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yarpiebrit · 6 years

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There is a very big elephant in the room when it comes to the South African Naval fraternity’s commemoration and remembrance undertakings. Very often in veteran fraternity and South African Navy circles there’s a raging argument – why does the South African Navy and SANDF only commemorate the sinking of the SS Mendi during World War 1 when scant attention is given to the sinking of the SAS President Kruger? It’s ‘political’ is the universal chant of disbelief and failed honour, a travesty of the African National Congress’ (ANC) rhetoric of constantly vanquishing the ‘old’ navy and SADF statutory forces.

But they are ignoring a very big ‘elephant’, something that began as a travesty long before the ANC came to power in 1994. It’s an elephant that sits squarely at the door of the old Apartheid Nationalist government and is entirely their doing. When they came to power they began vanquishing anyone who supported ‘Britain’ during World War 2 as some sort of traitor, made worse because the South African Navy was so intrinsically tied to the Royal Navy via the Simonstown agreement that they never really instituted memorials or commemorations to them. To the old Afrikaner nationalists this was ‘Britain’s problem’ to remember them.

As a result the scope of our World War 2 sacrifice barely gets a mention in the ‘Mendi vs. President Kruger’ argument. In fact the scope, the size of this sacrifice will come as a surprise to many South Africans – including our Naval veterans fraternity and current Navy personnel.

The ‘elephant’ of sacrifice

To give you an idea of just how BIG this ‘elephant in the room is, lets cover the Honour Roll – it far outstrips any South African Naval sacrifice in the post world war era. Yet the South African Navy and the current government gives absolutely no attention to it, not at all – not one single official South African Navy (SAN) parade or ceremony. Not even a dedicated Naval memorial is given to these men.

We start with South Africa’s own ship’s lost in World War 2, all of them minesweepers. (Note on the honour roll when reading it SANF means the member was part of the ‘South African Naval Forces’ and MPK means ‘Missing Presumed Killed’).

The first South African ship lost in the Mediterranean near Tobruk was the HMSAS Southern Floe with its remarkable tale of a single survivor (see this link for a full story – click here: The HMSAS Southern Floe was the SA Navy’s first ship loss & it carries with it a remarkable tale of survival.).

HMSAS Southern Floe

The Honour Roll of sacrifice on the HMSAS Southern Floe as follows:

ANDERS, John, Steward, 69637 (SANF), MPK BOWER, Robert, Stoker 1c, 69935 (SANF), MPK BRAND, Leslie A, Able Seaman, 69828 (SANF), MPK CAULFIELD, Patrick, Steward, 69802 (SANF), MPK CHANDLER, Charles R D, Cook (S), 69613 (SANF), MPK CHENOWETH, Richard, Stoker 1c, 67420 (SANF), MPK FAIRLEY, Alexander E, Sub Lieutenant SANF, MPK FRIEDLANDER, Cecil A, Able Seaman, 114703 (SANF), MPK GARDINER, Elliott, Able Seaman, 67260 (SANF), MPK GREENACRE, John H, Leading Seaman, 69677 (SANF), MPK HEASMAN, Gratwicke E E, Engine Room Artificer 4c, 69784 (SANF), MPK HOGG, Roy S, Sub Lieutenant, SANF, MPK INNES, Ian Mck, Sub Lieutenant, SANF, MPK LEWIS, John Edward Joseph, :Lieutenant, 70019 (SANF), MPK MARSH, Reginald H Y, Able Seaman, 69911 (SANF), MPK MITCHELL, William N, Able Seaman, 69787 (SANF), MPK NEL, Eloff R, Able Seaman, 69635 (SANF), MPK NICHOLSON, Douglas O, Able Seaman, 66833 (SANF), MPK PUGH, John R, Able Seaman, 66877 (SANF), MPK RYALL, David R, Able Seaman, 69999 (SANF), MPK SHIMMIN, William, Leading Stoker, 69661 (SANF), MPK SIENI, Joseph F, Able Seaman, 69788 (SANF), MPK SNELL, Harold W, Leading Telegraphist, 69827 (SANF), MPK STANLEY, Gordon J, Able Seaman, 66963 (SANF), MPK WALTON, Dudley N, Sub Lieutenant, SANF, MPK

The second ship lost was the HMSAS Parktown, which went down fighting during the Fall of Tobruk in Libya, with the HMSAS Bever fighting at her side out the port (see this link for a full story – click here: The feisty South African minesweeper that went down fighting – HMSAS Parktown).

HMSAS Parktown

The Honour Roll of sacrifice when the HMSAS Parktown sank on 21 June 1942 as follows:

BROCKLEHURST, Peter S, Able Seaman, 70457 (SANF), MPK COOK, John A, Stoker 1c, 70256 (SANF), MPK JAGGER, Leslie J, Lieutenant SANF, 70016 (SANF), MPK MCEWAN, William A, Steward, 69686 (SANF), MPK TREAMER, Arthur P, Petty Officer, 71109 (SANF), MPK

The third ship to be lost was the HMSAS Parktown’s sister ship, the HMSAS Bever which went down later in the war during the liberation of Greece when it struck a mine, and carries with its story a tale of miraculous survivors (see this link for a full story – click here“Under a hail of shells”; Recounting the bravery and loss of HMSAS Bever).

HMSAS Bever

The Honour Roll of sacrifice on 30 November 1944 when the HMSAS Bever sank as follows:

ARMERANTIS, Sideris, Stoker 1c, 282953 V (SANF), MPK DE PACE, Luigi S, Petty Officer, 66539 V (SANF), MPK DE REUCK, Leslie B, Telegraphist, 75320 V (SANF), MPK DREYER, Peter, Leading Cook (S), 585236 V (SANF), MPK HIGGS, George E, Stoker 1c, 562712 V (SANF), MPK HUSBAND, Charles A, Stoker 1c, 280098 V (SANF), MPK KETTLES, John D, Engine Room Artificer 3c, 562458 (SANF), MPK LAWLOR, Robert J, Act/Chief Motor Mechanic 4c, P/KX 127225, MPK LINDE, Carl M, Able Seaman, 71194 V (SANF), MPK LYALL, John D R, Stoker 1c, 562179 V (SANF), MPK MATTHEWS, William R, Leading Wireman, 562794 V (SANF), killed PHILLIPSON, Joseph H, Signalman, 181160 V (SANF), MPK RODDA, Harold J, Stoker 1c, 70451 V (SANF), (served as Harold J Andresen), MPK SCRIMGEOUR, Quintin, Petty Officer, 69691 (SANF), MPK TRUSCOTT, E (initial only) W, Able Seaman, 585184 V (SANF), MPK WHITE, Claude, Leading Seaman, 586420 V (SANF), MPK WILLIAMS, Desmond, Able Seaman, 70433 V (SANF), killed

The final minesweeper to be lost was the HMSAS Treern, it was tragically lost right at the end of the war with only one single survivor, and it remains the last South African vessel to be lost in action, even to this day, yet hardly anyone is aware of her history (see this link for a full story – click hereThe last South African Navy ship to be lost in action; HMSAS Treern).

