L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB)
Butcher
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:30 pm

L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby Butcher » Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:46 pm

I have recently joined this forum and would be very grateful if any forum members could help with my search for any information and a photograph
if possible of
L.Cousins D.S.M.
A radar operator on MGB 607

Many thanks Gareth

cdsc123
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:38 pm

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby cdsc123 » Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:32 pm

Attachments
MTB_607_Crew.jpg

cdsc123
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:38 pm

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby cdsc123 » Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:34 pm

Attachments
Norman Fairholm and other crew MGB 607 Crew Sept43 - large.jpg
Norman Fairholm and other crew MGB 607 Crew Sept43 - large.jpg (78 KiB) Viewed 25088 times

cdsc123
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:38 pm

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby cdsc123 » Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:53 pm

from holmesb4;

17th MGB Flotilla
MGB 601, MGB 603, MGB 604, MGB 605, MGB 606, MGB 607, MGB 609, MGB 610, MGB 612
Based at Great Yarmouth

10/43 50th MTB Flotilla
MTB 603, MTB 604, MTB 605, MTB 606, MTB 607, MTB 609, MTB 610, MTB 612 later MTB 673, MTB 676, MTB 677, MTB 678, MTB 734, MTB 751, MTB 756
Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend

24-5/10/43 32 German S-Boats of the 2, 4, 6 and 8 S-Flotillas sortie from Ijmuiden and attack Convoy FN.1160 off Cromer. The Convoy is escorted by the destroyers Pytchley, Worcester, Eglinton, Campbell and Mackay, MGB 609, MGB 610, MGB 607, MGB 603, MGB 315, MGB 327, ML 250 and ML 517. HMS Mackay rams and sinks S 63. MGB 603 and MGB 607 hit on the boats of the 4. S-Flotilla on the return leg and sink S 88 which was standing by the damaged S63

http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/ca ... t_id=57729


from; http://www.medalsgonemissing.com/AdvancedSearch/55.html


Date of sale: 20 April 2015
Second World War Coastal Forces D.S.M. group of four awarded to Able Seaman L. Cousins, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his deeds as a Radar Operator in a brilliant night action in the Channel in October 1943, when M.G.B. 607 accounted for a brace of E-boats, one of them by ramming at speed - five of 607’s crew were killed and another six wounded, including Cousins: such was the calibre of the bravery displayed that night that six members of 607’s crew were decorated and four more mentioned in despatches. Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (A.B. L. Cousins, P./JX. 350038); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45. D.S.M. London Gazette 9 May 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘Able Seaman Cousins was Radar Operator of M.G.B. 607 and, although severely wounded, he stuck to his post and supplied the bridge with radar information concerning the enemy. He showed great courage and calmness in spite of his wounds. Able Seaman Cousins acted in the highest traditions of the Service.’ An indication of the importance of the actions fought by M.G.B. 607 and her consorts on the night of 24-25 October 1943 is to be found in the London Gazette of 15 October 1948, for therein was published a full account of the night’s proceedings, via Admiral of the Fleet Jack Tovey’s original despatch of 18 November 1943 - one of just four epic Coastal Forces’ actions chosen for post-war publication to represent the many daring feats and sacrifices made by that gallant body of men in the “Battle of the Narrow Seas”, and beyond. In it, Tovey describes a series of ferocious firefights with around 30 E-boats - and how two of them, thanks to 607’s gallant crew, were among those that failed to return to base. As part of the 50th Flotilla, operating out of Midge at Yarmouth, M.G.B 603 and 607 formed “Unit Y” that night, the former commanded by Lieutenant F. R. Lightoller, R.N.V.R., the son of Titanic’s senior surviving officer, Charles Lightoller (himself a Great War D.S.C. and Bar for services in the R.N.R.), and the latter commanded by the pre-war English rugby international, Lieutenant R. M. “Mike” Marshall, R.N.V.R., with Leslie Cousins, a native of Sheffield, among his crew. One and all were in for a busy night, but by dawn the two “Dogboats” had contributed towards a significant turning point in Coastal Forces’ fortunes, the whole by means of highly skilled radar work and disciplined gunnery - and cold blooded courage of a high order. The M.G.Bs of “Unit Y” first came into contact with a force of E-boats off Smith’s Knoll in the early morning hours, 607 steering right across the bow of the leading enemy boat as the firefight commenced - the latter was quickly set ablaze. Minutes later another E-boat was spotted by Cousins on his radar, to port, and “Mike” Marshall set off in hot pursuit, but as the two boats closed at speed, the enemy swung quickly to starboard and came straight at 607 - with lightening reactions, her navigator, Sub. Lieutenant J. N. Arkell, ordered the helm hard to port, thereby enabling 607 to take the advantage and ram, and with a deafening crash 607 smashed into the E-boat amidships. In the interim, as the two boats had been closing to point-blank range, enemy fire knocked out 607’s pom-pom and starboard gun, causing several casualties, but luckily, as it transpired, the E-boat had taken far greater punishment, and blew up and sank soon after drifting clear of 607’s bows. With one confirmed victim to her name, 607 was shortly to claim another, for the leading E-boat she had engaged at the beginning of the action - and which had remained ablaze ever since - was seen to erupt in a colossal explosion, flinging debris into the air to a height of 200 feet. In due course, 19 prisoners were fished out of the water by 603, who also took the badly damaged 607 in tow, but at 0410 hours, further E-boats were picked up on the radar and the tow line had to be slipped, while Lightoller set off to investigate - he returned about 45 minutes later, having engaged six more E-boats and badly damaged one of them. Meanwhile, Marshall in 607 had been making 3 knots stern first, no doubt painfully aware that the arrival of dawn would make him a sitting duck to all and sundry. But with a tow line once more attached to 603, his prospects quickly improved - and even more so with the arrival of two more M.G.Bs on the scene, followed by a pair of High Speed Launches, the latter evacuating 607’s casualties, Cousins no doubt among them. And so it was, after an interminable return trip, that 607 received a rapturous welcome back at Yarmouth. Sad though it is to relate, Marshall was lost off Norway in May 1945, when his M.G.B. struck a mine, and Lightoller killed in action in Northern France in March 1945, when the enemy garrison in the Channel Islands mounted a raid on Granville. Cousins, however, survived to fight another day, and was awarded his D.S.M at an investiture held on 16 February 1945; on which date Cousins had joined 607 remains unknown, but it is worth noting for the record that she had already participated in a brace of firefights, namely an encounter with an escort trawler on the 27 March 1943, in which the latter was severely damaged, and a spirited gun action off Terschelling that May against four armed trawlers, one of which was also seriously damaged.

