"A WORLD War Two submariner branded a “headache to the Nazis” after twice escaping prisoner-of-war camps to continue the fight with German-hunting Partisans has died. A submariner and POW who escaped from the Nazis twice has died aged 92 Royal Navy hero Arthur Melling, 92, falsified his age in 1939 when only 15 to join the crew of the so-called ‘Scourge of the Mediterranean’ HMS Saracen. Mr Melling was the last known survivor of the submarine that became famous for hunting down and sinking Italian and German ships. When his u-boat was sunk off Corsica he quickly escaped Nazi captivity, prompting them to label him a “headache.” To avoid him running off again the German’s confiscated his boots only for Arthur to flee barefoot before making himself shoes from an old tyre. He teamed up with Nazi-hunting Partisans and was eventually repatriated back to Britain where he shocked his parents, who had been told he was dead. This week the retired master butcher, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, passed away leaving behind wife Doris, 88, six children, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. It also means the last survivor of the 48-strong HMS Saracen crew has gone – just a year after the boat was discovered by sea explorers. Arthur Melling was described as a 'nightmare to Nazis' for his evasive nature When told in June last year of the boat’s rediscovery, Arthur told reporters: “Bloody hell, that’s some years waiting for that. I thought it would be undiscovered in the ocean forever “In a submarine you have very close friends, you know, very close friends indeed. “You couldn’t have a closer friend than a submariner and that was it. Everyone trusted each other. You never gave a thought to anything else. There was no such thing as danger. It was just a job.” Born on the 13th September 1923, he was aged just 15 on the 1st September 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland, sparking World War Two. HMS Saracen officers and crew met Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Algiers, August 1943 He enlisted into the Royal Navy and after training, joined the crew of the soon-to-be-famous elite submarine HMS Saracen." http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/670026/World-War-Two-submariner-Arthur-Melling-Nazis-Prisoner-of-war-died-aged-92
Re the loss of H.M Submarine Saracen. Extract taken from The Naval Staff History. Operation In The Mediterranean. On 4th August 1943 a merchant ship in Algiers harbour caught fire, and after having been beached outside the harbour, the fore-part blew up. Saracen, (Lieutenant M. G. R. Lumby) who was out exercising, closed the scene of the disaster, and was ordered to sink the after part of the ship, which was still afloat and blazing with the after hold containing ammunition. This Saracen proceeded to do by gunfire, and received the thanks of Commodore, Algeria, for undoubtedly saving a further disaster. ' Saracen left for patrol in the Bastia area on 7th August. According to information from Italian naval sources the corvettes Minerva and Euterpe left Bastia at 0015 on 14th August to hunt for a submarine reported in the approaches. Minerva obtained contact a short way outside the port and dropped a pattern of 28 depth-charges. The submarine was seen to break surface after a short interval, and soon afterwards it was observed that men were jumping overboard. The captain, all the officers and 41 out of the 43 ratings on board were picked up by the Italian ships. Saracen had sustained severe damage in the after compartment in the attack, a considerable inrush of water necessitating the compartment being shut off. An attempt to catch a main ballast trim soon proved impracticable, so she was brought to the surface and the main vents were opened to ensure her sinking, as her company escaped into the sea. Saracen, under Lumby's command, had had an outstanding record and her loss was a sad blow to her flotilla, mitigated by the survival of nearly all her company.
