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MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:56 am
by ricjen
My dad, Peter Jenkins, was "sparks" on MGB 326 from mid 1940 until it was sunk by a mine, then on MTB 761 until the end of the war. The Skipper on both boats was surname Kempner. They worked closely with 12 commando on various clandestine missions. He would love to year from any shipmates.
Dad is now 88 and in good shape. He lives in Huddersfield.
I look forward to any response.

Richard Jenkins.

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 3:58 pm
by Brian Holmes
MGB_326 James A Silver Ltd, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire 18/8/41

For Operation Jubilee - Raid on Dieppe 19/8/42
MID TLt Francis Douglas Russell-Roberts RNVR
DSM CMtrMch Robert Ringham Dawson C/MX72043
MID AB James Craig Carlyle C/JX260146

New Year Honours 1943
DSM TLSea Leslie Richard Jones D/JX137296

For Operations Abercrombie, Bristle and Biting- secret operations in the Channel (Gazette Date - 13/4/43)
MID TLtCdr Francis Douglas Russell-Roberts RNVR
DSM AB Dugald McFarlane C/JX225197

For combined operations on enemy coasts (Gazette Date - 6/7/43)
MID TLt William John Kempner RNVR
MID LSto Oliver William George Parr P/KX85753

For Operation Neptune - For gallantry and devotion to duty during the landings in Normandy (Gazette Date - 14/11/44)
DSC TLt Neville Arthur Breeze RNVR
MID AB George Victor Talbot P/JX326563

New Year Honours 1945
MID AB James Craig Carlyle C/JX260146

Known Crew
TLt Francis Douglas Russell-Roberts RNVR TLtCdr
TLt Neville Arthur Breeze RNVR First Lieutenant MGB 312 4/9/42 MGB 326
TLt William John Kempner RNVR Commanding Officer 11/4/43 MID 1943 HMS Hornet DSC 1944
TSLt Alasdair Macdonald Watson RNVR joined the RNVR at Rosyth 2/8/40. HMS King Alfred 7-8/41, HMS St Christopher, HMS Midge 2/42. First Lieutenant MGB 326 1/42 Served in MGB 505 in 1943 First Lieutenant MGB 317 31/5/43 First Lieutenant MGB 312 11/10/43 Commanding Officer MGB 330 10/4/44 Commanding Officer MTB 5001 1945 when the boat was sunk Commanding Officer MTB 764 21/5/45 Senior Officer German E Boats at HMS Hornet Commanding Officer MTB 2012 1945 Commanding Officer MTB 2017 1946 Transferred to permanent RNVR 1951 Commanding Officer HMS Scotia (RNR Headquarters at Rosyth) 1958-66 RNR ADC to the Queen 1967-68 Commanding Officer HMS Claverhouse (RNR Clyde) 1968-69. Retired 27/12/70 as a Capt. Teacher math and science and coach of rugby and athletics at Dalhousie Castle, Melville House, Ladybank and Clifton Hall schools from 1946 on. President of the Combined Operations Association based near Furnace. MID 1943, DSC 1945 and VRD 1960 and 1970. Born 24/2/20 at Edinburgh and died at Muthill, Perthshire 25/3/2007
TSLt Patrick Crichton RNVR First Lieutenant MGB 326 19/4/43 First Lieutenant MTB 511 6/9/44
CMtrMch Robert Ringham Dawson C/MX72043
LSto Oliver William George Parr P/KX85753
TLSea Leslie Richard Jones D/JX137296
AB James Craig Carlyle C/JX260146
AB Dugald McFarlane C/JX225197
AB George Victor Talbot P/JX326563 who died on 12/06/1944 Age:, 21 Son of Arthur J. and May L. Talbot, of Hillingdon, Middlesex

