viii NAVY NEWS – PALESTINE PATROL, MAY 2008
Booty in the middle
Contributors
Horace Adams, Bernard
Akerman, R Amis, Des Amor,
Bill Atkinson, Frederick Bardell,
Frank Barnes, John Barrett, Alf
Booker, C Brown, K Chatters,
Eric Clayton, W Cox, R Davies,
Eric Drummond, John Evans,
A booklet compiled George Francis, N Fry, Bill
by the Intelligence
Garner, Ernest Grayston,
Section of 40 Cdo RM
Geoffrey Hale, Jack Henley,
Bill Jackson, John Johnson,
as a souvenir of their Kenneth Jones, Hugh Logan,
last few weeks in the
G McDonnell, C Martin, C
Holy Land illustrates
Milner, Mrs L Moore, E Murray,
Bill Murrell, ‘Stokes’ Petts, R
the problems faced by Pote, Sam Preece, Ted Priest,
British troops as the
Brian Purrott, John Roche, J
Mandate ended.
Smith, Valentine Smith, Emma
Soames, Jim Spray, Len Stokes,
Ron Stoneham, Ernie Stringer,
THE LAST unit to leave
Bob Swarbrick, William Vine,
the nascent state of Israel
Dave Wallace, Grahame White,
Leslie Wilcox.
was 40 Commando Royal Navy News drew
Marines.
extensively on the official and
“We were called upon to
comprehensive Naval Staff
History, The Royal Navy and
take over the internal security
the Palestine Patrol, by Ninian
of Haifa Port at an extremely Stewart, published by Frank
tense period in Jewish-Arab
Cass in 2002 (ISBN 0-7146-
relationship (sic),” wrote ‘AH’
5210-5).
in the booklet.
Thanks also to the Naval
Historical Branch.
“The whole country was
seething with racial hatred, and
within the port, and on Z-1 the
Haifa was well to the fore in open
port was closed to all Jews except
acts of violence.
a handful of officials.
“Unfortunately, British soldiers,
Z-1 was one of the busiest
as independent arbitrators, were
days for the Commando, with
inevitably involved in these racial
a constant stream of men and
disputes.
machinery embarking.
“They were the scapegoats of
Reveille on Z Day was at 0400,
both Jew and Arab; each side
and the Commando was ready for
accused them of being prejudiced
action at 0530 in case of trouble.
in favour of the other, and each
Coldstream, Grenadier and
side was quick to blame them for
Dragoon Guards and 42 Cdo had
its own shortcomings. ● The British military packs up and prepares to leave the port of Haifa in the new state of Israel in June 1948
all passed through the security
“In this difficult atmosphere of
hatred, suspicion and violence, we
Haganah’s ban on Jews of military could fear no attack from him or in the Commando’s only other while troops taking part were
cordon by 0900, and tactical HQ
took over our duties.”
age leaving the country, and a his men,” states the booklet. casualties – Lt Pitman RM was hit offered free beer by the Jewish
also withdrew to the fast-shrinking
The advance party arrived in
group of Haganah zealots. “He was very open-handed twice in the leg by a sniper as he labour leader.
military zone - effectively a small
January 1948, and there was a
The emigrants were allowed on and conducted the CO around held back men to make way for the A truce between Jews and
area of jetty around the Landing
warm welcome on the unit’s first
their ship, but zealots continued his positions, and lived up to his women and children, and Surg Lt Arabs, brokered by the UN, came
Ship Tank (LST) HMS Striker.
official day of duty, February 3.
the fight on board, forcing Royals promise. Cox RNVR was shot in the thigh as into effect on June 11, and five
With the withdrawal of the
A bomb shook the town, the
to keep order until the ship sailed. “On one occasion he called he tended wounded Palestinians. days later the advance party of 40
Brigade Commander of 1 Guards
first of many over subsequent
Military vehicles were stolen at on the Commando to provide an With the Arabs beaten in Haifa, Cdo departed on the troopship
Bde, the CO of 40 Cdo, Lt Col
weeks, and an hour later two
an “alarming” rate for use as lorry escort for the funeral of one of his the Royals had to control a tide of Samaria for Malta.
Houghton RM, took control of
British policemen – former Royals
bombs, but the Commando did men killed by a Jewish sniper. humanity flooding the port in a bid The following day the American
British troops ashore, and all ships
– were shot outside No 3 Gate.
not lose a single vehicle. “At this time the Arab cemetery to flee to Acre, across Haifa Bay – fleet auxiliary USS Marquette
except Striker moved off.
