April 10th marks the anniversary of the loss of MTB 710 in 1945, in the Adriatic. MTB 710, a Fairmile ‘D’ Dogboat, was one of several Coastal Forces boats to suffer a particularly large loss of life through a sudden …Continue reading
February 14th sees the anniversary of an incident that took place just three months before the end of the Second World War in Europe; one which saw the greatest single loss of men and boats of Coastal Forces in a …Continue reading
What follows is an account of a well known incident that occurred in the Danish port of Aarhus during the 1950s. With the cessation of hostilities the risks to naval operations using petrol powered vessels had obviously greatly diminished; however …Continue reading
The following account has been given by Peter Bickmore BEM who served with Coastal Forces and was present in Bari on the night of the raid, and who sustained burns from the mustard gas to his arms and neck. As …Continue reading
Most people are aware of the high reputation gained by this company and the famed 71-foot 6-inch motor gunboats, constructed by this company. Indeed the craft had a high reputation, and each crew member regarded ‘his’ boat as the best. …Continue reading
In attempting this brief post war history of S 130 I am mindful and acutely aware of the feelings that several of our Veterans still feel toward our former enemies. Some would prefer to forgive but remember; while others will …Continue reading
This second part of Coastal Forces in India illustrates the valuable work carried out by MLs, mainly of the Royal Indian Navy. Ken Gadsdon The second instalment of a report on Royal Indian Navy Coastal Forces by Lieut Comdr T.H.L MacDonald DSC …Continue reading
These stories were written by veterans for publication in CFVA’s quarterly magazine. The great majority of Coastal Forces activities occurred in Home waters and in the Mediterranean and therefore there were relatively few members with experience of ‘business’ elsewhere. The …Continue reading
Haslar Hospital Haslar Hospital, or Haslar as it is known by all, despite its change of title to Royal Hospital Haslar in 1996, was a tri-service bastion and memorial to earlier times and the last military hospital in Britain. As …Continue reading
HMS St Vincent—The War Years Sub. Lieutenant Poland, later to rise to the rank of Admiral, was placed in charge of newly established Midshipmen and Sub. Lt. ’A’ entry men who were then taken ‘aboard’ St Vincent—after it had been …Continue reading