Despite many losses, enough supplies were delivered by the british for the populat. Codenamed operation pedestal, the convoy was the most important one to set sail for malta during the war, and carried vital supplies to the besieged island, where stocks, especially of oil and. In bringing operation pedestal to life in a thrilling and readable style, michael pearson skilfully draws the reader into the events aboard other ships at key moments in the voyage. Several books have been written about operation pedestal of august 1942, dealing with the british convoy which, despite crippling losses, finally made it to malta on august 1415, 1942, saving the. To mark the 70th anniversary of the santa marija convoy, midsea books in collaboration with maltapost will publish a commemorative book. After operation pedestal ledbury was involved in several other convoys throughout the latter stages of the second world war.
The action of the ledbury during operation pedestal was the pinnacle of an otherwise uneventful career. Rear admiral burrough of the 10th cruiser squadron would lead the close escort through to malta. On 17 january 1943 convoy jw 52 set sail with fifteen ships of loch ewe, with a western close escort made up of the destroyers ledbury, middleton and blankney, between 17 january and 21 january. How operation pedestal to save malta during the second world war unfolded. Rear admiral aircraft carriers lyster, of the home fleet, would direct the carrier operations. Awards and recognition in recognition of their fortitude during the siege and air attacks during all of the mediterranean campaign, malta was awarded the george cross in the months immediately preceding this operation. The book reveals the true story of operation pedestal, the convoy to relieve the desperate plight of malta in august 1942. Sea breezes christmas bookshop november 2014 book of the month operation pedestal the story of convoy ws21s in august 1942 by brian james crabb operation pedestal was a british operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of malta in august 1942, during the second world war. This is the report submitted by the captain of ledbury following the pedestal operation. In 1942 an epic naval operation was mounted so as to relieve malta from the. From 1940 to 1942, the axis conducted the siege of malta, with air and naval forces. Hms ledbury, working with other warships, came alongside.
Hms ledbury passed through the fires, rescuing 27 survivors of the ships complement of 107 men. After operation pedestal the ledbury was involved in several other convoys throughout the latter stages of the second world war. Peter smith, author of the definitive book on operation pedestal, said that the. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the italian and german armies in north africa. Vice admiral edward syfret was assigned to command the combined escort forces of operation pedestal, designated force f.
Operation pedestal was the subject of a 1953 black and white british film, malta story, which interspersed archive footage of the ss ohio with scripted studio scenes. Operation pedestal publication maltapost philately. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. Operation pedestal, known in malta as the santa marija convoy, was a british operation to carry supplies to the island of malta in august 1942, during the second world war. Malta was a base from which british ships, submarines and aircraft attacked axis convoys to their forces in libya and egypt, during the north african campaign. Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the wikipedia article. Operation pedestal project gutenberg selfpublishing. He also includes just about each and every many who played a key role at various times. The epic attempt to run some 80 ships past bombers, minefields and uboats has gone down in military history as one of the most important british victories of the second world war though at a cost of more than 400 lives. This year malta is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the award of the george cross on april 15, 1942, and the arrival of the convoy codenamed operation pedestal, commonly known as the santa.