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"No damage, except to
my underpants" |
Throughout the dark days of 1940 and 1941 ships of the RAN were present
in the Mediterranean operating alongside the Royal Navy and supporting
Army operations. From the brilliant successes of HMAS SYDNEY, off Crete,
to the tragic loss of HMAS WATERHEN whilst running supplies into the
besieged garrison of Tobruk - the Navy was there.
In late 1941 and early 1942 the ships of the RAN were recalled to help
in the defence of their island home. Many of the ships which had won
fame in the Mediterranean were to be lost much closer to home. By 1943
however, the situation had changed. The Allies were on the offensive and
the RAN was once again in the frontline. Following on from the defeat of
the Afrika Corps in northern Africa the Allies commenced planning for
the liberation of Sicily. an amphibious invasion to be code named
Operation HUSKY.
Present in the estimated 3,000 ship invasion force were HMA Ships
GAWLER, LISMORE, MARYBOROUGH, IPSWICH, CESSNOCK, GERALDTON, CAIRNS and
WOLLONGONG. Whilst these ships may have appeared insignificant in an
order of battle that boasted six battleships, two aircraft carriers, 18
cruisers and over 100 destroyers their roles were vital ones.
The corvettes had arrived in the
Mediterranean in May and on 26 May GAWLER, IPSWICH, LISMORE and
MARYBOROUGH were formed into the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla at
Alexandria. The remaining four corvettes were formed into the 22nd
Minesweeping Flotilla.
During the built up to HUSKY the Australian corvettes were busily
engaged in escort work. On 5 July IPSWICH sailed from Tobruk as part of
a tanker escort. She was detached off Benghazi were she was to join her
sister ships GAWLER, LISMORE, and MARYBOROUGH. At dawn on the 6 July
these ships joined MWS36, one of the many invasion convoys. These ships
arrived at the assembly point off Malta and immediately took their
position as escorts for the stores ships.
The weather at this time, always
critical for an amphibious assault, was proving to be marginal. The
decision was taken to continue with the assault as planned. Fortunately
conditions eased as the ships approached the island and the assault was
able to be progressed without too much delay. Ships of the bombardment
group commenced firing shortly after dawn and by 8.00 am most of the
German and Italian shore batteries had been silenced. The initial
assault waves met with light resistance.
At 6.00 am on 10 July the Australian
ships, with the exception of GAWLER, arrived at the release point
"Baker East". GAWLER in the meantime was assisting one of the
transports which found itself in difficulties. After the problems had
been overcome GAWLER signalled to the straggler "Follow
father". Daybreak was to reveal that the straggler who had followed
father was the Convoy Commodore !
After arriving at their release position the Australian ships commenced
carrying out anti-submarine patrols and mine sweeping operations.
Throughout the day there were continual air raid warnings. The four
Australian ships sailed for Malta, and hence Alexandria, on 11 July
escorting empty troopships. During the return voyage GAWLER carried out
an attack on a sonar contact. A search after the attack failed to reveal
any results.
As these ships were leaving Sicily HMA Ships GERALDTON, CAIRNS,
WOLLONGONG and CESSNOCK were arriving off Sicily as part of a 36 ship
convoy from Alexandria. The second group of corvettes spent the 13 July
carrying out endless patrols off the beaches. During one of the air
raids an American Liberty ship was hit and blew up.
The original corvettes, IPSWICH, LISMORE GERALDTON and GAWLER returned
to Sicily on the 24/25 July with another convoy. After seeing their
charges into the newly liberated port of Syracuse the Australian ships
carried out continuous anti-submarine patrols off the port. At about
4.00 am on the 25 July an air raid alert was sounded.
The Luftwaffe launched an all out raid
on the port and surrounding areas lasting for about one hour. During
this time a bomb was seen to burst close to MARYBOROUGH, momentarily
obscuring MARYBOROUGH's silhouette. At first light the Commanding
Officer of GAWLER enquired if any damage had been sustained. The
response from MARYBOROUGH read "No damage except to my
underpants".
Once their part in the invasion of Sicily was completed the Australian
ships returned to their vital and still dangerous task of escorting
convoys through the Mediterranean.
Thirty eight days after the initial landings the island of Sicily had
been liberated. |
