Photographs: Malta, A Rock in a Hard Place (2)

Malta, a Very Busy Island in the Mediterranean Sea

Ship Yards and Navy Ratings Likely Never Took a Day Off

A10776 - Loading up scrap metal into the ORARI. (for ship repair)

Introduction:

Of the 11,000,000 photographs reportedly on file at the Imperial War Museum, UK, a significant handful concern the island of Malta during WWII. I know as well that a handful of members of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve - who were also members of Combined Operations and who handled various types of landing craft during the invasions of Sicily (Operation HUSKY beginning July 10, 1943) and Italy (Operation BAYTOWN beginning September 3, 1943) - visited Malta in August, 1943, between the aforementioned Operations, for the matters of rest, recuperation from illness and the repair of LCMs needed for the transport of troops and all materials of war to the toe of Italy's boot in early September.

In the previous post I shared a few lines from my father's memoirs related to his time in Malta prior to the arrival of his mates and their flotilla of LCMs. He wrote another short piece re Malta for his hometown newspaper (Norwich Gazette) in the early 1990s, about 50 years after he was there.

Doug Harrison writes: 

FOOD, SUSTENANCE AND MAIL WERE FOUND ON MALTA

At the end of the Sicilian campaign (early-mid August, 1943) several Canadian sailors and officers became ill. Fatigue brought on by long hours of work and poor nourishment for over a month had now taken its toll and showed up in various ways. Salt water sores, rashes, sunburn, dysentery, things we hadn’t time to bother with before now began to manifest themselves.

Fear was now gone and the inaction caused many to have letdowns. Many had not relaxed for weeks and now that it was over they had difficulty handling it. Mail from home would have helped at a time like this; most of us hadn’t had mail since April and it was now the middle of August. I would have given my right arm for a cool drink of Norwich water and Sweet Caporal cigarettes from the Women’s War league. Parcels and letters were awaiting us in Malta and we were heading that way by landing craft and ship.

If we had a doctor I don’t recall one, but someone, possibly an officer, doled out quinine for malaria, as mosquitoes were really bad. Under the worst possible conditions* we tried to keep clean; the only clothes we owned were on our backs and we weren’t to get more until our return to England sometime in October. Khaki shorts and shirts were our uniforms.

After being free from dysentery, I now felt its ravages. Luckily though, I went the 100 miles or so to Malta aboard a real old veteran ship named the Ulster Monarch. Whenever there was a campaign this old stalwart was there. None of us were basket cases and certainly enjoyed being flaked out in bunks on the Monarch. I remember the ship’s sick bay assistant (Tiffy) handing me a fistful of pills. I counted them and there were 16. I asked him how many doses they were and he answered, “One. What are you going to wash them down with... the deck hose?” We all laughed but I wish I hadn’t.

In a few hours, with my orders from the ship’s doctor to report to Hill 10 Hospital, I climbed the cement steps in Valetta Harbor as best I could. Malta isn’t very large and by asking a few natives I found my way to the hospital, dragged right out. I wandered in and reported my condition to one of the English orderlies. I’ll never forget how cheerful his reply was in that Godforsaken place. “Oh, we’ll soon cure that, Canada.” “Yeah? How?” I said. “We’ll starve you for a week.” (So, what else was new?)

But I was in no condition to argue and for a few days I found out how severe dysentery can be, and hunger was no stranger to me, but after four or five days the staff relented and gave me a little boiled cabbage. Here was FOOD and SUSTENANCE and I suffered very few side affects. I was on my way, even my ribs looked better. After about 10 days I was given a clean bill of health and released to wander freely about Malta and wait for my comrades who were late coming from Sicily in landing craft.

I found a vacant array of Air Force tents to sleep in and was fortunate to scrounge some food from the natives. I thought I had it tough - but I couldn’t hold a candle to these folks. I investigated a bit of the catacombs where many slept and lived through the intense bombing raids - no wonder the island was awarded the George Cross...

