Coastal Forces Veterans

Rachel,

There is a MTB of this type (albeit built by Whites of Cowes) under restoration on the Thames. If you would like to see it, please contact me. (cdcarter263@hotmail.com)

David Carter
(Secretary CFVA)

Does anyone know of the whereabouts of ML 578? After the war, it was loaned to the Greek navy, returned to UK and eventually sold in 1961. A veteran who served on board would like to know if it still exists. If it has been scrapped, does anyone have the bell?

Hello Graham, If you are in touch with museums in Bastia, could you also enquire if they have delails of MLs and HDMLs stationed in Bastia. A number were involved with Operation Brassard - the assault on Elba. The troops involved were free French and French Colonial. They were taken there on British...

Hello Bernie I'm sorry that you haven't had a reply. On a forum like this, it depends on someone with a connection to the same boat happening to see your original post. There is a Facebook page "Spitfires of the Sea" which is operated by one of our members, Pete Scott, which you might try....

Hello Liz I'm very glad to hear that your father is alive and well. There are still veterans left in London Branch who meet regularly. We would very much like to get to know him - and you. If you could let me have your e-mail, I can send you a recent newsletter and details of how we meet remotely du...

Stephen
Thank you for joining this forum. Please post the pictures you have. There are still veterans around who served on these boats and will be pleased to see them.
Regards
David Carter (Secretary)

Thank you for posting that very comprehensive list of these boats. Some of the veterans who use this site were involved in the campaigns mentioned.

Jeff

Thank you for posting the photos. I will make sure the present owner of MTB 208 sees them.

I have sent you a private message containing my e-mail address. Would you please contact me, so that we can arrange for your aunt to visit the boat.

Regards

David Carter
(CFVA Secretary)

There were sailors from other navies with us in Malta, Empire, US, Free French, Polish etc.

John Phipps of D-Day Revisited has kindly sent me this link, which shows the newly restored MASB 27 at speed:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bxrdsyj8fych ... 7.MOV?dl=0

Dear Katy Thank you for your enquiry. I am the Secretary of the London Branch of the Coastal Forces Veterans Association. I do not know whether any of our members know your grandfather or MGB 661, but I can ask at our next meeting in October. As we are the only Branch still meeting, we would love to...

Seeing these photos taken in Denmark,I thought readers might like to see this painting donated to the Branch by David Attrill, whose father Leslie served on a ML at this time. The view is in Aarhus.

The MASBs were constructed as Anti-Submarine, but many were transferred to duty as Air-Sea Rescue Launches. MASB 27 has been restored by D-Day Revisited and is now in Portsmouth. The D-Day website has many photos. I'll attempt to upload some of mine. P1000830 (3).JPG P1000831 (2).JPG P1000831 (2).JP...

It is a sad end, but it kept going for nearly 70 years. The owners offered heavily discounted trips to CF Veterans, so we are grateful for that. I attach some pictures taken in Dartmouth 2011.

Arjan - Re your enquiry about pictures of PT boats in the Mediterranean, some were used in Operation Brassard - the assault on Elba, which was a combined force of RN, USN, French and French Colonian (Moroccan & Algerian) troops operating from Bastia, Corsica. The lead boats were MLs, MTBs and PT...

Richard Thank you for posting these photographs - most interesting. David Carter

Hi Dave Thanks for this post. I can think of some good homes, depending on where you live. I guess it is quite delicate and would need careful transport. There are some RN and coastal forces museums and London Branch could make good use of it at a boat show in July. Let me know where you are, and I ...

Hello David Fry. I have sent you an e-mail a couple of days ago asking for your address, so that I can send you a newsletter and other information. If you haven't received it, let me know and I'll try again. Regards David Carter

Hello David I am glad to hear your father-in-law is active and well. The London Branch of the Coastal Forces Veterans Association still meets regularly on HMS Belfast. Many of them were born in 1924 as well. We would be delighted if he would like to join us. Even if he cannot get to HMS Belfast, we ...

Peter I don't know where you or your father live, but the London Branch of the CFVA is still going strong and we are meeting next Sunday on HMS Belfast, where we will be showing a film about the restoration of RML 497. Many of our members do not live in London, but we keep in touch by newsletter etc...

John
Thank you for the photos. Any NZ readers might like to know that there are two privately restored HDMLs operating. Look on Facebook for Paiea and Kuparu.
Regards
David C.

Although not Nore Command, since Peter has mentioned the Mediterranean, readers might like to see the Command Structure as in Summer 1944 particularly as applied to West of Italy: Naval Organisation in Corsica during 1944 – Copied from file ADM/199/2424 Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Central Medi...

Re the enquiry about navigational leaders, you might like to look at Medusa's website: www.hmsmedusa.org.uk as this launch was a navigational leader for Omaha Beach. It is still fitted with asdic etc. and operates from Gosport.

Hi Andrea

I've heard back from the Parr family with a very helpful list of family names. It's possible there could be a connection but not definite.

If you would send your e-mail address to me, I'll forward it to you. I'm at xxx


Kind regards

David Carter (CFVA Secretary)

Dear Andrea
Thank you for contacting us. May I ask, is your grandfather related to the family of Parrs who operate boats on the Thames from Kingston?
Regards
David Carter (Secretary)

Hello Simon We shall be on HMS Belfast on Sunday for Remembrance Day. The service starts about 10.30. Unfortunately the Chairman will not be there due to ill health. The other veteran from Vis will be at HMS Hornet in Gosport. You are welcome to join us then, or at our next Branch meeting, also on H...

Dear Simon and Steve. In answer to your question "are any Branches still active?" I am happy to reply that London Branch meets regularly on HMS Belfast. We shall be there this coming weekend. We are open not just to veterans, but to their families, so you would be most welcome to join us. ...

Hello Maureen Welcome to this website. If you would like to post the pictures of your father, it might bring back memories of some of the readers. David Carter (Branch Secretary)

Syd That fits in - the RNR were generally merchant seamen who could be co-opted into the RN. The RNVR were civilians who had volunteered to train in the event of hostilities. The rather rude description was that the RNR were sailors trying to be gentlemen, the RNVR were gentlemen trying to be sailor...