N.Z. Skipper Of Gunboat Which Led Invasion

Northern Advocate, 30 September 1943, Page 3

N.Z. Skipper Of Gunboat Which Led Invasion

(Special) LONDON, September 29. The commanding officer of the Chinese river gunboat, Scarab, which took part in the Sicilian campaign, is Lieutenant E. Cameron, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Christchurch. The Scarab was in six successful bombardments. She shot down four enemy aircraft and came through without damage or casualties. Lieut. Cameron said: “Our most successful bombardment was at Cape Molino, when the target was an ammunition dump and buildings. We and another ship caused explosions and a tremendous fire which could still be seen when 25 miles away. “The day Taormina fell, we bombarded roads and other targets north of the town. It appeared that the enemy was waiting for us as he opened up with heavy fire. We went further out, but again closed at night-time. We put a three-inch shell right under one bomber we got in the daytime, and shot down a bomber and torpedo-carrying aircraft at night-time. Within Half a Mile “We claim to be among the first ships to go into action against the beaches, for we led in the invasion fleet we. were escorting, and with our shallow draught, got in to within half a mile from the shore. “We spent 39 days around Sicily, and were doing patrols and bombardments or some kind of work every day except four. We sometimes went ashore and bartered old clothes and cigarettes for fruit and vegetables. I got 100 lemons for a pair of old boots.” Lieut. Cameron joined the Scarab in Singapore, where he went in 1940. She was built in 1915 and served in the Middle East in the last war, then from 1918 to 1940. she served on the Yangtse River, fought Chinese pirates, and helped to drive off Japanese aircraft bombing the gunboat Panay. She went to the Persian Gulf in 1941 and entered the Mediterranean for the Sicilian campaign. Lieut. Cameron is proud of the Scarab’s engines. “When we had to get away under heavy shelling, we increased speed from four to fourteen knots in a minute and a-half.”