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by Stephen
Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:31 am
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Mystery Raid in Northern Denmark
Replies: 11
Views: 36009

Re: Mystery Raid in Northern Denmark

I'm afraid I can't offer much assistance. As far as I'm aware, there were no commando raids on Denmark during the war, nor were there any submarine pens there. The only commando raids I know of in August 1944 were in France, largely to support Normandy operations. If there were a raid on a significa...
by Stephen
Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:04 am
Forum: Television or Film Production
Topic: The RN's Light Coastal Forces during WW2
Replies: 2
Views: 17302

Re: The RN's Light Coastal Forces during WW2

There's a much better quality version, stabilised and without the time scroll, available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG6wV_ABdD8

Most of this appears to have been filmed at Weymouth, as a substitute for the North Sea.

Steve
by Stephen
Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:03 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 710
Replies: 7
Views: 21065

Re: MTB 710

Hello Gareth,
If you haven't already seen it, there';s a short piece that the admin of this website put together here: https://cfv.org.uk/research/history/arti ... of-mtb-710
Regards,
Steve
by Stephen
Thu Aug 03, 2017 5:08 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 1301 'Meda'
Replies: 12
Views: 43295

Re: ML 1301 'Meda'

Sorry David, bicycle. With the panniers and tent on the rear rack, I'm afraid I may be just a little short of space for a hatch cover as well!
by Stephen
Thu Aug 03, 2017 4:10 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 1301 'Meda'
Replies: 12
Views: 43295

Re: ML 1301 'Meda'

Hello Hospers,
I intend to visit the Netherlands next month and was wondering if it would be possible to visit HDML 1301 then? I'm not sure exactly what day yet, but I think it will be around Monday 19th September.
Regards,
Steve
by Stephen
Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:40 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 338
Replies: 4
Views: 22425

Re: ML 338

Hello David, I can't offer anything personally, but you might find a few books I know useful for context and adding further memories of these events into your narrative (I expect you've already found them though). One is A Leaf Upon the Sea , by Gordon Stead. He commanded ML 126 of the 3rd ML Flotil...
by Stephen
Sat Jan 28, 2017 11:40 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Douglas Reeman, 15/10/1924 - 23/01/2017
Replies: 0
Views: 17235

Douglas Reeman, 15/10/1924 - 23/01/2017

The prolific author of maritime fiction Douglas Reeman (sometimes known as Alexander Kent) died last week on the 23rd January. During the Second World War, after serving in destroyers, he transferred to Coastal Forces and served in the Mediterranean and then in home waters. He was first lieutenant o...
by Stephen
Tue Jan 24, 2017 6:02 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Much as Clarkson can be quite irritating, his three war documentaries have been quite good. The one most relevant to this thread is The Greatest Raid of all Time, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXusKM5uX0s . I'm currently putting together a page on various film depictions ...
by Stephen
Sat Jan 21, 2017 10:04 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Hi everyone,

I'm fascinated by the growth of this thread and the story of 916. I shall most definitely try and find something at The National Archives when I'm there.

Kevin, I've sent you a private message, which you should be able to access from the menu bar, top right.

Cheers,
Steve
by Stephen
Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:51 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Hi Stuart, For my own part, I work for a charity called Maritime Archaeology Trust. My principle day job currently involves studying 1,100 First World War wrecks along the south coast of England, but previous projects and work have covered D-Day (on both sides of the Channel), Landing Craft, protect...
by Stephen
Sun Jan 15, 2017 9:38 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Some lovely pictures there Stuart. I'm not sure of the significance of HDML 1010 in your father's story, but I can tell you that it was built as Anderson Rigden & Perkins in Whitstable and completed in May 1941. It looks like the photo may show it nearing the end of its construction, although I ...
by Stephen
Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:58 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Dennis George Bodman MTB 681
Replies: 11
Views: 37593

Re: Dennis George Bodman MTB 681

Hi Kieth, welcome to the forum. Glad to see you here as well as on Facebook. You've already seen these, but for everyone else's benefit (and I hope some of the early contributors do return), here are the two pages relating to this event in the Coastal Forces Log for June 1944 (The National Archives,...
by Stephen
Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:24 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

There's a good deal of information about this in Charts and Surveys in Peace and War: The History of the RN Hydrographic Service by Rear Admiral R O Morris. The service was separate to Coastal Forces, but did employ some HDMLs which were re-designated SML (Survey Motor Launch). There's a list of the...
by Stephen
Tue Jan 10, 2017 1:42 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

No idea who these guys are. Don't think they are officer training as there seem to be a lot of ratings present. Any ideas? My father is second row third from right, not looking at the camera. Thanks again Stuart Hi Stuart, The white cap bands suggest that these are candidates for training for an of...
by Stephen
Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:06 am
Forum: News & Events
Topic: MGB 81 and HSL 102
Replies: 0
Views: 14667

