Commonwealth Day 2022 : Mauritius 1952
On the way to Operation Hurricane, HMS Campania and HMS Plym stopped off in Mauritius. It was mentioned what to expect in the Plym Pudding magazine;
(following is a transcript from the magazine with additional photographs from the Stan Bowyer collection.)
Number 10 "Ocean Keypoint" Monday, 14th July 1952
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MAURITIUS
Mauritius has a proud motto in Latin whose translation means “The Star and Key of the Indian Ocean”, and this has always been the opinion of its holders.
The island of Mauritius lies to the east of Madagascar Just inside the Tropics and is nearly 40 miles long by 30 broad.
The island was first settled by the Dutch, who named it after their prince Maurice, but they later abandoned it and were followed in 1710 by the French who re-named it the Isle of France. Their most famous Governor was Admiral Mane de La Bourbonnais, who founded the capital of Port Louis over 200 years ago, built roads, cleared forests, and made the Island prosperous by introducing the sugar cane. He gave his name to the southern port of Mahebourg and several other places.
Great Britain captured the island in 1810 during the Napoleonic wars, when it was an important base for the French Privateers raiding our Indian shipping and has held it over since as an ocean key point under its old name of Mauritius.
Three-quarters of the population which totals nearly half a million, are Hindu Indians, there are some Chinese, and most of the remainder are French-speaking Creoles of French descent, with a number of French Families. The Administration is British as it is a British Crown Colony, and there is a small British Garrison.
Port Louis, where we shall secure, is the chief port as well as the capital, and has nearly 70,000 inhabitants. It was almost destroyed by a hurricane in 1931 and although well laid out has few fine buildings or residential areas. Most of the better Europeans live up in the hills behind the city at Rose hill, Vacoas and Curepipe which are between one and two thousand feet up and on the railway. The climate is very moist and tropical, especially in Port Louis which is surrounded by a ring of hills inland, but at present it is winter-time and at its coolest. The main rainy season is over, and it should be quite dry.
The landing place at Port Louis is Custom House Steps, near which are the G.P.O. and Information Office. Shops are mostly Indian, or Chinese owned and haven't a great-deal of interest for sale. The better shops arc up in the hills generally speaking, and almost all shops have bars, understand English. Sugar, Guava Jelly, Honey and local Tea can be sent home. Sugar has been the main export since French days., and the island is covered with sugar plantations. It is hoped to arrange tours of plantations, refineries and other places-of interest.
Vaccoas is the main Army Camp, near Curepipe in the hills, and most of the sports grounds are there. Football, Hockey and Cricket are played at all seasons and matches are being arranged with both the Army and local teams. The grounds are reported good, and the teams keen.
Port Louis is unsuitable for bathing, but otherwise almost anywhere within the reefs is safe providing the sand is white. Black sand is liable to cut and poison the feet, and there are sharks outside the reefs.
The Garrison at Vaccocs have laid on a dance, and it is the racing season. The race meetings of the Turf Club at the Champ de Mars are a worthwhile spectacle according to previous ships, though nothing is said of local racing standards.
There is a selection of fair cinemas in the town, but the films are often very old or in French so cannot be recommended, journeys to Vaccoas arc run by the army for liberty men and much of Port Louis is “out of bounds” after dark, so take advantage of their help.
There is plenty of American bottled beer and French style wine, both good if not overdone, but the local rum is poisonous with a dangerous delayed action effect. This probably applies to the local women also, so be advised by this warning and don't ruin your evening with either, as Mauri only sees about one H.M. Ship a year and we want to keep up the Navy's good name.