HMSAS Treern

The Honour Roll of sacrifice on the 12 January 1945 when HMSAS Treern sank follows:

ANDERSON, Robert D, Engine Room Artificer 2c, 71067 V (SANF), MPK BARKER, Ronald E, Sub Lieutenant, SANF, MPK BLAKE, Robert E, Petty Officer, P 6572 (SANF), MPK BROWN, Ian H, Able Seaman, 71719 V (SANF), MPK BYRNE, Patrick, Lieutenant, SANF, MPK DAVIE, William, Stoker 1c, 70681 V (SANF), MPK ENGELBEEN, Leslie C, Able Seaman, 562235 V (SANF), MPK JACOBZ, Frank H, Stoker 1c, 70374 V (SANF), MPK MATTHEWS, George A, Stoker 1c, 70728 V (SANF), MPK MCINTYRE, William G, Cook (S), 585360 (SANF), MPK MCLARTY, William D, Leading Stoker, 562246 V (SANF), MPK MCLEAN, Godfrey, Able Seaman, 562455 V (SANF), MPK NILAND, St John E, Able Seaman, 209905 (SANF), MPK PERRY, Desmond A, Petty Officer, 71211 (SANF), MPK REID, Kenneth H, Signalman, 562143 V (SANF), MPK SALCOMBE, Francis R, Stoker 1c, 58589 V (SANF), MPK STAPELBERG, Willem J, Steward, 562221 V (SANF), MPK SUTTON, Donald A, Able Seaman, 70426 (SANF), MPK SUTTON, George A M, Leading Seaman, 586403 V (SANF), MPK TRAFFORD, William O, Able Seaman, 71222 V (SANF), MPK VILJOEN, Dennis A, Telegraphist, 70984 V (SANF), MPK WHITE, Charles W, Petty Officer, 562200 V (SANF), MPK WULFF, Emil F, Leading Seaman, 562466 V (SANF), MPK

Then there is the loss of Rear Admiral Guy Hallifax, the most senior South African Naval Officer to be lost during World War 2, he counts himself as one of the founders of the modern South African Navy and yet he is hardly remembered at all. (see this link for a full story Guy Hallifax, the most senior African Naval officer lost during WW2). He is recorded here:

Director of South African Forces

HALLIFAX, Guy W, Rear Admiral, SANF, air accident, killed

Then, consider these South African Naval Force casualties on other South Africa ships and in other South African operations during the war:

LUCAS, E W R, Chief Engineman, 66756 (SANF), died 4 October 1939 NICOLSON, Andrew, Cook, 63827 (SANF), died 13 October 1939 BESTER, A T, Leading Stoker, 6640 (SANF), died on the HMSAS Africana HUGHES, T J, Stoker, 71383 (SANF), died 10 May 1941 CASSON, William, Able Seaman, 252935 V (SANF), died on the HMSAS Tordonn HOLT, Albert E, Telegraphist, 69576 (SANF), killed on the HMSAS Southern Maid VAN NOIE, Norman, Able Seaman, CN/72134 (SANF), died 20 September 1941 ST CLAIR-WHICKER, Willie H, Able Seaman, 67292 (SANF), died on 21 September 1941 SMITH, P, Able Seaman, CN/72263 (SANF), died 7 April 1942 RUITERS, Walter, Stoker, CN/72081 (SANF), died 21 July 1942 MURPHY, J, Able Seaman, CN/72256 (SANF), died 16 August 1942 FROST, M L, Able Seaman, CN/71804 (SANF), died on the HMSAS Receiffe PETERSON, W J, Able Seaman, CN/72184 (SANF), died 4 September 1942 REHR, Cecil, Able Seaman, 69877 (SANF), died on the HMSAS Roodepoort CARLELSE, Frederick, Able Seaman, CN/72004 (SANF), died on the HMSAS Soetvlei PETERS, Norman, Leading Stoker, 66847 (SANF), died 3 January 1943 DELL, Rodney, Able Seaman, 68866 (SANF), killed 24 March 1943 HENDERSON, Alexander P, Chief Engine Room Artificer, 562099 (SANF), killed at Benghazi, Libya JAMES, H, Steward, CN/72252 (SANF), died 9 May 1943 ORGILL, C B, Able Seaman, CN/71947 (SANF), died 14 May 1943 LA CHARD, Edwin, Lieutenant Commander, SANF, died 20 May 1943 LUCAS, A W, Able Seaman, 152875 (SANF), died 28 May 1943 BATEMAN, T, Chief Engine Room Artificer, 71627 (SANF), died 30 June 1943 ROBBERTS, Kaspar, Petty Officer, P/5285 (SANF), died 1 July 1943 BOSHOFF, Christofel J, Able Seaman, 70339 (SANF), killed on HMSAS Blaauwberg LENZ, William, Able Seaman, 69544 (SANF), died on 29 August 1943 BESTEL, Emmanuel A N M, Lieutenant, SANF, died on 21 September 1943 HARLE, Paul A, Petty Officer, 71796 (SANF), died on 3 October 1943 STEELE, Ewen, Able Seaman, 71272 V (SANF), killed on HMSAS Southern Sea BETTS, Robert, Able Seaman, 68900 (SANF), died 18 November 1943 PAGE, Robert, Sub Lieutenant, SANF, died 29 November 1943 MCLEAN, Richard, Stoker, 562567 (SANF), died 29 November 1943 HARRIS, R H, Telegraphist, 330488 (SANF), died 16 December 1943 NICHOLLS, John, Yeoman of Signals, 66824 V (SANF), died 19 December 1943 FLORENCE, John, Stoker, CN/71982 V (SANF), died 18 January 1944 DANIELS, Adam, Stoker, 72034 (SANF), died 28 January 1944 RAVENS, Albert, Able Seaman, CN/72213 V (SANF), died 31 March 1944 DE KLERK, John, Ordinary Seaman, 585868 V (SANF), died 4 May 1944 BOTHA, Herkulas, Cook, 562093 V (SANF), died 8 May 1944 BISSETT, Alexander, Lieutenant, SANF, died 16 June 1944 JENKINS, Edward G, Engine Room Artificer, 66720 V (SANF), died 14 September 1944 KEMP, Thomas, Able Seaman, CN/71015 V (SANF), died 20 September 1944 WATSON, George, Lieutenant, SANF, died 15 October 1944 BOSWELL, Louis F W, Chief Engine Room Artificer, 69756V (SANF), MPK on the 14 November 1944 on the HMSAS Treern ABRAHAMS, Henry, Able Seaman, CN/719204 (SANF), died 19 November 1944 BERMAN, Nicholas, Ordinary Seaman, 616728V (SANF), died 22 November 1944 DIXON, Robert, Able Seaman, CN/584276 (SANF), died on 11 January 1945 TREISMAN, Gerald, Steward, 584730 V (SANF), died on 10 February 1945 LAMONT, J, Steward, 71402 (SANF), died 24 February 1945 HORNE, P D, Chief Petty Officer, 66661 V (SANF), died 31 March 1945 POVEY, Leonard, Able Seaman, 71182 V (SANF), died 31 March 1945 PFAFF, C E, Petty Officer Stoker, 562721 V (SANF), died 20 April 1945 CHRISTIAN, J W, Able Seaman, CN/71965 (SANF), died 5 May 1945 SIMON, Frederick, Stoker, CN/72046 V (SANF), died 8 May 1945 VAN AARDT, S, Stoker, CN/721490 (SANF), died 22 May 1945 CLARE, Frederick W, Chief Petty Officer, 69599 V (SANF), died 3 June 1945 KEOWN, R J, Able Seaman, CN/71845 (SANF), died 9 June 1945 WELCOME, J J, Able Seaman, CN/72270 (SANF), died 19 July 1945 VAN WYNGAARDT, F A, Able Seaman, 585610 V (SANF), died 21 July 1945 HEARD, George A, Lieutenant, SANF, died on the HMSAS Good Hope COOK, W, Leading Stoker, 70527 V (SANF), died 8 August 1945

As if the above loss of South African Navy personnel is not large enough and the lack of recognition by the Navy not bad enough, there is an even bigger ‘elephant in the room’, a key factor completely overlooked by the South African Naval fraternity and the navy itself, and that’s the South African Navy personnel seconded to the British Royal Navy and lost in the Royal Navy’s ships and shore facilities during the Second World War.

