War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (3)

Last Two letters Lt. Cdr. Cyril Masterman, Senior F.O., LCTs

His Experience on High Seas Left a Lasting Impression

Photo Credit - LCT (Mark 5, small) 401, manoeuvering with ramp down.

As found at www.combinedops.com, from Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

In two earlier, related posts, we learn about the connection between two members of Combined Operations, one a member of RCNVR, the other a member of RANVR, but both associated with Landing Craft, (for) Tanks (LCTs) that spent a few months time in the Mediterranean Sea during WWII. 

In this post of the same series I will share the final two letters that travelled between the sailors back in the early 1990s prior to significant Navy reunions both were hoping to attend. Navy ties were exchanged along with family news (not all included here), along with plans associated with the reunions, and some details re the Aussie's experience returning to the U.K. after 3 - 4 months in the Med are repeated, making me think, then share a bit about the reasons for repetition of some of the same facts. You can be the judge as well.

As opposed to my past practice of typing up the letters that are written in cursive, I have photographed the paragraphs written by the Aussie (Cyril Masterman) to the Canuck (Clayton Marks). If cursive befuddles your modern mind, write me for a translation @ gordh7700@gmail.com

From Brisbane, 30/7/91, Mr. Masterman's letter begins:

I think Cyril and Clayton initially connected by sharing information about the Dieppe Raid, about those who were involved, what with the 50 Anniversary coming up to be celebrated in August, 1992. The date of a 1991 reunion was upcoming in two months (i.e., Sept. 1991) and Cyril was unable to attend. If the location was Ottawa, my father definitely wanted to attend, and asked me for assistance in getting there from his hometown, Norwich, south of Woodstock, ONT. His own health concerns forced him to cancel the trip.

What would have been on the reunion's agenda? The 49th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid? Perhaps. The 50th Anniversary of the date on which the first two drafts of Canadian sailors, about 100 in all, including my father, volunteered for Combined Operations (while training at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, Nova Scotia)? Hopefully! I know I'd like to have been there to raise a glass with them!

Of course, the 50th reunion in 1992 would be a much bigger deal, as those who served at Dieppe were remembered (among them those that had been killed, or injured, or taken as prisoners of war, or returned to serve again - though filled with anger or grief or survivors' guilt or relief, perhaps more.

The list of Canadian participants was shared earlier: click here to view the names to be presented to the Mayor of Dieppe in 1992.

The name 'Earl McKenna' mentioned in Cyril's first paragraph (above) does not appear on the 'Mayor's list' nor does it come to mind re to other stories or events that I am familiar with at this time. However, the name of Joe McKenna (RCNVR/Comb. Ops), from PEI, does appear (died during the Dieppe Raid) and more information about that young sailor and his fate can be found here. 

For the 2nd or 3rd time Cyril mentions leaving Gibraltar in early November, 1943 and later facing very strong winds and high seas. I think he repeats the tale, not because he forgets he told the tale in an earlier letter, but because he cannot forget it. "an 80 knot gale." "We lost 2 ships." "a later convoy turned back." "German Destroyers... put to sea (heading toward his destination)." His life and death story resurfaces because it cannot be sunk... in my humble opinion. Your thoughts?

In comparison I read for the first time that "for my sins all the damage I sustained (during WWII, I suspect) was a small piece of German metal I coped (sic copped, i.e., received) at Dieppe...". So, getting injured is a forgettable experience most days, but facing an 80 knot gale is harder to shrug off... again, in my humble opinion.

The letter concludes:

The fourth and final letter from Cyril to Clayton appears below:

Sent from Old Stafford Mail Centre, Australia on September 3, 1991

"If you really care you'll write" (Same is true today : )

Write me for a 'cursive' translation @ gordh7700@gmail.com

Cyril repeats details re the trip aboard LCTs, beginning Nov. 5, 1943. However, I believe the underlined item, in red (above) re "propellor shaft" is new. I would certainly like to read Clayton's responses re his own experiences, especially details re being "in the next convoy." And I have found a modern day mailing address for another Masterman family in the same postal zone in Queensland. So, we'll see what we can find out!

