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by Admin
Sat Jul 18, 2020 3:21 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 214
Replies: 11
Views: 23196

Re: ML 214

I'm glad you found the information useful. If you could try sending the files (a few a time is needs be) to the info@cfv.org.uk address I'd be grateful. If you run into issues with files sizes, and you have a Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox account, you could use that, and then email me a link. Admin
by Admin
Sat Jul 18, 2020 11:55 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124585

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

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the contributors to this thread to date. Although the subject was off-topic for this forum, which is dedicated solely to the personnel and boats of Coastal Forces, it has nonetheless proved valuable in bringing an historical oversight to wider atten...
by Admin
Sat Jul 18, 2020 12:23 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 214
Replies: 11
Views: 23196

Re: ML 214

Ken Joyce who served on ML 269 as part of the 14th ML Flotilla in Arakan, followed a similar trajectory from D-Day onwards to that of ML 214, and is shown as being on passage to Aden at the same time as elements of the 34th ML Flotilla, who may even have been sailing together. He corresponded with m...
by Admin
Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:20 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Photo of MTB 316
Replies: 8
Views: 27859

Re: Photo of MTB 316

Rod I am just wondering at the crew shots a little as the men appear to be sporting cap tallies in the name of a ship which is not quite clear, though it appears a short one, and the machinery/infrastructure behind the men looks quite large for an MTB, so I suspect these may be from a larger vessel ...
by Admin
Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:01 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 214
Replies: 11
Views: 23196

Re: ML 214

The Red List for Minor War Vessels Abroad, dated 13th December 1944, gives the 34th ML Flotilla, which are all fitted out as Gunboats, as MLs 187, 189, 193, 194, 214, 230, 245, 907 and 923. MLs 187, 189, 193 & 923 at this point are shown as arrived Aden for O/R to Colombo. 194, 214 & 230 are...
by Admin
Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:19 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 214
Replies: 11
Views: 23196

Re: ML 214

I would say it was undoubtedly part of the landings as it was always been part of the 11th ML Flotilla historically. HDML 1387 which was attached to Force ‘O’ is in fact the preserved Medusa which functioned as a Channel marker. The channels to each beachhead were set someways out and you had to ent...
by Admin
Thu Jul 16, 2020 11:55 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 214
Replies: 11
Views: 23196

Re: ML 214

Here are some items from the former CFVA newsletters which reference the boats of the 11th ML Flotilla . I have not read, nor indeed seen a copy of Searle’s book At Sea Level , which sounds like a useful volume to get hold of. There is obviously some discrepancy with the account Searle gives as Seni...
by Admin
Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:30 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Photo of MTB 316
Replies: 8
Views: 27859

Re: Photo of MTB 316

Hello Rod

Thank you very much for the photos which will make a useful addition to the archives. Do you by chance have any names to go with the crew member photos?

Regards
Admin
by Admin
Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:25 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 214
Replies: 11
Views: 23196

Re: ML 214

Hello and welcome to the forum ML 214 was part of the 11th ML Flotilla attached to the Western Task Force on D-Day, and Force 'O' which was the American sector and Omaha Beach. The other boats in the flotilla were: 118, 153, 163, 187, 189, 194, 230, 304, 448 and 907. ML 214 was under the command of ...
by Admin
Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:41 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Pilot Vessel No.4 - sunk 28/11/1940
Replies: 44
Views: 124585

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

Hello Geoff Thank you for adding to the story which adds more detail to the events of that night. It would appear HMS Javelin would have been the destroyer which took took off survivors. Do you have a copy of the letter your grandfather wrote to Commander Lyons? Also do you know anything more of the...
by Admin
Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:26 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: Crew members of ML 575
Replies: 15
Views: 31776

Re: Crew members of ML 575

If he is not in the photo then he may have left the boat by that time and possibly have been on another in the flotilla, if he was attached to the boats, and not just shore based. Would it be possible for you to scan the photos you have, preferably in colour mode, at 600dpi, and then save them as TI...
by Admin
Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: Crew members of ML 575
Replies: 15
Views: 31776

Re: Crew members of ML 575

Thanks for the photo Peter.

The nearest one reads 567 but after that I cannot make out any distinguishing mark, though they all appear to have minesweeping gear at the stern and 575 was a minesweeper.

Admin
by Admin
Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:03 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 632
Replies: 9
Views: 23601

Re: MTB 632

Hello Mattpageyarm and welcome to the forum. As it happens we have a good deal of material on the flotilla to which it belonged: the 55th MTB Flotilla, commanded by Lt Cdr Donald Gould Bradford. I was contacted some years back by a family member of the Chief Motor Mechanic of 632, Jack Bowman Sidebo...
by Admin
Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:13 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: Crew members of ML 575
Replies: 15
Views: 31776

Re: Crew members of ML 575

Good Evening Steve and welcome to the forum. HMS Gregale was the Coastal Forces base on Malta, and the CO of ML 575 was a member of the South African Volunteer Naval Force — SANF(V) — named John Norman Barfield. The April 1945 Navy List shows him as Temporary Lieutenant for 575 along with Temporary ...
by Admin
Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:25 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 245
Replies: 13
Views: 39689

Re: MTB 245

This photo from the IWM collection shows the CO of MTB 245 Douglas Hunt.

douglas-hunt-mtb-245-iwm-a-17971.jpg
Lieutenant Douglas Hunt MTB 245 (third from left) © IWM A 17971
douglas-hunt-mtb-245-iwm-a-17971.jpg (62.84 KiB) Viewed 32133 times
by Admin
Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:58 pm
Forum: Newsreel Footage
Topic: Coastal Motor Boat
Replies: 0
Views: 43832