South African Naval personnel were lost on the following significant British vessel losses. Consider this very big ‘elephant in the room’ for a minute, because its getting BIGGER. The losses of these Royal Navy ships carries long lists of South African sacrifice.

We start with all the ships containing South African Naval Forces personnel sunk during the Imperial Japanese Air Force ‘Easter Sunday’ raid on the British fleet in Colombo (this is regarded as the British ‘Peal Harbour’ just off modern day Sri Lanka) and it’s the darkest hour in terms of losses for South African Navy, yet it is neither recognised as such nor is it remembered. (See this link for more depth: The South African Navy’s ‘darkest hour’ is not recognised and not commemorated)

During this attack Japanese airman flying Japanese D3A-1 ‘VAL’ dive bombers flying from the Japanese Imperial fleet, dropped their bombs on the HMS Dorsetshire, who had a very large contingent of South African Naval personnel, she simply blew up when a detonated an ammunition magazine and contributed to her rapid sinking. Click here for a full Observation Post report on her sinking: “They machine gunned us in the water”; Recounting South African Sacrifice on the HMS Dorsetshire

HMS Dorsetshire

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 5 April 1942 when HMS Dorsetshire sank follows:

BELL, Douglas S, Ty/Act/Leading Stoker, 67243 (SANF), MPK BRUCE, Alexander M, Stoker 2c, 67907 (SANF), MPK CONCANON, Harold Bernard, Surgeon Lieutenant (Doctor) EVENPOEL, Albert, Stoker 2c, 67909 (SANF), MPK GEFFEN, Sender, Stoker 1c, 68035 (SANF), MPK HOWE, Horace G, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 68680 (SANF), MPK KENDRICK, George, Stoker 2c, 67910 (SANF), MPK MCINTYRE, Norman G, Able Seaman, 67446 (SANF), MPK MCLELLAN, Robert, Ordinary Telegraphist, 67897 (SANF), MPK MILNE, Lawrence Victor, Able Seaman MORROW, Douglas E, Able Seaman, 67989 (SANF), MPK ORTON, Charles P, Able Seaman, 68009 (SANF), MPK REDMAN, Roland A, Leading Stoker, 67406 (SANF), MPK SCOTT, William J, Able Seaman, 68007 (SANF), MPK SEVEL, Harry, Stoker 1c, 68100 (SANF), MPK VAN ZYL, David Isak Stephanus, Stoker 1st Class WILLETT, Amos A S, Stoker 1c, 67240 (SANF), MPK WILLIAMSON, Walter N, Able Seaman, 67803 (SANF), MPK

The second British ship in this particular Japanese air attack, on the same day and within range of one another was the HMS Cornwall, also stuffed full of South African Naval personnel seconded to her. The HMS Cornwall was hit eight times by the same dive bombers who sank the Dorsetshire and sank bow first in about ten minutes.

HMS Cornwall

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 5 April 1942 when HMS Cornwall sank follows:

BESWETHERICK, Hedley C, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 86671 (SANF), MPK BOTES, John S, Stoker 2c RNVR, 68924 (SANF), MPK COMMERFORD, Noel P, Able Seaman RNVR, 66493 (SANF), MPK CRAWFORD, Cecil E, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c RNVR, 67922 (SANF), MPK DU PREEZ, Charles P H, Able Seaman, 68175 (SANF), MPK DUTTON, Charles C, Stoker 2c RNVR, 68949 (SANF), MPK HANSLO, Raymond F, Able Seaman RNVR, 68295 (SANF), MPK KEITH, Kenneth I B, Able Seaman RNVR, 66742 (SANF), MPK KENYON, Graeme A B, Able Seaman RNVR, 68002 (SANF), MPK KIRSTEN, Monty G W, Able Seaman RNVR, 68917 (SANF), MPK LAW, Edward, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c RNVR, 66760 (SANF), MPK MCDAVID, William K, Stoker 2c RNVR, 69138 (SANF), MPK MITCHELL, William A, Stoker 1c RNVR, 68796 (SANF), MPK PALMER, Walter A, Able Seaman RNVR, 68344 (SANF), (rescued, aboard HMS Enterprise), Died of Wounds SPENCE, Noel W, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 68732 (SANF), MPK SQUIRES, John E, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 68728 (SANF), MPK STEPHEN, Eric B, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 68861 (SANF), MPK SWANN, Lawrence T, Stoker 1c RNVR, 68710 (SANF), MPK THORPE, Maurice, Stoker 2c RNVR, 69140 (SANF), MPK VERSFELD, Peter H S, Able Seaman RNVR, 68859 (SANF), MPK VINK, Benjamin F, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 68860 (SANF), MPK WILLSON, Gerald F, Stoker 2c RNVR, 69006 (SANF), MPK WRIGHT, Thomas H, Able Seaman RNVR, 68039 (SANF), MPK

In earlier incidents on HMS Cornwall two South Africans lost their lives they are also remembered here:

AINSLIE, Roy, Petty Officer, 66382 (SANF), died on 5 September 1940 HAWKINS, Reginald D, Able Seaman, 66700 (SANF), died of illness 4 March 1942

The Easter Raid later offered a great prize for the Japanese, an aircraft carrier, the HMS Hermes, this massive aircraft carrier was sunk a week later by the Japanese near Colombo (now Sri Lanka), the pride of the British Pacific fleet became an inferno after it was dived bombed a number of times. It too had a long association with South Africa and a very big contingent of South African Naval Personnel. (see this link for a in-depth article on the South African Navy sacrifice abound her “Dante’s Inferno”; Recounting South African sacrifice on the HMS Hermes).