War Activities
12th MGB Flotilla
MGB 313, MGB 315, MGB 318, MGB 320, MGB 321, MGB 323, MGB 326 and MGB 327
1/42 At Great Yarmouth
14th MGB Flotilla
Employed on clandestine operations supporting resistance activities in France.
27/2/42 Operation Biting
MGB 312, MGB 315, MGB 316, MGB 317 and MGB 326 support the on Bruneval
Airborne forces and an RAF technician are dropped just behind the coast where they dismantle a German Wurzburg Radar and carry away significant parts of it to the beach. Troops are recovered by landing craft escorted by the MGBs.
19/8/42 Operation Jubilee - Raid on Dieppe
SGB 5 (Grey Owl) ,SGB 9
MGB 50, MGB 51, MGB 312, MGB 315, MGB 316, MGB 317,MGB 320, MGB 321, MGB 323, MGB 326
ML 120, ML 123, ML 189, ML 190, ML 193,ML 194, ML 230, ML 246, ML 292, ML 309, ML 343, ML 344, ML 346, RML 513
Operation Abercrombie - secret operation in the Channel (Gazette Date - 13/4/43)
Operation Bristle - secret operation in the Channel (Gazette Date - 13/4/43)
27/2/43 Operation Carpenter III.
MGB 326 attempts to land and bury stores at Ile Stagadon but fail to find a site with sufficient sand to allow burial.
29/4/43 Operation Mango.
MGB 326 attempts to land one agent and stores but fails due to bad weather.
1st Coastal Force Flotilla
MGB 312, MGB 316, MGB 317, MGB 324, MGB 326 and MGB 330
Operation Neptune
Invasion of Normandy
Juno Beach for assault then ETF
28/6/44 Sunk by mine off Normandy

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 4:00 pm
by Brian Holmes
MTB_761 Aldous Successors, Brightlingsea 9/8/44

Wartime Activities


Post War Fate
1/46 Sea Cadet Corps (Chelmsford)
25/3/63 Sold

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:14 pm
by ricjen
Thank you for this information. It will mean a lot to my father.

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761 REPLY 09/06/2012

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:27 pm
by ROCKO
Dear Richard, having just read about your fathers time on mgb 326 i would like to advice you that my late also served in the coastal forces and also served time on mgb 326 amongst others. He was mentioned in depatches for bravery under enemy fire el etc , i beleive this was for taking part in the Brunevel raid, he was also involved in the Dieppe raid. I have a few original photos of him taken with his crew and boats. His name is STANLEY RONALD ROCKETT it would be interesting to find out if your father remembered this name, Rockett is not to common a name. I look forward to your reply and hoping we can exchange stories etc , yours Christopher Rockett [ son].

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:14 pm
by Brian Holmes
I show him serving in MGB 325

MGB_325 Frank Curtis Ltd, Looe, Cornwall 9/9/41

For combined operations raids on enemy coasts (Gazette Date - 6/7/43)
MID AB Stanley Ronald Rockett P/JX276557