Butcher
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:30 pm

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby Butcher » Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:06 pm

Many thanks to the forum members for there help regarding my request for information regarding L. Cousins.

Gareth

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

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby Brian Holmes » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:17 pm

There has been a requote from my database, but here is the full entry.

MGB_607 James A Silver Ltd, Rosneath, Scotland 6/42
For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43
DSC TLt Robert Michael Marshall RNVR
"His aggressive spirit was a fine example to all Commanding Officers of Coastal Force Craft, and is in the finest traditions of the service."
DSC TSLt John Norman Arkell RNVR
DSM PO Hugh Baggott Merriman D/JX133563
DSM AB Leslie Cousins P/JX350038
DSM AB Arthur Hinchcliffe P/JX262382
DSM AB Robert Henry Peter C/JX301335
MID TLt Charles Ortsen Abbott RNVR
MID ALSea Ralph Hopper D/JX136991
MID AB George Thomas Hughes D/JX257184
MID AB Robert Little P/JX322584 (Post)

Known Crew (MGB 607)
TLt Robert Michael Marshall RNVR TSLt 10/11/39 HMS Cape Passaro (anti-submarine warfare trawler) 3/2/40 HMS Dolphin (for Fort Blockhouse) 17/6/40 HMS St Christopher for MLs 24/6/41 TLt 1/2/42 HMS Midge (Great Yarmouth) for minelayers 4/42 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth Commanding Officer MGB 607 25/5/42 50th MTB Flotilla For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSC 15th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 503 22/11/43 For special operations off the French coast in 1944 DSC* Commanding Officer MGB 509 and Senior Officer, 15th MGB Flotilla 11/44 TALtCdr 11/44 Commanding Officer MGB 2002 11/5/45 killed in action Saturday 12 May 1945 Born in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire 18/5/17 replaced LtCdr Jan T McQuoid-Mason, who was attending an investiture, for the trip to Gothenberg Played for England at Rugby Football
TLt Bernard Louis Knight-Lachlan RNVR TSLt 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MGB 607 15/6/42 19th MGB Flotilla MGB 645 20/10/42 Lt 9/4/43 19th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 646 21/10/43 For assistance rendered to the Greek destroyer Adrias, mined in the Aegean 22/10/43 Greek War Cross 3rd Class HMS Mosquito (Alexandria)
TLt Thomas Wilson Boyd RNVR PTSLt 27/6/40 HMS Osprey, HMS Pembroke 16/9/40, TLt 27/6/41 HMS Aggressive (Newhaven) 7th ML Flotilla Based at Dartmouth Commanding Officer ML 160 2/42 For the attack on the German naval base at St Nazaire Saturday 28 March 1942 DSO. MGB 607 18/5/42 Summer 1942 toured the US to stimulate the sale of War Bonds. 18th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 615 10/8/42 SGB 4 17/3/43 HMS Talybont (destroyer) 1/2/44. TALtCdr Commanding Officer HMS Broadway (destroyer) 11/44. Chairman & managing director, Boyd Line. President, Hull Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, Ltd., 1958-1962. President, British Trawlers Federation, 1964-1966 & 1969-1971. Honorary Brother of Trinity House, 1965. Deputy Lieutenant, Humberside. Born in Hull, East Yorkshire 23/9/14 and died there 20/3/87
TLt Charles Ortzen Abbott RNVR TSLt 25/9/41 HMS Torch II (Coastal Forces base, Holyhead) TLt 1/2/43 First Lieutenant MGB 504 15/03/43, Commanding Officer MGB 607 15/3/43 – 10/43 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 MID, MTB 727 22/11/43. Commanding Officer MGB 315 6/12/43 Commanding Officer MTB 632 30/10/44 MID 1944. Born 28/5/18 at North Bierley, Yorkshire and died in Ipswich 9/88


