I was talking to an old boy who said he was a bomabier in the RA and had been in North Africa with the Airborne Forces and was a part of the crew on the new 17 pounder anti tank guns. He was sent to Italy on HMS Abdiel which was a fast mine layer and due to its speed and capacity was pressed into service as a fast transport to move the Allied Force's across to Italy from North Africa. HMS Abdiel arrived in Tranto Harbour late on 10th September 1943 carrying Men from the 1st Division of the Parachute Regiment and also 6th [Welch] Parachute Battalion. At about midnight two mines went of under HMS Abdeil and the ship sunk in four minutes killing 58 Paratroopers and wounding 150 more. It is rumoured that the mine degaussing gear and been turned of at midnight for a few seconds while they changed batteries and it was this that caused the ship to be sunk.
Tab what angle are you looking in on this on? Royal Welch guys did a looksie into the degaussing gear rumour and relatively well debunked it if I recall... I did a ton of work on 6 RW Para Bn a couple of years ago. Throw some more info up and I'll have a look at it all after Kelmarsh.
Swiper.......I have no angle on this as it was just story told to me by a chap who was on the ship with the RA anti tank unit. I had not heard it before but I thought I would share it. It appears I am wrong to do so.
Ah not at all! I was curious if you had more information on the sinking mate, I'll throw my stuff up later this weekend.
Does anyone know how many Paras died on the Abdiel? I've seen 58 but also claims of many more than that. Is there a casualty list anywhere? The crewlist is readily available but would love to put names to the others killed.
HMS Abdiel: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14157 HMS Abdiel August 1943: https://archive.org/stream/navylistaug1943v2grea#page/1650/mode/2up
Excellent Reports and Casualty lists in WO 361/460. I did some work on this a few years ago for a fellow whose Father from 1 A/L Atk was killed in this sinking. He never knew his Father but we were able to put him in touch with his dad's best friend who was also on board but survived. John
thanks gents. John,is that available as a download or is it a visit to the records office? Sorry for the question but the NA website seems to induce a mental fog in me
This link shows RN casualties for HMS Abdiel (go to 9 Sep 1943) http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1943-09SEP.htm 1st Sep 1943 : ......... and the minelaying cruiser ABDIEL were ordered to Bizerte to embark the airborne division and KING GEORGE V and HOWE were ordered to Malta) 9th Sep 1943: At approximately 1800/9/9/43 Force Z arrived at Taranto and received a friendly welcome from the Italians. Because of the possibility of mines in the inner and outer [Mar Grande] harbours of Taranto, disembarkation of the airborne troops proceeded slowly. ABDIEL who had embarked 435 men of the British 1st Airborne Division [6th Royal Welsh battalion and the 2nd Oban, Air Landing Anti Tank Battery] moored to a buoy in the Mar Grande. At 0015/10/9/43 a violent explosion took place under ABDIEL which broke her back and caused her to sink in two minutes. It is believed that she had swung at her moorings and triggered a German GS type magnetic mine. 48 crew plus 120 soldiers were killed, together with the loss of a large amount of stores, eight Jeeps and seven 6 pounder A/T guns Both referenced from http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-01BB-KGV.htm TD
Also came across another reference : http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4300-49ALL.htm Friday, 10 September OCCUPATION OF TARANTO, OPERATION SLAPSTICK Minelaying cruiser ABDIEL (Captain D Orr Ewing), carrying 400 troops, and which had departed Bizerte on the 8th with US light cruiser BOISE, was sunk when she struck a contact mine at Taranto in 40-29N, 17-15E. Ty/Act/Lt Cdr (E) A H Brown, Act/Paymaster Lt Cdr R H Alington, Paymaster Sub Lt M Booth, Ty/Gunner (T) J G Barnacle DSC, Ty/Surgeon Lt N A Terwillegar MD RCNVR, Lt D M Dent RNVR, Ty/Sub Lt A J Plant RNVR, forty one ratings, and one hundred and one troops of the 6th Parachute Battalion were lost. Six ratings and 120 troops were wounded.
There seems to be less than 50 Army casualties recorded on CWGC after excluding Cassino and Salerno deaths. Those for Bari War Cemetery total about 39 for 10 September 1943, admittedly some may have died thereafter, but hopefully not 100 or more... Similarly 47 for the crew...
I think the figure is more like 76 Airborne lost in this incident - Swiper if you're interested in the 6th - there a nominal roll for that period included in the WO 361 file John
I have had this photograph for some time cannot fathom why I have not put it up till now. It shows, I assume, unknown 1st Airborne veteran standing at the grave of Cpl. Samuel Bevan Sgt. Fred Stock Pte. George Shelley three of the 76 who went down with HMS Abdiel. Maybe some someone knows who the gentlemen is. brithm
