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Light cruiser HMS Ceylon (30)

5 Jul 1943
Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed her builders yard and proceeded to Greenock. (1)

7 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (1)

10 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (1)

12 Jul 1943
Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. These included full power trials. The ships is accepted from the builders yard the next day. (1)

17 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

18 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) shifted from Greenock to Glasgow. (1)

19 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) shifted from Glasgow to Greenock. (1)

20 Jul 1943
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

21 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises at / off Lamlash with HMS Cardiff (A/Capt. A.G. Davidson, RN). (1)

23 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted A/S exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Stoic (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN). (1)

27 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

29 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

30 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

2 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow. (2)

3 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow to commence a work-up programme. (2)

5 Aug 1943
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

7 Aug 1943
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

10 Aug 1943
The battleship HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), and the light cruisers HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) all conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. During the exercises HMS Anson was escorted by the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN) and HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Donald, DSC, RN). (3)

12 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

13 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

17 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)

18 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery and torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)

19 Aug 1943
During 19/20 August 1943, HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) and HMS Danae (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night exercises. (4)

23 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)

25 Aug 1943
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. These were followed by underway refueling exercises with HMS Rocket (Lt.Cdr. H.B. Acworth, OBE, RN). (2)

26 Aug 1943
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow.

These were followed in the evening by exercises with HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) which was conducting exercises off Scapa Flow during 26/27 August 1943. (5)

27 Aug 1943
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), HMS Malaya (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), aircraft carrier USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), heavy cruisers HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral L.H.K. Hamilton, CB, DSO and Bar, RN), USS Augusta (Capt. G. Hutchins, USN), USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN), light cruiser HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, DSC, RCN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN), USS Isherwood (T/Cdr. R.E. Gadrow, USN), USS Bell (T/Cdr. L.C. Petross, USN) and the escort destroyer HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN) conducted large scale tactical exercises off Scapa Flow. (2)

2 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Janus (Lt.Cdr. W.B.R. Morrison, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (1)

4 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Plymouth. (1)

6 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Plymouth where she is to undergo some modifiactions before she is to proceed to the Far East to join the Eastern Fleet. (1)

19 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is docked at the Devonport Dockyard. (6)

22 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is undocked. (7)

28 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Plymouth. (7)

29 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) both conducted gunnery exercises off Plymouth. These were followed by tactical exercises off Eddystone upon completion of which they returned to Plymouth. (8)

30 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Plymouth for patrol off the Bay of Biscay to intercept enemy blockade breakers. The patrol was to end at Gibraltar. (7)

6 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from patrol. (9)

7 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Gibraltar for an anti blockade breaker patrol off the Bay of Biscay. (9)

14 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) returned to Gibraltar from patrol. (9)

15 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Gibraltar for Port Said. (9)

19 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Port Said. (9)

20 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Port Said for Aden. (9)

23 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Aden. (9)

24 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. (9)

27 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Bombay. (9)

6 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted D/G trials off Bombay and then departed for Trincomalee. (10)

9 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (10)

17 Dec 1943
HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Trincomalee for exercises. (11)

19 Dec 1943
HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) both returned to Trincomalee after the completion of the exercises.

HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) had proceeded to Colombo and also arrived there on this day. (11)

22 Dec 1943
HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) departed Colombo and HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Trincomalee for exercises.

Around 0100/23 the ships joined company and the exercises began. (11)

24 Dec 1943
HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee upon completion of the exercises. (11)

29 Dec 1943
HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Trincomalee for exercises. (12)

31 Dec 1943
Upon completion of the exercises, HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) and HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) returned to Trincomalee while HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) proceeded to Colombo arriving there on the same day. (12)

12 Jan 1944
HMS Suffolk (Rear-Admiral R. Shelley, CBE, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN) departed Trincomalee for exercises.

HMS Suffolk parted company with HMS Ceylon and HMS Emerald later the same day. (13)

14 Jan 1944
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN) returned to Trincomalee on completion of the exercises. (14)

18 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee upon completion of which she set course for Colombo. (15)

19 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Colombo. (15)

23 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Colombo for Addu Atoll. (15)

24 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll. (15)

25 Jan 1944
At 0830 hours, HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), departed Addu Atoll to make rendezvous with the US transport Mariposa (18017 GRT, built 1931). Rendezvous was effected around 1500 hours and HMS Ceylon took over the escort from HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Ropner, DSO, RN) which then proceeded to Addu Atoll. (15)

1 Feb 1944
Around 0900I/1, HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), turned over the escort of the transport Mariposa (American, 18017 GRT, built 1931) to HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN).

