Cape Town during WW2

I've just applied for my Grandads Royal Navy war records, but knowing how long my other Grandads army records took to arrive, I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction whilst I wait for them.

Due to his age he was only involved in the last 18 months of the war. He decided to join the Navy and ended up on a ship to Cape Town where I believe he stayed till the war ended.

My Grandad always admitted that he was lucky , he had a good war, he mainted nothing happened out there. But of course no one knew what they were signing up for, it was just luck of the draw!

What I'd like to know is why the navy were in this area and what they would have been doing. Can anyone give me some pointers for further research.

Many thanks

 

The naval base would probably be the RN base at Simonstown which was on the peninsula just south of Capetown. There had been a British naval presence here from the late 18th century.It was a very important base from its establishment.Through its strategic position it protected the British Empire sea routes round the Cape to the Far East and Australasia.

During WW2,Simonstown's importance grew.... the RN continued to use the base as a staging post.It afforded a protected route round the Cape for shipping to and fro the Far East and Australasia. Access to and fro Egypt via the Red Sea was also secured by the base at Simonstown when transit through the Med would be perilous on account of the Axis Power strength in the Med.

Simonstown protected the shipping routes around the Cape....provided the means for staging anti German submarine and surface vessels patrols in the South Atlantic Ocean and Western Indian Ocean.It also undertook a similar task to counter any Japanese Imperial Navy excursions into the Western Indian Ocean.

 

Thank you, that's a great help. I tried to google ' British navy ww2 cape town' but I just got pages and pages of stuff about the South African armed forces and couldn't seem to find anything. I will try looking for Simonstown now. I have a funny feeling my Grandad played down what he did ( he didn't say much but always focussed on funny stories rather than anything awful). It will be interesting to find out what really happened.

 

Hi knickerbockerglory,
Just because he was on a ship based in Capetown/Simonstown doesn't mean that he wasn't at sea, often far from base. Once you get his records you can look at the Admiralty Pink Lists and do a ship search on Convoy Web (put the ships name in without HMS) - this may, or may not, tell you something. Also try the Naval History site, that is sub-divided into stations.
Roy

 

Look for a book called Just Nuisance AB by Terence Sisson (on sale on Amazon for a penny). It tells the story of a well known Great Dane in Simonstown during WW-2 that was recruited in to the RN. I dare say that your granddad would of known all about him.
There is a statue to the dog just outside the current dockyard. If you do a google image search for 'Just Nuisance' you will see plenty of photos of him and his statue.

 

Thanks Roy and Hucks for your replies, I keep forgetting to press 'watch thread' so hadn't realised you'd replied.

My mum has now found a box in the attic with loads of photos and memorabilia including his 'certificate of service' which I think is what we've just paid £30 to apply for ..........

It's a fascinating collection and I hope to photograph and share on here for posterity. In the meantime I'm sharing a photo of his service records in the hope someone can shed a bit of light. apparently he really wanted to join the Navy and was most disappointed to be given the role of air fitter as he wanted a more naval role. He was on quite a few ships- Am I right in assuming that these would be aircraft carriers and he would work on the planes? Also from a quick google, some of the names listed in the column ' name of ship' are not ships but naval bases (Daedalus). Any help gratefully received

 

Naval Base in Simonstown was called HMS Afrikander. There was also a Fleet Air Arm base at RNAS Wynberg. This may tie in with HMS Daedalus which was the Fleet Air Arm RNAS at Gosport. Photo of his service record was not attached to your post.
Tim

 

Thanks Tim , not sure what happened there, the photos all seemed to upload, will try again!

 

Got it. Definately a Fleet Air Arm man. Last rank held was L/AF(L) which stands for Leading Air Fitter (Electrical). All shore bases. HMS Ganges - new entry training, HMS Gosling was Fleet Air Arm training centre at Warrington (Cheshire), HMS Condor was Royal Naval Air Station at Arbroath, HMS Waxwing was Fleet Air Arm transit camp at Dunfermline (Fife), HMS Malagas was the RNAS at Wynberg, Capetown, HMS Gadwell was RNAS at Belfast and HMS Blackcap was RNAS at Stretton (Cheshire).
Look at gosling for course photos at HMS Gosling - you might just strike lucky.
Tim

 

Thanks so much Tim! It now makes more sense. I always assumed HMS meant a ship but actually he spent most of his service on various shore bases rather than a ship. No wonder he was annoyed.

 

Glad to help. By the way I'm almost certain the notation 14 days SOSL means 14 days Service Overseas Leave.
Tim

 

Just found this in the back of his address book which gives detail of his journey to Cape Town. Fire on board in Mombasa- think I need to investigate more!

 

Very interesting. Phoenix is not a place it is HMS Phoenix the Royal Navy aircraft repair yard in Egypt. I should imagine that he was accommodated there either whilst his ship unloaded cargo or waited for another for the second part of the journey.
Tim