HMS Hermes

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 9 April 1942 when HMS Hermes sank follows:

BRIGGS, Anthony Herbert Lindsay Sub-Lieutenant (Engineer) Royal Navy (South African national), MPK BRYSON, Neil W, Ordinary Telegraphist, 69147 (SANF), MPK BURNIE, Ian A, Able Seaman, 67786 (SANF), MPK CLAYTON, Frederick H, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 68102 (SANF), MPK DE CASTRO, Alfred T, Stoker 1c, 67914 (SANF), MPK KEENEY, Frederick W, Able Seaman, 67748 (SANF), MPK KEYTEL, Roy, Able Seaman, 67296 (SANF), MPK KIMBLE, Dennis C, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 67600 (SANF), MPK KRAUSE, Frederick E, Able Seaman, 68321 (SANF), MPK RAPHAEL, Philip R, Able Seaman, 67841 (SANF), MPK RICHARDSON, Ronald P, Able Seaman, 67494 (SANF), MPK RILEY. Harry Air Mechanic 2nd Class, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy (South African national), MPK TOMS, Ivanhoe S, Able Seaman, 67709 (SANF), MPK VICKERS, Colin P, Able Seaman, 68296 (SANF), MPK VORSTER, Jack P, Able Seaman, 67755 (SANF), MPK WHITE, Edward G, Stoker, 68026 (SANF), MPK WIBLIN, Eric R, Able Seaman, 67717 (SANF), MPK YATES, Philip R, Supply Assistant, 67570 (SANF), MPK

Included is also a South African who served with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm on the HMS Hermes.

RILEY, H, Air Mechanic, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Hermes, died 9 April 1942

Next on the list of ships lost during the Easter Raid which contained a high number of South African Naval personnel on board was HMS Hollyhock, sunk on the same day as the HMS Hermes by the same Japanese Dive Bombers on the 9th of April. Click here for a full Observation Post report on her sinking “She immediately blew up”; Recounting South African sacrifice on the HMS Hollyhock

HMS Hollyhock

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 9 April 1942 when HMS Hollyhock sank follows:

ANDERSON, Henry G, Able Seaman, 67501 (SANF), MPK BASTON, Douglas T, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 68600 (SANF), MPK BUITENDACH, James M, Stoker 2c, 69223 (SANF), MPK JUBY, Kenneth J, Ordinary Seaman, 69211 (SANF), MPK LEACH, Peter A D H, Stoker 2c, 69225 (SANF), MPK

It was not just the Japanese Imperial Fleet, the German Navy also took its toll on the Royal Navy, and once again we find South African Naval Personnel seconded to serve on these famous ships sunk during the war.

We start with the HMS Gloucester lost on the 22 May 1941 during action off Crete. They HMS Gloucester, along with HMS Greyhound and HMS Fiji were attacked by German “Stuka” Dive Bombers. The Greyhound was sunk and Gloucester was attacked and sunk while they attempted to rescue Greyhounds survivors in the water (see this link for a full story – click here A “grievous error”; Recounting South African Sacrifice on the HMS Gloucester).

HMS Gloucester

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 22 May 1941 when HMS Gloucester sank follows:

ANGEL, Walter J H, Able Seaman, 67351 (SANF), MPK AUSTIN-SMITH, John R, Ordinary Seaman, 67336 (SANF), MPK BAGSHAW-SMITH, Philip R, Ordinary Seaman, 67337 (SANF), MPK BAGSHAWE-SMITH, Sydney Q, Able Seaman, 68454 (SANF), MPK BARBER, Edgar F, Able Seaman, 67302 (SANF), MPK BRUCE, John, Able Seaman, 67355 (SANF), MPK CARTER, Frederick G, Able Seaman, 67345 (SANF), MPK CHILTON, Ronald H D, Ordinary Seaman, 67335 (SANF), MPK EDWARDS, Ronald E, Ordinary Seaman, 67384 (SANF), MPK ELLIOT, Edward R, Leading Seaman, 66584 (SANF), MPK GERAGHTY, Herbert C, Able Seaman, 67338 (SANF), MPK GROGAN, Graham B, Able Seaman, 67343 (SANF), MPK JAMES, Victor F, Ordinary Seaman, 67303 (SANF), MPK JENSEN, Niels P, Able Seaman, 67347 (SANF), MPK MCCARTHY, Henry F, Ordinary Seaman, 67223 (SANF), MPK MOORE, Albert, Able Seaman, 67416 (SANF), MPK SLATER, Bryan M, Able Seaman, 67358 (SANF), MPK SMITH, Matthew S, Able Seaman, 67359 (SANF), MPK SONDERUP, Arthur W, Able Seaman, 67356 (SANF), MPK STADLANDER, Rowland C, Stoker 1c, 67400 (SANF), MPK STOKOE, Cyril A M, Act/Leading Seaman, 67264 V (SANF), MPK SYMONS, Maurice M, Able Seaman, 68245 (SANF), MPK THOMPSON, Walter E H, Able Seaman, 67360 (SANF), MPK VAN DYK, Cecil H, Able Seaman, 67404 (SANF), MPK WEBBER, Reginald, Able Seaman, 67361 (SANF), MPK WILLIAMS, Dastrey S, Leading Seaman, 67047 (SANF), MPK WRIGHT, Gerald V, Act/Ordnance Artificer 4, 67375 (SANF), MPK

The HMS Gloucester was involved in earlier combat on the 8 July 1940 when it was bombed, the South African casualties are remembered here:

ALLISON, Oswald H, Able Seaman RNVR, 67349 (SANF), killed NOWLAN, Francis C, Able Seaman RNVR, 67409 (SANF), DOW

Tragedy struck the South African Naval Forces seconded to the HMS Barham when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-331, Three torpedoes hit HMS Barham’s port side causing it to list heavily and spread fire towards the ammunition storages. Only 2 and a half minutes passed from the torpedo impact until the ship rolled onto its side and capsized as the aft magazine exploded in an almighty explosion (see this link for a full story – click here “She blew sky high”; Recounting South African sacrifice on the HMS Barham!)

HMS Barham

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 25 November 1941 when HMS Barham sank follows:

BAKER, Dennis E W, Ordinary Seaman, 68617 (SANF) GLENN, Paul V, Ordinary Seaman, 68906 (SANF) HAYES, Richard T, Ordinary Seaman, 68499 (SANF) MORRIS, Cyril D, Ordinary Seaman, 68932 (SANF) UNSWORTH, Owen P (also known as R K Jevon), Ordinary Seaman, 69089 (SANF) WHYMARK, Vivian G, Ordinary Seaman, 69024 (SANF)

The Italians also took a toll of British shipping, again with ships with a South African contingent and this is brought to home on the 19 December 1941, when the HMS Neptune, struck four mines, part of a newly laid Italian minefield. Neptune quickly capsized (see this link for a full story – click here South African sacrifice on the HMS Neptune).

HMS Neptune

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 19 December 1941 when HMS Neptune sank follows:

ADAMS, Thomas A, Able Seaman, 67953 (SANF), MPK CALDER, Frank T, Ordinary Seaman, 67971 (SANF), MPK CAMPBELL, Roy M, Able Seaman, 67318 (SANF), MPK DIXON, Serfas, Able Seaman, 67743 (SANF), MPK FEW, Jim, Able Seaman, 67744 (SANF), MPK HAINES, Eric G, Able Seaman, 67697 (SANF), MPK HOOK, Aubrey C, Able Seaman, 67862 (SANF), MPK HOWARD, Harold D, Signalman, 67289 (SANF), MPK HUBBARD, Wallace S, Able Seaman, 67960 (SANF), MPK KEMACK, Brian N, Signalman, 67883 (SANF), MPK MERRYWEATHER, John, Able Seaman, 67952 (SANF), MPK MEYRICK, Walter, Ordinary Signalman, 68155 (SANF), MPK MORRIS, Rodney, Ordinary Signalman, 68596 (SANF), MPK RANKIN, Cecil R, Signalman, 67879 (SANF), MPK THORP, Edward C, Signalman, 67852 (SANF), MPK THORPE, Francis D, Able Seaman, 67462 (SANF), MPK WILD, Ernest A, Able Seaman, 67929 (SANF), MPK

Other South Africans who had enlisted into the Royal Navy were also lost on HMS Neptune, these include (and by no means is this list definitive) the following:

OOSTERBERG, Leslie W, Stoker 1c, D/KX 96383, MPK TOWNSEND, Henry C, Stoker 1c, D/KX 95146, MPK

On the 30 April 1942, on her return leg from Murmansk, the HMS Edinburgh was escorting Convoy QP 11 when a German Submarine U-456 torpedoed into her. The Edinburgh was carrying gold in payment by the Soviets for war equipment and she is the subject of a remarkable gold salvage after the war. Again, she had a compliment of South African Naval Personnel (see this link for a full story – click here “Gold may shine; but it has no true light” South African sacrifice on the HMS Edinburgh).

