The following personnel are listed by CWGC as being with HMS Salsette at the time of their deaths on 25th April 1943. DOLAN, Terence A B, Able Seaman, C/JX 220179, killed [ChM] ROBERTSON, James, Stoker 1c, P/KX 127369, killed [PoM] ADM104 lists them both as 'dying on war service in Burma', but I have been unable to find anymore details. On the same date, I have support craft LCS(M)17 listed as being lost after sinking in the Mayu River, but again I have not been able to discover anymore information. I believe HMS Salsette was a combined operations shore establishment, so I wonder if the two deaths were related to the loss of this craft. Any ideas? Regards, Steve
Hello Steve, I am in the believe, that this forum can bring you a step further forward. A similar case discussed. HMS Salsette HMS Salsette Regards, Finn
Thanks for that. Yes they have the same speculation as myself, regarding the relationship between the loss of LCS(M)17 and the two sailors. I'll have to keep searching to see if I can find any documents to confirm that they were indeed related to the same incident. Regards, Steve
LCS(M)17 was sunk by enemy action in the Mayu River (Burma) on 25th April 1943 (navy-history.net). LCS(M) 23 was lost on patrol on the Mayu River in March 1943. Circumstancial evidence would suggest that these were the 2 landing craft commanded by Lieutenant-Commander RD Franks OBE,RN Commander Mayu Forces who was instructed by Rear Admiral AFE Palliser Commander in Chief Eastern Forces to take two Burma MLs and 2 Landing Craft down the Mayu River to assist military operations (basically the retreat of the British Army). He was successful in sinking various Japanese craft. However his postion became untenable as the enemy had control of the mouth of the Mayu River so Franks took his force further inland. One LC was sunk by Japanese land forces and Franks had to abandon the 2nd LC and together with 20 seaman walked back through the Jungle to the Allied Lines. This is described in his obitury in the Daily Telegraph. Sub Lieutenant WJR Jackson SANFV is listed on the Combined Operations Roll of Honour Web Site for his actions during this raid. Jackson was a LCS Boat Officer and had earlier taken part in Operation Ironclad (Invasion of Madagascar) before a posting to the recently established Combined Operations Shore Base at HMS Salsette (Bombay). It is most likely that all the first 50 officers initially posted to HMS Salsette took part in Operation Ironclad and most had previously been at HMS Quebec in Inveraray before setting sail. Franks was instructed to take a number of LC from HMS Salsette to Chittagong and from there operations were mounted in Burma. My research suggests that in 1943 Naval Servicemen on landing craft remained posted to HMS Salsette even while serving say in Chittagong or Burma. Only 3 Naval Servicemen were killed in India or Burma in April 1943 and all three on the 25th in Burma. Terence Dolan is commemerated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, James Robertson on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and Terence Gormley Able Seaman RN is recorded on the Commando Veterans web site. All three were posted to HMS Salsette but died in Burma. The evidence would suggest they died during the sinking of LCS(M) 17. I hope this helps. My research follows my father's posting to HMS Salsette within Combined Operations where he was a Lieutenant RNVR(Engineering) having earlier taken part in Operation Ironclad so any info you unearth on HMS Salsette or HMS Braganza (also a shore base in Bombay) will be of interest although I suspect many records have been destroyed or lost). Regards Simon
Thank you all. I am currently researching the death of AB Terence Dolan on behalf of his neice. Cathy O'neill
ChM = Chatham Memorial. It's my note off where the casualty is remembered. PoM is the Portsmouth Memorial. Regards Steve
Hi Ed I apologise if you already know this. You can apply for RN service records via the Gov.UK web site "get a copy of military records of service" which should include date of death in service, but whether this includes where I dont know. If you do a web search for "Captain Robert Franks The Telegraph" you should find the obitury for Franks which includes a very brief reference to the Mayu Raid. After 6 years of research I have found very little information about the Royal Navy and Combined Operations in Burma and or Bombay. Servicemen where not usually listed as crew of a landing craft. Rather they were "posted" to a shore base. All shore basis were prefixed by HMS. Sevicemen might be based at a UK naval base but actually be serving abroad. There was no HMS base in Burma so any rating on a landing craft in Burma would likely have been posted to a shore base in India or even the UK. If India and in Combined Operations HMS Salsette in Bombay is the most likely base. If you have Terence's service record then the following might help. Many of the servicemen who arrived at HMS Salsette around June 1942, were previously based at HMS Quebec in Inveraray where they were trained on Combined Operations for service abroad, or at another UK shore base. They sailed from the Clyde on 19th March 1942. On the 5th May they took part in the Invasion of Madagascar and then many sailed on to Bombay around July 1942. During this period it is likely that their records still referred to being posted to a UK base, and it was only on arrival in India that their record would show HMS Salsette. Towards the end of 1942 Franks took a force of landing craft and servicemen from HMS Salsette to Cittagong for action down the Burmese coastline. I have previously outlined above the likely events surrounding Terence's death. The book "The Watery Maze - the story of combined operations" written by Bernard Ferguson in 1961 also refers to this raid. Unfortunately I have decided that unless your relative has been awarded some high honour or been a high ranking naval officer, it is unlikely you can pin down their service in India or indeed Burma, unless they have kept their very own reord. I knew my Father served in Burma but I cannot prove it as it is not mentioned in his service reord. It is unfortunate that in Terence's case that this can sadely be proved by his untimely death while serving his country. I hope in some way this helps you?
