Author: lindacostain

Indomitable service:

October 1944

                15th        Deployed with Task Group 63.3 for diversionary operations in Indian Ocean during US landings on Leyte (Operation MILLET). Six aircrew were lost.

                17th        Launched air attacks with HMS VICTORIOUS on Nicobar Islands.  HM Cruiser PHOEBE provided fighter direction facilities and AA defence.  Group was screened by HM Destroyers WHELP, WAKEFUL, WAGER and WESSEX.

                19th        Repeated air attacks on Nicobars.  During retaliatory attacks by Japanese torpedo bombers, ten of the twelve enemy aircraft were destroyed.

November             

                20th        Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to launch air attacks on Belawan Deli. Cover was provided by HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, ARGONAUT and BLACK PRINCE screened by HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT (ii), WHIRLWIND, WRANGLER, WESSEX and WAKEFUL. (Operation OUTFLANK).

                                (Note: Original target on Pangkalan Brandon could not be attacked due to weather conditions in the area).

22th        Became part of British Pacific Fleet with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS.*

*From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm , accessed April 21 2020

H.M.S. Indomitable

c/o British Fleet Mail

Nov 25, 1944

Dear Folks, 

I just realized the date, so I’m going to try and get some Christmas letters written. I hope I haven’t left too late. 

I received your letter of Oct 29 and the parcel including pen and razor blades. The pen is working fine. I’m sure I’ll manage a lot more letters. There was a box of powdered crumbs with them. It was well packed, but I’m afraid it’s a waste of energy to send cookies etc. mom. Parcels take a terrific beating coming out here.

I’m sure I won’t know the old place when I return. I’m not as optimistic tonight as when I wrote my last letter. I’m afraid Wynne will be disappointed if she expects me to return by New Year’s. Incidentally, you might be right about her letters.

At last I received the first news of the kid’s exams. If you have told me three times already I’ve lost a lot of mail. I’m glad they are doing well – Keep it up kids. I hope I’ll be back in time to go to University with Carmen! 

I don’t think Percy has enough practical aptitude to make a go of his previous job. It was always like pulling teeth when he tried to fix his old bike. 

I’ve got another officer now so when he is trained I’ll be able to relax. 

I’m having a bad time with this letter because I keep killing cockroaches – a couple of dozen so far. 

I’ll close wishing you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope I get home sometime during the year to make it happier.

Love to all

Cecil

Indomitable service:

August 1944

                23rd        With Eastern Fleet to provide air-sea rescue facilities during US air attacks by XX

                                Bomber Command on Sumatra (Operation BOOMERANG).

                24th        Launched air attacks on Padang with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS covered by HM Battleship HOWE and units of Eastern Fleet. Targets included cement works at Indaroeng and harbour installations at Emmerhaven (Operation BANQUET).

September            

                18th        Deployed with HMS VICTORIOUS escorted by HMS HOWE, two cruisers and seven Fleet Destroyers to launch air attacks on Sigli, Sumatra and photo-reconnaissance over Nicobar Islands (Operation LIGHT).

                                Two aircraft accidentally attacked HM Submarine SPIRIT which was acting as Plane Guard.*

*From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm , accessed April 21 2020

Sept 22, 1944

Dear Folks,

I received your letter today telling all about your trip to BC. My Gosh was I surprised. You always said you’d have time to gad about when the kids grew up. You lucky people. I suppose I’ve seen my share of the world and will see more, but I’ve always wanted to see the mountains and BC. Not to mention my numerous cousins. But it is high time you had a real holiday.

Pardon the interruption, one of our numerous cats just walked in and jumped up on my letter. We have quite a few but they aren’t very homey.

I’m doing quite well lately, I get fits of depression if I get too tired but they don’t last too long. My health is fine, I’m luckier than a great many in that respect. This is a foul climate for a white man. We have just had another crack at Sumatra, but it wasn’t very interesting.

I don’t know whether I’m stuck for good or not. I’ve been on here a long time now, but one of these days they will find they can run the ship without me. I suppose I’ve been on here too long now, but I don’t care much because I doubt if I could find a better ship.

I have had several letters from Wynne lately and one from Lena. By the way, do you know why she gets them in twos – because I get mine in threes.       

It is pretty difficult to write a letter these days without one to answer, but yours are coming in better now.

I’ve been doing the odd bit of swimming, but I’m afraid I don’t tan even out here. But I’ve stopped burning which is one consolation.

How did the kids do in their exams. You mentioned them writing but not the results. You wondered if Wynne knew definitely where I was. Don’t be silly, there’s a war on. There’s only one time you will know and that’s when I’m home and you won’t be sure then. But I’m afraid that’s a long way off. 

Bye for now 

Love  

Cecil

HMS Indomitable Service:

January to April – Under repair and refit at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia.

From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm , accessed April21 2020.

Jan 26, 1944

Dear Folks, 

It’s quite a while since I’ve written or heard from you. I forget who owes who but it’s probably my turn.

All is OK down here and busy as ever. I’ve got an assistant now or did I tell you. It will make things better after while but hasn’t had much effect yet.

I got the papers OK and figure I owe them about $120 income tax. I’m going to write and see if I can pay it in English or American. If not, they will have to wait a couple of years more. It’s only for the first six months of 42. Lucky I’m with the RN or I’d be paying about 600 a year. Living with the English has its compensations.

I hope uncle Harry is well on the way to recovery by now. I’d like to be home to hear the old organ going again. Have you been able to get it fixed up any?

Gyp and Sandy must be getting tired of being noncombatants. Sandy must be getting old. It’s time you got another kitten. He’s probably paying Gyp back for sitting on him when they were small.