HMS Edinburgh

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 30 April 1942 when HMS Edinburgh sank follows:

DRUMMOND, Valentine W, Able Seaman, 68043 (South African Naval Forces), Missing Presumed Killed VAN DORDRECHT, William H, Able Seaman, 67851 (South African Naval Forces), Missing Presumed Killed

On the 12 November 1942, the HMS Hecla was torpedoed by a German submarine, U-515 hitting her in the engine room. The U-boat then hit the ship with three coups de grâce sinking the vessel west of Gibraltar. Again there is South African Naval casualty list (see this link for a full story – click here “Every man for himself” … South African sacrifice and the sinking of HMS Hecla).

HMS Helca

The Honour Roll of South African Naval sacrifice on the 12 November1942 when HMS Helca sank follows:

BENNETT, John F, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 330351 (SANF), MPK LLOYD, George H, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 330353 (SANF), MPK PEERS, Charles V, Able Seaman, 562653 (SANF), MPK SMITH, Ian R, Electrical Artificer 4c, 68478 (SANF), MPK

And there’s more ,,,,, many South Africans served on a variety of Royal Navy ships and many were lost, here’s an indication which just captures South African Naval Forces personnel alone, let alone those who volunteered directly for the Royal Navy, the Honour Roll follows:

ANDERSON, Richard W N, Able Seaman, 86082 (SANF), killed 21 May 1941 on HMS Syvern WESTON, Grant E, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 68498 (SANF), killed 27 August 1941 on HMS Phoebe RASMUSSEN, Victor J S, Leading Telegraphist, 66920 (SANF), MPK 24 November 1941 on HMS Dunedin ADAMSON, William D, Ordinary Seaman RNVR, 69001 (SANF), MPK 10 December 1941 on HMS Repulse BECKER, Stanley H, Able Seaman, 67474 (SANF), road accident, killed 5 January 1942 on HMS Carnarvon Castle DRURY, Frederick, Ordinary Seaman, 68315 (SANF), MPK 29 January 1942 on HMS Sotra SCOTT, Clifford, Ordinary Telegraphist, 66973 (SANF), MPK 26 March 1942 on HMS Jaguar BUCHANAN, Alexander, Able Seaman, 67934 (SANF), died 20 April 1942 on HMS Birmingham COMMERFORD, Terence, Ordinary Seaman, 330258 (SANF), died 21 June 1942 on HMS Express PRICE, David, Able Seaman RNVR, P/68529 (SANF), MP 6 July 1942 on HMS Niger TROUT, A (initial only) N, Able Seaman, CN/72133 (SANF), died 4 August 1942 on HMS Stork JOHNSTONE, Henry N, Lieutenant Commander (E), SANF, 66727, died 18 August 1942 on HMS Birmingham BAWDEN, Wilfred R, Stoker 2c RNVR, 330425 (SANF), DOWS 16 September 1942 HMS Orion NIGHTSCALES, Norman, Writer, 68148 (SANF), MPK 30 December 1942 on HMS Fidelity GITTINS, Victor L, Ordinary Seaman, 69325 (SANF), died 27 January 1943 on HMS Assegai (training base) PLATT, Ronald M, Petty Officer, 67160 V (SANF), accident, killed 26 February 1943 on HMS President III (shore establishment) CROSSLEY, Alfred H, Sub Lieutenant, SANF, MPK 7 March 194 on HMS Saunders DE KOCK, Victor P De C, Ty/Lieutenant, SANF, MPK7 March 194 on HMS Saunders LOUW, Joseph, Stoker, CN 72175 (SANF), illness, died 2 December 1943 on HMS Stork ATKIN, William B, Lieutenant SANF, illness, died 26 January 1944 on HMS Northern Duke SHIELDS, Eric E M, Lieutenant, SANF, died 12 April 1944 on HMS Pembroke IV HOWDEN, Russell K, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, SANF, MPK 4 January 1945 HMS ML 1163, Harbour Defence Motor Launch CLARKE, Reginald E, Ty/Lieutenant Commander, SANF, air crash, MPK 24 July 1945 on HMS Adamant LIDDLE, John, Lieutenant, SANF, MPK 8 August 1945 on HMS Barbrake

Then lets consider the South African Naval Personnel serving in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm (the Royal Navy’s own Air Force separate to the Royal Air Force), and here the following South Africans are on the FAA Honour Roll (excluding Air Mechanic Riley from the Fleet Air Arm, recorded on the HMS Hermes loss). For a full story of these South Africans lost in the FAA see this link – click here South African sacrifice in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm

BOSTOCK, R S, Lieutenant, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 800 Squadron, HMS Ark Royal, died 13 June 1940 BROKENSHA, G W, Lieutenant, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 888 Squadron, HMS Formidable, died 11 August 1942 CHRISTELIS, C, Sub/Lieutenant, Royal Navy Reserve FAA 803 Squadron, HMS Formidable, died 1 August 1942 JUDD, F E C, Lieutenant Cmdr, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 880 Squadron, HMS Indomitable, died 12 August 1942 LA GRANGE, Antony M, Sub Lieutenant (A), SANF, Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy)1772 Sqn HMS Indefatigable, air operations, MPK 28 July 1945 MACWHIRTER, Cecil J, Ty/Sub Lieutenant (A), Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) 851 Squadron HMS Shah, air crash, SANF, MPK 14 April 1944 O’BRYEN, W S, Sub/Lt Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 762 Squadron, HMS Heron, died 26 November 1942 WAKE, Vivian H, Ty/Lieutenant (A), FAA Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) 815 Squadron HMS Landrail, air crash, SANF, MPK 28 March 1945

Finally there are South African Naval personnel found in the Merchant Navy, to which they were also seconded and again the Honour Roll lists:

SS Tunisia, ship loss ADAMS, Douglas E H, Act/Able Seaman RNVR, 66378 (SANF), (President III, O/P), MPKST La Carriere, ship loss DORE, Frank B, Act/Able Seaman RNVR, 67218 (SANF), (President III, O/P), MPKSS Laconia, ship loss ROSS, Robert, Stoker 2c, 69119 (SANF), (Victory, O/P), DOWS SS Llandilo, ship loss CRAGG, Ronald F, Able Seaman (DEMS), 66488 (SANF), (President III, O/P), MPK SS Ceramic, ship loss MOSCOS, John G, Leading Writer, 66786 (SANF), (SANF, O/P), MPK SS Empress of Canada, ship loss COCHRANE, Joseph, Engine Room Artificer 3c, P 68947 (SANF), (Pembroke, O/P), MPK SS Empire Lake, ship loss FLINT, John M, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), P 562749 (SANF), (President III, O/P), MPK

More names…

Now consider this, we have not even begun to scratch properly at the honour roll, this above list is still highly inaccurate with many names missing. We have no real idea of the thousands of South Africas who volunteered and died whilst serving in The Royal Navy Reserve and the Royal Navy itself, in fact we’ve barely got our heads around it. Fortunately a handful of South Africans are working on it, almost daily, but it’s a mammoth task as these names are found on Royal Navy honour rolls and it’s a matter of investigating the birthplace of each and every British casualty. The records of South African volunteers joining the Royal Navy lost to time really.