The reason for my enquiry is that I maintain a local history website for my my home town of Cambuslang, near Glasow. There, I have a page dedicated to those local lads who died in WW1 and WW2. www.edwardboyle.com/EB/Cambuslang/cambuslang_war_memorial.htm On my connected facebook page, one of the members of that group had posted a message... "Hi Edward My mother's brother, Terence Dolan, who lived in County Avenue was killed in the second world War but is not on your list. Could he be added please. I can give you all his information. I still live in the area. We only gave up the family home in county ave a few years ago. It still had the anderson shelter! Gone now I think. Cathy O'Neill" She is referring to a WW2 ROH spreadsheet on that website page. I have now added his name to it. However, as usual, it got me interested knowing more about him. He was brought up in an industrial town, and as a young lad probabaly never travelled further than Glasgow. He was then posted to the other side of the world and involved in a dirty dangerous war, and sadly never returned. Really tragic. His family home at 1 County Ave still stands. https://maps.app.goo.gl/YMzqxgkumsqKodFFA I will copy your very detailed report to Cathy and I am sure she will be pleased to add this to her family tree history. Ed
Hi Ed I'm the CWGC Tour Guide for Chatham Naval Memorial, I'm interested in your research on Terence Dolan, if you woudln't mind sharing it with me I can then include his story on my tours. I will send you a photo of his name on the panel when next I'm there. Regards Tony
Thanks Tony, as I metioned I have no direct connection to Terenence but I will happily pass on anything you have to his relatives.
A couple of years late, but for Steve (and also Ed, just in case you still check this site and are in contact with Terence Dolan's family): Two LCS(M)s patrolling downriver from Buthidaung to intercept reported Japanese craft were ambushed, attacked both from shore and by armed motor launches hidden around a bend in the river. Both boats were hit and began to withdraw upriver, pursued by the enemy. Terence's boat (No. 17) was then hit on the stern by a mortar at about 9.15pm, which knocked out both engines and left it drifting and sinking. She had a crew of eight aboard: Robertson and Dolan killed but the other six made it back to Robert Franks' tiny Naval HQ at Buthidaung on foot. The ambush took place four miles NW upriver of Kwazon, about ten miles south of Buthidaung. Map attached with the location roughly marked. Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jLGWmW9nj79guhoH8 Martin
Excellent post and research Martin. I notice that a Lieutentant Warner was injured. This was most likely JW Warner RNVR who was also serving at HMS Salsette. He received the DSC although I cannot confirm it was during this action. Warner almost certainly was involved in the Invasion of Madagascar prior to arriving in Burma having trained at HMS Quebec in Scotland before going abroad. There seems every likelihood that Dolan and Robertson trained and served with Warner. SIMON
T/LT John William Warner was awarded the D.S.C for service on LCS 24, Mayu River, Burma. I presume there will be details here: ADM 1/14431 Regards Hugh
Thanks for the extra info Simon. I'm trying to piece together the story of this detachment from snippets spread across several dozen army war diaries, naval signals logs, personal memoirs etc. It's tricky as you have two temporary naval groupings (2 x Burma Navy launches as 'Pamforce', later joined by 3 x LCS(M)s drawn from 'Force Z') combined into a temporary Mayu River Flotilla under Franks, working under a temporary army grouping (Mayforce), reporting to a massively overstretched Div HQ (14 Indian Division)... You mention in a post upthread that three Naval Servicemen were killed in April in Burma, all on the same day: Dolan, Robertson and Gormley. From this naval message it would seem that only Dolan and Robertson were from No. 17. Have found nothing on Gormley so far - it does seem likely that he was killed in the same action, but not enough evidence yet to confirm. Possibly he was aboard the other boat involved in the ambush (No. 16), which was also badly hit but managed to limp back. Still searching... Martin
Brilliant find Hugh, many thanks for posting it. Will check that file on my next visit to TNA and try to remember this thread if there's anything relevant. On the subject, might you have anything in your records on these two launches from the Burma RNVR or their skippers/crews? ML 1100: Lieutenant BROWN or Lieutenant Commander CAMPBELL (each mentioned as being in charge of ML 1100 in different war diaries) ML 1101: Lieutenant COLE These are the two launches that infiltrated the Mayu River early in 1943 and had to be abandoned near the end of the campaign. I have copies of Burma’s Navy by Ken Lyle and The Watery Maze by Fergusson, which have a good amount of information but are fuzzy on some of the finer details. I haven't managed to find a copy of From Trombay to Changi: The Story of Arakan Coastal Forces, which might address the subject (though almost every report and history I've seen skates over the 1942/43 operations in a few paragraphs). Martin