*my father and mates in the 80th flotilla lived in cattle caves located on the southern edge of GEORGE Beach

Excerpt from The Norwich Gazette, circa 1992. In "Dad, Well Done", pages 111 - 112

A rare map reveals the location of two cattle caves near the southern edge of GEORGE Beach at Fontane Bianche, east coast of Sicily, south of Syracuse:

Map as found at "Museum of Allied Landings in Sicily" in Catania

During a trip to Sicily with my son Paul in Sept., 2023 (80th anniversary year of HUSKY and BAYTOWN) we located a WWII pillbox near the southern edge of GEORGE Beach. We then walked toward the beach along a footpath below a ridge - visible in centre of photo below - and discovered the location of two large cattle caves. The entrances were blocked by several types of plants, all sporting thorns of various lengths!

Photo found online by Paul Harrison

I hover below the edge of the ridge, above the impregnable entrance to

one of the caves. "If I jump, I bet the fall would be cushioned by the thorn-

covered brambles. (Or not.) But hey, and I've got hospital insurance!!"  

End result: Gord chickened out. Lived to fight another day.
 

Photos by Lt. J. E. Russell, official RN photographer, continue: 

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS FOR MALTA. 27 JANUARY 1942, GRAND HARBOUR. THE SUPPLY SHIP SS BRECONSHIRE, ESCORTED BY WARSHIPS ARRIVED IN MALTA WITH SUPPLIES AND TROOPS FOR THE ISLAND.

A7323 - HMS PENELOPE proceeding to her berth in Grand Harbour. 

Link to the photo records of Russell, J E (Lt)

I was once told a story by the daughter of a Navy veteran and I can presently only recall two significant details; her father was badly injured and suffered burns while aboard the Penelope; the ship got badly peppered! Recently I turned to Google and found the following:

While in Malta, she was docked and repaired at the Malta Dry Docks. Day after day she was attacked by German planes, and the crew worked to fix shrapnel holes, so many that she was nicknamed HMS Pepperpot, and then when these had been plugged with long pieces of wood (she was nicknamed) HMS Porcupine. She sailed for Gibraltar on 8 April and on the next day was repeatedly attacked from the air. She arrived in Gibraltar on 10 April, with further damage from near-misses. Later that day she received a signal from Vice Admiral, Malta: "True to your usual form. Congratulations."

For more photos and a lengthy written account please click here - 

HMS Penelope (97) aka HMS Pepperpot! (And the ship earned

another nickname as well!)

I do not know exactly how long RN Photographer Russell (Lt.) was stationed in Malta (I sure hope he was there in August 1943 when my father arrived aboard the Ulster Monarch and went searching for Hill 10 Hospital 'all by his lonesome') but while he was there he set up his camera in may unique settings. Below I share only a handful of his 1,200+ shots:

A7324 - British Troops marching ashore on arrival at Malta.

A7325 - British Troops disembarking from tugs and lighters at Malta.

A7326 - British Troops Disembarking from tugs and lighters at Malta.

A7328 - British Troops disembarking from SS BRECONSHIRE at Malta.

A7329 - SS BRECONSHIRE entering Grand Harbour, Malta.

THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

A7331 - The Paddle Tug ANCIENT bringing British troops ashore

from the BRECONSHIRE (which had arrived at Grand Harbour,

Valletta, Malta with supplies and troops for the Island)

Photo - Royal Navy photographer Lt. J. E. Russell

Back to the first heading, BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS FOR MALTA. 27 JANUARY 1942, GRAND HARBOUR...

A7332 - HMS ZULU leading the destroyer escort into Grand Harbour.

New heading - MALTA SUFFERS BIGGEST RAID OF THE WAR SO FAR. 7 APRIL 1942, MALTA. DAMAGE TO CIVILIAN PROPERTY AS A RESULT OF THE MASSIVE AXIS RAID.

A8372 - Residents of a house in Kingsway (Strada Reale) trying to

salvage some of their belongings after the house had received

a direct hit. Photo Credit - Russell, J E (Lt)

A8374 - Residents of a house in Kingsway (Strada Reale) trying to salvage

some of their belongings after the house had received a direct hit.

A8375 - Maltese Dghasais, or native boats, waiting to take people

across Grand Harbour at Valletta.

For informative details about the history of the Maltese Dghasais (aka Dgħajsa) please click here. (Wikipedia)

A8376 - An old railway tunnel makes a good air raid shelter.

Here the islanders are seen taking the opportunity of a lull in

the "blitz" to get some fresh air and exercise.

A8377 - The remains of the Royal Hotel, Valletta

after it had received a direct hit.