New Year Honours 1944
DSM PO Patrick Andrew Traynor C/JX126528

Known Crew
TLt Peter Alexander Williams (Commanding Officer) Joined Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve attached to London Division RNVR 29/12/36 First Lieutenant, HMS Tourmaline (armed trawler) at Scapa Flow 14/2/40 – 4/40, MASB 10 5-6/40 HMS Dolphin 17/6/40 Commanding Officer ML 118 25/7/41 and MGB 325 1942. Commanding Officer MGB 612 11/5/42 – 2/43 at HMS St Christopher, Fort William. Commanding Officer MGB 502 5/43 - 44 and was Senior Officer of 15th MGB Flotilla based at Dartmouth running agents and stores to France. As an A/LtCdr.he served in the Admiralty Operations Division 10/44 – 7/45. Solicitor; Chairman, East Grinstead Conservative Party; Clerk, Conservators of Ashdown Forest; President, Sussex Law Society. He married Joe Roe, the daughter of A V Roe. Born 21/3/12 and died on 16/1/2004 in Uckfield, Sussex. DSC in 1944 and Legion of Honour on 50th anniversary of D Day.
TLt J A H Whitby RNVR Commanding Officer 21/10/42
TLt K E Haines RNVR Commanding Officer 1/9/43
TLt F E Walton RNVR Commanding Officer 13/3/44
TLt A C Shearer RNVR Commanding Officer 1/6/44
TSLt P Yate RNVR First Lieutenant 11/1/43
TSLt H G MacKrill RNVR First Lieutenant 24/5/45
TSLt Elwell
PO Patrick Andrew Traynor C/JX126528
AB Stanley Ronald Rockett P/JX276557
War Activities
Gun trials at Portland
13/10/41 Operation Polish III.
MGB 325 in attempt to recover an agent and mail from a sea rendezvous off Ile De Batz Brittany Failed due to enemy action. . LtCdr E A G Davis RNR (Expedition Commander)
15/10/41 Operation Polish III.
MGB325 in attempt to recover an agent and mail from a sea rendezvous off Ile De Batz Brittany. Failed due to bad weather
28/10/41 Operation Polish IV.
MGB325 in attempt to recover an agent and mail from Point De Bihit. Signals are seen but the sea is too rough to allow landing.
16th MGB Flotilla (Gt Yarmouth)
Operation to recover an agent from Holland 10/41. Lt Davis attached as navigator. Abandoned due to thick fog.
Third operation to land two agents in Holland. TSLt Elwell ferried the two agents in the dinghy which capsized causing them to swim ashore were they were captured. The agents were shot and the officer became a POW.
Combined operations raids on enemy coasts (Gazette Date - 6/7/43)
16th MGB Flotilla – Based at Great Yarmouth
MGB 319, MGB 325, MGB 329, MGB 331, MGB 332, MGB 333, MGB 334 and MGB 335
1/42 At Great Yarmouth
Post War Fate
3/46 For disposal
Houseboat “Eidolon” at Hayling Island

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:04 pm
by ROCKO
Dear Brian

After a short time away, I have just been looking at the forum and noticed a reply from yourself back in June and it seems to suggest that you have said that my father served on MGB 325 not MGB 326 (I think that's what you are saying?) I am confused if so because I have his original record sheet saying 326 and correspondence from Royal Navy records also say 326. I have believed that when he was mentioned in depatches it was for being involved in the Brunival Raid on MGB 326, So I am hoping this will not change, your thoughts etc would be appreciated. Thank you

Chris Rockett

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:12 pm
by Yvonne Mills
Hi my name is Yvonne and my dad is Ron Luckett (brummie) he served on the same boats as your dad, and he remembers him very well please get in touch if you want some more info,i would be delighted to liase with you

kind regards

Yvonne

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 2:50 pm
by Brian Holmes
In response to Rocko.
I was using available sources. In this case Seedie's List of Coastal Forces decorations which refers directly to London Gazetter entries

His service record is the formal record which I did not have

Any chance of posting a copy?

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 12:26 pm
by Admin
After a short time away, I have just been looking at the forum and noticed a reply from yourself back in June and it seems to suggest that you have said that my father served on MGB 325 not MGB 326
I was using available sources. In this case Seedie's List of Coastal Forces decorations which refers directly to London Gazetter entries
Just to help clarify things a little: the relevant London Gazette (02/07/1943) entry (bottom of page and top of next) only provides a basic description for the awards to this particular group, which presumably is for a number of different actions over a period of time. Boat numbers are not registered against names in the Gazette, so those given in brackets after names in the list below are derived from Seedie's Coastal Forces Awards.
For bravery and skill while serving in light coastal craft on reconnaissance operations and in action with the enemy:

The Distinguished Service Medal
Leading Seaman George Alfred Ian Camburn, C/JX.143817 (MGB 317)

