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by Peter
Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:04 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 638
Replies: 47
Views: 341795

Re: MTB 638

Welcome aboard Edwin and Son for late Ian Austen, I served aboard MGB 647 through out the ( Yugoslavia campaign) as A/B Radar Operator so I would imagine our boats would at some time tied up against each other.
Ps I cannot work out the numbers that you both quoted
Cheers Peter
Keep Safe
by Peter
Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:59 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

Good Evening;

Some more pics and information re Malta;
by Peter
Wed Oct 28, 2020 4:35 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

Good Afternoon Looking at that pic of the Old Dun Cow was there not a Bar in Sliema just along the way from the Base of HMS Gregale. It is good the amazing blogs that MTB 670 has given us.
Malta Harbour @ 1945.jpg
More Pictures
by Peter
Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:33 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

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by Peter
Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:46 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

I have been deeply interested in the picture of MTB 670 displayed on 3rd March 2012 showing deprived of her armament but interestingly I was looking at the radar aerial on the top of her mast that may be of the 1950 vintage
by Peter
Fri Oct 23, 2020 7:41 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

There has been thankfully many words on this subject lately maybe it is time for some pictures, that include Painting of MGB 647 by a local artist Some of the crew (make and mend) at work On leave on the Isle of Capri so it was not all Death and glory Where I am holding up the tree In the picture I ...
by Peter
Fri Oct 23, 2020 11:11 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

Hi Rita and Bernie & Travellers Thank you for your replies to MTB 670. Sorry that I did not include page I in my last post . so here goes we will try again. I will attaché my memoires and I feel that you Bernie will be very interested as I also sailed to Malta in a Troop Ship in May 1943 Keep Sa...
by Peter
Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:44 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

Sorry Travellers I forgot to include page 2 in my last post
Cheers
Peter
by Peter
Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:38 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

Good Afternoon MTB 670 Traveller's. I attach an article revealing some of the conditions we endured and enjoyed in our Coastal Forces mission during the Italy and Yugoslavia campaign , that are included in my self written memoires My Shipmates Page1.jpg I hope to submit further bits of the campaign ...
by Peter
Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:13 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

What a topic MTB 670 has turned out to be, I shall be happy to take part . Having been part of the crew of MGB 647 much of the posts have become familiar from which I can connect. So I will turning over the pages of my memoires that will be helpful in the MTB 670 posts Now 96 I must be away to my Bu...
by Peter
Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:20 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 137
Replies: 1
Views: 11536

ML 137

Dear All

This cutting is from a newsletter the villagers of Chigwell sent out during WWII to all who lived there and were serving in the Armed Forces.

This edition mentions R Clarke who at had served onboard ML 137.

Peter
r-clarke-ml-137.jpg
R Clarke ML 137
by Peter
Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:39 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: Crew members of ML 575
Replies: 15
Views: 31763

Re: Crew members of ML 575

Good Morning All
Following your enquiry Steve (ML575) the photograph reveals the Motor Mechanic could only be in the one in 2nd row extreme right wearing the Peaked Cap of a Leading Motor Mechanic.
Hope that I have made this clear
Cheers
Peter
by Peter
Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:14 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: Crew members of ML 575
Replies: 15
Views: 31763

Re: Crew members of ML 575

Good Morning All
I attach from my album of pictures one which I have called Ml's tucked up for the night in Malta ML 575 could be in there
Cheers
Peter
by Peter
Thu Jul 09, 2020 8:00 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: Crew members of ML 575
Replies: 15
Views: 31763

Re: Crew members of ML 575

Good Evening Steve Great to see the response to your enquiry about your Dad and Ml 575. As most of us who served in Coastal Forces HMS Gregale was our main base in Malta , your stay in the base was while they found you a boat to serve on inc.ML's or MTB's . My time was on MTB 243 & MGB 647 and I...
by Peter
Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:23 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 245 - Who is Bill?
Replies: 6
Views: 21605

Re: MTB 245 - Who is Bill?

Hi Mattr I hope that you are successful in your appeal for "Bill" having served aboard MTB 243 during her service in the Mediterranean and to see her sadly used as a target it is with great interest to see what happened to MTB 245 Cheers Peter
by Peter
Wed Jun 17, 2020 4:57 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Action of MGB 647
Replies: 3
Views: 22095

Re: Action of MGB 647

Hi Linda, Thank you for joining the Coastal Forces site,when I saw your message I thought I would be some help. Sadly I never knew your Uncle, he was killed just before I joined MGB 647. I can recall the attitude of the crew when I joined, was one of deep sadness at the loss of all those killed duri...
by Peter
Thu Jun 04, 2020 10:13 am
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 647
Replies: 34
Views: 115186

Re: MGB 647

MGB 647 Final Action Coastal Forces Mediterranean 1943-1945 Scanning through my copy of the log recordings of HM MGB 647, kindly presented to me some years ago by our 1st Lieut. Teddy Lonsdale, also mentioned in my story Pirates of Dalmatia, I am reminded if I can ever forget the night MGB 647 and ...
by Peter
Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:43 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTBs 634, 637, 638 and 667
Replies: 35
Views: 99859