Known Crew (MTB 607)
TLt Robert Michael Marshall RNVR TSLt HMS Cape Passaro (anti-submarine warfare trawler) 3/2/40 HMS Dolphin (for Fort Blockhouse) 17/6/40 HMS St Christopher for MLs 24/6/41 TLt 1/2/42 HMS Midge (Great Yarmouth) for minelayers 4/42 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth Commanding Officer MGB 607 25/5/42 50th MTB Flotilla For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSC 15th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 503 22/11/43 For special operations off the French coast in 1944 DSC* Commanding Officer MGB 509 and Senior Officer, 15th MGB Flotilla 11/44 LtCdr 1945 Commanding Officer MGB 2002 11/5/45 killed in action Saturday 12 May 1945 Born in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire 18/5/17 replaced LtCdr Jan T McQuoid-Mason, who was attending an investiture, for the trip to Gothenberg Played for England at Rugby Football

TSLt John Norman Arkell RNVR After initial service in HMS Bramham (destroyer) commissioned HMS King Alfred HMS St Christopher. MGB 607 as the Navigating Officer. Severely injured 24/10/43, losing an eye and sustaining damage to his face. For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSC He became a patient of Professor Sir Archibald Macindoe, the famous plastic surgeon. After the war John worked as a Solicitor with his firm of Burridge, Kent and Arkell where he remained until retirement, serving for a period as President of the Dorset Law. Born 09?/23 Shaftesbury, Dorset and died 1/2/2010 in Westminster Memorial Hospital
PO Hugh Baggott Merriman D/JX133563 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 607 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSM
ALSea Ralph Hopper D/JX136991 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 607 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 MID
AB Leslie Cousins P/JX350038 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 607 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSM
AB Arthur Hinchcliffe P/JX262382 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 607 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSM
AB George Thomas Hughes D/JX257184 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 607 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 MID
AB Robert Little P/JX322584 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MTB 607 Killed in a surface action - 24/10/43 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 MID(Post) Son of John C. Little and Amlie Little, of Manor, Peebles. Buried in Manor Parish Churchyard Grave 111
AB Robert Henry Peter C/JX301335 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 607 For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43 DSM
AB Wilfred Percy Roach D/JX 142841 13th ML Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth ML 195 For services when HM Submarine Umpire was accidently rammed and sunk by the trawler Peter Hendricks off the Wash 19/7/41 MID 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MTB 607 Killed in a surface action 24/10/43 aged 25. Son of Percy and May Roach, of Lanivet, Cornwall; nephew of Mrs. L. Prynne, of Lanivet, Norfolk. Buried in Great Yarmouth (Caister) Cemetery Sec. A. (Naval Reservation). Grave 63
AB Kenneth V Wilkins P/JX383041 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MTB 607 Killed in a surface action 25/10/43 aged 19 Son of Albert V. Wilkins and Ethel N. Wilkins, of Hove. Buried in Hove New Cemetery Block 1. Grave 94
Ord Henry Hockley P/JX383344 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MTB 607 Killed in a surface action 24/10/43 aged 19. Son of William and Edith Hockley, of Cubitt Town, London. Buried in East London Cemetery, Plaistow Grave 17279. (Screen Wall, Panel 7).
Tel Norman Fairholm C/JX 196322 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MTB 607 Killed in a surface action 25/10/43 aged 27. Son of William Claude and Martha Fairholm, of Manchester. Buried in Manchester Southern Cemetery Sec. T. C. of E. Grave 1213
.
War Activities
17th MGB Flotilla
