HISTORY
whilst in charge of an Irish naval base. He was the epitome of British decorum and respect, congratulating them on their professionalism and conduct, even in the face of total defeat. George Salt took command of the submarine Triad. In 1940 it was involved in an exchange of fire and torpedoes with the Italian sub Enrico Toti whilst both were on the surface at night. The Triad was sent to the bottom with all hands, her fate only confirmed 40 years later when its wreck was discovered on the seabed. His son, Sam Salt, who had “Red” Ryder as a godfather, would command the HMS Sheffield in the Falklands war, sunk by an enemy missile. Lt Ryder, obviously an
excellent mariner with nerves of steel, took those skills and applied them in one of the most remarkable operations of the Second World War: Operation Chariot. Lt Ryder was chosen as the Naval commander in the force that took the HMS Campbeltown, a destroyer packed with
Above right: Crew from L to R -Surgeon-Lieutenant Berty Ommanney, Lieutenant Commander Martyn Sherwood, Lieutenant Robert (Red) Ryder Davis Ryder, Lieutenant George Salt .
high explosives, to blow up and destroy the entrance to the huge dry dock in St Nazaire, the only one big enough in western Europe to take the massive German ship Tirpitz. The aim was to make it impossible for that ship and the German navy, to have instant and easy access to the North Atlantic. The operation’s daring and scale are quite difficult to comprehend: 257 commandoes in Motor Torpedo Boats accompanying the HMS Campbeltown, which itself had hundreds of crew. The destroyer rammed the dock gates and then the commandoes disembarked and spent more than an hour destroying dock installations whilst
exchanging fierce and relentless fire with the Germans. Ryder coordinated the attack and the evacuation of crew from the Campbeltown and then the surviving commandoes onto this Motor Torpedo Boat, along with the bodies of some of the dead and escaped whilst under more heavy fire. The Campbeltown, which had been wired to explode
after the action had finished, blew, taking the dock gates and a number of German officers, who had gone on board to investigate, with it. The dock was not back in action before the end of the war. Ryder was awarded a Victoria Cross for his gallantry and skill in command during the raid – one of five awarded to men involved in the operation. During the War Ryder also won the Polar Medal with clasp,
the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre. After the war he became an MP too. He died whilst sailing
for pleasure off France in 1986, aged 77. Also enjoying a long and productive life after the epic
From her launch (Above) in 19?? to starring in Hit film Mama Mia. (below) It has been a long and varied career for Tai Mo Shan.
voyage was Tai Mo Shan itself: first sold to the Royal Navy Sailing Association for exactly what she had cost, to the nearest penny. She raced under their burgee for the next 30 years. In 1964 oil pipeline engineer Ian Bowler, CBE, bought her.
He had read ‘Voyage of Tai-Mo-Shan’ and was impressed by her exceptionally heavy build. He transformed the yacht’s interior to befit a gentleman’s cruising yacht and she is still going strong. In 2008 she was given another taste of fame as she was used in the massive worldwide hit Mamma Mia! But the first voyage of the Tai Mo Shan would remain its
greatest. During its remarkable 364 days, it would prove the crucible in which some remarkable me were forged, learning skills as mariners and building an iron resolve that would serve them and their country well in the dark days of war.•
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