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by Stephen
Sun Dec 30, 2018 12:37 pm
Forum: News & Events
Topic: Research on MTB 651, 84 and 406
Replies: 13
Views: 65088

Re: Research on MTB 651, 84 and 406

Hi Simon,
Alas I won't be able to come to the meeting, as I'm busy that weekend. Hopefully I might eventually make one of the meetings. As the south branch has now disbanded, I think it's my closest one!
Happy New Year,
Steve
by Stephen
Sun Dec 30, 2018 12:33 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 385306

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

Hi Stuart - I must have missed these replies, apologies. Sadly the Dutch tweeter doesn't know where it is - someone else asked the same question. I imagine that the IWM will hold a much higher resolution print than the one online, as they certainly do for other images. But it'll cost to obtain it......
by Stephen
Sat Dec 29, 2018 8:00 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 72 and the Blacker Bombard
Replies: 2
Views: 13702

Re: MTB 72 and the Blacker Bombard

Hi David and welcome to the forum. I can't help with MTB 72 I'm afraid, but in Gunboat Command, written by Anthony Hichens about his father Robert, there is a reference to MGB 112 (A British Power Boat 71 ft 9 in Motor Gun Boat) carrying a Blacker Bombard. It's actually mentioned during the descript...
by Stephen
Fri Nov 30, 2018 8:49 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: A Long shot - ML 916 and ...?
Replies: 96
Views: 385306

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

Quite a late reply to this thread, but on Twitter this morning, a Dutch user posted this image. I'm afraid that there isn't sufficient detail at this resolution to read the names, but it looks a lot like the grave marker (down to the position of the writing) posted a few pages earlier on this thread...
by Stephen
Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:38 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 83
Replies: 3
Views: 16134

Re: MTB 83

Hi David, I'm afraid that if her log isn't at Kew, then it probably doesn't survive. Large numbers of Coastal Forces logs, and even those of much larger ships, were simply disposed of. I saw a frightening statistic the other day that when the War Office were organising their records for deposition, ...
by Stephen
Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:19 am
Forum: News & Events
Topic: Research on MTB 651, 84 and 406
Replies: 13
Views: 65088

Re: Research on MTB 651, 84 and 406

Apologies for my delayed reply - I was away much of the last week. Although Reynolds' book are out of print, you can find Mediterranean MTBs at War on ebay for about £25 right now and Dog Boats at War for as little as £7.40. I'd recommend them both. The third book in Reynolds' series, Home Waters MT...
by Stephen
Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:23 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

I've had a good rummage in my research guidance and online, but unfortunately I've drawn a blank on these. I do wonder though - the number for nationality seems extraordinarily high for a 'code' of some sort, even if that nationality were Ireland. The same goes for rank or rating. Of course, cause o...
by Stephen
Wed Nov 07, 2018 8:14 am
Forum: News & Events
Topic: Research on MTB 651, 84 and 406
Replies: 13
Views: 65088

Re: Research on MTB 651, 84 and 406

Hi Simon and welcome to the forum. I'm sure that Admin can help out with your queries with the branches better than I, but I can perhaps recommend some more reading material for you. All three vessels you list above get some mention in the works of Leonard Reynolds. Operations involving 84 and 406 a...
by Stephen
Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:36 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 83
Replies: 3
Views: 16134

Re: MTB 83

Hi David, Very brief reply as I'm on my way out. You might find this tweet thread of interest, as only a few weeks ago someone brought MTB 85 to my attention, adopted at the same time. When I have a bit more time, I'll see what I can find in my books on MTB 83's service. https://twitter.com/SeaSpitf...
by Stephen
Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:57 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

That spelling makes sense, good spot. And Stoomloodsvaartuig no. 4 gives us this: https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/2021650/memorix_7c14f71d_ffdf_1684_1e5e_e3bf60e7f9c2.html and this: https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/2021650/memorix_b628b57a_d78e_755d_c8a1_4b013b85026c.html and thes...
by Stephen
Fri Oct 26, 2018 4:25 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

Good research! My only observation is that my reading of the annotation in red is that it says "unable to verify whether S/S or M/V", ie. steam ship or motor vessel.
by Stephen
Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:03 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

Quite strangely, I cannot find a record for this name in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission anywhere, despite them including Merchant Seaman and even civilians. I notice in the bottom right corner a small inscription in red saying "Not to be included in the R.O.H. pers Mr. Prater." I s...
by Stephen
Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:57 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

You're very welcome Sid. Best of luck.
Steve
by Stephen
Wed Oct 24, 2018 7:39 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

Sorry, forgot to add, Whitley doesn't mention the Dutch name/connection. But a few other sources do. This website for instance names the other vessels involved: http://worldwartwodaily.filminspector.c ... china.html
by Stephen
Wed Oct 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124769

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

Hi Sid, I think this must be Stroomloodsvartuig 4 , also called Pilot Boat 4 , a Dutch/British (apparently) cutter that had the misfortune to be chanced upon by three German destroyers south of Cornwall on the night of the 28th. The German destroyers Lody , Galster and Beitzen sailed from Brest in t...
by Stephen
Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:31 am
Forum: Actions & Operations
Topic: Mystery Raid in Northern Denmark
Replies: 11
Views: 36113

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: 17348

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: 21123

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: 43418

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: 43418

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: 22477

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: 17349

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: 385306

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: 385306

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: 385306

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: 385306

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: 37668

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: 385306

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: 385306

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: 14789

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

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