RNVR HMS Wanderer and HMS Indomitable (1941-45) Part 5

VJ Day - Victory over Japan
Mid-August, the renewed Indomitable set sail from Sydney for the reoccupation of Hong Kong. VJ-Day was declared on 15th August 1945, but we were still fighting.
The British Pacific Fleet was tasked with taking local surrenders around the occupied ports of the old empire. As we (Indomitable) attempted to enter Hong Kong Harbour we were met by Japanese suicide boats, some fifteen days after the surrender. These fire ships were a very real threat as we had little room to manoeuvre in the confined waters. The Air Group was scrambled against them, [recording their last combat missions as flown on 31st August and continued through 1st September 1945 against the Japanese suicide boats]. It was clear from our "welcome" that the order to surrender had not been communicated, or was not being heeded, so armed shore patrols were arranged. I was tasked to take one such armed party ashore. It was an anxious affair and we had to use our small arms as we continued to meet Japanese resistance. I attended Hong Kong Surrender and have a photograph of the event with Captain Chas Eccles of HMS Indomitable who spoke Japanese, Admiral Harcourt, Lt Gibbs RNVR HMS Indomitable, at the Govenor's Residence.
Around this time an Admiralty signal was received, which called for applications for the post of Head Master for Holbrook School, Ipswich. Indomitable's Torpedo Officer had seen the signal and drew my attention to it, "You should apply." The regular Officers often spoke with the RNVR contingent about their civilian roles, and my pre-war appointment as a master at the school, was well known. Discounting my own eligibility, mainly as I was still in-the-thick-of-it in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I did not respond. A few days later I was summoned to appear before the Captain. The Captain read out the latest Admiralty signal, "Lieutenant Evans is to submit his résumé for the post of Head Master Holbrook School, his wife has already received written request to forward his indentures." A few days later I was appointed Head Master of Holbrook Naval School, Ipswich, Norfolk, England, quite remarkable as I was still "at war" aboard HMS Indomitable in the Pacific Ocean.
We (Indomitable) returned to Great Britain in November 1945 with as many British personnel as we could carry. These soles were embarked in Australia after we had ditched the entire fifty strong air group overboard off Sydney, even serviceable Hellcat and Avenger were literally pushed over the side to make room. For the repatriation voyage we were mainly conveying British ex-Prisoners Of War from the Japanese run camps. The battered skin and bones at best described those that came aboard, many almost unrecognisable as men; words fail me to describe their condition. There was a profound effect upon me and other members of the crew, it is something that I cannot forget. I decided to make my own stand and vowed never to support the Japanese. As the modern world progressed and generations passed, I had to make concessions, but I could never contemplate buying a Japanese car. Despite being torpedoed by the Luftewaffe, I never felt that way about the Germans.
By the time we made it to a home waters port the war had finished months ago, Britain had celebrated VE day and VJ day whilst we were on the other side of the globe. So it was we, "the forgotten fleet," arrived carrying "the forgotten army," without ceremony or trumpeting, tied up and went ashore. I was demobilised on 28th December 1945, and off to continue my teaching career back in Ipswich and try to adjust to life with a (now) seven year old daughter who was only used to just her and her mummy.

Two POW pilots from the BPF were not amongst our passengers, as they had been executed after the official surrender. Indomitable's Hellcat pilot Jack Haberfield was brought down during "The Battle of Palembang" in the first attack targeting Pladjoe refinery on 24th January 1945, along with a Corsair pilot from Illustrious. Jack and his cell mate were decapitated with a samurai sword, after the Japanese surrender the shore patrol discovered. The Japanese Officer who gave the order committed Har-Kari shortly after it was carried out. The Times newspaper ran an article in 1999 on the war crime of the Illustrious' loss, but made no mention of his BPF POW companion. I wrote to the editor, but no amendment or reference was printed in regard of Jack.

My proudest moment as 2nd Officer Of The Watch occurred on the way home. The "Old-man" (Captain) gave me the nod and left the bridge for his cabin, leaving me in temporary charge of the Indomitable. Sometime passed when a Lookout shouted "Object in the water dead ahead." Even though the war was over there was still the chance of running into mines, so I ordered a turn, "5-degrees to Port". As soon as the Old-man felt the ship alter course he came back up to the bridge.

[COS records Character: Very good (x3)]

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.