In conclusion

The only other ship the South African Navy has lost since the HMSAS Treern at the end of the Second World War in a more modern epoch was the SAS President Kruger, and unlike the Treern, whose loss was in combat, the Kruger’s loss was due to a tragic accident at sea (see “Out of the Storm came Courage” … the tragedy of the PK).

These combat losses were one thing, however the same erasing of history is currently happening with the accidental loss in more recent times of SAS President Kruger (the PK), the ‘old’ SADF were very embarrassed by the loss (in effect by tragedy and circumstance we sank our own flagship) and the SADF never really got around to undertake a National Parade to commemorate and remember it. Also in comparison to the bigger picture the loss of 16 South African Navy personnel on the PK is very small indeed, however no less important – and here’s the inconvenient truth, they were ‘swept under the rug’ by the old SADF and remain conveniently swept under the rug by the new SANDF.

On the World War 2 losses, the incoming ANC government from 1994 have fared no better than the old Nat government – they have merely lumped all the wartime combat losses of the HMSAS Southern Floe, the HMSAS Parktown, the HMSAS Bever and the HMSAS Treern into a ‘colonial’ issue not of their history or time, and as for the SAS President Kruger that was part of the ‘Apartheid’ forces in their minds, and as such to be vanquished.

The net result is the South African Navy simply does not have any national parades to commemorate or recognise any of its major losses at sea. The South African Army at least has the Delville Wood Parade (the South African Army’s biggest singular combat loss, a WW1 incident), the South African Air Force has the Apline 44 Memorial Parade (the SAAF’s biggest tragedy, a WW2 incident), the South African Navy …. nothing!

Instead the South African Navy (SAN) focuses on the loss of the Mendi as a SAN Maritime loss, even though the Mendi was under commission to the Royal Navy, and rather inconveniently the South Africa Navy did not really exist in World War 1, it was only really created just before World War 2. Then again, the SS Mendi was also carrying South African Army troops in the form of the South African Labour Corps, not South African Navy personnel (the SAN didn’t exist in any event).

The Mendi is a both a wartime and political tragedy, The silence and subsequence recognition is a National healing one (see Let us die like brothers … the silent voices of the SS Mendi finally heard ). As such it’s now a National Memorial Parade, part of ‘Armed Forces Day’ and one for the entire SANDF to commemorate and remember – and rightly so. But is it a SA Navy specific commemoration – not really – no.

In all this the Navy still dogmatically refuses to host its own National Commemoration to its own naval actions and tragedies, it’s just too politically inconvenient, and wouldn’t it be nice if South African Navy can see past it and see its Naval sacrifice on its own ships, and those of SAN personnel on Royal Navy ships and finally just institute an ‘All at Sea’ Naval Memorial Parade in Remembrance or erect a full Naval memorial (similar to the erected by the Royal Navy in Portsmouth)?

Very small ‘All at Sea’ commemorations are done by the odd South Africa Legion branch and off MOTH Shellhole, on a very local basis – driven by a tiny group of individuals. Nobel in their undertakings no doubt, but these remain very small private initiatives attended by only a handful and is it really enough?

As demonstrated, The South African Navy’s honour roll for World War 2 is a staggering and very long list – it’s an elephant, a very big one at that and it’s a growing elephant, even to this day. It’s well time we seriously look at ourselves, examine our values as to what constitutes sacrifice for the greater good of man and acknowledge it properly.

Written and Researched by Peter Dickens. The honour roll extracted from ‘Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, World War 2’ by Don Kindell. Additional names gleaned from honour rolls published by Col Graham Du Toit (retired).

The South African Navy’s ‘elephant in the room’ There is a very big elephant in the room when it comes to the South African Naval fraternity's commemoration and remembrance undertakings.

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yarpiebrit · 6 years

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Here’s a question for many, in what action did the South African Navy (SAN) experience its greatest single loss of personnel, the largest sacrifice of South African life in a single sea battle – in essence when and what was the South African Navy’s ‘darkest hour’?

I’ve asked this question of senior South African military personnel, including the South African Navy as well as the South African Naval fraternity, the veterans – and the bottom line is … nobody knows.

Some immediately say it was the Mendi, but the loss of the SS Mendi in World War 1 was not a loss of South African Navy personnel (the South African Navy did not exist in WW1 and the Royal Navy was in charge of this particular troop ship full of South African ‘Army personnel’), and the loss of the Mendi was an accident at sea.

Most (actually the majority) of SAN officers and veterans would say it was the loss of the SAS President Kruger (16 souls) but that would also be very wrong, both in terms of scale and action, the SAS President Kruger loss was also an accident.

A tiny handful of SAN officers and vets who have a little knowledge of World War 2 might venture to answer the question stating the loss of one of the four South African minesweepers sunk during the war as the ‘darkest hour’ of the war.

These are the HMSAS Southern Flo (24 souls) or the HMSAS Parktown (5 souls), or the HMSAS Bever (17 souls) or the HMSAS Treen (23 souls) – getting warm but that too would be wrong, as these did not happen over a defined period of the war that would warrant a ‘darkest hour’ in Churchill’s definition of the phrase (Churchill coined the term).

Nope, the largest loss of South Africans in a single sea battle, its ‘Darkest Hour’ took place fighting against Imperial Japan from the 5th to the 9th April 1942 … yup, the Japanese – believe it, and by the end of this particular naval engagement at sea a grand total of 64 South African souls were lost. Now how many people know that!

The reason to ‘forget’!

So why does nobody know about this, why is this incident not ‘recognised,’ why is nobody ‘commemorating’ it and what exactly happened?

Simply put, it’s because they all died fighting whilst seconded to four British war ships in an action in the Pacific called ‘The Easter Sunday Raid’ – and it involved the sinking of the HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire in a single day – and later the sinking of HMS Hermes and HMS Hollyhock a few days later by the Japanese Imperial Navy. But why should that be an issue and a reason to ‘forget’?

Japanese Imperial Fleet Ensign from World War 2

Again the simple answer is because just three short years after World War 2 the National Party in a stunning and unexpected election win over jan Smuts’ United Party, came into power with their proposal of ‘Apartheid’ and making South Africa a ‘Republic’ independent of Britain – and they hated the British or anything to do with Britain. The Nationalists had grounded an entire Afrikaner identity and a country’s ‘nationalism’ on two events – The Great Trek and The 2nd Anglo-Boer war, both of which carried a history of either British betrayal or British atrocity.

