A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Enquiries relating to individual men and women who served with HM Light Coastal Forces; help with interpreting service records, or with tracing former comrades
drumahair
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:25 pm

A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Postby drumahair » Mon Nov 09, 2015 11:19 pm

Hi
my name is joe harrison. I am researching my fathers service and have a record of him being a crew member of mtb 83 from 12/29/07/43. he died back in 1957 when i was 8, so never had the chance to talk about his war service.

here are the dates of places and dates I have anything you could tell me would help in my quest, particularly for my mother who still talks about him.

MANTIS 02/07/43 11/07/43
mtb 83 12/07/43 29/07/43
MANTIS 30/07/43 31/08/43
ML 152 01/09/43 13/09/43
ML 145 14/09/43 18/09/43
MANTIS 19/09/43 22/12/43
HORNET 23/12/43 15/02/44
ST AUPDO (CBF) 16/02/44 24/05/44 NOT SURE OF THE SPELLING for aupdo?
NILE MOSQUITO 24/05/44 14/08/45
SAUNDERS 15/08/45 10/02/46
NILE SPHINX 11/02/46 26/02/46
VICTORY 27/02/46 25/08/46


Any ideas that could help me trace his path would help me make my mother and me very happy.
His name is.
TOM HARRISON JX421524 A/B.

Admin
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Postby Admin » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:41 am

Hello Joe

Thank you for your enquiry and welcome to the forum. I have taken the liberty of moving your post to a new thread in case someone may have something specific to add to your post in future.

The base names you list are more or less all Coastal Forces. HMS Mantis was a frontline operations base on the East Coast at Lowestoft, and the boats stationed there were concerned with the protection of the important East Coast convoy route from London to Scotland, trying to prevent German E-boats stationed in Belgium and Holland from getting in amongst the convoys and either torpedoing ships or laying fresh mines in the swept sea lane. It would seem your father may have been part of the stand by or spare crew for MTB 83 initially, owing to the relatively short period of time posted to that boat, before moving on the the motor launches. Both ML 152 and 145 are known to have survived the war intact. HMS Hornet was the principal Coastal Forces base at Gosport, and St Aupdo may be HMS St Angelo? which was a base at Malta, which would fit with the other shore bases HMS Nile (Alexandria), HMS Mosquito (Alexandria) and Saunders which was a Combined Training Centre at Kabret in Egypt. HMS Sphinx was a naval accommodation camp at Alexandria and HMS Victory is the Royal Naval base at Portsmouth

Brian Holmes who is a regular poster here may be able to supply you with details about the two motor launches mentioned, ML 152 and 145. You may also be interested to learn that it's possible to apply for the records that the Royal Navy still holds of your father, which may provide a little more information than is on the service record you hold. As your mother is still alive, she would be able to apply free of charge for this service. It takes some months to get back any details they hold, but it's fairly quick and easy to apply for. You can download the appropriate form from the GOV.UK web site under How to apply for service personnel records section.

Regards
Admin

Brian Holmes
Commander
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Re: A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Postby Brian Holmes » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:12 pm

MTB_83 Vosper, Portsmouth and Porchester 22/5/42

New Year Honours 1944
MID Lt Dennis John Long

Birthday Honours 1944
MID AB Edward Ernest Perry C/JX310048

For minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44)
DSM POMtrMch Daniel Welsh P/MX125283

For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44
MID Tel John Mushet C/JX341890

For actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44
DSC TLt Jack Donald Crouch Coombs RNVR
DSM APO Leslie Wilfred Pratt P/SD/X1583

Known Crew
Lt D G Filer RNVR Commanding Officer MTB 83 14/05/42
Lt David Felce RNVR Commanding Officer MTB 83
Lt Dennis John Long HMS Beehive For daylight attacks on the German Ships Scharnhorst, Gneisgnau and Prinz Eugen in the Dover Straits 12/2/42 22nd MTB Flotilla MID MTB 83 New Year Honours 1944 MID

