cheers us up for a while as we all fear submarines more than anything - you know that they are out there, perhaps even watching you, but you cannot see them. Soon the buzz goes around that there are still two enemy submarines in the area. That sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach returns. The men go quiet again and we all secretly rehearse in our minds what it must be like to be hit by a tin fish. Some of the lads aboard have seen action before. PO James 'Slinger' Wood was on the Armed Merchant Cruiser Jervis Bay when she attacked and was blown apart by the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer. He was badly wounded and awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for his gallantry, but would never speak of his experiences. (You can find his award in the London Gazette of 21 January 1941).
1030 At the amost maximum range of 17000 yards we bombard an enemy shore battery, on the far side of the peninsular, that will not surrender. Within half an hour we cease fire as it surrenders.
1815 We enter the main harbour and anchor at the northern end. We are to guard against enemy submarines entering the harbour of Diégo Suarez. It is very large but with a narrow entrance. In the harbour we can see a sunken enemy sloop, a damaged merchant ship and one of our downed Martlet aircraft floating on the water. We listen to the Prime Minister's speech from home on the radio - we have sustained about 1000 casualties (later corrected to 500).
May 8th 1942
0800 A large convoy comes around from the west coast and enters the harbour.
0845 We head out to sea for a few miles to sweep for enemy submarines - none found.
1300 We join up with Indomitable and learn that Active, assisted by Panther have sunk another submarine - the Vichy French Monge (sunk with all hands). She had near missed Indomitable shortly before in a torpedo attack.
May 9th. We hear the details of how, on the 5th, Anthony landed 50 marine commandos in a surprise attack on the harbour. This was one of the crucial actions of the battle for the Naval Base. Today was the first anniversary of our being aboard.
May 11th 0830 At last we enter the Naval Base at Diégo Suarez - there are many partially sunken enemy ships to be seen.
May 18th. We are still at anchor in Diégo Suarez and, at 0745, a working party is mustered to go ashore to "clean things up". This party comprises 1 Officer, 1 PO and 30 ratings. Upon returning to the ship, the men compare various 'liberated' items including a Turkish turban. The Naval Base Party and soldiers have taken over the running of the dockyard.
The following week was fairly uneventful and we go to sea several times,
often with Laforey to perform ASDIC sweeps for enemy submarines.