Coastal Forces Veterans

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Len Welch on Wednesday 5th December 2018.
Len served on Minesweeper ML 143 - between 1942 - 1946. Our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time.

'Lest We Forget'

Further to the report above:
Len Welch is to be cremated on Wednesday 19th December.
He joined the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday in June 1942 and was de-mobbed in June 1946. He went first to HMS Ganges where, after basic seamanship training, he was sent on a mechanics course to Bournemouth and thence on to ML143, a small minesweeper, which he joined in Jan 1943. ML143 went on the D-Day landings where she swept a channel for the larger minesweepers and landing craft into Omaha Beach.
Long after the war, he became a Handicraft teacher (1955). He retired in 1985.
He was married to Helen for 66 years who had died in 2010.
Along with other veterans who took part in D-Day, he was eligible to receive France's highest honour, L'Ordre de la Légion d'honneur. Awarded for‎: ‎Excellent civil or military conduct.
It was presented to him in 2016, which he wore with great pride when he marched at the November Remembrance parade past the Cenotaph that year.
He died very peacefully at home on 5th December 2018.
He had one son, three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Details supplied by son David Welch to whom we offer our sincere condolences.
'Lest We Forget'