The Rhubarb that went sour!

During WWII the Royal Air Force carried out low level attacks against German infrastructure such as; railway lines and trains or military vehicles and in fact any target of opportunity. These raids were known as ‘Rhubarbs’.

A much forgotten arm of the Royal Navy were the MTB force or Motor Torpedo Boats. My uncle Christopher Banks served with distinction on one such MTB.

                                     January 1945

“Come on then Smithy lets get this done it will be day break any second now, I fancy a nice train explosion today!”

Captain Briggs and ‘Smithy’ Johnson climbed through the narrow door into their De Havilland Mosquito fighter aircraft,

“Right starting port engine”

Captain Briggs primed the engine with high octane fuel then thumbed the starter button. A cloud of blue black smoke drifted backwards from the Rolls Royce Merlin 45. The same procedure was repeated for the starboard Merlin. The Mosquito vibrated slightly as it came to life that cold January morning. An Aldis lamp flashed green and Andy Briggs advanced the throttles steadily.

Halfway down the runway the wooden skinned Mosquito rotated to flight,

“Steer 220 magnetic skipper that should take us nicely over the Dutch coast and into Germany, then lets see if we cant find a morning rush hour train for you!”

At zero feet the Mosquito flew over the Dutch coast as the sun rose, in any other circumstance it would be beautiful. Red and orange Flak shells tried to grasp the speeding Mosquito but it was too fast and too low!

                    Portsmouth Docks England

A loan Motor torpedo boat coughed into life, its V12 marine version of the Rolls Royce Merlin rumbled through the wooden decking,

“Seaman Banks man the anti aircraft guns once we leave Portsmouth; the rumour is the war is nearly over but I keep seeing German aircraft! Keep your eyes peeled”