Page 140 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

Kalk Bay Fishing Community servicemen in the armed forces 1939 – 1945

Compiled by Vincent Cloete

SA ARMY Michaels, Michael Greeve, Martin *
Almazan, Ramon Pepino, Frank Menezes, Hedelin
Almazan, Gonzalez Peters, Willie Menezes, Jose
Almazan, Pablo Rosslind, Wallace Gordon, Harold
De Freitas, Michael Sassman, Cecil Sassman, John

De La Cruz, Devotious Schouw, John
Francis, John SANF Schouw, David
Emandien, Osman Gomez, Alfred
Gella, Lupino Gomez, Basil SAAF
Louw, Eddie Gomez, Michael Clarence, Richard

* Martin Greeve was a self-employed fisherman who joined the navy in October 1941. He
became a Master Stoker and served in Mombasa, Tripoli, Tobruk and Alexandria. As a

member of the crew of HMSAS Gamtoos he, and the crews of many other vessels, was

involved in the task of clearing the entrance channel at Tripoli during the early months of
1943. The dangerous task was carried out under daily bombing raids and was eventually

completed.

General Montgomery personally visited the port in order to express his great appreciation
th
of the efforts that had been made to open it to the 8 Army. Martin Greeve was one of
three members of the crew of HMSAS Gamtoos who were decorated for their role in this

operation. He was awarded the British Empire Medal for "outstanding courage in a
dangerous operation which led to the opening of the North African ports." (Gleeson, 1994).

Apparently, among other exploits, he had dived without breathing apparatus to clear an

entangled magnetic mine in the harbour entrance.

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