MGB 601, MGB 603, MGB 604, MGB 605, MGB 606, MGB 607, MGB 609, MGB 610, MGB 612
Based at Great Yarmouth
27/3/43 MGB 603, MGB 606 and MGB 607 intercept and damage a German armed trawler.
26-7/5/43 MTB 628, MTB 629 and MTB 632 with MGB 607 engage four German armed trawlers off Terschelling. One trawler is severely damaged and return fire damages MTB 629 and kills PO James Marshall.
9/43 Modified and reclassified as MTB
10/43 50th MTB Flotilla
MTB 603, MTB 604, MTB 605, MTB 606, MTB 607, MTB 609, MTB 610, MTB 612 later MTB 673, MTB 676, MTB 677, MTB 678, MTB 734, MTB 751, MTB 756
Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend
24/10/43 An action off Smith’s Knoll involving MTB 442, MTB 606, MTB 610, MTB 629, MTB 630, MTB 632, MTB 650 and MTB 652
24-5/10/43 32 German S-Boats of the 2, 4, 6 and 8 S-Flotillas sortie from Ijmuiden and attack Convoy FN.1160 off Cromer. The Convoy is escorted by the destroyers HMS Pytchley, HMS Worcester, HMS Eglinton, HMS Campbell and HMS Mackay, MGB 609, MGB 610, MGB 607, MGB 603, MGB 315, MGB 327, ML 250 and ML 517.
2318 HMS Pytchley has a Radar contact on E Boats to the north and damages one with gunfire.
MGB 603 and MGB 607 move north east to cover the line of retreat to Ijmuiden.
MGB 609 and MGB 610 cover the northerly track of the convoy.
The S Boats arrive astern of the convoy
The trawler HMS William Stephen, a straggler from the convoy, is sunk
C0100 MGB 609 and MGB 610 obtained hydrophone and Radar contact. MGB 609 and MGB 610 make two attacks when the S Boats are seen to approach and drive them off each time. The second S Boat in the line was damaged and left the line
0206 MGB 603 and MGB 607 hit on the boats of the 4. S-Flotilla on the return leg and sink S 88 which was standing by the damaged S63 MGB 607 rams an S Boat and is subsequently taken in tow by MGB 603.
0400 MGB 603 with MGB 607 in tow obtains a Radar contact and the tow is slipped.
0418 MGB 603 goes into action against six S Boats at a range of under 800 yards significantly damaging one boat.
0445 The S Boats make off to the east and MGB 603 rejoins MGB 607
HMS Mackay rams and sinks S 63.
MGB 603 recovers nineteen survivors from S 88 and tows MGB 607 back to Great Yarmouth
3-4/11/43 MTB 606, MTB 607 and MTB 610 are in an action in the Nore area in which two trawlers were sunk and E Boats damaged. MTB 606 is sunk in action by surface craft

Post War Fate
10/45 For disposal

Butcher
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:30 pm

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby Butcher » Sat Apr 23, 2016 12:33 pm

Many thanks for the help regarding L.Cousins D.S.M.

AFairchild
Seaman
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:22 pm

Re: L. Cousins D.S.M. MGB 607

Postby AFairchild » Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:45 pm

I found your post checking the net for MGB 607. I attach another pic of the crew of MGB 607 taken the morning of Oct 24 1943. Bottom row extreme left is young Telegraphist Tony Chapman who joined the same date. 24 hours later half the crew were dead or wounded. Tony published his memoir "War of The Motor Gun Boats" in 2013. The Smiths Knoll action is described in great detail as Tony was friends with John Arkell after the war and he provided Tony with his copious records on the action. Pic 2 is Tony with John Arkell & his wife. Pic 3 is the boat after the action in Great Yarmouth - Tony in overalls on the right. Final pic shows the state of 607's bow. On the 70th anniversary Tony had a telephone call from the son of the Coxn who was awarded the DSM. Sadly he died soon after the war when his son was very young and the family had to sell his medals. He wanted to find out more about his father. Tony was able to tell him how hard earned that DSM and the other medals were.
Tony is still alive and well and hoping to visit the CF Heritage Trust in Portsmouth this month.
AFairchild
Attachments
607 Bow Damage.jpg
607 AFTERMATH.jpg
S Lt Arkell & Tony.jpg
607 PRE ENGAGEMENT.jpg


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