The Sturdy Incident, 1944: Collateral damage or forgotten war crime?

Abstract

Starved of worthwhile targets, the submarines of 8th Flotilla operating from Fremantle in 1944 developed tactics for sinking coastal craft in shallow water by gunfire and demolition charge. One such engagement by Sturdy led to the controversial death of women and children aboard a scuttled ship and was raised in Parliament over 40 years later. Declassified information and recently discovered evidence permit an open-minded review of the incident.

Key words:

• HMS Sturdy
• Shadwell
• Anderson
• Second World War
• Indonesia
• Dutch East Indies
• Siam
• Thailand
• Fremantle
• Power
• Maidstone

Notes

1 The National Archives, Kew (hereafter TNA): ADM 199/1873B.

2 TNA: ADM 205/47B: H. M. Submarine ‘STURDY’, Report of Fifth War Patrol (Captain (S/M) 8th Submarine Flotilla, 30 Dec. 1944).

3 TNA: ADM 205/47B: H. M. Submarine ‘STURDY’, Report of Fifth War Patrol (Captain (S/M) 8th Submarine Flotilla, 2 Jan. 1945).

4 Ibid.

5 TNA: ADM 205/47B: H.M. Submarine ‘STURDY’, Relief of Commanding Officer (C-in-C East Indies Station, 22 Jan. 1945).

6 TNA: ADM 205/47B: Second Sea Lord’s Minute, Annex X. Undated but the text of the Report to the Cabinet in the same file suggests 8 February.

7 TNA: ADM 205/47B: Note from First Lord to Prime Minister, copied to First Sea Lord, 19 Feb. 1945.

8 TNA: ADM 205/47B: Sinking of a Japanese Coaster, Report to the Cabinet, 25 Feb. 1945.

9 The Times, 7 and 9 May 1988.

10 TNA: FCO 15/5366: Telegrams from Jakarta to FCO, 12, 16 May 1988.

11 TNA: FCO 15/5366: copy of Indonesian Observer, 4 May 1988, 3.

12 TNA: FCO 15/5366: FCO Telegram 174747, 9 May 1988 to Jakarta and Canberra.

13 Powell, The Shadow’s Edge, 147.

14 TNA: FCO 15/5366: Sinking of Japanese Coaster on 25 November 1944, ‘Times’ Reports on 7, 9 May 1988: NHB Comment, MoD Memo 25 May 1988, Jakarta telex 27 May 1988.

15 Hansard (Commons), 6th Ser. 134, 9 Jun. 1988.

16 TNA: ADM 205/478, 13; Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 19 Feb. 1985.

17 TNA: ADM 205/478, 13.

18 Supplement to the London Gazette, 24 Jul. 1945, 3828.

19 National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth: Submarine Boat File, P248 Sturdy, undated letter. The author’s and addressee’s names are withheld to preserve their privacy.

20 TNA: ADM 199/1873A.

21 TNA: ADM 199/1873B.

22 Powell, The Shadow’s Edge, 147 and note.

23 I assume all hits were from the deck gun. It is possible (though not stated) the 20 mm Oerlikon was also used.

24 TNA: ADM 1873B, ADM 205/47B; Undated Letter at NMRN.

25 TNA: ADM 205/47B, 4.

26 At this stage of the war worthwhile torpedo targets were so rare that Sturdy, in common with several other boats of the Eastern Fleet, took fewer reloads on patrol to make space for more 3-inch ammunition.

27 TNA: ADM 205/47B, 8.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Derek Nudd

Derek Nudd is an independent author interested in naval intelligence, an SNR member and NMRN volunteer. He has published two books on the interrogation of German naval prisoners, Castaways of the Kriegsmarine and Castaways in Question.