Leonard Sedgewick Mell

FRANK S. TAYLOR FAMILY AND ROYAL NAVY HISTORY.NET

H.M.S. SCARAB

LEONARD SEDGEWICK MELL

August 1944 – February 1945

Ordinary Seaman

Service Number PJX 633814

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

Len Mell

(Before joining HMS Scarab 1944)

Len Mell with Russ

Cheltenham Gloucester.

On Saturday 16 October 2010 I travelled to Cheltenham to visit Mr. Len Mell who served on H.M.S. Scarab August 1944 to February 45. Mrs. Mell is in her 98^th year and what a fine lady she is.

Len was born in Southport, Merseyside, North West England 30 August 1926. He joined Scarab in Taranto, Italy after the South of France. The ships were tied up, stern to wall. The aircraft carrier H.M.S. Attacker, a minesweeper and corvette, then Scarab, and further along Cockchafer, and Aphis.

Scarab was literally ripped apart for rebuilding and a new bridge assembled after sustaining heavy damage in her battle with the two German corvettes.

The crew was relocated to a pavilion outside the dock area with 6 left aboard Scarab for guard duties including Len. Conditions were very rough – full of rats - toilets directly over the stern into the water, no heating to be expected for some time, 1 shilling per day. No one was very happy in the cold conditions. They had to adapt accordingly.

As Len said to me they were “a wild lot, a little bomb happy but a great crew and everyone got on well together”.

Len knew Ernie (Blondie) Thomas very well as ‘happy go lucky’ and a great bloke. One thing he said which sticks in his memory, a Petty Officer by the name of Young. Blondie made a comment to him, “You’re getting a little bit mouthy – you know what will happen – you’ll get chucked in the water - again.”

The Commanding Officer at that time was Captain Ball Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, young and recently promoted. Len added that the officers were cautious of the crew, especially those officers who tried to push their weight around.

(Click to enlarge)

Leonard S Mell

Cheltenham, Glos,

GL50 2BD.

4^th January 2010

Dear Russell

My apologies for not writing earlier but I thought that someone with a longer spell on the ‘Scarab’ would be more helpful. Anyway, here goes!

I joined the Gunboat after her return from the S. of France to Taranto/Italy where it appeared never to stop raining – all our ships were tied up stern to the wall – Attacker (aircraft carrier) a Sweeper & Corvette, the Scarab, farther along were the Cockchafer and Aphis. The Scarab was literally ripped apart for rebuilding and a new bridge assembled – naturally the crew were relocated to a pavilion unit outside the dock area and a few of us left on board for Guard Duties.

As you probably know conditions were very primitive to say the least - the toilets were directly over the stern into the water, no heating was to be expected for some time, yes we did get one shilling a day but we were not very happy in the cold conditions. The 8^th Army were pouring in from North Africa with all their equipment so it was pretty chaotic (!) to say the least. Sorry I can’t recollect meeting your father. There was a Ship’s Company photograph taken but the copy I sent home cannot be found at the moment.

I enclose a photograph of the Ship’s Bell for a keepsake for you (obtained some years ago from a letter in ‘Navy News’- also a cutting regarding the action the Scarab was in. You asked for any news re the Gunboats – yes we were closed to Tobruk and the Ladybird was still able to use her guns – 12 months later after leaving Algiers and Oran I was on the look-out at Tobruk but the harbour had been cleared and looked very peaceful!

I haven’t been very well lately hence the awful letter, naturally I’m in my mid 80’s, still very fit, but the brain is slowing up I am sorry to say. Maybe at a later date I will write again and be more coherent.

Sincerely

Leonard Mell

PJX 633814

Ex RNVR.