Able Seaman Peter Colin Wilkie

Enquiries relating to individual men and women who served with HM Light Coastal Forces; help with interpreting service records, or with tracing former comrades
Tommo
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 3:52 pm

Able Seaman Peter Colin Wilkie

Postby Tommo » Mon Oct 09, 2017 5:26 pm

Hello, I'm very new to this board, but thought I might try my luck. Mu Uncle Able Seaman Peter Colin WILKIE Service No: P/JX 298632 of MGB 89 was Mention in Despatches. My late father seemed to remember that the action was something to do with the German E-Boats, but was very fuzzy on the details. Unfortunately, there is nobody else to ask within the family as to what his mention was for.
Through research (as mentioned on this site) I have established that he was on MGB 89, and I think his commander was Temp Lieu Francis Ninian Thompson with his number two Temp Sub Lieu W.M. Paver. I also think that this boat was in the7th Flotilla.
I have a photo of my Uncle and the crew of 14 sitting on the boat together. The .303 Vickers machine guns are just visible to each side of the group and in the centre, between the officers heads is a badge which looks be to similar to the Prince of Wales ostrich feathers, though I am sure its not that, just something like it. If anyone has any information on this boat and the action which resulted in my Uncles Mentioned in Despatches I would be very grateful. Thank you

Pioneer
Moderator
Posts: 347
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:48 pm

Re: Able Seaman Peter Colin Wilkie

Postby Pioneer » Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:15 am

Hello 'Tommo'
Welcome aboard.
You may have traced all of the following by using the sites databases but in case that you were unable to reach the correct page of the London Gazette - page 41 lists the name of your father - page 42 gives the citation.

Able Seaman Peter Colin Wilkie, P/JX. 298632 (Stockfield). [page 41]

The above appointments and awards are for gallantry or good services in the last six months or more of War in His Majesty's Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Auxiliary Cruisers, Destroyers, Submarines, Minelayers, Corvettes, Sloops, Escort Vessels, Armed Boarding Vessels, Minesweepers, Trawlers, Drifters, Yachts, Anti-Submarine Vessels, Tugs, Motor Gun Boats, Motor Torpedo Boats, Motor Launches, Patrol Ships, Naval Aircraft, Base Ships, Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships and Naval Establishments ashore. [page 42]

Tommo
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 3:52 pm

Re: Able Seaman Peter Colin Wilkie

Postby Tommo » Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:05 am

Thank you Pioneer for your help. I had seen page 41 but missed page 42. After a bit more research yesterday on this site I am now unsure of whether I am correct as to his commander and sub, as neither of them appear in your database, as far as I can see anyway. My initial research was with www.forces-war-records.co.uk which gave me my Uncles boat (this was before I found this site), and on looking at http://www.unithistories.com/units_brit ... orces.html and looking at MGB 89 that gave me his commander and sub, but the only record I can find of either of them is for his Commander Francis Ninian Thompson, who appears on http://uboat.net/allies/commanders/10391.html. In this record though he is only attributed to MTB 728 from 1943-44 then MGB 612 through 1945. He had a DSC award but again I cannot see him on your site. So as Unithistories.com and Uboat.net are not British sites I am assuming they are wrong. It would be nice to find out more about the crew so that I could pass a copy of this photo I have to any family that may want it. As a moderator, are you able to search your data base for any crew associated with MGB 89?
Thanks again for your help.

Pioneer
Moderator
Posts: 347
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:48 pm

Re: Able Seaman Peter Colin Wilkie

Postby Pioneer » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:19 pm

Hello again 'Tommo'
Sorry that I'm a little late with this reply (off line for a few days).
I am sure that you are aware that MGB 89 was an American built 70ft Elco, formally one of USN PT boat's 1-11.
She had 4 awards by RN crew members.
Petty Officer Motor Mechanic William John Edward LAST. MID P/MX 78726 27th January 1942
Leading Stoker Frederick Thomas NEWPORT. DSM P/KX 86343 11th August 1942
Able Seaman Walter Edmund CARTER. MID C/JX 128066 27th January 1942 (listed as CHARTER in our database)
and of course your father Able Seaman Peter Colin WILKIE. MID P/JX 298632 1st January 1944.
There were no Officers listed as receiving awards while serving on MGB 89 but of course many could have been awarded recognition's whilst serving elsewhere.
There are 5 Senior Officers listed for the 7th MGB Flotilla between 1941/1944, the S/O's are
SO1. Lt J.B.R.Horne RN
SO2. Lt J.E.Dyer RN
SO3. Lt A.N.Macpherson RN
SO4. Lt J.A.C.Finlay
SO5. Lt F.N.Thomson
I am not aware that we have much further info regarding MGB 89 (but you never know what may turn up with future requests such as yours)
Best of luck with your research - any possibility that you could show your image of 89 here?


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