TLt Jack Donald Crouch Coombs RNVR TSLt First Lieutenant MTB 88 20/05/42 22nd MTB Flotilla 1/12/42 TLt 5/2/43 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 222 22/2/43 – 10/11/43 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 For actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44 DSC 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft Commanding Officer MTB 496 21/11/44 Born 12/9/17 in Bournemouth, Hampshire and died 31/8/97 in Christchurch, Dorset
TLt Douglas Eric James Hunt RNVR Training, HMS Raleigh HMS Renown (battlecruiser) as QD rating HMS King Alfred TASLt 21/11/41 First Lieutenant MTB 83 14/05/42 Assistant Surveyor 3rd Class (MBE) First Lieutenant MTB 82 14/5/42 TLt 21/11/42 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) for 22nd MTB Flotilla 12/42 22nd MTB Flotilla Based at Lowestoft and Felixstowe Commanding Officer MTB 245 10/4/43 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSC For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 DSC* HMS Mantis (for MTBs, as Divisional Commander within 22nd MTB Flotilla) 24/1/44 Commanding Officer MTB 392 & Senior Officer, 31st MTB Flotilla (Lowestoft) 4/9/44 New Year Honours List 1999 MBE For services to the Coastal Forces Veterans Association Born in Fulham 14/7/16 and died in Compton 8/7/2008
POMtrMch Daniel Welsh P/MX125283 22nd MTB Flotilla For minelaying in the Nore Command area DSM
APO Leslie Wilfred Pratt P/SD/X1583 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 For actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44 DSM
LSea William Murray MTB 83
AB Edward Ernest Perry C/JX310048 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 Birthday Honours 1944 MID
Tel John Mushet C/JX341890 22nd MTB Flotilla Based on the Nore MTB 83 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy For an action off the Dutch coast 8/7/44 MID

Wartime Activities
Minelaying in the Nore Command area (Gazette Date - 1/8/44)
9/11/42 MTB 83, MTB 233, (Two other boats returned early with defects) intercept a convoy off Terschelling. A heavy RAF raid outward bound for Germany provides a chance diversion
2233 MTB 83 and MTB 233 fire four torpedoes at the overlapping fourth, fifth and sixth vessels in the convoy and disengage. Two torpedoes hit the German vessel Rotersand and the third hits the Swedish collier Abisko (3085 tons). The ship is repaired and brought to Emden. In the resulting confusion two further vessels strike mines. The escort consisted of the escort vessel F4, minesweepers M4, M7 and M8 and four Vps.
27-8/2/43 MTB 83, MTB 93 and MTB 222 are despatched to intercept a convoy off Egmond. The convoy is not sighted but MTB 83, MTB 93 and MTB 222 are fired on by patrol vessels.
16-17/7/43 MTB 83, MTB 93, MTB 238 (Senior Officer) and MTB 245 are on patrol off Ymuiden when they sight a convoy of three small merchant ships escorted by two armed trawlers. Seven torpedoes are fired. At the time, one sinking is claimed but that is not borne out by post war investigations.
22nd MTB Flotilla
MTB 25, MTB 83, MTB 88, MTB 93, MTB 238, MTB 245 and MTB 347
Based on the Nore
Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy
8/7/44 Action off the Dutch coast
Actions in the Nore area during which an enemy minesweeper and merchant ship were sunk 14/9/44 and 8/10/44
14-5/9/44 MTB 83, MTB 88, MTB 223, MTB 232, MTB 233, MTB 234 (Senior Officer) and MTB 244 are on patrol off Terschelling and attack a convoy. Division 1, lead by MTB 234 attacks from inshore but are detected and beaten off. Division 2, lead by MTB 232, then attacks from seaward achieving hits on a 2000 ton merchant ship from 1500 yards. Division 1 makes a second attack, fire torpedoes, but miss.

Post War Fate
3/48 For disposal

Brian Holmes
Commander
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Re: A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Postby Brian Holmes » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:14 pm

ML_152 Hams, Appledore 18/12/40

For rescuing survivors in the Nore area 23/11/41
MID TSLt Norman James Galbraith RNVR

Birthday Honours 1942
MID TSLt Norman James Galbraith RNVR
MID Ord Roy Pattinson Dent C/JX211216

Known Crew
TLt T O Roberts RNVR 7th ML Flotilla Based on Portsmouth Commanding Officer ML 152 25/6/44 Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy TLt 12/7/44
TSLt Samuel Stewart RNVR TSLt HMS Minos II (Lowestoft) 6th ML Flotilla 2/3/42 TLt 30/10/42 Commanding Officer ML 152 3/1/43 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft Commanding Officer MTB 723 10/7/44, Commanding Officer MTB 5009 1/45. Born 1914 in Edinburgh and died 1975 in Ottawa, Canada
TLt F H Lovegrove RNVR TSLt 2/10/42 13th ML Flotilla 1/3/43 First Lieutenant ML 152 1/3/43 TLt 2/4/45
TLt Norman James GalbraithTSLt HMS St Christopher for MLs 16/3/42 Commanding Officer ML 479 16/3/42 TLt 21/8/42 6th ML Flotilla Based on Great Yarmouth ML 152 For rescuing survivors in the Nore area 23/11/41 MID Birthday Honours 1942 MID 52nd MTB Flotilla MTB 762 1944
TSLt K R Page RNVR 7th ML Flotilla Based on Portsmouth ML 152 10/4/44 Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy TASLt 8/9/44 TSLt 8/3/45
Ord Roy Pattinson Dent C/JX211216 7th ML Flotilla ML 159 For rescuing survivors in the Nore area 23/11/41 MID 6th ML Flotilla Based on Great Yarmouth ML 152 Birthday Honours 1942 MID LSea For minesweeping between Naples and Livorno 1944 DSM ML 483