HMS Ceylon arrived at Fremantle later the same day. (16)

13 Feb 1944
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Shah (A/Capt. W.J. Yendell, RN) departed Fremantle for Trincomalee and Cochin respectively. HMS Celyon was to escort HMS Shah until the equator. (17)

21 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and HMS Shah (A/Capt. W.J. Yendell, RN) made rendezvous with HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) which then took over the escort of HMS Shah. HMS Ceylon then set course for Trincomalee. (17)

23 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (17)

1 Mar 1944
HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN and flagship of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN and second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN) HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) proceeded to sea for exercises. During the exercises a periscope was reported and the exercise was cancelled.

HMAS Norman and HMAS Pathfinder remained patrolling in the area until 3 March when they set course for Colombo. (18)

8 Mar 1944

Operation Initial.

Sweep into the Bay of Bengal to show force in that area and also to provide training for the Fleet.

The battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN and flagship of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN and second in command of the Eastern Fleet), battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN), and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) departed Trincomalee.

They were later followed by the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) and HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN).

In the afternoon, a full programme of practices was carried out, including 15" and 6" full calibre firings at battle practice targets and also AA firing practices for all types of close range weapons.

HMS Illustrious flew off No.847 Squadron (9 Barracudas) to China Bay aerodrome and embarked No.1830 Fighter Squadron, making her complement No.810, 1830 and 1833 Squadrons, a total of 12 Barracudas and 27 Corsairs. At 1630/8 the fleet was formed as a unit, W/T silence enforced and course set for the northward.

Early on 11 March, during night exercises a serious accident on the flight deck of HMS Illustrious occured. A Corsair fighter crashed into the port barrier stanchion and almost immediately burst into flames. There was a serious petrol fire in which two officers and two ratings were killed and several others badly burned. The fire took an hour to extinguish and wrecked Port no.2 pom pom mount.

Five aircraft that were in the air at the time were ordered to land at Madras. HMAS Quickmatch picked up a badly burned officer from the sea and was sent to Madras with him.

During the day (11th), W/T silence was broken, in accordance with the Commander in Chief’s orders, in the hope that the transmissions might be picked up by the enemy, thus indicating that our units were operating in the Bay of Bengal.

In the evening (11th), HMS Ceylon was detached to the Palk Straits to carry out oiling trials by the double trough method with the RFA tanker Arndale. These trials were unsuccessful.

The Fleet returned to Trincomalee on March 12th. (18)

10 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is docked at Colombo. (19)

14 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is undocked. (19)

15 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. She arrived there the following day. (19)

28 Apr 1944
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted gunnery (close range AA) and underway refueling exercises (with the RFA oiler Arndale off Trincomalee. Also a 6" bombardment exercise was carried out.

During the night of 28/29 April a night encounter exercise was carried out with the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Farrington, RN) and HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN). (19)

3 May 1944
During 3/4 May 1944, HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) participated in exercises off Trincomalee.

[Richelieu (Capt. Merveilleux du Vignaux) also appears to have participated in these exercises.] (20)

10 Jun 1944

Operation Councillor.

Simulated raid towards the Sabang area to give the enemy the impression that an air attack on Sabang was to take place in the morning of June 12th.

This operation took place at the same time as US operations in the Marianas.

On 10 June 'Force 68' departed Trincomalee. For this occasion 'Force 68' was made up of the following warships: aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CB, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), escort carrier HMS Atheling (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN), light cruisers HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) and the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. the Viscount Jocelyn, RN), HMS Racehorse (Cdr. J.J. Casement, DSC, RN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN).

In order not to have to approach the coast to much the submarine Surf transmitted a signal by W/T in the evening of June 11th to simulate that the force was closing Sabang.

Flying practices were carried out throughout. On 11 June two aircraft from HMS Illustrious were lost due to accidents.

The whole force returned to Trincomalee in the afternoon of 13 June. (18)

19 Jun 1944

Operation Pedal.

Air strikes against Port Blair in the Andaman Islands.

On 19 June 1944, ' Force 60 ' deaparted Trincomalee. It was made up of the following warships: battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), battleship Richelieu (Capt. G.M.J. Merveilleux du Vignaux), aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CB, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), light cruisers HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) and the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. the Viscount Jocelyn, RN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC, RAN), HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Racehorse (Cdr. J.J. Casement, DSC, RN), HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, DSC, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN) and HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN).