Mention in Despatches
Temporary Lieutenant William John Kempner, R.N.V.R. (MGB 326)
Temporary Lieutenant Neville Arthur Breeze, R.N.V.R. (MGB 312)
Temporary Sub-Lieutenant James Edmond Hulme, R.N.V.R. (1st Coastal Forces Flotilla)
Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Alastair MacDonald Watson, R.N.V.R. (MGB 317)
Leading Stoker Oliver William George Parr, P/KX.85753 (MGB 326)
Able Seaman Norman Philip Chard, D/JX.285835 (MGB 312)
Able Seaman John Loren Coffey, P/JX.274285 (MGB 317)
Able Seaman Stanley Ronald Rockett, P/JX.276557 (MGB 325)
Signalman Alfred Charles Westcott, C/LD9/X 47IO (MGB 504)

Sources: London Gazette & Seedie's Coastal Forces Awards
Given the variety of boats referenced within this one section, it is difficult to judge whether Seedie made an error in recording 325 (rather than 326) against Stanley Rockett's name, or he faithfully recorded what was written on the original Admiralty card for the award in question.

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:43 pm
by ROCKO
Hi Brian , I have posted my fathers original service record showing 3 entries on MGB 326 , I also have a letter from Navy command also listing him on mgb 326 . i can also post this if original document not clear.

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:25 pm
by Brian Holmes
Having looked at the service record, I offer the following:

HMS Collingwood conducted basic new entry training for ratings

HMS Victory was used as a manning depot holding men prior to deployment

HMS St Christopher, at Fort William, provided training courses for coastal forces personnel

HMS Midge supported MTB and MGB Flotillas

His service in MGB 326 appears to include the raid on Dieppe and at least one of the clandestine operations as shown previously.

MGB 508 was built at Camper & Nicholson, Northam and completed as a blockade runner at Smith’s Dock, Hull and renamed = Master Standfast which was civilian manned. Perhaps he was on the transit voyage from Southampton to Hull.

MGB_604 A M Dickie & Sons, Bangor, Wales 24/7/42

Known Crew
TLt J O King (Commanding Officer)
TSLt Graham Alexander Wilson RNVR First Lieutenant MGB 604 1/2/44, Third Officer MTB 751 5/44 TLt 11/44 Commanding Officer MTB 490 7/45 Commanding Officer MTB 520 7/3/46
POMtrMch ? Arthur D Mellor MGB 53 MGB 55 MTB 604 MTB 751 Sto2 15/7/42 became Acting Chief Motor Mechanic 4th class Born in Nottingham 3/4/24 and died in Safety Bay, Western Australia
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
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
Post War Fate
10/45 For disposal

MGB_609 William King (Burnham on Crouch) Ltd 9/6/42

For an action with E Boats in the Channel 16/8/42
MID TLt Alan Doxford McIlwraith RNVR
MID TSLt Liston Burns McIlhagga RCNVR
MID ACMtrMch George Henry Seymour C/MX69871
DSM APO Richard Edward Varnall C/JX126930
For an action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll 24/10/43
DSC TLt Patrick Noel Green Edge RNVR
DSM ACMtrMch Robert Joseph Arthur Bonce P/MX98931
DSM AB Jack Ramsden Beaumont P/JX352195
MID PO William Lindsay Williams D/JX158412
Birthday Honours 1944
MID PO William Lindsay Williams D/JX158412

