Tweet
My dad served on HMS Sibyl in The Far East, during WWII. Today, just by chance, I found the log of his tour of duty! I am so hyped! All the stories I was told, and the photos I found have all fallen into place. Enjoy them with me please.
On being transferred to operate in the Pacific in early 1945, Sibyl continued to cause losses to enemy shipping. The first Far East patrol was spent around the Andaman Islands and south of Singapore in the Malacca Strait. She sank a number of Japanese vessels with gunfire and scuttling charges in the Malacca Straits, and was strafed by aircraft and depth charged three times after these successful attacks.[1]
Here is the entry in his records
Wolfe is the Depot Ship. Note the dates 11 june 1945 - 28 Sept 1945
Here is the log, posted to http://uboat.net/allies/commanders/1807.html
1 Jun 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) ended her 19th war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. (5)
2 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 20th war patrol (2nd in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol in the Malacca Strait. (5)
9 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) destroyed a tug, a coaster and a junk with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
0735 hours - The Officer of the Watch saw (through the periscope) smoke and a tall funnel close inshore. Shortly afterwards sighted that the target was a tug with a coaster close astern. Closed submerged.
0830 hours - Surfaced for gun action, range was still 6600 yards. Closed at speed on main engines.
0836 hours - Hit the coaster on the bow with the 5th round.
0839 hours - Hit the coaster again and set it on fire amidships. The tug meanwhile had altered course 180°.
0840 hours - Opened fire on the tug which then made for the beach still towing the coaster.
0841 hours - Hit the tug abaft the funnel. A large cloud of steam and smoke emerged. Several members of the crew were seen to jump overboard.
0844 hours - By now the tug had been hit many times so re-engaged the coaster.
0850 hours - The burning tug was now alongside the burning coaster. Decided to finish them off with a torpedo.
0851 hours - Fired no. 2 tube. It missed. Nontheless both ships were considered to be a total loss. Position was 02°30'N, 101°44'E.
0914 hours - In the same position sank a 70 tons junk with gunfire.
0923 hours - Dived for an aircraft reported by radar. (5)
10 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) damaged a barge with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1245 hours - Sighted what was thought to be a large junk close inshore. Could not make her out clearly due to the mirage effect.
1251 hours - Surfaced in position 03°52'N, 100°04'E and saw that the target was not a junk but a barge of about 50 tons. Opened fire but both the 3" gun and the Oerlikon misfired. Both were cleared and fire was re-opened. Range was 3000 yards. 23 Rounds were fired but no hits were obtained in this poor performance. Shortly afterwards Sibyl had to dive for an approaching aircraft. (5)
14 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) sank two junks with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
0735 hours - Sighted a two-sailed junk. Closed.
0803 hours - Fired a warning round at the junk but it went through the rigging and brought the mainsail down. The crew abandoned ship in their sampan and pulled inshore. Closed to board.
0810 hours - Could not close any further as the water was not deep enough. So opened fire and hit the junk at the stern. After two more hits she sank rapidly. Several other smaller sailing vessels had meanwhile been sighted and one lowered his sails and the crew was seen to abandon ship. Closed.
0815 hours - Opened fire. The first round was a hit and blew off his counter. She was hit again but refused to sink.
0817 hours - Opened fire with the Oerlikon with the intention of setting him on fire but this failed.
0820 hours - Re-opened fire with the 3" gun. After 3 hits she was a wreck but still refused to sink, most likely she was aground. Left her a total loss. Positions of these two attacks was 02°45'N, 100°14'E.
2110 hours – Sighted a dark object which appeared to be a small junk.
2131 hours – Fired a star shell. Later identified as a 3-4 ton junk and let her proceed. (5)
15 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) sank three sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait near position 03°50'N, 100°35'E.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1615 hours - Sighted a large mass of sail bearing 360°. Enemy course was 190°.
1620 hours - This mass of sail turned out to be a two-masted lugger with a bamboo deckhouse aft, with a man at wheel.
1639 hours - Surfaced and opened fire with the 3" gun. The first round hit. The crew jumped into their sampan that was secured astern of the lugger.
1640 hours - Hit the lugger several times amidships. The mainmast came down. The crew jumped from the sampan into the water.