Members of 40 Cdo recovered
As the evacuation of people and was under heavy fire, and George hundreds had to be fed and bedded arrived with men and equipment
With the simple radio signal
the bodies and closed the gate
equipment gathered pace, anti- reasoned that the presence of
down, and more refugees dealt with
for the UN truce mediation effort.
“F3, F4, F5 withdraw,” the Royals
against a crowd of angry Arabs.
looting measures were beefed up, British troops would hold the
for several days afterwards.
“Her stay was quite short but
pulled back, covering each other
The Commando manned the
with some success. Jewish hand long enough for him
As the level of violence fell
she left her mark on the port,”
as they left the gates.
port’s six gates, and part of their
Late March brought an intense to bury his dead.
slightly, some 12,000 Arabs were
comments the Commando diary.
Sweeping the area to
task was to stamp out pilfering
period of violence, with persistent “The escort was provided,
evacuated by the Commando,
“On her way out she rammed
ensure no stragglers had
– with a particular emphasis on
sniping and mortar and bomb and the dead man was buried in
most by sea but some by road to
the end of the oiling jetty, causing
been missed, they boarded
racketeers who stole on a grand
explosions, killing and injuring peace.”
Acre and the Syrian border.
considerable damage to the jetty
Striker as the mortar group
scale with breathtaking audacity.
Arabs, Jews and Britons. But a local truce did not end
During the evacuation, a
and also to her own bows.”
set up in the fo’c’sle in case
A typical attempt, foiled in early
Early April saw the
the risk; bullets still rattled through
Royal jumped into rough The most daring theft attempt
covering fi re was needed.
March, saw a train searched as it
Commando instigate its
Kingsway Camp and mortars
seas to save a mother and came in June, when it was discovered
The booklet notes: “At 1248, the
attempted to leave the port.
own port security pass
landed close to East Camp.
child who had fallen while that five wagons of full jerrycans
CO reported to Lt Gen MacMillan,
With only one unsealed wagon
regime, replacing a chaotic
The rise in activity coincided
transferring between boats. of petrol, plus a full rail tanker
General Officer Commanding
containing goods, suspicions were
system which seemed
with the withdrawal of Coldstream
aroused – rightly so, as the engine
On May 1 and 2 45 Cdo
– the 50,000-gallon fuel reserve for
Palestine: ‘Withdrawal of British
to have as many types
Guards from Haifa on April 20,
was surreptitiously uncoupled and
flew in for a short stay, relieving
British troops in Palestine – were
troops in Palestine completed; 40
of passes as there were
leaving only evacuation routes and
began to slip away, until the driver
colleagues at Kingsway; 42 Cdo
missing from the port.
Cdo RM, last unit to leave, is now
people in the port.
areas under British control.
was threatened with guns.
On the same day the Commando
also passed through, having
“An hour after the discovery
embarked.’
On another occasion men
Around the same time the left a small guard and tactical HQ
covered the withdrawal of the
Col Farley, Port Commandant, “With a word of thanks from
using a crane to load steel plates
distance between 40 Cdo sites at Kingsway and moved into new
High Commissioner, Gen Sir Alan
led an armed party in a shunting the GOC, the CO stepped on to
from a lighter on to a truck were
became unworkable, so the main accommodation – packing sheds.
Cunningham, from Jerusalem.
engine in pursuit of the stolen the ramp of HMS Striker – 40
challenged by a 40 Cdo patrol,
HQ, a mile outside the port, During the night green berets
The ceremonial highlight of the
wagons,” recounts the booklet. Cdo’s tour of duty in Palestine
and were found to be thieves.
joined Kingsway Camp inside the moved to strategic points and
tour came on May 14 when Gen
“A correct appreciation and a was completed.”
Another task was to escort
wall, a “dismal” place “in great buildings on the port approaches.
Cunningham, guarded by 40 Cdo,
careful check of the way points The troops witnessed the final
illegal Jewish immigrants from
need of repair” following a bomb April 21 saw the first casualty
declared the termination of the
were set enabled him to track down act as Striker pulled away.
Haifa to Cyprus, a duty which
explosion close by. in 40 Cdo, when Lt Seed RM was
British Mandate. With the gates of
the stolen property to a sidings at A small detachment of Royals
they undertook on six occasions.