During the Second World war these nationalists either openly sided with Nazi Germany and in many cases (by their tens of thousands in fact) even joined Neo-nazi South African parties and/or adopted national socialist movement (Nazism) ideology publicly, some (including a future Nationalist South African President) embarked on sedition and terrorism to undermine the war effort (see “Mein Kampf shows the way to greatness for South Africa” – The Ossewabrandwag).

Bottom line, to the Nationalists thinking anyone who took part in Smuts’ campaign for South Africa to fight in the Second World War was a traitor to their ‘Volk’ (peoples). In their minds they went to fight ‘Britain’s war’ alongside the hated British – traitors all (even though an unprecedented 1 in 4 white South African males volunteered to fight in WW2 – half of them Afrikaners).

For the Nationalists commemorating the sinking of South African ships fighting alongside British ones in World War 2 was bad enough. However, commemorating and remembering the South African loss whilst fighting on His Majesty’s British ships themselves would be, for the nationalist government at least, an unforgivable betrayal.

Members of the South African Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve serving on board HMS Nelson. The group is sat on one of the 16 inch gun barrels.

For this reason, the sinking of South African ships lost in World War 2 was not really extensively commemorated by the ‘old’ South African Defence Force (SADF). The SADF came into existence once the Nationalists declared South Africa a ‘Republic’ and replaced Smuts’ old ‘South African Union Defence Force (UDF) with a reformed military entity. The sinking of HMSAS ships are only ‘remembered’ in small pockets of veteran South African Legion branches and MOTH shell-holes.

It is also for this reason that the SADF and the South African Navy did not ever commemorate the South African losses on British Ships, it is the reason why this particular ‘darkest hour’ in the South African Navy’s history is not recognised or remembered at all, which is utterly unforgivable as this is the very institution who supplied the men to The Royal Navy in the first place.

It is made worse in the modern epoch, by the newly reformatted South African National Defence Force’s Navy after 1994, which has not only lost the link thanks to the Nationalists, but also does not attempt to re-kindle it, party because of lack of knowledge, but also because it suits the African National Congress’ political agenda not to remember this association (commemorating or remembering a time when South Africans went to war for the ‘Colonials’ does not suit their current narrative).

So, let’s start addressing this betrayal of our armed forces personnel and understand what happened to qualify this as the South African Navy’s ‘darkest hour’, who is on this honour roll and what’s been done about in now?

What happened?

As Simon’s Town was a Royal Navy base during World War 2 (British soil in the middle of South Africa), men volunteering for the “South African Naval Forces” (SANF) to fight in World War 2 where either allocated to Royal Navy ships (titled HMS – His Majesty’s Ship) or on South African Navy ships (tilted HMSAS – His Majesty’s South African Ship), therefore whenever a large Royal Navy ship was lost during the war it is almost guaranteed that a number of South African Naval Personnel (SANF) were lost with it.

When large HMS ships are lost in an action on the same action the number of South African naval personnel lost just rockets – and this is the case with the sinking of the HMS Cornwall, HMS Dorsetshire, HMS Hermes and HMS Hollyhock.

The Japanese Easter Raid of 1942

A Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter plane takes off from the deck of the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi, part of the Japanese Naval force in the Indian Ocean

With Japan’s entry into the war, and especially after the fall of Singapore, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) became a front-line British base. The Royal Navy’s East Indies Station and Eastern Fleet was moved to Colombo and Trincomalee.

Admiral Sir James Somerville was appointed as the commander of the British Eastern Fleet, and he decided to withdraw main component the fleet to Addu Atoll in the Maldives, leaving a small force to defend Ceylon (now Shri Lanka) consisting of an aircraft carrier, the HMS Hermes, two heavy cruisers – the HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire, one Australian Destroyer the HMSAS Vampire and the flower class HMS Hollyhock.

The Imperial Japanese Navy, in much the same way and with the same objectives that were used at Pearl Harbour planned a decisive attack of the British Eastern Fleet to end their presence in the North Indian and Pacific oceans. Unaware that the main body of the British fleet had moved to the Maldives, they focused their plan on Colombo.

Admiral Nagumo’s fleet unleashed the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters and bombers on the attack on Colombo on 5 April 1942.

The planned Japanese attack was to become collectively known as the Easter Sunday Raid and the Japanese fleet comprised five aircraft carriers plus supporting ships under the command of Admiral Chuichi Nagumo.

In an almost exact copy of the raid on the American fleet at Peal Harbour (as if no learnings were made by the Allies), on 4 April 1942, the Japanese fleet was located by a Canadian PBY Calatina aircraft, the Catalina radioed the position of the Japanese Fleet to The British Eastern Fleet which alerted the British to the impending attack before it was shot down by six Japanese Zero fighters from the carrier Hiryu, However, despite the warning Nagumo’s air strike on Colombo the next day, Easter Sunday – 5th April – achieved near-complete surprise (Pearl Harbour was also attacked on a weekend). The British Radar installations were not operating, they were shut down for routine maintenance.

The Japanese high command had planned the bombing of Colombo very much like the Pearl Harbor operation (many of the same planes and pilots participated in both strikes); but most of the British Eastern Fleet was at Addu Atholl in the Maldives, so when the Japanese attacked at Colombo there were only three ships there.

The sinking of the HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire.

The day before, 4 April, when the Japanese carrier fleet was spotted, the two heavy cruisers the HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire set out for Addu Atoll in pursuit of the Japanese. On 5 April 1942, the two cruisers were sighted by a spotter plane from the Japanese cruiser Tone about 200 miles (370 km) southwest of Ceylon.

As part of the engagement known as the Easter Sunday Raid, a wave of dive bombers led by Lieutenant Commander Egusa took off from Japanese carriers to attack Cornwall and Dorsetshire, 320 km (170 nmi; 200 mi) southwest of Ceylon, and sank the two ships. Both the Dorsetshire and the Cornwall had long associations with South Africa and had large contingent of South African Naval Personnel on board.

Japanese combat photograph showing the Royal Navy heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall on fire and sinking

In the attack, the Japanese airman flying Japanese D3A-1 ‘VAL’ dive bombers, a total of 53 dive bombers in the attack wave, dropped 10 bombs on the HMS Dorsetshire itself (250- and 550-pound bombs) and 8 near misses, all in the span of 8 minutes. One of the bombs detonated an ammunition magazine and contributed to her rapid sinking. Of the two British cruisers, the HMS Dorsetshire sank first, with her stern going first at about 13:50, the HMS Cornwall was hit eight times and sank bow first about ten minutes later.

For a full story on the HMS Dorsetshire and her long association with South Africa, see this Observation Post by clicking this link: “They machine gunned us in the water”; Recounting South African Sacrifice on the HMS Dorsetshire

For a full story on the HMS Cornwall and her long association with South Africa, see this Observation Post by clicking this link: “A terrific explosion lifted the ship out of the water”; Recounting South African sacrifice on the HMS Cornwall

British and Allied losses were 424 men killed; 1,122 survivors spent thirty hours in the water before being rescued by HMS Enterprise and two British destroyers.