1642 hours - Shifted target to a schooner seen inshore. Range was 3500 yards. The third round hit and the ship blew up and burst into flames, producing a large cloud of black smoke so she must have been carrying petrol.
1644 hours - Re-opened fire on the lugger. The crew meanwhile had clambered back into their sampan but now jumped overboard again.
1650 hours - The lugger started sinking and one minute later she rolled over and sank.
1652 hours - Set course to the North to clear the area. Sighted a large junk coming out of Pankor Roads.
1720 hours - The target altered course. Saw that he was a large three-masted junk.
1740 hours - Opened fire.
1742 hours - The targets mainmast came down. After a total of 33 rounds the junk rolled over and sank.
1750 hours - Continued to proceed to the North. (5)
17 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) damaged a schooner with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1615 hours - When about 4.5 miles North of Jumpul Bank buoy, sighted two tall masts bearing 130°. Thought that this was a schooner at anchor.
1630 hours - Sighted that the target was a 150 tons schooner being towed by a small motor fishing vessel.
1640 hours - Surfaced in position 03°08'N, 99°55'E and opened fire from 3500 yards.
1656 hours - The schooner had been once amidships and about 5 to 6 times in the stern. The motor schooner vessel had slipped the tow and had fled inshore.
1757 hours - Broke off the action. 53 Rounds had been fired and the target had still not sunk. (5)
19 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) sank two sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1445 hours - Sank a three-masted junk of about 90 tons in position 03°49'N, 100°45'E. 18 Rounds had been fired.
1512 hours - Sank a 70 tons junk leaving the Bernam River in position 03°48'N, 100°47'E. Fired 37 rounds from 3500 yards. (5)
24 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) ended her 20th war patrol (2nd in the Far East) at Trincomalee. (5)
6 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Trincomalee for Singapore. (10)
11 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) arrived at Singapore. (10)
12 Sept 1945 Signing of The Japanese Surrender of Singapore
14 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Singapore for Trincomalee. (10)
20 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (10)
28 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Trincomalee to return to the U.K. She arrived at Portsmouth on 5 November 1945. (11)
Shortly after the signing, many Japanese Officers were rounded up and taken to Changi Jail where they were hanged.
My dad Jim Caswell
More stuff on Sibyl! http://www.39-45war.com/britsubsibyl.html
On being transferred to operate in the Pacific in early 1945, Sibyl continued to cause losses to enemy shipping. The first Far East patrol was spent around the Andaman Islands and south of Singapore in the Malacca Strait. She sank a number of Japanese vessels with gunfire and scuttling charges in the Malacca Straits, and was strafed by aircraft and depth charged three times after these successful attacks.[1]
Here is the entry in his records
Wolfe is the Depot Ship. Note the dates 11 june 1945 - 28 Sept 1945
Here is the log, posted to http://uboat.net/allies/commanders/1807.html
1 Jun 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) ended her 19th war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. (5)
2 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 20th war patrol (2nd in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol in the Malacca Strait. (5)
9 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) destroyed a tug, a coaster and a junk with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
0735 hours - The Officer of the Watch saw (through the periscope) smoke and a tall funnel close inshore. Shortly afterwards sighted that the target was a tug with a coaster close astern. Closed submerged.
0830 hours - Surfaced for gun action, range was still 6600 yards. Closed at speed on main engines.
0836 hours - Hit the coaster on the bow with the 5th round.
0839 hours - Hit the coaster again and set it on fire amidships. The tug meanwhile had altered course 180°.
0840 hours - Opened fire on the tug which then made for the beach still towing the coaster.
0841 hours - Hit the tug abaft the funnel. A large cloud of steam and smoke emerged. Several members of the crew were seen to jump overboard.
0844 hours - By now the tug had been hit many times so re-engaged the coaster.
0850 hours - The burning tug was now alongside the burning coaster. Decided to finish them off with a torpedo.
0851 hours - Fired no. 2 tube. It missed. Nontheless both ships were considered to be a total loss. Position was 02°30'N, 101°44'E.
0914 hours - In the same position sank a 70 tons junk with gunfire.
0923 hours - Dived for an aircraft reported by radar. (5)
10 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) damaged a barge with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1245 hours - Sighted what was thought to be a large junk close inshore. Could not make her out clearly due to the mirage effect.