The tactical HQ and officers’ wounded in the head and back by
the port locked until the general
Nesher, about five miles outside from HMS Phoebe – the GOC’s
The usual procedure was to mess were established in West a burst from a Jewish bren gun.
boarded HMS Euryalus, the Royals
the British enclave to the east. personal bodyguard – stood by
secure the illegal ship alongside a Camp; the only other Royals were These were the opening sallies in
were still on duty as the State of
“Col Farley returned with all as the Union Jack was lowered
British cruiser (ships were normally two fighting troops and the mortar the ‘Battle of Haifa’, which almost
Israel came into being at midnight.
the missing stores, plus a Jewish from the Port Office while a Royal
berthed stern on) and transfer group at East Camp. became a massacre when Arabs
There followed something of
main line engine used by the Marines bugler sounded Still,
the passengers to the cruiser for At this time the Commando from the Souk, under heavy mortar
an anti-climax; there was more
thieves, who numbered seven.” General Salute and Carry On.
screening and questioning. made the acquaintance of George, and gunfire from high ground,
time for relaxation, duty hours
Four days before evacuation (Z)
The GOC – the last British
If they had clear records they a local Arab military leader whose sought refuge at No 3 Gate.
were shorter, conditions improved
day, on June 26, night water patrols
soldier to leave the Holy Land –
joined a transport ship on the patch was close to Kingsway. “Battle-crazed” Jewish snipers
slightly, “but this period before
were stepped up and charges were
stepped from a deserted jetty into a
other side of the cruiser for passage “Before moving into Kingsway fired into the crowd, and as the
the final withdrawal operation was
dropped into the harbour every 20
motor boat and embarked in HMS
to Cyprus, guarded by Royals. Camp a meeting was arranged Royals returned fire the Arabs
the most depressing during our minutes to deter saboteurs.
Phoebe, with three cheers ringing
On February 27 green berets with George, who proved to be – women and children first – were
stay in Haifa”, according to the Security zones were set up
in his ears as he passed Striker.
were called to quell fighting extremely co-operative and taken to safety at the Cargo Jetty.
Commando record.
between Jewish emigrants, defying promised faithfully that the unit The encounter also resulted
The odd situation – the
port remained under
British control, though
Witness to history
the town was now part of
Israel – led to tension.
An American ship, the
off coast of Haifa
Marine Carp, had been
boarded by armed Arabs
FREDERICK Bardell witnessed the “Eight bells rang out, signifying
in Beirut, who forced 63
final hours of the British Mandate in midnight, and at that moment a new
Jewish men to disembark.
Palestine from carrier HMS Ocean. nation – Israel – was born.
Jewish leaders planned
“On May 14 1948 we were “I felt privileged to have witnessed
to force Arab passengers
anchored outside the port of Haifa,” an historic occasion such as this.
off the ship in Haifa, but
said Mr Bardell. “Three rousing cheers were raised
were sent packing by the
“Att 11.15pm the cruiser to the now ex-Commissioner of
Royals, and a Commando
HMS Euryalus – with the High Palestine, we sang Auld Lang Syne
guard placed on the ship.
Commissioner for Palestine, Lt again, and then all the searchlights
All the while the British
Gen Sir Alan Cunningham, on the over the carrier were switched off
military evacuation was
quarterdeck – left Haifa and both and the ships sailed for Malta.
under way, with up to
ships sailed for the three-mile limit, “At that time we were acting as the
1,420 tons being loaded
where we stopped. ‘mother ship’ to the five warships
in the port each day.
“The Ocean was surrounded which were engaged in intercepting
The King’s birthday
by five ships, HM ships Cheviot, illegal immigrants from entering
was celebrated on June Chevron, Childers, Volage and
Palestine, breaking the quota laid
10, when the Commando, Widemouth Bay, who all illuminated down by Lord Balfour.
apart from guards and the flight deck of Ocean. “We took over the boats’ wireless
the emergency section, “The ship’s company were all offices in order to prevent them
marched through the dressed in their white uniforms and from warning others.
port. lined the edge of the flight deck. “Inevitably fights broke out – they
Impressed by such “As midnight approached, we were armed with revolvers, rifles
a fine display, an Arab sang Auld Lang Syne followed by and knives. The women had long
● Members of 40 Commando Royal Marines watch from HMS Striker as the Union Jack is lowered in in the port fire brigade the National Anthem, played by the hat pins and we know where they
the Port of Haifa on June 30 1948, marking the fi nal British military withdrawal from Palestine and Israel volunteered to join up, Irish Guards pipe band. intended to use them …”
008_Palestine_may.indd 1 21/4/08 14:20:12
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