Page 294 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

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THEAN D. POTGIETER

A number of South Africans also served on submarines, among them the CO
of the P35 (larer HMS Umbra), Lt S.L.C. Maydon,. RN, and one of his officers, SLt
A.H. Maccoy, RNVR (SA). On 15 June 1942, the Umbra attacked and badly dama-
ged the Italian heavy cruiser Trento and on 27 September she sank the Francesco
Barbero, whose cargo included oil, tanks, vehicles and ammunition, urgendy nee-
2
ded by the Axis forces in North Africa U 6). Another South African submariner
who served in the Mediterranean was Lt G.E. Day, who was mentioned in despat-
ches whilst serving o n HMS Tactician 027).
Whilst it would be difficult to say which of the Royal Naval ships in which
South Africans served, saw the most action in the Mediterranean, it is probable
that none earned more battle honours there than the Dido class cruiser HMS Sirius.
These were: Malta Convoys 1942, Mediterranean 1942, North Mrica 1942-43,
Sicily 1943, Salerno 1943,' Aegean 1943-44 and South France 1944 which were
awarded for the ship's role in the landings at Algiers, Oran, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio,
Leros, Cos and in the south ofFrance. On 7 October 1943, while in company with
HMS Pene/ope and two destroyers, the Sirius attacked a German convoy carrying a
battalion bound for Cos and sank an ammunition ship and five ferry barges.
These then are just a few incidents concerning some of the South Africans
officers and men serving in the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. Thèy served well
and participated in numerous untold exploits. This narrative on South Africans
serving with the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean, however, is by no means com-
plete as a comprehensive study stili needs to be compiled. Ali in ali the major con-
tribution of these men lies in their service to the Royal Navy.

Conclusion

It is 9ear from this brief survey, that the South Africans who .served in the
Mediterranean during the Second World War, did so in a variety of functions.
South African vessels and personnel participated in ali phases of the Mediterra-
nean sea war, from operations along the North African coast to the invasion of
southern Europe and the subsequent operations in Greek waters.
South Africans that went to sea in the small South African vessels, often ser-
ved under difficult conditions. They manned ships that were not at ali designed
for the a war in che Mediterranean but rather for fishing and whaling in the sou-
thern oceans. This makes their achieverp.ent ali the more remarkable.
The experiences of most of the South Africans serving in the Mediterranean,
was on par with the day to day war-fighting in that theatre. The South African
ships as small as they were and with their limited combat application, played a
minor role in the greater scheme of things. The exception, however, is the contri-
bution made by the Gamtoos. Despite her unglamourous appearance, humble ori-
gin and the fact that she was not a combat vessel, her achievements were importane.
Strategically, she performed the vital task of clearingblocked and booby trapped