Wartime Activities
1/1/41 6th ML Flotilla
Based on Falmouth
ML 145, ML 146, ML 147, ML 148, ML 149, ML 150 and ML 152
1/7/41 6th ML Flotilla
Based on Great Yarmouth
ML 145, ML 146, ML 147, ML 148, ML 149, ML 150, ML 151 and ML 152
24/11/41 S 50, S 51, S 52, S 109 and S 110 of the 4th S Boat Flotilla attacked convoy FS 654 east of Orfordness.
S 51 torpedoes and damages the British steamer Blairnevis (4155 tons) in position 52 20N 01 59E but the vessel remained afloat. The steamer was beached at Great Yarmouth Roads. She was refloated and towed to London on 16-17 December for repairs. The crew had abandoned ship and ML.150 rescued the crewmen.
S 52 torpedoes and sinks the Dutch steamer Greonlo (1984 tons) off Orfordness one and a half miles 28° from 52E Buoy. One crewman was killed and nine crewmen were missing.
S 109 sinks the British tanker Virgilia (5723 tons), 3 miles northeast of the Hearty Knoll bouy, in position 52.20n 01.59e. Twenty three crewmen, including seven gunners, were missing on the tanker. Seventeen survivors were picked up by ML 150 and ML 152
Destroyers HMS Westminster and HMS Southdown both reported sinking German S-boats
1/42 6th ML Flotilla
Based on Lowestoft
ML 145, ML 146, ML 148, ML 149, ML 150, ML 151, ML 152 are at Lowestoft
ML 147 at Oulton repairing
7th ML Flotilla
ML 131, ML 136, ML 152, ML 154, ML 182, ML 245, ML 248, ML 303, ML 347, ML 594, ML 599 and ML 904
Based on Portsmouth
Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy
Navigation leader at Gold Beach
Post War Fate
7/45 ML(A)4
6/46 For disposal

Brian Holmes
Commander
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 pm
Location: Portsmouth

Re: A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Postby Brian Holmes » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:17 pm

ML_145 Frank Curtis Ltd, Looe, Cornwall 25/3/41

For an action with E Boats in the Nore area in which E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 24/9/43
DSM LSea Frank Kelly D/JX254342
DSM Tel Joseph Flavell C/JX236950
MID TLt Ronald Franklin Seddon RNVR
MID LSto Herbert James Broughton D/KX86045
MID AB Douglas Albert Rowley P/JX139159

Known Crew
TLt Ronald Franklin Seddon RNVR TSLt HMS St Christopher for MLs 10/8/41 HMS Wildfire (Sheerness) for MLs 28/1/42 HMS Minos II (Lowestoft) 6th ML Flotilla 22/6/42 6th ML Flotilla Based on Lowestoft Commanding Officer ML 145 For an action with E Boats in the Nore area in which E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 24/9/43 MID, TLt 14/12/42 15th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 718 20/1/44 Wind up of the war in Europe DSC. Born 14/12/17 and died on 10/98 at Merton, Surrey
TLt G S Sykes RNVR TLt 30/10/42 ML 290 4/43 Commanding Officer ML 145 5/4/44
TSLt P Johnstone RNVR TSLt 30/10/41 HMS Midge for minelayers 5/1/42 HMS St Christopher for MLs 9/3/42 Commanding Officer ML 145 23/11/43 Commanding Officer ML 119 27/3/44 TLt 30/4/44
TSLt J M Betty RNVR First Lieutenant ML 145 22/2/43 TSLt 9/4/43 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) 149th ML Flotilla Commanding Officer HDML 1416 10/1/44 Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy Commanding Officer HDML 1468 24/11/44 TLt 9/4/45
TASLt K R Martin RNVR ML 145 10/4/44 TASLt 3/12/44
TASLt T A Bowker RNVR TASLt 1/10/42 ML 145 TSLt 1/4/44 ML 423 10/5/44
LSto Herbert James Broughton D/KX86045 ML 145 For an action with E Boats in the Nore area in which E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 24/9/43 MID
LSea Frank Kelly D/JX254342 ML 145 For an action with E Boats in the Nore area in which E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 24/9/43 DSM
AB Douglas Albert Rowley P/JX139159 ML 145 For an action with E Boats in the Nore area in which E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 24/9/43 MID
Tel Joseph Flavell C/JX236950 6th ML Flotilla Based on Lowestoft ML 145 For an action with E Boats in the Nore area in which E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 24/9/43 DSM

