Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Dear Mac,

My father who died in 1986 served in Palestine with the 6th Airborne Division sometime between 1946 and 1948. We are not certain when he returned home but we do know that he was transported home on a hospital ship sometime during that period.

He told us that the hospital ship was diverted to pick up survivors from a Royal Navy ship that everyone thought had been torpedoed by the Russians but the story was never made public.

I am writing a short history about the family and wonder if you have any information about an incident like this?

My father told me the story many years ago and.. (I think).. I remember that he thought the incident took place off the coast of Albania if you have any information about this, especially the date, I would be very grateful.

many thanks

Bill Whiland
Glasgow

Dear Bill,

Thank you for your message.

I have been unable to unearth anything about a Hospital ship ex Palestine over the time frame you have indicated, nor could I find any details about an incident off Albania that you describe.

If I do come across such details I will of course get back to you.

Best regards, 
Mac. Gregory.

Bill,

Martin has dug out this report that may help with your query.

Regards,
Mac.

Hi Mac.

In regard to the letter from Bill Whiland of Glasgow about the hospital ship his dad was on being diverted to pickup survivors from a Royal Navy ship, I did a quick search of The Times archive for the words "hospital ship" for the period 1946-48 and found the attached article.

According to the article dated 24 Oct 1946, one officer and 37 ratings were killed and 2 officers and 43 ratings injured when two destroyers, HM Ships Saumarez and Volage, struck mines in the Straits of Corfu, off the Greek coast. Geography certainly isn't my forte but pretty sure this is not far from Albania.

The hospital ship mentioned, associated with the Mediterranean Fleet (as were the destroyers, I think) and diverted from the island of Zante to Corfu when the accident happened, isn't named unfortunately but I could dig around some more if it sounds like the incident that Bill's father recalled.

Kind regards,

Martin

Hi Mac and Martin

That was very helpful thanks. That has given me some precise dates.

As I mentioned in my original question, my Father believed there was some doubt about the actual cause of the incident. I can't say if this came from some of the survivors but I note the tone of the Times report, especially the reactions of the Greek Navy. I presume they had completed the minesweeping operations and two destroyers both hit by stray mines does seem a bit strange!

thanks again
Bill

Dear Mac

I followed up on the information from Martin and found this account of the incident from the records of - International Court of Justice Judgement on 9th April 1949.

That completes the search for me and thanks again for all your help.

"The facts are as follows. On October 22nd, 1946, two British cruisers and two destroyers, coming from the south, entered the North Corfu Strait. The channel they were following, which was in Albanian waters, was regarded as safe: it had been swept in 1944 and check-swept in 1945. One of the destroyers, the Saumarez, when off Saranda, struck a mine and was gravely damaged. The other destroyer, the Volage, was sent to her assistance and, while towing her, struck another mine and was also seriously damaged. Forty-five British officers and sailors lost their lives, and forty-two others were wounded.

An incident had already occurred in these waters on May 15th, 1946: an Albanian battery had fired in the direction of two British cruisers. The United Kingdom Government had protested, stating that innocent passage through straits is a right recognized by international law; the Albanian Government had replied that foreign warships and merchant vessels had no right to pass through Albanian territorial waters without prior authorization; and on August 2nd, 1946, the United Kingdom Government had replied that if, in the future, fire was opened on a British warship passing through the channel, the fire would be returned. Finally, on September 21st, 1946, the Admiralty in London had cabled to the British Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean to the following x effect: "Establishment of diplomatic relations with Albania is again under consideration by His Majesty's Government who wish to know whether the Albanian Government have learnt to behave themselves. Information is requested whether any ships under your command have passed through the North Corfu Strait since August and, if not, whether you intend them to do so shortly."

After the explosions on October 22nd, the United Kingdom Government sent a Note to Tirana announcing its intention to sweep the Corfu Channel shortly. The reply was that this consent would not be given unless the operation in question took place outside Albanian territorial waters and that any sweep undertaken in those waters would be a violation of Albania's sovereignty.

The sweep effected by the British Navy took place on November 12th/13th 1946, in Albanian territorial waters and within the limits of the channel previously swept. Twenty-two moored mines were cut; they were mines of the German GY type."

best wishes
Bill Whiland
Glasgow

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