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by Admin
Sat May 02, 2020 9:40 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Terence Evans in Malta 1945
Replies: 3
Views: 18439

Re: Terence Evans in Malta 1945

Hello L B Thank you for your enquiry and for the photographs. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the uniforms the two gentlemen are wearing, thinking at first they might be Petty Officers, though going by the cap badges, not, yet they don’t seem quite the same as RN Lieutenants, and their jackets a...
by Admin
Thu Apr 16, 2020 5:37 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 661
Replies: 18
Views: 43831

Re: MGB 661

Hello Manxkipper Thank you for joining the forum. Hopefully the earlier poster Katy will be alerted to your post and reply. Could I ask you to get in touch with the web site as well please at the info@cfv.org.uk address with a view to possibly obtaining copies of the resources your family holds on M...
by Admin
Mon Apr 13, 2020 10:38 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 446
Replies: 5
Views: 17129

Re: ML 446

Hello Bob and welcome to the forum. I am posting the one piece of info I have on ML 466 and would be grateful to receive any information or photographs you may have to add to our archive if you wouldn't mind emailing them to our info@ address. This obituary comes from the Dulwich College Roll of Hon...
by Admin
Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:24 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 446
Replies: 5
Views: 17129

Re: ML 446

Hello Roger Thank you for your enquiry. I have checked my own resources and also Allied Coastal Forces: Volume 1: Fairmile Designs by John Lambert but have had no luck with this particular launch, though someone else may be in a position to contribute. Just out of interest the Imperial War Museum (I...
by Admin
Wed Mar 18, 2020 6:07 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Photo of MTB 316
Replies: 8
Views: 27841

Re: Photo of MTB 316

Hello Alex

Welcome to the forum. I have replied to your email address on the subject of the crew photos of MTB 316 your family holds.

Regards
Admin
by Admin
Sun Mar 01, 2020 12:22 pm
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Clandestine mission from Malta in 1941 (Clive or XMAS?)
Replies: 6
Views: 17656

Re: Clandestine mission from Malta in 1941 (Clive or XMAS?)

Platon That seems to be an interesting book which I have not heard of before. I take it Reg Cooley does not provide a specific reference for mention of the operation. Just a couple of other possible pointers: 1.Pink Lists, which are the Royal Navy's record of foreign ship movements might provide an ...
by Admin
Sat Feb 29, 2020 6:51 pm
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Clandestine mission from Malta in 1941 (Clive or XMAS?)
Replies: 6
Views: 17656

Re: Clandestine mission from Malta in 1941 (Clive or XMAS?)

Platon, I couldn't tell if XMAS it was used for special ops or not, beyond the basic knowledge of it being used for air-sea rescue. I corresponded with a gentleman some years ago who was researching a planned book of remembrance for former pupils of Hordle House, which included Richard Millett Ricka...
by Admin
Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:43 pm
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Clandestine mission from Malta in 1941 (Clive or XMAS?)
Replies: 6
Views: 17656

Re: Clandestine mission from Malta in 1941 (Clive or XMAS?)

Hello I've not been able to find any specific information on this mission in any of the books I have. Do you have a copy of Secret Flotillas Vol II: Clandestine Sea Operations in the Western Mediterranean, North African & the Adriatic 1940-1944 by Brook Richards? I have the first volume covering...
by Admin
Wed Feb 05, 2020 12:11 pm
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Action off Catania on 11th July 1943
Replies: 22
Views: 46507

Re: Action off Catania on 11th July 1943

Hello Platon Just to add to what Ken has already written of the event, Kenneth Horlock in command of 651 wrote the following brief account of the incident: In January or February it became our turn to go over to Italy to be patched up. Consequently we suffered the usual indignity of having practical...
by Admin
Tue Feb 04, 2020 5:04 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384730

Re: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?

Hello Mark

Did you ever manage to establish what the Shrapnel offshoot at Newcastle trained personnel in by any chance?