Cyril's letter to Clayton concludes:

"Don't freeze in that cold Winter you have up there."

I liked Cyril's note re the cold winters in Canada. Sure, we have cold winters but we survive by huddling together around the TV while watching NHL hockey. Excellent.

I also liked the line "I find your Newsletters very interesting." Because it made me think, "What Newsletters could he be talking about?" I then recalled that my father's name and address can be found with many other RCNVR/Comb. Ops names and addresses on a 3 or 4 page long "Newsletter Mailing List", somewhere in one of my many files! So, I've got some research to do. Surely somebody kept a file of all the newsletters, but who, and where? (Yes, a name has popped to mind... more details to follow, I hope).

For those interested to know more about the role of Aussies and Canadians in Combined Ops who travelled here and there aboard LCTs, please link to the following:

Landing Craft Tank (5) 2331 - LCT (5) 2331

Photo Credit - US LCT(A) 2008 was the same type of landing craft as the 2331

Please click here to view War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (2)

Unattributed Photos GH

War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (2)

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

Cyril writes from Queensland:

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)

Cyril Masterman's correspondence continues:

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.

Map of Bay of Biscay and Isles of Scilly found at Pinterest.com

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.

German Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Fw 190 as found at silverhawkauthor

 

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.

Click here to view War Correspondence: From One Veteran to Another (1)

Unattributed Photos GH

Dieppe: Lists of Naval Forces That Participated in the Raid

Lists of H.M. Ships, the Organization of Ships and Flotillas

and Names of Commanding Officers in LCTs and LCPs

Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM), "the workhorse" of raids and invasions.

If only we knew who was in this one! Photo - Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

This entry and the one previous are closely connected to the Dieppe Raid. As well, the information presented in both re the raid was originally organized and presented by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario (a former member of RCNVR and Combined Operations during WWII) in his book entitled COMBINED OPERATIONS.

Both entries sprang from the next previous post re correspondence between two veterans prior to their attendance at the 50th Anniversary of the raid in Dieppe, France in 1992.

The details below may be found in other books but I do enjoy shining the spotlight on Mr. Marks for the work that he and his wife Jewel performed to create a resource that is very valuable, and significant to this day. As well, it provides an opportunity - 82 years after the fact - to share a few related links that may be helpful or informative to readers. (Questions or related details can be addressed/sent to gordh7700@gmail.com)

Lists of British ships, flotillas of landing craft, officers participating in the Dieppe Raid, including several Canadians and two Australian officers (cf correspondence between C. Marks and C. Masterman) can be found below:

H.M.S Glengyle as found at Commando Veterans Archive

More information re H.M.S. Locust (see under SLOOP AND GUNBOAT above) and its role on August 19, 1942 can be found in a book by David O'Keefe entitled One Day in August: The Untold Story Behind Canada's Tragedy at Dieppe. A few details about O'Keefe's book can be found here.

S/LT. David J. Lewis (one line above), after reading Clayton Marks' book re Canada's role in Combined Operations during WWII, was inspired to write his own stories (and collect many more from fellow veterans, including my father Doug Harrison). Lewis' two volumes, entitled St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War 1941 - 1945, can be found online. Please click here to link to Volume 1 at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. 

Lt.-Cdr. C. Masterman, RANVR (Flotilla Officer), first line below, wrote four letters to Clayton Marks in the early 1990s and the second letter will be shared in the very near future on this site.

Lists are from Combined Operations,  C. Marks, pages 31 - 37

Back, L - R: 'Gash' Bailey, Clayton Marks, and David Lewis (David wrote

and collected stories for St. Nazaire to Singapore (two lengthy volumes)

Front L - R: Doug Harrison (my father) and Al Kirby, Woodstock, ONT

For more information about these and other veterans, click here 

More War Correspondence from one veteran to another (members of Combined Operations during WWII) will soon follow.

Please click here to view the list of all Canadians in Combined Operations who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942.

Unattributed Photos GH