The submarines HMS Clyde (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Brookes, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO and Bar, RN) were deployed on air/sea rescue duties.

At dawn on 21 June, ' Force 60 ' was in the flying off position, about 95 miles to the west of Port Blair.

At 0530/21, an air striking force of 15 Barracudas escorted by 16 Corsairs was flown off followed by a separate fighter striking force of 8 Corsairs.

They were to attack the following targets near Port Blair;
Parked aircraft on the two enemy airfields were to be attacked by the fighter striking force.
Shipping in the harbour was to be attacked by the air striking force. Also targets on Ross Island, the Chatham Island saw mills, the seaplane base at Phoenix Bay and military installations in Aberdeen harbour.

Two Barracudas returned to HMS Illustrious with engine trouble before they could attack their targets.

Surprise appears to have been almost complete. Weather was poor though.

The total bomb load taken over the target area was 26 500lb bombs and 26 250lb bombs. 3 Bombs failed to release. Another 3 were released set at safe. 4 were jettisoned in the sea. The remaining 42 fell in the target area, of which 17 were seen to hit the selected targets.

The following results were reported:
2 - 500lb and 1 - 250lb bombs on the barracks and 1 - 500lb bomb on the power house on Ross Island.

2 - 250lb and 3 - 500lb bombs in the saw mills at Chatham Island.

1 - 500lb bomb on workshops and 4 more bombs in close proximity of the sea-plane base in Phoenix Bay.

2 - 500lb bombs on the barracks and 1 - 250lb bomb on the motor transport yard in the Aberdeen harbour area.

2 single engined enemy aircraft were set on fire at Port Blair main airfield. No enemy aircraft were see on the secondary landing strip.

Mount August radar station was completely destroyed and Mount Harriet radar station and tower were damaged by Corsairs.

4 aircraft had been hit by AA fire but were able to return to HMS Illustrious.

1 Barracuda was lost over the target area, the crew must be considered lost. 1 Corsair crahed into the sea on return. The pilot was picked up after having bailed out just in time.

A total of 57 aircraft had been embarked in HMS Illustrious for this operation. At one time 51 aircraft were in the air at the same time.

After landing on the aircraft, ' Force 60 ' withdrew to the westward at high speed during 21 June. No enemy aircraft approached the force throughout this operation.

' Force 60 ' returned to Trincomalee in the morning of 23 June 1944. (18)

29 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Trincomalee for exercises. They were joined at sea by their sister ship HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) which had departed Colombo on 28 June. (21)

30 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee early in the evening upon completion of their exercises. (21)

3 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted a bombardment exercise off Trincomalee upon completion of which she set course for Madras. (22)

4 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Madras. (22)

9 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Madras for Trincomalee. (22)

9 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (22)

13 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (22)

28 Jul 1944
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (22)

29 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Colombo. (22)

9 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Ceylon for a position to the west of northern Sumatra for air/sea rescue duties for operation ' Boomerang ' which was aerial minelaying in the south-west Pacific area. (23)

13 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from operations. (23)

17 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 17/18 August 1944, HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (24)

2 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) made a short call at Port Louis, Mauritius before departing for Durban later the same day. (25)

6 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Durban where she was taken in hand for refit. (25)

1 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is docked at Durban. (26)

18 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is undocked at Durban. She then continued her refit. (26)

9 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), departed Durban for Trincomalee. (27)

20 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (27)

28 Dec 1944
During 28/29 December 1944, HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN, ) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (28)

1 Jan 1945

Operation Lentil.

Air strikes against oil refineries at Pangkalan-Brandan (North-East Sumatra).

On 1 January 1945 a Force made up of the aircraft carriers HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral P.L. Vian, KCB, KBE, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Indefatigable (Capt. Q.D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN), light cruisers HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, CBE, RN), HMS Black Prince (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN), HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN), HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN), HMS Grenville (Capt. H.P. Henderson, RN), HMS Undaunted (Lt.Cdr. C.E.R. Sharp, RN), HMS Undine (Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN), HMS Urania (Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, DSC, RN) and HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee for an air strike on oil refineries at Pangkalan-Brandan (North-East Sumatra).

On the morning of 4 January 1945, carrier aircraft were flown off to attack the oil refineries at Pangkalan Brandan and successfully completed the operation. Photographic reconnaissance was also made of port installations at Belawan Deli, Brandan, and Soesoe.

In the afternoon of 6 January 1945, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Suffolk, HMS Kempenfelt, HMS Wakeful and HMS Uriana parted company with the remainder of the Force. These ships were to proceed to Colombo.