A8378 - All that is left of the famous opera house in Kingsway, Valletta.

A8380 - The remains of the Auberge de France, showing piles

of debris from other bombed buildings in the background.

A8382 - Children being served out with fresh water from a well

after a water main had been hit by a bomb.

New Heading - THE ARRIVAL OF HM CRUISER WELSHMAN IN MALTA. 15 JUNE 1942.

Photos continue by Russell, J E (Lt):

A10420 - HMS WELSHMAN in the Grand Harbour on her way

to her berth in French Creek.

A10421 - The unloading of naval and military stores from the WELSHMAN.

A10422 - Troops loading up a lorry with supplies from the WELSHMAN.

A10423 - Troops unloading from Lighter supplies from the WELSHMAN.

A few photos by Lt. J. E. Russell next appear under a new heading:

MALTESE RATINGS MAN COASTAL DEFENCE GUNS. 5 JUNE 1942.

A10424 - The naval ratings during loading practice,

at one of Malta's Coastal Defence Batteries.

A10425 - Loading practice at the dummy loader.

A10426 - The naval ratings ramming home the charge

into the breech of the dummy loader.

A10427 - The shell, is placed on a loading tray and swung

into position for ramming.

A10428 - A general view of the gun and the gun's crew during

a loading operation.

A few photos by Lt. J. E. Russell next appear under another new heading:

DAMAGE TO MERCHANT SHIP ORARI, WHICH WAS REPAIRED IN MALTA. 21 JUNE 1942.

A10430 - Diving boats and lighters, are seen round the hole in the

side of the merchant ship ORARI, which was caused when she

struck a mine on entry to the Grand Harbour at Malta.

A10431 - Repairs being carried out on the merchant ship ORARI.

A10432 - The patch on the side of ORARI is almost complete.

More photos of the repairs to ORORI can be found in a later set. One example follows:

A10774 - Dockyard workers completing the patch on the side of ORARI.

A10433 - Water is being pumped out of the hold of ORARI. All the

goods rescued from the flooded hold can be seen in the foreground.

A10434 - The beginning of a smoke screen on the edges of the dockyard.

Creating a smoke screen may indicate that Maltese sailors are getting some practice, or it may mean that the Axis air force is heading toward Malta again. 

More photos related to the importance of Malta will soon follow. And if I can find photos re August, 1943, when Canadians in Combined Ops got their first mail since April, 1943 (along with rest, recuperation and repair work) readers of this site will be the first to know.

Questions and comments can be addressed to Editor at gordh7700@gmail.com

Please click here to view Photographs: Malta, A Rock in a Hard Place (1)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: Malta, Rock in a Hard Place (1)

Canadians in Combined Operations Visited Malta, 1943,

Between Operation HUSKY (Sicily) and Op. BAYTOWN (Italy)

This cluster of LCMs (landing craft, mechanised) may include several from 

the 80th and 81st Flotillas of Canadian Landing Craft used in Sicily, 1943.

Photo from A Sailor's Odyssey: the autobiography of Admiral of the Fleet,

Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, p. 601, Memorial University of

Newfoundland - Digital Archives Initiative

Introduction:

Four Canadian Flotillas of Landing Craft served during WWII in the Mediterranean theatre of war, from Day 1 of Operation HUSKY, beginning July 10, 1943. 

Map from Combined Operations, by Londoner Clayton (Red) Marks

One Canadian Flotilla (the 80th, including my father and many of his closest Navy mates) was kept in the Med for use during the invasion of Italy at the toe of the boot, aka Operation BAYTOWN, beginning September 3rd, '43.  

During most of the month of August my father and mates recuperated from illnesses, rested after 4 weeks of seemingly endless hard work - transporting all materials of war from troop and supply ships to the shores in GEORGE and HOW Sectors on the east coast of Sicily, south of Syracuse - and repaired damage to the squadrons of landing craft needed for the next invasion, mere weeks away, in early September.

Photo - Found at Operation Husky by B. Ricketts

Map (reconnaissance photo) from LIFE magazine, Aug. 2, 1943

(Cost me more than 10 cents!)