The sinking of the HMS Hermes and HMS Hollyhock

If the above losses qualify a dark day for the South African Navy it then becomes the SAN’s ‘darkest hour’, when in the same Japanese Operation, only a couple of short days later, on 9 April 1942, the Japanese focussed their attack on the harbour at Trincomalee and the British ships off Batticaloa. The HMS Hermes left the Royal Naval Base of Trincomalee, Ceylon escorted by the Australian Destroyer HMAS Vampire and HMS Hollyhock looking to engage the Imperial Japanese fleet which had attacked Colombo.

While sailing south off Batticaloa on the East Coast of Ceylon, this British flotilla was also attacked by the Japanese Carrier-Borne dive-bombers from the Imperial Japanese Task Force now in the process of attacking the Naval Base at Trincomalee.

Approximately 70 Japanese aircraft were despatched to bomb the HMS Hermes which sank within ten minutes of being hit by numerous aircraft bombs. HMAS Vampire was also sunk by bombs a short while later.

HMS Hermes ablaze and sinking

The HMS Hollyhock was about 7 nautical miles from the HMS Hermes escorting a tanker, the RFA Athelstane when the Hermes came under attack. The Hollyhock came under attack by the same Japanese aircraft and it too was bombed and sunk.

Once again, the HMS Hermes also had a very large South African Naval Forces contingent seconded to it on board, and the same applied to the HMS Hollyhock, and therefore once again there is a large of loss of South African life in this action against the Imperial Japanese fleet.

For a full story on the HMS Hermes and her long association with South Africa, see this Observation Post by clicking this link “Dante’s Inferno”; Recounting South African sacrifice on the HMS Hermes

For a full story on the HMS Hollyhock and her long association with South Africa, see this Observation Post by clicking this link “She immediately blew up”; Recounting South African sacrifice on the HMS Hollyhock

HMS Hollyhock

The Honour Roll

Total South African Naval Force (SANF) losses on the HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire in the single day of action were as follows (MPK means “missing presumed killed”):

HMS Cornwall

HMS Dorsetshire

But, unfortunately there is more. As in the same Japanese Operation, just a couple of days later saw the loss of the HMS Hermes and HMS Hollyhock (also lost in a single day), the honour roll of South Africans on board these two fighting ships who were lost are follows:

HMS Hermes

BRIGGS, Anthony Herbert Lindsay Sub-Lieutenant (Engineer) Royal Navy (South African national), MPK

BRYSON, Neil W, Ordinary Telegraphist, 69147 (SANF), MPK BURNIE, Ian A, Able Seaman, 67786 (SANF), MPK CLAYTON, Frederick H, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 68102 (SANF), MPK DE CASTRO, Alfred T, Stoker 1c, 67914 (SANF), MPK KEENEY, Frederick W, Able Seaman, 67748 (SANF), MPK KEYTEL, Roy, Able Seaman, 67296 (SANF), MPK KIMBLE, Dennis C, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c, 67600 (SANF), MPK KRAUSE, Frederick E, Able Seaman, 68321 (SANF), MPK RAPHAEL, Philip R, Able Seaman, 67841 (SANF), MPK RICHARDSON, Ronald P, Able Seaman, 67494 (SANF), MPK RILEY. Harry Air Mechanic 2nd Class, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy (South African national), MPK TOMS, Ivanhoe S, Able Seaman, 67709 (SANF), MPK VICKERS, Colin P, Able Seaman, 68296 (SANF), MPK VORSTER, Jack P, Able Seaman, 67755 (SANF), MPK WHITE, Edward G, Stoker, 68026 (SANF), MPK WIBLIN, Eric R, Able Seaman, 67717 (SANF), MPK YATES, Philip R, Supply Assistant, 67570 (SANF), MPK

HMS Hollyhock

Lest we forget the tremendous sacrifice of our countrymen in this world war for the liberation of human kind.

Why is it important we get this history right?

So there we have it, the South African Navy’s biggest single loss in a single day – 41 souls, a ‘black day’ and added together with the HMS Hermes and HMS Hollyhock , we see a complete total of 64 South African souls lost in one single engagement at sea – qualifying a very ‘black week’ – The Easter Sunday Raid and this then makes the Easter period the South African Navy’s ‘Darkest Hour’.

But is this correct – is this the full complement of South Africans lost in the incident? The answer unfortunately is – probably not.

Whilst the honour rolls distinguish the South African Naval Forces personnel seconded to British ships, they do not distinguish the South Africans who joined the Royal Navy directly in either Simonstown or in the United Kingdom – of which there were thousands and those who lost their lives are now listed under the Royal Navy’s honour roll.

The ‘old’ South African Defence Force (SADF) did not maintain these records, nor was a honour roll tracked by the South African Navy and simply put, when the Nationalists broke the formal ties with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and after the resultant four decades in the ‘wilderness’ during the Apartheid epoch – many of these names are now ‘lost’.to all of us as South Africans.

To find out which of these are South Africans requires research into each and every case on the Royal Navy’s record – a momentous task which some dedicated people looking into this are only now beginning to get their heads around. Here we must thank the likes of Glenn Knox, David Bennet, Allan du Toit, Cameron Kinnear and Graham Du Toit and a handful of others for sterling work recovering this history.

So, in all likelihood more than just ’64’ South Africans died in this action, and why is this important for us to know who they were? Read this letter I received when I published this honour roll and action in a previous article on the HMS Dorsetshire it says everything as to the importance of this work:

Letter from Chris Crossley

Hi Peter, Just another story for you! This post you put up on the Legions page has some amazing history which you wouldn’t know about but I am happy to share with you to show my gratitude for these “nuggets” of info you share with us.

My wife, Tracy, was an adopted child who after 35 years found her birth parents. Wonderful people they turned out to be and we are building a relationship with them that is priceless. As things go, curiosity led us to find out about family history and Tracy’s birth Dad told us about an uncle of his that was lost during the war. He was in the SAN and went down with “some” ship somewhere. He was married at the time and his wife, on hearing the news that her husband was lost at sea (MIA) never gave up on the hope of his return to Durban because he was never seen and not confirmed deceased. Because of this, she never remarried and passed away many years later, remaining faithful to her husband. Her husband was Roland Redman who served with the SA Navy volunteers on the HMS Dorsetshire that your story includes. His name is included in the Role of Honour for the Dorsetshire.

None of the wider family have ever known what happened to him and the facts and details of his service were not known by the surviving family members either. This last Saturday evening, I was talking to my wife’s birth Dad when he recounted the scant details he had of his uncle. I went on line and found your article and shared it with him on fb. Well he was overcome by this information as well as other members of his family and now for the first time in seventy odd years the facts of Uncle Roland, his service and his sacrifice are now known and cherished by his family left behind.

As an historian, I am sure this story will be something that you can cherish as your post has made a huge difference to some wonderful people! Thank you.

Chris Crossley

See When “nuggets” of history make a BIG difference

In Conclusion

Now, with this letter in mind, I cannot think of a better reason to get this history right and establish the correct commemorations and full honour roll. We owe it to our countrymen whose sacrifice brought us international freedom and liberty – it is our duty to carry this flame of remembrance and rid ourselves of the divisive and petty politics of one-upmanship played out by politicians with agendas (nationalists and the ANC) – this politicisation shrouds our most honourable history and only serves to dishonour the sacrifice of our South African servicemen and women – which is by its very nature is as ‘unforgivable’ as it is ‘dishonourable’.