SWEEPING MINES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 3, 3 July 1943, Page 5

SWEEPING MINES

STORY OF LONG OPERATION

| (Special P.A. Correspondent.) ;Rec. 12.45 p.m. LONDON, July 1. ! Lieut-Commander C. G. Palmer, D.S.C., R.N.Z.N.V.R., commanding officer of 11.M.5. Cromarty, was engaged with H.M. ships Whitehaven and Boston in the longest minesweep in naval history. It began at Beirut and was carried out via Alexandria, along the flank of the Eighth Army's advance to Tobruk, Benghazi, Tripoli, and Sousse, and ended at Malta. With four other sweepers, the Cromarty left Alexandria on November 13, 1942, to clear the minefields between Mersa Matruh and Bardia. Torpedo-carrying aircraft attacked, but ack-ack made them jettison their torpedoes. Ammunition and supply ships for the t Eighth Army were close behind the 1 flotilla, which arrived at Bardia On November 15. The Cromarty, Whitehaven, and Boston carried on towards ! Tobruk, and after escorting a damaged destroyer to Alexandria, set@out from Tobruk on November 24 for Benghazi, I where they arrived on November 26. 1 While Rommel still held El Agheila, they returned to local convoy duties and celebrated Christmas at Alexandria. Then, on January 16, they set out on their longest sweep towards Tripoli. When within 50 miles of Tripoli they were ordered to. return, as the city had not yet fallen. They eventually entered Tripoli on January 26. VISITED BY MONTGOMERY. On February 4 Mr. Churchill circled the ships in a launch and sent them congratulations. General Montgomery paid them a visit a week later. During the Eighth Army's pause before Mareth, the sweepers widened the channel into Tripoli and cleared a short route towards Malta. They had swept an entry into Sfax by April 14. On April 16; off Sousse and under heavy aerial attack well within sight and sound of the land battle, they severed their sweeping gear to attack submarines' With depth charges. Eventually they entered Sousse a few' days over five months after leaving Alexandria-—an 1800 miles "sweep. Recently they swept a channel for the King's entry of Malta. Lieut.Commander Palmer was among tho first of the R.N.Z.N.V.R. to arrive in England in this war. He was on the south coast during the Battle of Britain. ' - •