Coastal Motor Boat

This remarkable footage from the Imperial War Museum (IWM) collection entitled The Home of the Coastal Motor Boat shows the base for Coastal Motor Boats (CMBs) at Osea Island, Essex in the period shortly after the First World War. Osea Island which was home to Coastal Motor Boats, an early anteceden...
by Admin
Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:42 am
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Maurice Illingworth DSM
Replies: 3
Views: 16059

Re: Maurice Illingworth DSM

Hello corkerrys Thank you for the information on Maurice Illingworth. 629 was ordered as an MGB initially but changed to an MTB during construction. This photo is said to be of MTB 629, which after its decommissioning in 1945 became a floating guest house at Penzance until 1950 before a move to Salc...
by Admin
Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:31 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: MTB 245 - Who is Bill?
Replies: 6
Views: 21607

Re: MTB 245 - Who is Bill?

Hello MattR I've had a look through the resources I hold but haven't managed to turn up anything. H.K.C. could conceivably have been anyone unconnected with Coastal Forces, and there's no match for a Bill or William amongst those few known members of 245's crew. An interesting item none the less. Ad...
by Admin
Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:59 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Ken Forrester of Galgate
Replies: 7
Views: 22752

Re: Ken Forrester of Galgate

I was lent a copy in the past and know he spent some time after the war in Glasgow, employed in the fitting out of liners built on the Clyde at Govan.
by Admin
Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:40 pm
Forum: Personnel
Topic: Ken Forrester of Galgate
Replies: 7
Views: 22752

Re: Ken Forrester of Galgate

The chapters of Ken's autobiography covering his wartime experience may be found within the memoirs section of the web site, but I do not have a scan of the complete book.
by Admin
Mon Jun 15, 2020 4:21 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Action of MGB 647
Replies: 3
Views: 22098

Re: Action of MGB 647

Hello Linda

Welcome to the forum. There are some images for the crew from this boat in the thread on MGB 647, but I believe these may date from the period after the death of your Great Uncle. I will try to ascertain the dates for the images and get back to you.

Regards
Admin
by Admin
Mon Jun 15, 2020 4:16 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17
Replies: 35
Views: 99848

Re: Desperately seeking info on MGB 17

Hello Morrrm11 MTB and MGB 17 were two distinct boats which were both lost but on different dates. It appears from the mention of D-Day that MGB 17 lost to a mine on 11th June 1944 would be the boat in question. Could you please give us your father’s full name and I could see if I have any details c...
by Admin
Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:12 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 207
Replies: 72
Views: 184329

Re: ML 207

Gray207 Thank you for such a well researched account of the part ML 207 played in minesweeping operations ahead of the D-Day landings. The manoeuvring mid-invasion, and mid-channel at night in the middle of a minefield, was a feat of seamanship made all the more remarkable by the fact these were all...
by Admin
Mon Jun 01, 2020 11:43 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 647
Replies: 34
Views: 115249

Re: MGB 647

Hello Charles Thank you for the photograph of the memento, and what a great name your grandfather had - Ernest Tregilgas! Yet another of the Lancashire contingent! MGB 647 had four casualties recorded at two different times, with three casualties in one incident spoken about above. Our veteran Peter...
by Admin
Fri May 29, 2020 1:35 pm
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: Info on my father Fred Holmes
Replies: 3
Views: 15931

Re: Info on my father Fred Holmes

The photograph Roger mentions can be seen in the memoir written by Ken Forrester entitled If I only had known which details his time with the 55th MTB Flotilla.

Mentor II was the Coastal Forces base at Stornoway in the Hebrides.
by Admin
Tue May 26, 2020 9:44 pm
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 466
Replies: 10
Views: 36653

Re: ML 466

Yes you would need to contact the IWM about the possibility of getting this image digitised. I dont’t know a great deal about this boat other than the basics of its construction as outlined in the boat database , and can only imagine the boat struck a mine left over from sweeping operations in the S...
by Admin
Mon May 25, 2020 12:47 am
Forum: Motor Launches
Topic: ML 466
Replies: 10
Views: 36653

Re: ML 466

Hello Jeffrey There is an image of ML 466 from the collection of Lieutenant Commander J K Neale DSC RNVR showing ML 466 in the Shetland Islands in June 1943 which forms part of the Imperial War Museum (IWM) Collection, although this particular photo has still to be digitised. A digitised photo from ...
by Admin
Mon May 18, 2020 10:31 am
Forum: Motor Torpedo Boats
Topic: 40mm single bofor
Replies: 1
Views: 12740

Re: 40mm single bofor

Hello, and welcome to the forum. Pen & Sword are due to publish British Naval Weapons of World War Two Volume III: Coastal Forces by the late John Lambert, which may include this weapon, else his earlier volumes may, and I assume he must have created plans for sale previously, although only plan...
by Admin
Mon May 11, 2020 2:46 pm
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 661
Replies: 18
Views: 43860

Re: MGB 661

Hello Katy Could you send any images you have to us here as well please using our info@cfv.org.uk address. If you have a scanner, could you also scan them at 600dpi, and in colour, even though they will be in black & white, and then saved as TIFF rather than JPEG, which is a better format for ar...
by Admin
Mon May 11, 2020 11:06 am
Forum: Motor Gunboats
Topic: MGB 661
Replies: 18
Views: 43860

Re: MGB 661

This the photo archive Manxkipper kindly forwarded containing crew photos for MGB 661 and also some photographs presumably from a German PoW, or which may have been left behind in one of the occupied ports Coastal Forces helped to liberate.

Phillip Kennaugh Photo Archive

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