Don’t think from my previous crack that things aren’t going smoothly. We’ve got some swell officers on board, one of them about the most remarkable man I’ve met. But I hope Helen knows what she was doing. Still I guess if they can stand it she can.

I expect to cover some of the country down here soon. Duty of course, but may see some of the bright lights I missed at Christmas. 

Well it’s getting late so I’ll close for now. 

Love 

Cecil

 P.S. Have you lost your pens.

I love the internet- the information available about the aircraft carriers of World War Two, and the H.M.S Indomitable in particular, is amazing, and I am so grateful to my brother for searching it out. I would urge anyone interested to have a look- certainly nothing in Cec’s letters will help you. It is amusing, in a horrifying way, to contrast his breezy allusions in the last letter to his ‘ringside seat to the Sicily invasion’ with the details of the torpedo damage to the ship, which was, by the time he was writing, sending them back to the States for repairs again. Perhaps it was on this trip that the North Sea added to the damage…

This letter shows a Cec, happy with his promotion, giving his family details of a pleasant Christmas. Although he never mentions it, apparently the US Navy ships were all dry, and so Americans were very happy to be invited aboard British ships where there was a bar and a proper party could be enjoyed!

HMS Indomitable Service:

September to December                      

Under repair and refit at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia after being torpedoed in Mediterranean American Radar Types SM1 and SG fitted. (See RADAR AT SEA).*

*From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm , accessed April 21 2020.

27 Dec 1943

Dear Folks, 

Did you surprise me?! I had expected to surprise you with an early promotion, the last thing I expected was that you would hear of it first. Everyone thinks it’s a great joke. If anyone asked what the date was I say “I don’t know, mother told me about it.” While you’re at it, will you find out my “seniority” or date of promotion, from the barracks. I’ll not likely hear officially till the CW lists come from England (6 weeks).  I won’t put my stripes up until it does but I’d like to know. The recommendation went in two months ago, right after I came back from leave. From the date you heard I knew it’s at least four months acceleration (due 20 Apr. ’44) but how much more I don’t know.  It was certainly a grand Christmas present, a Lieutenant stripe plus a mere ($150 plus) extra pay in my pocket. Boy oh boy, just wait till I get to New York. Fancy me a Captain in the army, if I was in the army, which I’m not, thank goodness.  I hope this war doesn’t last long enough for me to get the next “half stripe”.

My commanding officer seemed as pleased as I was so all is well.

I spent a quiet but enjoyable Christmas. Lieutenant (RCNVR) and Mrs. Stark had Christmas dinner with us on board, and my Captain and I had dinner with them on Sunday. I also did dishes and had supper. It was really enjoyable and I still feel well filled.

I gave most of your cake to my men for Christmas and they really enjoyed it. It was good! They had two turkeys & dinner, for eleven, so I think they did alright. 

It’s past midnight now so I’ll close.  Write soon.

Love 

Cecil

P.S. What’s the idea of waiting two whole days before writing. 

Love

Cecil

Indomitable service:

July 1943       

                5th        Sailed from Algiers with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, NELSON and RODNEY, FORMIDABLE, HM cruisers AURORA AND PENELOPE and screen of five destroyers to cover military convoys to Central Mediterranean.

                10th      Part of Force H deployed in Ionian Sea to prevent interference by Italian Navy during landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).

                16th      Torpedoed by aircraft which had been wrongly identified during air attacks as a naval SWORDFISH returning to carrier.

“The port boiler room and nearby wing compartments flooded rapidly causing a list of 12 degrees to port within 1 minute. Counter flooding reduced this list to 1 degree within 20 minutes…. The ship was able to proceed to harbor under her own steam …”

                             Repair arranged in USA.

August 1943

                20th      Took passage to USA via Bermuda escorted by HM destroyers OBDURATE, OBEDIENT and OPPORTUNE.

                31st      Arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia.

Same son 

Same address 

Aug 1, 1943

Dear Mother, 

I have just received the airletter that you wrote on my birthday*, so it is not surprising I haven’t yet received the parcel you mention. The news was certainly welcome the first I have received for sometime.

I was surprised to hear Les was getting married so soon, but he told me in his last letter he had become engaged to Joyce again, but he didn’t hint at an early wedding.

I’ve been having a rare time since I last wrote, thoroughly enjoying a sunny Mediterranean cruise. We had a ringside seat to the Sicily invasion. Quite a party isn’t it. I imagine the Canadians taking part are glad to get away from 3 years inactivity. It’s amazing to me that they have any spirits left at all. About the most interesting part was to see Malta. I was able to spend one afternoon traveling around the island visiting some of the towns and beaches. The swimming is grand in the Med, clear, moderate water, bright sun. And salty – wow – you gargle as you swim. Very economical, don’t you think?

Some things appeared very strange, particularly vegetation – what there is. There are a few semitropical trees, most of which seem to have been planted. Wood is almost a rarity, the houses, so-called, are of sandstone blocks and even the telephone poles are a tall thin steel & cement lattice work. They look so strange after the pine poles at home.

The country and huts is very much like some old Biblical painting, even to seeing a small mule tied under a shelter against a stone fence. I went swimming in St. Paul’s Bay, where he landed on his way to Rome. I bought a little Maltese lace which caught my fancy. I don’t know yet just how I will dispose of it.

Glad to hear the hatchery is doing well in spite of the new hands you have to get every year. I hope you haven’t worked too hard at it, Mum. But I know you & Dad both have. Give Lena my congratulations, I got her announcement. I wish I could have attended. 

Bye for now

Love

Cecil

*Cec’s birthday was June 16.