- Author
- Editorial Staff
- Subjects
- WWII operations, History - WW2
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 2011 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Italian naval or merchant vessel was sighted. At Genoa a heavy & accurate bombardment was directed on military objects. The result of this bombardment was contained in my 1450/9. The fire of enemy shore batteries was spasmodic, ill directed and caused no damage. Whilst the bombardment was proceeding aircraft from Ark Royal successfully attacked the important oil refinery at Leghorn, the aerodrome and railway junction at Pisa and other military objects. All our aircraft returned safely except one. (End page 4)
I also congratulate Ark Royal and her aircraft as a most valuable contribution to the kick in the pants administered to Benito. (end page 5 and end of message).
The above message is its original format and spelling provides a firsthand account of this action. The Box family were later to move to New Zealand where Basil was an important figure in the Sea Cadet Corps at HMNZS Pegasus where he retired as a LCDR RNZVR (SP).
A permanent reminded of this bombardment are the remains of an amour piercing shell on display in Genoa Cathedral. Owing to a fault in its gunnery system this shell from HMS Malaya inadvertently hit the cathedral but failed to explode.