Hi Hugh - thank you for info on JW Warner Hi Martin - Re Terence Gormley: his death was mentioned on the Commando Veterans web site by a contributor who was researching a family member. No official web site confirms his death nor does the "Naval Report" above so the information is questionable. I have a copy of "From Trombay to Changi..." This book is the story of Arakan Coastal Forces and perhaps understandably sticks very much to their contribution and little else, and the "First Arakan - Winter 1942-1943" is a chapter of just 12 pages. A footnote states the first COs of 1100 was Lt Campbell and 1101 Lt Penman Both Burma RNVR. Campbell was promoted to Lt Cdr and became SO at Akyab between 7th March and 3rd May 1942. In 1943 Lt Cole became CO of 1101. The author does not mention Lt Brown. The Burmese Navy at the time consisted solely of 5 craft and the author is adamant that these were 75' Thornycroft MLs of which three were attached to Force Z within the Royal Navy 55th Flotilla when operations commenced in the NAFF..Their HQ ship was the SS Heinrich Jessen later renamed HMIS Barracuda. The Mayu action is briefly mentioned and the following might help your research? The author writes: "ML1100 (Lt Cdr Campbell) and ML 1101 (Lt Cole) were detached for a special operation, never to return. They forced the entry to the Mayu River and proceeded up to Buthidaung in support of the army. For 4 months they operated behind the Japanese lines. Japanese guns had been placed in a position of absolute control over the mouth of the river. The two MLs got up to Taung Bazaar but in poor condition without maintenance or repair facilities, and were ordered to be scuttled. Lt Kin Maung Bo RNVR who had charge of the party taking their guns back over the mountain pass between Mayu and the Naff rivers in torrential rain (monsoon) became the Burma Navy's first CO 5 years later when Burma became independent". By April 1943 the 55th Flotilla was at Vizagapatam for a summer refit. In the book there is no mention of Lt Cdr RD Franks OBE RN. In late 1942 Franks was instructed to take a number of Landing Craft from Bombay to Chittagong for Combined Operations. I know he was CO of Mayu Forces under the authority of the Naval Officer In Charge (NOIC) Chittagong (most likely Capt John I Hallett RN). A war despatch dated 1/04/1943 from Rear Admiral AFE Palliser for CIS Eastern Fleet to Franks uner heading "Operational Instructions -Mayu Forces" states as follows: 1. Your command consists of the two Burma MLs and two LCS at present in the Mayu River. Your immeiate Naval superior is the NOIC Chittagong. Object 2. Your object is to assist by all means in your power the military operations. Method 3. In determining the method by which to render such assistance you are constantly to keep in mind the needs of the Commander 14th Division. The following course are, amongst others, to be considered:- A) Maintain attack by night patrols on the enemy's river L.of C., both in forward areas and south of Rathedaung. Our air forces will endeavour to force the enemy to operate these L. of C. by night. (not sure meaning of L of C) B) Attack enemy armed craft in the Mayu River. C) Harrass the enemy forces on the river banks D) Increase the mobility of our land forces by carrying troops or towing sampans. You are to bear in mind that your repair facilities are limited and that it will not be possible to provide you with re-inforcements before the end of the monsoon period. 4. For administration and maintenance you are guided by paragraph 4 to 9 inclusive of the instructions dated 19th March 1943 left with you by SO Force Z (I have not seen these) So Franks was in overall command of the Burmese craft. The fate of the landing craft and some crew is discussed above (but not in the Trombay book) and Franks himself walked out from the Mayu River and nearly died from illness as a result. In Stanley Woodburn Kirby's book "The war against Japan: India's most dangerous hour" he writes "force Z based on Buthidaung had destroyed 3 and damaged one enemy craft on the night of the 30/31 March" and "on 6th April another enemy vessel was sunk". However with the allies retreating in early May Force Z helped to destroy the Bathidaung ferry and all surplus craft were withdrawn upstream to Taung Bazaar. (this concurs with the Trombay book). I have a little more info on Franks regarding his escape, mostly from his obituries, but I am not sure if this is within the scope of your research/interest? My interest is limited to HMS Braganza and HMS Salsette both in Bombay. I am aware that my father Herbert Paul Eagle Sub. Lietenant RNVR was in Burma late 1942 early 1943, and as and Engineer on landing caft might well have been involved in patrols on the Arakan coast during this period (he mentioned river patrols) but I have no reason to believe he was with Franks. However should you come across his name please let me know. That said I am conscious we appear to have highjacked this thread! Regards Simon
