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This contribution by the Market Harborough Branch Royal British Legion Associate Centre is based on extracts from a 1942 pocket diary found in the effects of the late Mr Frank Bent by his niece Mrs Anne Godlington and posted to the website with her permission and understanding of the site conditions.

Before the War, was a French protectorate and after France capitulated, it came under the control of the Vichy government. Separated from the east coast of Africa by the only 250 miles wide Mozambique Channel it was seen by the Allies as a potential threat to wartime supplies to East Africa and the Middle East and as a possible base for Japanese submarine attacks in the Indian Ocean.

It was against this background that on 15th April 1942, Aircraftsman Frank Bent wrote in the diary,
“Left Liverpool 12 o’clock mid day ( on the Cape Town Castle).130 of us in very small space. Am sleeping 3rd bunk up 12” from roof”.

Frank was obviously not a good sailor as his diary entries show,
“Going round top of Ireland. I feel terrible, it must be sea-sickness.”…. “Sea rough, having a job to keep on my feet. Tummy bad. Bought tin of Andrews. Now I’m broke”

After two weeks of this and severe home-sickness,
“I wish Poppy was with me.” “Thinking of Poppy and home”, he wrote,
“Enter Freetown harbour 11 o’clock. All big hills with green trees and sand. Very beautiful.”

Being confined to the ship for three days brought back his earlier mood,
“Still in Freetown harbour. Shall be glad to get moving. Had to queue one hour for tea. Getting very browned off — wish I could get back home.”

Clearly Frank was not enjoying his cruise on the Cape Town Castle.
“Nothing to see but water and more water….Same thing day after day. Breakfast 8 o’clock, boat stations 10.30, dinner 1 o’clock, tea 6 o’clock.” “ Passed Cape Town during night, going straight to Durban…..Lost two ships out of convoy.”

Things improved a bit on 18th May, but the diary says nothing about the relief of not being at sea.
“Durban harbour 5.30 am. Disembark 11o’clock. Train to rest camp 10 miles from Durban. Tents. Plenty of ants. Nice cup of tea.”

After six days on land,
“Embark on Llandaff Castle, a lot smaller ship but more room for us this time. Sleeping in hammocks. Getting decent food but bread is queer.”

On board, the C.O. confirmed the rumours that,
“Our little band of 130 will be the first RAF in Madagascar. C.O. don’t know what reception
we will get.”

Then on 30th May, Frank wrote,
“Enter Diego Saurez harbour 8 o’clock last night. Troops start to disembark 9 o’clock this morning. Invasion barges. We stay on board in middle of harbour. Hell of a night. Ship 50 yards from us sunk by submarine. Battleship has big list. Five ships now in harbour half submerged. Shan’t be sorry to get off this ship. Too much explosive on board.”

Frank spent another week on board helping to unload the unit’s Lysander aircraft until the RAF contingent moved to a camp 6 miles from the town . During the month the unit spent there Frank’s entries included,
“Not much sleep last night. A lot of rats in our hut. We also have beetles four inches long.”
We are now under East African Command. One good thing about this - we might get some decent kit. Have made our own shorts out of old French pants.”…. “ Pay day — 280 francs. Celebrated at canteen. Cup of grapefruit and 3 bars of chocolate.” … “Browned off. Still blowing like hell. Flies very persistent. No cigs, no choc, no beer, no ink. This (what he was writing with) is made from stuff out of flares.”

British Forces had started the invasion of Madagascar on 5th May 1942, (only three weeks before Frank’s party arrived) having secured Diego Saurez, the important port at the north of the island, after the surrender of the Vichy French garrison there. It is not surprising that accommodation standards were not those of the RAF stations where Frank had served in Britain.

Things must have improved at the camp where the unit spent the next nine weeks, judging by diary entries like,
“Godsend — got hold of some newspapers and 15 eggs, two tins of Jap salmon and sardines.” …”New pair of shorts and socks today. Not bad, but what about our mail? Got four tins of Nestles milk — 30 francs.”… “Fried egg and tomatoes for supper” … “Manna from heaven. We are having pork for dinner. Am sick of bully beef”

During the last two weeks of August there were signs of impending moves and action
“Kit inspection today. Rifles to be cleaned.”…”I think we are going to invade the south of Madagascar”… “Issued with puttees and 50 rounds ammo” …”Lots of ships in harbour getting ready for invasion of south”

On 6th September the diary records,
“100 of RAF personnel embark on Llandaff Castle. 30 including myself stay here with officers and kites” (which five days later) “take off heading south. Don’t suppose we shall be long now.”

The diary does not make it clear when or how the 30 left or what they were doing, but for Frank the highlight of that time seems to have been when,
“Aircraft Carrier Illustrious with three cruisers and four destroyers arrived….We have been invited on board Illustrious for supper and cinema show. Had a grand feed….went and see the planes, about 60 of them and then walked the whole length of the deck by light of moon and stars. Got soaking wet going to the carrier from the Cap but it was worth it.”

Spasmodic entries in the diary in early October suggest that Frank’s party is following the invasion forces moving south,
“Have got behind with my diary — haven’t had much time. We keep moving”, “Have been told to pack ready for moving again further south. …48hours rations, “Embark on Eastern Prince “. ….. “Dock at Zamata(?) Lovely beach and swimming pool”….”Arrive capital 10.30 pm ….Get to Drome 11.15pm ….about 9 miles from capital (Tananarivo) …. “Arrive Camp Robin 250 miles south of capital”.

Then on 9th November,
“Fighting over in Madagascar. Waiting for trucks to take us and tons of bombs and ammo back to capital.

Five months later we read, “I am going to East Africa in the Sunderland flying boat on 20th April”.

On the diary page where Frank recorded the places where he had stayed, he has written
“Mombasa, Thomsons Falls, Nairobi . 14days.”

There is nothing to tell us what happened after this period of leave. Did he return to Madagascar and when was he repatriated to Britain? What a pity he is not here to answer these and many other questions nor to read some of the Madagascar stories already on the website.

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