MGB 81 and HSL 102

For info, MGB 81 and RAF High Speed Launch 102 will be opened to the public on the 11th and 12th March, at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. There are plans to have some period reenactors on site as well.
Steve
by Stephen
Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:02 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Wow, that's some fascinating stuff Admin, I'm afraid I've nothing to rival it! But I thought you might find this interesting Stuart. If you scroll down to 1082 you'll find your father's name again, along with a small bit of information about the boat's movement, plus the apparent date he moved to 91...
by Stephen
Sun Jan 08, 2017 2:22 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99795

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

Yep, but unfortunately, I can't find these four boats in any of the Force G allocations I've looked in (and I've researched Gold Beach forces thoroughly in the past for previous projects!).
by Stephen
Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:30 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Hi Stuart, No problem at all. I have heard of Job, largely through the Ian Flemming connection, although I confess not to have read his book (I think it's more like 25 years old now!). He was on board a Fairmile ML in May and June 1942 in Orkney. As your father appears to have been on an HDML since ...
by Stephen
Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:31 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99795

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

Hi everyone, I'm afraid I only had limited success at Kew last week. As I'd already started to suspect, MGB 17 didn't appear in the Coastal Forces reports for D-Day. However, I think I may have identified the set that it may fall within, although I didn't have time to begin going through them (there...
by Stephen
Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:01 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Hi all, That's some fascinating information Stuart, thanks for adding to the overall picture. In reply to your query, there are some lists that match officers to boats (but not entire crews). The Navy List gives the appointments of officers on all HM ships and were issued quarterly (I think). They'r...
by Stephen
Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:22 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 730
Replies: 9
Views: 27783

Re: MTB 730

Hi Ian, No problem at all. I've just looked as bit further into the book that I drew some of the information about construction from earlier; Allied Coastal Forces of World War II Volume 1: Fairmile Designs & US Submarine Chasers by John Lambert & Al Ross (1990, Conway Maritime Press). Unsur...
by Stephen
Mon Dec 26, 2016 1:18 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 730
Replies: 9
Views: 27783

Re: MTB 730

Hi Ian, Welcome to the forum. I'm not sure how much you already know, but MTB 730 was a Fairmile D 'Dog' Boat. She was built at Woodnutt & Co in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and was completed on the 28th April 1944. At Normandy, she was the lead vessel of the 63rd MTB Flotilla, under Acting Te...
by Stephen
Mon Dec 19, 2016 8:58 am
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99795

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

Sorry to hear about your recent loss Piers. I'm hoping to visit Kew on the 29th December, so I might be able to find out a bit more then. In the meantime I've had a look through Invasion Europe, a compilation of Admiralty reports from Overlord. MGB 17 is mentioned, but not in the list of Coastal For...
by Stephen
Thu Dec 08, 2016 2:49 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: 29th Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla
Replies: 4
Views: 30329

Re: 29th Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Hello max930, I have no extra knowledge of MTB 463, but I can point you to some sources on Canadians in Coastal Forces that you might enjoy. There are a few books to start with: Hal Lawrence, 1989. Victory at Sea . McClelland & Stewart Inc. Brian Nolan, 1991. Champagne Navy . Random House. Antho...
by Stephen
Tue Dec 06, 2016 10:08 am
Forum: News & Events
Topic: The Coastal Forces Heritage Trust
Replies: 1
Views: 13467

Re: The Coastal Forces Heritage Trust

Also worth noting that Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust were awarded funding for the creation and maintenance of a historic flotilla. This will include the restoration of Falklands War landing craft F8 and HMS Falmouth's First World War era steam cutter, but also includes the building of a repli...
by Stephen
Tue Nov 22, 2016 12:31 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99795

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

According to the NZ government, service in the Channel and Bay of Biscay also counted for the France & Germany Star.
by Stephen
Tue Nov 22, 2016 12:12 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99795

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

Hi Norm, Hmm. For service in the Second World War, David should have been entitled to the 1939 to 1945 Star and the War Medal 1939 to 1945 . It seems unlikely he would have been entitled to he Defence Medal , but it all depends on his postings prior to Coastal Forces. He may have been entitled to th...
by Stephen
Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:37 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 384836

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

Hi again, Just a quick note, but thought I'd mention that I've just finished reading A Passage to Sword Beach by Brendan Haher. There's more detail on the ML 207 forum page, but thought you might be interested to know that Maher was at Park Prewitt for a while. It only gets five pages in his memoir,...
by Stephen
Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:31 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 207
Replies: 72
Views: 184140

Re: ML 207

Just a note to say that I've now read A Passage to Sword Beach by Brendan Maher, and I thoroughly recommend it as an account of minesweeping on MLs. The author takes us through his entire experience of the war years, from school to training and then service on MMS 84 and HMS Jason before transferrin...
by Stephen
Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:00 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99795

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

Hi Norm, I had a quick look in M J Whitley's German Coastal Forces of WWII , but it only says that "The 4th [S-boat] Flotilla, working out of Boulogne, encountered a destroyer patrol (Onslow, Offa, Onslaught and Oribi) and MTBs when S171 sank MGB 17." Sadly there does not appear to be an a...

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