Because he contracted dysentery in early August my father was transported to Malta a few days before his mates arrived with all their landing crafts - for rest, recuperation and repair work. I'm sure my father long-remembered his time in Malta, a rock in a hard place. In Navy memoirs my father wrote about his trip from Sicily to Malta after almost 4 weeks of service at GEORGE Beach:

After approximately 27 days I came down with severe chills and then got dysentery. I was shipped to Malta on the Ulster Monarch and an intern came around and handed me 26 pills. I inquired how many doses was that? “Just one,” he replied.

A very rare group photo of members of Canadian Flotillas of LCs at

HMS Saunders, Egypt. June - July 1943, just prior to HUSKY. Some

sailors (of the 80th) haven't arrived, still aboard the S.S. Silver Walnut

Look very closely for tents in the background. Don Westbrook, fourth

from left in back row, in XXXL shorts; suffering from dysentery?

Photo from the collection of Doug Harrison, of the 80th Flotilla.

At Malta I was let loose on my own to find Hill 10 Hospital. I did after a while and they asked me my trouble. I said, “Dysentery.” “Oh, we’ll soon cure that,” they said. How? “We won’t give you anything to eat.” So for four days all I got was water and pills and soon I was cured, though weak. I thought of those poor devils in the desert. (i.e., at HMS Saunders)

When I felt better they sent me to a tent where I got regular meals. I saw an air force newspaper and on the front was a picture of Bob Alexander of Norwich, a school chum.

"Bob Alexander of Norwich, a school chum" (centre)

From D. Harrison's 1936 high school photo

But Bob returned to the fray and was lost on one of his bombing missions. How sorry I was to hear that news. He had already done so much.

Soon all the boys returned to Malta and we prepared for Italy, though all our barges stayed in Sicily. We took a Landing Ship Tank (LST) back to Mili Marina, Sicily, and if memory serves me correctly, attacked Italy at Reggio di Calabria across Messina Straits on my birthday, September 6, 1943*.

Excerpt from "Dad, Well Done", pages 34 - 35

*Doug did celebrate his 23rd birthday with "too much vino" on Sept. 6, 1943, and he took part in the first day of the invasion on Sept. 3, either from Messina or Mili Marina.

View of Italy's 'toe of the boot' (centre, "Reggio di Calabria

across Messina Straits") from the beach at Mili Marina,

80 years later, i.e., Sept. 2023. Photo G. Harrison

MALTA, A ROCK IN A HARD PLACE

The island of Malta was such a significant 'port of call' for Allied forces during WWII. Many books have been written about the role it played, it being the heart of several military operations.

E.g., OPERATION PEDESTAL, AUGUST 1942 (Imperial War Museum)

A11498 from IWM. "15 August: The arrival of the OHIO at Malta"

More details will follow below.

E.g., see Operation Pedestal at Wikipedia

Photo as found at Wikipedia

E.g., see 30 minute film re Operation Pedestal on YouTube

Malta, as shared earlier, was a Godsend for Canadians in Combined Ops (rest, recuperation, and the time to repair landing crafts came at a high cost for the people of Malta) in August, 1943, a year after the following 30 photos were taken. All photographs are from the Imperial War Museum's (very!) extensive collection and were taken by (or in collaboration with) Lt. J. E. Russell, a Royal Navy photographer. Click here for the first 30 links to 1,208 photographs attributed to Lt. Russell.

More to follow? Very likely, if there are even a handful from Malta in August, 1943! (Especially if they are related to Canadians in Combined Operations. What are the odds?)

Original caption: "convoy Sicily to Malta J Spencer in boat 2nd in foreground"

Used with permission, from the collection of Joe Spencer, RCNVR

and Combined Operations, 1941 - 1945. Friend and mate of Doug 

Harrison (RCNVR/Comb.Ops, 1941 - 1945)

Questions and comments can be addressed to GH at gordh7700@gmail.com

BOMB DAMAGE IN MALTA AFTER BIGGEST RAID YET. 7 APRIL 1942. BOMB DAMAGE TO THE DOCKYARDS.

A9630 - All that is left of the 200 ton Floating crane in the dockyard

after direct hit from a bomb. In the background can be seen the

supply vessel PLUMLEAF with a heavy list after being hit.

Photo Credit - Russell, J E (Lt) IWM

A9631 - Looking across to all that remains of the saw mills,

an old generating station.

A9632 - The ruins of No 5 Dock.