Wartime Activities
1/1/41 6th ML Flotilla
Based on Falmouth
ML 145, ML 146, ML 147, ML 148, ML 149, ML 150 and ML 152
1/7/41 6th ML Flotilla
Based on Great Yarmouth
ML 145, ML 146, ML 147, ML 148, ML 149, ML 150, ML 151 and ML 152
1/42 6th ML Flotilla
Based on Lowestoft
ML 145, ML 146, ML 148, ML 149, ML 150, ML 151, ML 152 are at Lowestoft
ML 147 at Oulton repairing
24/9/43 S 96 sinks the British Trawler Franc Tireur and Donna Nook. ML 145 and ML 150 engage E Boats in the Nore area. ML 145 rams E Boat S96 previously rammed by ML 150. The German crew then abandon ship and S 96 explodes due to demolition charges. ML 145 rescues thirteen survivors including the senior officer of the 4th S-Flotilla aboard S 96 as a passenger. ML 150 rescues a further three survivors. ML 145 and ML 150 are both damaged but limp back to base.
Memory of Ronald Franklin Seddon
“it now seemed that if the ramming was successful there was a good chance of boarding, so the boarding party was closed up”. But as he maneouvred into position the enemy boat turned towards him so that the impact, though at a relative speed of perhaps 25 knots, was a glancing blow - bow on bow. “We seemed to climb on top of him, then heeled over as we fell clear and scraped right down his starboard side”. As they fell apart the E Boat fired some tracer into the air, at which Seddon wrongly thought he was surrendering, “but when I stopped firing he suddenly opened up again and one of my gunners shouted he didn’t think that was …….. cricket! So I told my gunners to let him have another magazine full…. This was apparently too much for the E Boat and the crew started jumping into the water.” Almost immediately there were a few minor explosions as the scuttling charges fired, and the E Boat went down “in a shower of sparks.”
ML 145 had been holed forward below the water-line and her forepeak and forward messdeck were flooded. But the bulkhead, aided again with the pumps, held fast, although a leak into the W/T office meant the Telegraphist having to operate with water up to his knees. The boat was well down by the bows and steering was “minimal” as the rudders were nearly clear of the water.
Around 0600 two MGBs arrived to escort them on the last leg. ML145 managed to return under her own steam but ML 150 had to be towed in stern first, and reached base at last at 1800 on the 25th

Post War Fate
7/45 ML(A)1
1946 Sold

Ronald Franklin Seddon (Precis of Obituary – DT 30/11/98)
Born 14/12/17 and educated at Quarry Bank School, Liverpool. He acted at the Liverpool Playhouse and played football for Liverpool FC reserves.
He served as a rating before being commissioned in 1942 and was appointed as First Lieutenant of an HDML. He was then appointed to ML 145 in command. Mentioned in Despatches for an action, in company with ML 150 in which the German E Boat S96 was rammed and sunk 29/9/43.
Appointed to MTB 718 in command. Part of 15th MGB Flotilla engaged in landing and recovering agents.

drumahair
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:25 pm

Re: A/B Tom Harrison JX421524

Postby drumahair » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:58 pm

Hi Brian
thank you for your responses. it seems that mtb 83 and ml 145/ml 152 had a busy war.
I think some of the named crew must have been ship mates of my dad, after the war my mother tells me my dad took her down to try and buy mt 83 but it had sold she said he was very upset right upto his death that he didn't get it.
I am now sending for his records on behalf of my mother to try and work out what he was doing at nile mosquito for 15 months. the only clues I have are that he knew buster crabbe and was there when buster went missing. he was called to the guard gate and questioned for some time his camera was taken and never returned. I was a professional diver and from what my mother as told me my father seemed to know a lot about diving and mines he shouldn't have. I know it is a long shot but I have always wondered if he was involved in that sort of thing.


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