Maritime History
World War Two and beyond
Colin Bassett
HMS Prins Albert
January 1944 to the Spring of 1946.
Coxswain in a landing craft
HMS Prins Albert's crossing the equator ceremony 9th October,1945.
The Prins Albert did cross the line on the 9th Oct.45 with a full compliment of Marines and a flotilla (527) of landing craft. In May 1945 the HMS Prins Albert was just off the coast of Burma, whilst the landing craft carried out an assault on Rangoon.
At the time I was coxswain of the leading LCA.
Going into Rangoon in May 45
We were involved in landing troops at Akyab, Ramrea Island and Rangoon. We were part of an assault convoy to Singapore when the Japs surrendered.
Fortunately we all turned back to Ceylon where we heard that the Japs were waiting for us along the Malaya Straits with Kamikaze speed boats loaded with explosives.
I am sorry to say I do not remember your Dad or Alf Fairs and Ken Oakley. I was a Royal Marine and our mess deck was separate from the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy mess decks. The only time we all got together was if we had a film show on the Navy mess deck!
If there is any information I can help you with please let me know.
Kind regards,
Colin