A9633 - Looking across to Hamilton Wharf, showing bomb damage

on the houses above and a large gash in the Bastion by a bomb. Below

is HMS LANCE down by the stern after some direct hits.

A second shot of the same area, almost identical to above:

A9634 - Looking across to Hamilton Wharf, showing bomb damage

on the houses above and a large gash in the Bastion by a bomb. Below

is HMS LANCE down by the stern after some direct hits.

A9635 - HMS LANCE after being bombed in the harbour,

a huge hole can be seen in forecastle.

A9636 - HMS KINGSTON in No 4 Dock where she

suffered severe damage.

A new heading, a new link to not only Lt. Russell's work but to Lt. J. A. Hampton's photos as well:

UNLOADING SUPPLIES AT MALTA. 21 AUGUST 1942.

A11307 - The BRISBANE STAR discharging her cargo, at Grand Harbour,

Malta. Photo Credit - Hampton, J A (Lt)   Russell, J E (Lt) 

A11308 - The BRISBANE STAR and the ROCHESTER CASTLE 

discharging their cargo, at Grand Harbour, Malta.

A second shot of the same scene as shared above:

A11309 - The BRISBANE STAR and the ROCHESTER CASTLE 

discharging their cargo, at Grand Harbour, Malta.

A new heading with a different link to Lt. Russell's photos:

THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

A11484 - HMS CORAL being broken up in Dry Dock No 3

in Malta Dockyard. Photo Credit - Russell, J E (Lt)

A new heading with a different link to Lt. Russell's photos:

ACTIVITY IN MALTA DOCKYARD. 19-24 AUGUST 1942.

Not only was HMS LANCE photographed from several angles, so was HMS CORAL:

A11485 - HMS CORAL being broken up in dry dock No 3.

A11486 - HMS CORAL being broken up in dry dock No 3.

A11487 - HMS CORAL being broken up in dry dock No 3.

A11488 - HMS CORAL being broken up in dry dock No 3.

A11489 - HMS LANCE almost submerged in No 2 dock.

A11490 - HMS LANCE almost submerged in No 2 dock.

A11491 - HMS LANCE almost submerged in No 2 dock.

A11492 - Motor Launches docked for repairs in No 1 dock.

A11493 - SS MELBOURNE STAR (left) and PORT CHALMERS (right)

discharging cargo on arrival at Malta.

A11494 - Unloading timber from lighters in the dockyard to effect repairs.

A11495 - The MELBOURNE STAR unloading cargo.

A11496 - Unloading supplies at Malta. Unloading supplies at Malta

from the MELBOURNE STAR.

A11497 - Unloading supplies at Malta.

A11499 - Repair work being carried out in No. 3 dock.

MELBOURNE STAR in the distance.

A11500 - Repair work being carried out in No. 3 dock.

MELBOURNE STAR in the distance.

A11501 - Damage to the conning tower of HMS UNITED (P44).

A11504 - Clearing up the debris outside the saw mills.

A11505 - Members of the ships company on the damaged conning tower

of submarine HMS UNITED (P-44). View of starboard side of the conning

tower showing damage sustained when a girder from a ship torpedoed by

the submarine fell on the conning tower.

OPERATION PEDESTAL, AUGUST 1942

A11498 - 15 August: The arrival of the OHIO at Malta

About the above photo and Operation Pedestal: Full caption reads - The tanker OHIO discharging oil into the oilers BOXALL and PLUMLEAF. The OHIO was probably the most important ship in the convoy with her cargo of 11,000 tons of petrol which was desperately needed to maintain the aircraft flying from Malta. OHIO had been torpdoed on 12 August and had been subsequently damaged by bombs on 13 August and was forced to drop out of the convoy. She was brought into Malta by a superb feat of seamanship involving her own crew and the destroyers HMS PENN and LEDBURY.

Lt. Russell's photo above (A11498) was the only one in a lengthy series (i.e., from A11486 - A11505 denoted under the heading OPERATION PEDESTAL, AUGUST 1942. 

That being said, there are several more photos under the 'Operation Pedestal' heading for those interested. If I can find the 'Pedestal' code numbers again I will post them here.

More photographs from Malta may follow shortly, depending on whether Lt. Russell or Lt. Hampton returned to the hard hit island approximately one year later. 

For more information re Malta, please link to Presentation: Dad's Navy Days Part 9

Unattributed Photos GH