Regards
Admin
by Admin
Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:44 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124477

Re: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940

I have managed to acquire a copy of the Admiralty file on Patrol Vessel 4 (ADM 358/3797). The pages of most interest are these two which are the last ones in the folder. It would be interesting to learn what an Eng.6 agreement was. A copy of the complete file is available on request. Admin patrol-ve...
by Admin
Tue Jan 28, 2020 12:39 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384730

Re: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?

Dear All I have visited the Public Record Office at Kew and obtained record series ADM 358/2521 and ADM 358/4412 on ML 916. The identity of the other surviving member of ML 916 has been found; he was Able Seaman W C Morrison C/JX 406145. The 358/2521 series also records Lt W B Curtis, Seaman D Frase...
by Admin
Wed Jan 15, 2020 3:22 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MGB 606
Replies: 2
Views: 15568

Re: MGB 606

Welcome to the forum nosey I've not been able to confirm from the resources I hold whether your father was a member of this boat's crew but I have dug out the crew photo of MGB 606 we have and cleaned it up slightly and created a crop of the right hand side for a slightly better view. The photo belo...
by Admin
Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:35 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
Replies: 4
Views: 19945

Fairmile 'C' Gunboats

This remarkable footage shows aerial scenes of Hastings Beach, Sussex and offshore on 4 June 1942, as Commandos returned from Operation Bristle , the raid on St Cecily Plage, Le Touquet. In fly pasts conducted by a low flying Anson aircraft there are numerous closeups of a Coastal Forces flotilla of...
by Admin
Sat Jan 04, 2020 1:50 am
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: 60th MGB Flotilla
Replies: 4
Views: 16593

Re: 60th MGB Flotilla

Hello again Richard I have looked at the material I already have digitised and unfortunately it wasn't Bourne I had information on but Blount, another of the Dog Boat commanders in the Mediterranean on MTB 634. That said, there is a lot of material on the 60th MTB Flotilla in Dog Boats at War by Len...
by Admin
Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:16 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Telegraphist Frank West
Replies: 0
Views: 20427

Telegraphist Frank West

Coastal Forces veteran Frank West (CFVA 891) has died at his nursing home in York on Christmas Day 2019. He served as Telegraphist onboard MTB 479 which was completed in May 1944 and formed part of the 30th MTB Flotilla along with MTBs 471-477 and 480. Elements of the flotilla are known to have been...
by Admin
Sat Dec 28, 2019 1:02 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: 60th MGB Flotilla
Replies: 4
Views: 16593

Re: 60th MGB Flotilla

Hello Richard Thank for your post and welcome to the forum. The London Gazette as you have found seldom holds much information on individual awards, but I know papers relating to award citations for Coastal Forces are held at the Public Records Office (PRO) at Kew, but cannot say if the PRO has the ...
by Admin
Sat Dec 28, 2019 12:43 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 665 Fate of the Crew
Replies: 7
Views: 21968

Re: MTB 665 Fate of the Crew

Hello Colditz Thank you for your enquiry and welcome to the forum. Have you seen Dog Boats at War by Len Reynolds at all, as there is a fair bit of information about the sinking and capture by two of the crew, Peter Thompson and 665’s Telegraphist, Ronald Harrison. If not, I will contact you with th...
by Admin
Thu Dec 19, 2019 9:08 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 263
Replies: 6
Views: 23236

Re: ML 263

Can anyone explain why alongside ML 263 it also says: Attack, Hornet, Edinburgh Castle? Good Evening Rebecca HMS Attack was a Coastal Forces shore base at Portland, whilst HMS Hornet was the principal Coastal Forces base at Gosport. Edinburgh Castle was a former liner used as a floating base in the...
by Admin
Fri Nov 15, 2019 2:09 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 357 History Required
Replies: 31
Views: 74471

Re: ML 357 History Required

Thank you for your research thus far Stuart, which I will look at later, and for the sight of your grandad’s service record, which makes sense now. Collingwood would have been basic training, Excellent at Whale Island, Portsmouth for gunnery training which he would have been selected for and then st...
by Admin
Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:40 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 357 History Required
Replies: 31
Views: 74471