Re: MTBs 634, 637, 638 and 667

i St Anne,s.jpg Wow ; What a post to lift the "Stay at Home" blues and help with the pain of lock down for us all at this for me, yes it is stay calm for us all and we will beat this hidden enemy as we did with the enemy of 1945 May I reflect on the post with "I was there" in th...
by Peter
Sun Feb 09, 2020 6:05 pm
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Action off Catania on 11th July 1943
Replies: 22
Views: 46510

Re: Action off Catania on 11th July 1943

I am delighted to add to the story of German U Boats off Catania. I was a Member 24th Flotilla and I recall the action portrayed in the book History of the 24th Flotilla by 'Bert' Cooper (whom I knew well within the CFVA) of the activity by U-boats in the Messina Straights on the night of 13/7/43. I...
by Peter
Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:29 am
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
Replies: 4
Views: 19946

Re: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats

Great pictures having served on D Boats in the Mediterranean, it is great to see "live" footage of Coastal Forces craft serving in WW2
I also think that there were B class ML's in the footage
by Peter
Sat Dec 28, 2019 12:58 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 665 Fate of the Crew
Replies: 7
Views: 21968

Re: MTB 665 Fate of the Crew

Dear Jeffrey
It is a pleasure to reply to your post. The book "Dog Boats at War " by Len Reynolds whom I new well, contains the details of the sinking of your Dad's boat, I am happy to attach a page from his book detailing the sinking of MTB 665
by Peter
Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:38 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

It is with great interest I view the picture of that Radar equipment on a platform supported by 4 legs on what was a D Boat perhaps doing trials This Radar type was designed for small ships in the 1970's by the Company that I was working after my release from the RN, Kelvin Hughes later Smiths Indus...
by Peter
Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:50 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 670
Replies: 111
Views: 382057

Re: MTB 670

Dear Stanbridge
I am happy to send to you the 2 pages of Dog Boats at War that gives details of the action of MGB 670 ' The pages also include the last action of MGB 647 on which served as Radar operator. I also new the author of that book
Cheers
Peter Bickmore
by Peter
Thu Oct 10, 2019 8:03 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 663
Replies: 0
Views: 22524

MGB 663

Reading the In Memorial list this day October 10th it is with a deeper sympathy that I view the loss of MTB 663 and the death of Reg together with James Rowley and George Thakram. Reg I knew very well as a shipmate we both served on MTB 243 and when MTB 243 paid off we both were given drafts: for Re...
by Peter
Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:16 pm
Forum: General Organisation
Topic: Use of Aldis lamp
Replies: 5
Views: 38834

Re: Use of Aldis lamp

This is a very interesting post re the Aldis Lamp. Having served aboard MTB 243 70'ft Vosper and MGB 647 D Boat in the Adriatic Campaign I cannot recall any times that this method of communication was used,' except during the time of the Greece campaign with the vast assembly of Allied Ships heading...
by Peter
Mon Sep 09, 2019 4:42 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 661
Replies: 18
Views: 43833

Re: MGB 661

Hi All Sorry a re write on my photo attached , I am 3rd from the right
2nd row , I am still trying to remember the name of the other shipmate
Cheers
Peter
by Peter
Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:50 am
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 661
Replies: 18
Views: 43833

Re: MGB 661

Good Morning Katy It is a pleasure to reply to your post re the adventures of your Granddad. I would think that my memories will be of those that he has . I served aboard MGB 647 during the (Yugoslavia) Island campaign of 1943/45and their must have been times when our boats operated together. An act...
by Peter
Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:09 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943
Replies: 3
Views: 18010

Re: French 23rd Flotilla Vosper MTBs Kingswear 1943

It is with interest I read the details of the 23rd Flotilla, having served aboard MTB 243 in the MED, how was it decided which boats were allocated to form the 23rd & 24th Flotilla's MTB- 81-85-86-89-97-226-242& 243 = 24th Flotilla MTB- 90-91-92-94-96-98- 227& 239 = 23rd Fl0tilla attache...
by Peter
Sun Jul 21, 2019 12:36 pm
Forum: Forum & Web Site Feedback
Topic: MTB 633
Replies: 0
Views: 27691

MTB 633

It is with deep sadness I read the Memorial today, July 21st.in memory of Arthur Arnold and others . I was aboard MTB 633 in Augusta and experienced for the very first time the reality of death in conflict. For me and others the effect it had was the strengthening in us all the experience and knowle...
by Peter
Thu Jun 13, 2019 5:08 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 295
Replies: 26
Views: 73342

Re: MTB 295

Very interesting post re MTB 295, there are some pictures that remind me of my time on board MTB 243 also with the Partisans and the escorting the Italian Fleet on surrender into Malta. The Bari raid also brought many memories, the exploits of MTB 295 are detailed in "MTB's At War" by Len ...

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