The attached photo is of myself and of Past Old Bill (Cosy Corner Shellhole) Moth Norman Landman, while on an official visit to SimonsTown Naval Base in November.

Moth Norman was treated to a most comprehensive tour around one of the South African Navy's new Valour class Frigates, S.A.S. Isandlwana (F146) and into S.A.S Charlotte Maxeke (S102), our newest submarine.

Moth Landmans' war service is somewhat unique:

He was the Senior Sergeant with the Kaffrarian Rifles at the outbreak of the war but,being employed by the railways and not allowed to "go north" with the Regiment due to being considered Essential Services, he was offered a position with the Railways & Harbour Brigade.  He kicked that plan into touch and "unofficially" joined the Navy as a Rating.

He was made up to Officer rank in fairly short order and served as a Weapons Officer at sea.

He transferred to the Royal Navy and did duties in the South and North Atlantic, as well as with Convoy protection across the Atlantic and the Med, including 16 months of "Malta Convoys", which he remembers as being the most stressfull times of all.

He then transferred to the Royal Marine Commandos, passed the selection course and spent many months training in preparation for the D-Day landings.  But this was not to be.  The Navy needed pilots and cox'ns for the various Landing Craft required for the Invasion and he was sent back to sea duties for that purpose.

Just a few weeks before the Big Day, the Americans suffered a major setback when many of their own landing craft were attacked and sunk by German U-boats during a practice run, killing many American troops in the process.  Being short of craft, the R.N. lent a number of L.C.T's to the Americans, including crews.  It was in the course of this service that a young Sub-Liutenant from East London, serving in the Royal Navy, brought American troops to Omaha Beach at 08h00 on 6 June 1944.  I wonder how many other South Africans were on those beaches on that day?

Brian Porter