Re: ML 357 History Required

Rescue Motor Launch This photo shows the square structure characteristic of an RML used to shelter airmen recovered from the water which I believe is what your photo shows too. Depending on the length of service, most Coastal Forces personnel who joined early on in the war could serve on two or mor...
by Admin
Wed Nov 13, 2019 9:36 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 357 History Required
Replies: 31
Views: 74471

Re: ML 357 History Required

Hello Stuart Thanks for your post and for the photo. Just to add to the mystery slightly, I note the presence of the large square looking structure behind your grandfather which doesn’t look like the front or rear of the bridge of a standard Fairmile ‘B’. The photo appears to be taken from the stern...
by Admin
Mon Nov 11, 2019 9:20 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 326 and MTB 761
Replies: 18
Views: 60550

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Hello AAF MGB 326 was lost off Normandy on the 28th June, and MGB 17 earlier than that on the 11th. It could well be that if another member of crew from 326 transferred to 761, that your father did likewise. The only recourse open to you if you do not have your father’s service record on parchment w...
by Admin
Sun Nov 10, 2019 11:38 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 621 operation Tarbrush Westkapelle October 1944
Replies: 6
Views: 23275

Re: MTB 621 operation Tarbrush Westkapelle October 1944

That's a good find Arjan. I can't imagine there would have been too many boats involved in this activity as the crews involved would need to know the ropes. MTB 621 was part of Don Bradford's 55th MTB Flotilla who was in the photo of the officers coming ashore, and he performed drop offs on the Dutc...
by Admin
Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:51 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 263
Replies: 6
Views: 23236

Re: ML 263

Hello Rebecca Thank you for your enquiry regarding ML 263 which was part of the 17th ML Flotilla, comprising MLs 242, 256, 261, 263, 265, 266, 272 & 274. Naval History web site has some of the movements at various times for the motor launches in West Africa including this entry for 7 August, 194...
by Admin
Sun Nov 03, 2019 11:07 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 621 operation Tarbrush Westkapelle October 1944
Replies: 6
Views: 23275

Re: MTB 621 operation Tarbrush Westkapelle October 1944

I wonder if this particular camo pattern was especially used for MTBs earmarked for land based (covert) operations. MTB 295 and MTB 297 had a similar pattern. Yes that could very well be the case. It bears similarity to the kind of pattern seen on some of the Mediterranean based Vospers that were u...
by Admin
Sun Nov 03, 2019 12:02 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 621 operation Tarbrush Westkapelle October 1944
Replies: 6
Views: 23275

Re: MTB 621 operation Tarbrush Westkapelle October 1944

Dear Arjan Thank you for the interesting info on clandestine ops in the Scheldt in the run up to the invasion of Walcheren. This difficult operation was all the more dangerous for the fact the area was heavily mined, including the use of acoustic mines. Incidentally, the awards database shows the bo...
by Admin
Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:03 pm
Forum: General Organisation
Topic: Goon / Ursula suits
Replies: 3
Views: 17144

Re: Goon / Ursula suits

Yes it doubtless refers to someone ‘looking like a goon’ when wearing one.
by Admin
Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:24 pm
Forum: General Organisation
Topic: Goon / Ursula suits
Replies: 3
Views: 17144

Re: Goon / Ursula suits

There is a reference to the Ursula suit on the internet which was apparently manufactured by Barbour. I have this photo given to me by the Mercer family of a crewman on one of the early MGBs which appears to be a one piece waterproof, but I cannot say if this was standard issue or is the Goon suit m...
by Admin
Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:20 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Signalman Lewis Hale, JX/165696
Replies: 1
Views: 14120

Re: Signalman Lewis Hale, JX/165696

Hello Popeye Thank you for your post. Coastal Forces bases included Hornet, Wasp, Beehive, Mantis, Midge and many more in UK waters, with others abroad in the Mediterranean, Africa, and India. If you care to post any of the base names for your father here we could tell you what they were. Regards Ad...

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