All ships from the force arrived at Trincomalee / Colombo on 7 January 1945. (29)

16 Jan 1945

Operation Meridian.

Air strikes against oil installations in the Palembang area (South-East Sumatra).

On 16 January 1945 ' Force 63 ' made up of the battleship HMS King George V (Capt. T.E. Halsey, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral H.B. Rawlings, KCB, OBE, RN), aircraft carriers HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral P.L. Vian, KCB, KBE, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Illustrious (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CB, CVO, RN), HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Indefatigable (Capt. Q.D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Argonaut (Capt. W.P. McCarthy, RN), HMS Euryalus (Capt. R. Oliver-Bellesis, RN), HMS Black Prince (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN), HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) and the destroyers HMS Grenville (Capt. H.P. Henderson, RN), HMS Undaunted (Lt.Cdr. C.E.R. Sharp, RN), HMS Undine (Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN), HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN), HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN), HMS Wessex (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN), HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN) and Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN).

HMS Wessex apparently sailed from Trincomalee on the 17th and joined the Force at sea on the 19th.

An oiling force (' Force 69 ') made up of the tankers Echodale (8150 GRT, built 1941), Wave King (8159 GRT, built 1944) and Empire Salvage (10746 GRT, built 1940) had already departed Trincomalee on 13 January. They were escorted by the destroyer HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Harkness, DSC, OBE, RD, RNR). A fouth tanker, the Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) joined ' force 69 ' on 23 January coming from Fremantle.

The submarines HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) and HMS Sturdy (Lt. W.St.G. Anderson, DSC, RNR) were positioned for air/sea rescue duties. (Tantalus east of Sumatra, Tantivy west of Sumatra and Sturdy in the Sunda Strait area.)

On 20 January ships from ' Force 63 ' were refuelled by ' Force 69 '. Due to the weather conditions this was done only with difficulty and some of the refuelling gear of the tankers was damaged. HMS Ceylon was now assigned to ' Force 69 ' to give protection to this Force. [Note: Arndale at this moment was not yet with ' Force 69 '.]

' Force 63 ' then proceeded on the first phase of the operation, to launch air strikes on the oil installations at Pladjoe (north of Palembang) which were to be flown off on 21 January but the weather prevented this. It was only at 24 January that the weather had cleared to enable flying operations. 43 Avengers, 12 Firefly's (equipped with rockets) and 50 Hellcat, Corsair and Seafire fighters were flown off. The enemy installations were damaged but at the cost of no less then 32 aircraft due to enemy action (7) or crash landings (25). 14 enemy fighters were reported shot down in the air and 38 aircraft were reported to have been destroyed on the gound.

' Force 63 ' then retired from the area to rendezvous with ' Force 69 ' and refuel. This was done on 26 / 27 January.

' Force 63 ' then proceeded to the launch position for the second phase of operation during which air attacks were to be made on oil installations at Soengi-Gerong (also near Palembang). 48 Avenger, 10 Fireflies, 24 Corsairs and 16 Hellcats were launched. During dogfight 30 Japanese aircraft were shot down and another 38 were reported as having been destroyed on the ground. 16 aircraft did not return to the carriers.

A Japanese counter attack with 12 bombers failed. All were shot down by fighters from the Combat Air Patrol or AA fire from the ships.

' Force 63 ' then fuelled again from ' Force 69 ' on 30 January.

' Force 63 ' arrived at Fremantle on 4 February 1945.

' Force 69 ', minus Arndale and Wave King returned to Trincomalee on 6 February 1945. The other two tankers went to Australia. HMS Ceylon had parted company with ' Force 69 ' on 4 February and arrived at Trincomalee on 5 February.

5 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) returned to Trincomalee from operations. (30)

16 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. Before returning to harbour she ran over the D/G range. (30)

19 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Trincomalee for Madras. The Commander-in-Chief East Indies Station, (A/Adm. A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN), was on board. (30)

20 Feb 1945
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Madras. She departed for Calcutta later the same day. (30)

22 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Calcutta. (30)

28 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Calcutta for Trincomalee. (30)

2 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (31)

7 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 7/8 March 1945 HMS London (Capt. S.L. Bateson, RN) and HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (32)

2 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (33)

3 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) arrived at Colombo. (33)

5 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN, struck his flag on board HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN). (33)

7 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is docked at Colombo. (33)

12 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) is undocked. (33)

16 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (33)

17 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (33)

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