HMS Haydon (L75), Royal Navy

Narrative

On October 20, 1945, the anti-immigration patrols of the Royal Navy were activated, when Senior Naval Officer (Afloat) (SNO(A)) Captain Heathcote DSO RN ordered Hunt-class destroyers HMS Haydon and HMS Stevenstone to sail from Haifa חיפה, and HMS Brissenden to sail from Beirut بيروت‎.

Narrative

On November 22, 1945, Berl Katznelson ברל כצנלסון Demetrius was sighted by HMS Peacock, lying close to shore, with 4 or 5 small boats ferrying Maapilim ashore.
Fritz Liebreich cites: on November 25, 1945, approximately 200 Maapilim landed at Shefayim שפיים from the Berl Katznelson ברל כצנלסון Demetrius.
Ninian Steward cites: "No resistance was offered to Peacock's boarding party of an officer and five men, who found 20 dirty but fit and well clothed illegal immigrants onboard."
"Three hours after the Peacock's suspicions were first aroused, HMS Haydon on an adjacent patrol line sighted another flare and pursued two small fishing boats making for the shore. These were rounded up with some difficulty, the final arrest taking the destroyer drawing 17 feet, into only 30 feet of water. Similar craft were seen on the beach, as were people on the low sand cliff tops, and since these events took place between 0300 and 0500 they were thought to be a reception party."
"Both the captured boats were towed by the Haydon's motorboat to Jaffa and handed over to the Police with their crews, who spent six months in prison."
The British arrested 20 Maapilim and Palyamnikim, who were interned at Latrun לטרון‎.
Uzi Dayan cites: Moshe Rabinovitch, Yedidya Tzafrir and eleven passengers were caught and sent to Atlit עתלית Detention Camp, and a dozen Palyam members, including Yosef Almog and Yosef Dror, who had aided transfer of passengers with their rowboats, were arrested, and interned at Latrun לטרון‎ for 6 months.

Narrative

On July 1, 1946, Beriah ביריה Akbel was detected by RAF reconnaisance aircraft, and intercepted by HMS Virago, HMS Stevenstone, HMS Talybont and HMS Haydon.
HMS Haydon dropped a depth charge to persuade Beriah ביריה Akbel to stop her engine.

Narrative

On April 13, 1947, Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל tried to run a British blockade, and and was intercepted by HMS St. Brides Bay and HMS Haydon.
Fritz Liebreich cites HMS Cheviot, HMS Octavia and HMS Charity.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: HMS Providence "In April was involved in the interception and boarding of the Theodor Herzl when fierce resistance was put up by the illegal immigrants before the ship was taken under control."
Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל was stopped at 07:00AM, 16 miles from the shore of Tel Aviv.
On April 13, 1947, 15:00PM, HMS St. Brides Bay was preparing to board, and escort her to Haifa חיפה.
The Maapilim put a banner were put on her hull that read: "YOU JOINED THE NAVY TO CHASE ORPHANS"
and: "HITLER DESTROYED OUR FAMILIES, DO NOT DESTROY OUR HOPE "
On April 14, 1947, 01.20AM, the doctor on board Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל requested the wounded be transferred, as they were likely to die from gunshot wounds.
On April 14, 1947, 02.45AM, HMS Charity took on 20 wounded, and returned to Haifa חיפה.
Two passengers were slain, and a third died later.
The passengers were transhipped to Cyprus Κύπρος Detention Camps.

Narrative

On the morning of March 30, 1947, when Moledet מולדת's pumps stopped working, and the diesel engine died, Fabi Gaver sent out an SOS, and a British destroyer responded, and towed Moledet מולדת to Haifa חיפה.
HMS Haydon sent over a pump and a salvage party, along with the boarding party.
Within 80 minutes, the salvage crew had cleared the engine compartments of water, but Moledet continued to list, forcing partial evacuation.
HMS St. Brides Bay and HMS Octavia joined the operation, and 550 passengers were transferred to HMS Charity, and 265 passengers were transferred to HMS St. Brides Bay.
HMS Octavia took Moledet מולדת under tow.
Moledet מולדת, her crew and passengers were arrested in Haifa חיפה, and the British deported the passengers to Cyprus Kibris, on transport ships.

Narrative

On March 29, 1947, RAF reconnaisance aircraft spotted Moledet מולדת San Philippo about 90 miles northwest of Haifa חיפה.
HMS Charity intercepted Moledet מולדת San Philippo, and HMS Haydon joined HMS Charity later that day.
When she was intercepted, Moledet מולדת San Philippo was listing close to 35 degrees, but refused help, so the Royal Navy vessels dropped back and watched.

Narrative

HMS Haydon and HMS Charity closed on Moledet מולדת San Phillipe, when it was reported that water was entering the ship, which was listing 18 degrees; she later rolled to starboard, and listed 23 degrees.
Moledet מולדת San Phillipe was flooding through insecure lower-deck scuttles, and the salvage party, led by Lieutenant E.H.W. Nichols, transferred a 70 ton/hour diesel salvage pump, hoses to reduce the wate, closde the scuttles and kept passengers below deck.
The salvage party cleared the boiler and engine rooms of water, and HMS Charity and HMS Octavia came alongside to take on the passengers.
HMS Charity embarked 556 passengers and HMS Octavia embarked 265 passengers; HMS Octavia then transferred the passengers to HMS St. Bride's Bay, and then secured a tow to take Moledet מולדת San Phillipo to Haifa חיפה.

Narrative

On May 24, 1947, Mordei haGetaot מורדי הגטאות was intercepted by HMS Brissenden and HMS Haydon.
The British destroyers rammed against her, on both sides, and soldiers boarded, using water hoses and tear gas.
The passengers resisted for three hours, but overpowered and were forced to surrender, and Mordei haGetaot מורדי הגטאות was towed to Haifa חיפה.

Narrative

On July 28, 1947, Shivat Zion was located by the RAF 38 Squadron, and intercepted by HMS Haydon, HMS Octavia, HMS Brissenden and HMS Espiegle.
The passengers of Shivat Zion were sent to Cyprus Kibris on the SS Empire Shelter and SS Empire Comfort.

Narrative

On September 28, 1947, SS Paducah Geulah and Northland Medinat haYehudim מדינת היהודים sailed out from the Dardanelles, and were shadowed by HMS Chaplet, and HMS Cheviot, until relieved by HMS Haydon.

References

  1. Mowlem Mowlan Mowlett, J. DSO RN
  2. Nichols, E.H.W. RN
  3. Rowland, J.M.