1251 hours - Surfaced in position 03°52'N, 100°04'E and saw that the target was not a junk but a barge of about 50 tons. Opened fire but both the 3" gun and the Oerlikon misfired. Both were cleared and fire was re-opened. Range was 3000 yards. 23 Rounds were fired but no hits were obtained in this poor performance. Shortly afterwards Sibyl had to dive for an approaching aircraft. (5)
14 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) sank two junks with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
0735 hours - Sighted a two-sailed junk. Closed.
0803 hours - Fired a warning round at the junk but it went through the rigging and brought the mainsail down. The crew abandoned ship in their sampan and pulled inshore. Closed to board.
0810 hours - Could not close any further as the water was not deep enough. So opened fire and hit the junk at the stern. After two more hits she sank rapidly. Several other smaller sailing vessels had meanwhile been sighted and one lowered his sails and the crew was seen to abandon ship. Closed.
0815 hours - Opened fire. The first round was a hit and blew off his counter. She was hit again but refused to sink.
0817 hours - Opened fire with the Oerlikon with the intention of setting him on fire but this failed.
0820 hours - Re-opened fire with the 3" gun. After 3 hits she was a wreck but still refused to sink, most likely she was aground. Left her a total loss. Positions of these two attacks was 02°45'N, 100°14'E.
2110 hours – Sighted a dark object which appeared to be a small junk.
2131 hours – Fired a star shell. Later identified as a 3-4 ton junk and let her proceed. (5)
15 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) sank three sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait near position 03°50'N, 100°35'E.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1615 hours - Sighted a large mass of sail bearing 360°. Enemy course was 190°.
1620 hours - This mass of sail turned out to be a two-masted lugger with a bamboo deckhouse aft, with a man at wheel.
1639 hours - Surfaced and opened fire with the 3" gun. The first round hit. The crew jumped into their sampan that was secured astern of the lugger.
1640 hours - Hit the lugger several times amidships. The mainmast came down. The crew jumped from the sampan into the water.
1642 hours - Shifted target to a schooner seen inshore. Range was 3500 yards. The third round hit and the ship blew up and burst into flames, producing a large cloud of black smoke so she must have been carrying petrol.
1644 hours - Re-opened fire on the lugger. The crew meanwhile had clambered back into their sampan but now jumped overboard again.
1650 hours - The lugger started sinking and one minute later she rolled over and sank.
1652 hours - Set course to the North to clear the area. Sighted a large junk coming out of Pankor Roads.
1720 hours - The target altered course. Saw that he was a large three-masted junk.
1740 hours - Opened fire.
1742 hours - The targets mainmast came down. After a total of 33 rounds the junk rolled over and sank.
1750 hours - Continued to proceed to the North. (5)
17 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) damaged a schooner with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1615 hours - When about 4.5 miles North of Jumpul Bank buoy, sighted two tall masts bearing 130°. Thought that this was a schooner at anchor.
1630 hours - Sighted that the target was a 150 tons schooner being towed by a small motor fishing vessel.
1640 hours - Surfaced in position 03°08'N, 99°55'E and opened fire from 3500 yards.
1656 hours - The schooner had been once amidships and about 5 to 6 times in the stern. The motor schooner vessel had slipped the tow and had fled inshore.
1757 hours - Broke off the action. 53 Rounds had been fired and the target had still not sunk. (5)
19 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) sank two sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1445 hours - Sank a three-masted junk of about 90 tons in position 03°49'N, 100°45'E. 18 Rounds had been fired.
1512 hours - Sank a 70 tons junk leaving the Bernam River in position 03°48'N, 100°47'E. Fired 37 rounds from 3500 yards. (5)
24 Jul 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) ended her 20th war patrol (2nd in the Far East) at Trincomalee. (5)
6 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Trincomalee for Singapore. (10)
11 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) arrived at Singapore. (10)
12 Sept 1945 Signing of The Japanese Surrender of Singapore
14 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Singapore for Trincomalee. (10)
20 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (10)
28 Sep 1945
HMS Sibyl (Lt. H.R. Murray, RN) departed Trincomalee to return to the U.K. She arrived at Portsmouth on 5 November 1945. (11)
Shortly after the signing, many Japanese Officers were rounded up and taken to Changi Jail where they were hanged.
My dad Jim Caswell
More stuff on Sibyl! http://www.39-45war.com/britsubsibyl.html
Attached Files
Comment