Coastal Forces Veterans

My father, Commander Basil Chrystie Ward, died in 1970. I am trying to find out more about his time in Coastal Command. I only have a record of this carrier.
MTB's from 16/12/1942 through to 11/12/1944. Initially as commanding officer HM MTB 243 then MTB 25, later as Senior Officer 5th MTB flotilla Dover and at HMS Bee and Wasp. He was awarded a bar to his DSC 28/12/1943.
Thank you in advance.
Liam

Hello Liam
It was exciting to read your request for information about your Father Commander Ward . I was drafted to MTB 243 in August 1943 when the 24th Flotilla took part in the Sicilly landings , with Lt Chris Dreyer as the S.O . I would be happy to share with you my recent completed memoirs and a book History of the 24th MTB Flotilla written and published through the now laid up Coastal Forces Veterans Association in which I served my watch as National Secretary and later Chairman
Peter Bickmore BEM

Hi Liam

Here are a few pictures gleaned from various sources hopefully one or two are new to you;

Thanks.

I do not have any photo's of my fathers time during the ward. A bit before when he was on the HMS Dorsetshire. So these are great.
Any information of what life was like on MTB's would be of great interest.

Liam

Hi Liam

Reading through these should give you some insight (especially the first one!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... 7453.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... 6268.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... 4044.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... 3975.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... ex_6.shtml


Also recommend LC Reynolds books; Motor Gunboat 658, Home Waters MTBs at war and Med MTBs at war (also Dudley Pope's Flag 4, Peter Scott's Battle of the Narrow Seas and Robert Hichens' We Fought them in Gunboats).

Regards,
Christian.
http://www.mtbhulls.co.uk

Thanks.

I do not have any photo's of my fathers time during the ward. A bit before when he was on the HMS Dorsetshire. So these are great.
Any information of what life was like on MTB's would be of great interest.

Liam

Hello Liam
Your father and mine, Lt. GDK (Dicky) Richards DSO DSC RN, were respectively S.O.'s of MTBs and MGB's at Dover 1941-1943. There is a photograph of them together in "The Battle of the Narrow Seas". They regularly operated together with the MGB's in support of the MTB's. I have a dozen books on Coastal Forces and if you would like any further information do please let me know. Apologies for the 7 year delay but your post has only just come to light!
Chris Richards