Known Crew (MGB 609)
TLt Alan Doxford McIlwraith RNVR Commanding Officer (Wounded in action 16/8/42) Senior Officer 19th MGB Flotilla MID 1942 CdeG 1943 Greek War Cross 3rd class (04.07.1944; salvage of Adrias mined in the Aegean) Born 1909 in St Albans, Herts
TLt Patrick Noel Green Edge RNVR MASB 23 1942 Commanding Officer MGB 609. Commanding Officer MTB 506 16/8/43. Served on the staff of ANCXF 1944 Councellor employment of the disabled 1963 DSC 1944 Two MIDs 1942 MID 1944 OBE (Civ) 1963 Born in Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffordshire 25/12/14
TSLt Liston Burns Mcllhagga RCNVR Ordinary Seaman, Winnipeg Division RCNVR 1939 HMS Jupiter (destroyer) 12/40 – 3/41 HMS King Alfred (RNVR officers' training establishment, Hove, Sussex) HMS Boscawen (RN base, Portland) First Lieutenant MGB 609 Wounded in action 16/8/42 Commanding Officer MTB 232 17/01/43 Commanding Officer MTB 258 5/43 Senior Officer, 16th MTB Flotilla (Trincomalee, Ceylon) 5-8/44 Executive Officer, HMCS Chippawa (Winnipeg Naval Reserve Division) 15/12/44 – 4/46 recruiting officer, HMCS Donnaconna (RCN(R) Division, Montreal) 4/46 – 4/49 Lt.Cdr. RCN(R) 7/48Executive Officer, HMCS Chippawa 14/5/51 Commanding Officer, HMCS Chippawa 7/2/42 staff officers' course 10/8/52 Commanding Officer, HMCS Chippawa 3/11/53 – 27/9/60 MID 1942 Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and died in North York, Ontario 1/2006
ACMtrMch George Henry Seymour C/MX69871
APO Richard Edward Varnall C/JX126930
AB John Edward Knibb P/JX252230 Died of Wounds received in a surface action 17/8/42 aged 21. Son of Albert Edward and May Knibb, of Wembley. Buried in Wembley (Alperton) Burial Ground Plot D.D. Grave 101
AB James Logan D/SS 35903 Killed in a surface action 16/8/42 Buried in Dover (St. James's) Cemetery Row C. Joint grave 16
Ord Kenneth Mattison C/JX 318042 Died of Wounds received in a surface action 17/8/42 aged 19. Son of George Alfred and Edna Mattison, of Harrogate. Buried in Harrogate (Harlow Hill) Cemetery Sec. F. Grave 115
Sto1 Ernest Edward Smith P/KX135877 Killed in a surface action 16/8/42 Age 21. Son of Ernest and Emma Smith, of Moreton. Buried in Bidston (St. Oswald) Churchyard, Cheshire N.E. part

Known Crew (MTB 609)
ACMtrMch Robert Joseph Arthur Bonce P/MX98931
PO William Lindsay Williams D/JX158412
AB Jack Ramsden Beaumont P/JX352195

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
On passage from work up at HMS Bee, Weymouth, MGB 609 is diverted to Dover to operate with locally based MGBs.
16/8/42 MGB 6, MGB 10, MGB 324, MGB 330, MGB 331 and MGB 609 depart Dover to intercept 10th R Boat Flotilla laying mines in mid channel. Off Calais MGB 330, MGB 331 and MGB 609 engage the German force with gunfire and are all badly damaged. MGB 330 has all guns out of action but rams R 184 . MGB 330, MGB 331 and MGB 609 are severely damaged and break off the action. In MGB 609, two men have been killed and two men are dying. All three officers and eight ratings have been wounded. Two R Boats are sinking. MGB 6 and MGB 10 make an attack setting an R Boat on fire, boarding it and taking either eight or fifteen prisoners. All boats return to Dover. R184 is finished off by gunfire from a coastal battery.
MGB 609 has only one working engine, no engine controls and no charts..
MGB 609 is paid off for extensive repairs.
27-8/5/43 MGB 605, MGB 609, MGB 610, MGB 612 are driven off in an attack on a German patrol.
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 mouth 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 607and 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
24/10/43 An action with E Boats off Smith’s Knoll
22-3/2/44 S 67, S 80, S 86, S 92, S 94, S 128 and S 135 of the Second. S-Flotilla (KKpt. Feldt) and S 64, S 65, S 85, S 93, S 99, S 117, S 127 and S 129 of the the Eighth S-Flotilla (KKpt. Zymalkowski) from Ijmuiden intercept and attack a Convoy near Smith´s Knoll. The Boats are engaged by the destroyers HMS Garth and Southdown with MTB 609 and MTB 610. During the action, S 94 and S 128 collide and have to be abandoned.

