ESCAPE BY SUBMARINE FROM PREVELI, CRETE
At 2220 hrs Saturday 26th July 1941, submarine H.M.S. THRASHER
had surfaced off the south coast of Crete in the vicinity of Limni
Bay (Preveli) when a light was spotted on the hillside flashing the
signal “ S.O.S. Please send help”. The message was repeated
throughout the night.
Several hours later, at 0245 hrs Sunday 27th, Lieutenant
Commander ( Skipper) Pool R.N.R and a Greek guide were landed
to make arrangements to contact the signallers and arrange for the
escape of a number of allied troops.
At 0050 hrs, Monday 28th July 1941 H.M.S. THRASHER touched
bottom just 75 yards from the beach at Limni Bay and began embarking
the escapers. Lieutenant G.S. Clarabut
R.N. and two commandos were responsible for ensuring that no
lives were lost in the transfer.
H.M.S. THRASHER arrived in Alexandria on 31st July with
her 78 assorted survivors without further incident.
Commander Pool remained in Crete arranging for the evacuation of
further allied troops. When he finally left the island on 20th August
he took a further 130 escapers on the second submarine H.M.S. TORBAY,
establishing a record for the greatest number of people jammed in a
submarine in the process.
Commander Pool was assisted in his preparations for the evacuations
by Abbot Lagouvardos, later (Lt Lagouvardos O.B.E), the Abbot of Preveli
Monastery. The monastery was raided by occupying forces on 25th August but
not before Abbot Lagouvardos had made a successful escape. He subsequently
left Crete on 18th December with Major Jack Smith-Hughes by caique
for Egypt.
The official record* of H.M.S. Thrashers Second War Patrol lists
the following personnel as those evacuated on the 28th July. Geoff
Edwards and his mate Bill McGarry are listed amongst those rescued.
Number |
Name |
Rank |
Unit |
D.MX 52937
D/KX 78309
C/SSX 26471
P/SSX 17943
D/JX 184876
2977189
3308413
2979601
22038776
2982183
4756618
2982258
4269522
2337613
2337800
2342404
2581329
7743 62
2578578
6915451
6898896
7263175
1945496
3959776
7667270
3774
3294
20728
WX 32
WX 17
WX 334
W X 274
WX976
VX 15675
WX 908
NX 8752
NX 4248
WX 606
VX 7177
WX 891
VX 8876
NX 7160
WX 370
VX 5699
WX 1103
WX 1055
WX 930
WX 1105
WX 1133
WX 2274
WX 1704
NX 3242
WX 412
WX 350
QX 3071
WX 752
WX 1938
Wx 426
Wx 2088
VX 11830
WX 6142
WX 1707
NX 19849
WX 6112
WX 863
QX 3912
NX 1590 |
R Clough
J J A Gibson
A J Taylor
J E C Middleton
D F Pearce
J Touner
R Brown
D Christie
J Bale
J Buckley
J V Carr
J McClelland
T W Summers
R Decker
L Fletcher
C Jenkinson
C F Senier
F B Shaw
E M Thomas
A Crow
G Sinclair
G F Webb
W E Roberts
P R Young
R T Weston
F Davis
S Onyen
J Ried
D A C Jackson
P M Shanahan
C W Bayly
L R Dowling
G L Greenway
I McKerrow
G P Wilde
W Ryan
J Cauley
D B Stirling
J H Taylor
W Latham
D L Miller
R Munro
R J Baird
H Cathery
W H Carter
E Cook
J H Duncan
E G Edwards
A Forrest
A E Hackshaw
J Haddock
W Jewell
W McCarrey
A McEwan
W J Melksham
S N Morrison
C L Nicholson
J P O’Neil
A Rigby
J McB Robert-Shaw
N Sinclair
L W Smith
V Solomon
B F Thomas
L F Williams
H J Woods
K Yoole |
E.R.A.
L.Sto.
A.B.
L.Sea
O.D.
Sgt
L. Cpl
“-”
Pte
“-”
“-”
“-”
L. Cpl
Sig
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
Rfm
“-”
Gnr
Pte
“-”
Cpl
Sgt
Cpl
Gnr
Captain
“-”
Lieut.
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
W.O II
Sgt
“-”
“-”
Cpl
“-”
Cpl
Pte
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-” |
R.N. H.M.S.Widnes
R.N. H.M.S. Glenroy
“-”
“-”
“-”
I Bn A & SH
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
R.C. of Sigs
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
K.R.R.
“-”
R.A. 189 F.A.
R.E.
Welch Regt.
R.A.P.C.
18 Bn. N.Z.E.F.
“-”
5 Fd.Rgt. co.
2/11 Bn A.E.F.
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
I.M.G. A.E.F
2/11 Bn A.E.F.
2/1/Bn A.E.F.
2/5 Bn A.E.F.
2/11 Bn A.E.F.
I.M.G. Bn A.E.F.
2/11/ Bn A.E.F.
I.M.G. Bn A. E. F.
2/2 Bn A.E.F.
2/11/ Bn A.E.F.
I.M.G. Bn A.E.F.
2/11 Bn A.E.F.
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
2/2/ Bn A.E.F.
2/11/ Bn A.E.F.
“-”
16 Bde. HQ A.E.F.
2/11/ Bn A.E.F.
“-”
“-”
A I E
I M G Bn A I E
2/11 Bn A I E
19 Bde HQ A.I.E
2/2 Bn A I.E.
2/11 Bn A.I.E.
“-”
16 Bde HQ
2/2/ Bn A.I.E. |
The following Greeks were also evacuated.
Apostolakis, George
Haritakis, George
Hnarogiannakis, Georges
Mastrogiannakis, Michael
Michalakakis, Evangelos
Michalakakis, Theodoros
Stavrolidakis, George
Marinos, Themistocles
Kyriakakis, Konstantinos
Kalogerakis, Haralampos
Demetrakakis, Emmanuel |
Civilian
“-”
“-”
“-”
“-”
Sgt
Sailor
2/ Lieut.
Aircraftsman
2/ Lieut. (Pilot)
Sgt |
Summary
Royal Navy
5
1 Bn Argylll & Sthd
7
Royal Corps of Signals 7
K.R.R.
2
R.A.
1
R.E.
1
Welch Reg
1
R.A.P.C.
1
18 Bn N.Z.E.F.
2
5 Fd Regt, N.Z.E.F.
1
A.I.F.
39
Greeks
11
Total
78
·
Source Public Record Office Kew England Ref ADM236/30
·
Other sources HS/5/1727, ADM/1/1147
|