Post War Fate
10/45 Sea Cadet Corps
1952 Sold

His service in 609 covers four significant actions

MTB _734 Thomson & Balfour, Victoria Saw Mills, Bo’ness 30/5/44

Known Crew
TLt Harold William Paton RNVR . Joined Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve attached to London Division RNVR 29/11/38. Commanding Officer HMS Titan (Auxillary minesweeper 1/9/39 – 4/40. HMS Dolphin 17/6/40 ML 101 Commanding Officer MTB 510 8/42 – 1/43 and Commanding Officer MTB 613 10/1/43 - 4/44. Commanding Officer MTB 734 and Senior Officer 59th MTB Flotilla 18/5/44. He served in the Admiralty from 5/2/45. DSC 1943 Winchester College; Christ Church, Oxford. Called to the Bar (Inner Temple), 1923 and practised at Common Law Bar. Judge of County Courts, Circuit No 54 (Bristol, etc) 1950-71; Chairman, Somerset Quarter Sessions, 1965-71. Born 6/10/1900 in Guildford, Surrey and died on 16/3/86 at Evanton Rosshire.
Wartime Activities
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
26/6/44 Patrolling off the Dutch coast, MTB 734 is attacked and damaged by friendly Swordfish aircraft and subsequently sunk by MTB 612

MTB_756 Herbert Woods, Broads Haven, Potter Heigham, Great Yarmouth 31/7/44

New Year Honours 1945
DSC TSLt John Alfred Kings RNVR
MID AB Anthony James Higbed P/JX389395
MID Sto1 Freddie Hooper D/KX139405

Known Crew
TSLt John Alfred Kings RNVR
AB Anthony James Higbed P/JX389395
Sto1 Freddie Hooper D/KX139405

Wartime Activities
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

Post War Fate
1/46 Sea Cadet Corps (Hull)
8/11/54 Sold

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:59 am
by PeterMather
Hi,

My father was a junior officer on MTB 761. I recall it because my dad would tell a story about being sent to collect the ward room gin from shore just before the boat was to depart Ostend harbour. When he got back to the boat, it was already several yards away from the key side. The CO told him to toss the gin across then jump!The gin arrived safely, but my dad missed the boat and landed in the harbour, sea boots, full oilskins, the lot. He said he was lucky as he fell in feet first and the air caught under his oilskins and kept him afloat! If he had gone in head first he would have gone straight to the bottom! As it was, it took several sailors to drag him out.

Regards

Peter.

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 10:42 am
by Admin
Hello PeterMather

Thank you for joining the forum. Could you let us know the name of your father please so as we could add his name to the list of crew? Also, do you by any chance have any photos of him in uniform or any that relate to Coastal Forces?

Regards
Admin

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 6:36 pm
by PeterMather
His name was Geoffrey William Mather. My mother has a number of photographs of boats my father served on and there is a studio portrait of him in naval uniform. I'll scan some copies and get them to you next time I'm visiting.

P.S. Apologies for the spelling of "quay"!

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 10:37 pm
by Andrea
My dad, Peter Jenkins, was "sparks" on MGB 326 from mid 1940 until it was sunk by a mine, then on MTB 761 until the end of the war. The Skipper on both boats was surname Kempner. They worked closely with 12 commando on various clandestine missions. He would love to year from any shipmates.
Dad is now 88 and in good shape. He lives in Huddersfield.
I look forward to any response.

Richard Jenkins.
Hi Richard,my Grandad was Oliver William George Parr, I think known as 'Ollie'. I know he was on MGB 326 in 1943 but am only just starting my investigations so unfortunately don't have any information to offer at present...but if your Dad has any information, memories or stories about my Grandfather that he is happy to share then I would be most grateful

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 2:50 pm
by Brunevalraid
Hi, I make research about the Operation 'Biting', known as the Bruneval Raid, and I try to make a list of the men who served during it. Do you know if your relatives of the MGB 326 involved during the Bruneval raid?

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:08 pm
by AAF
My father, James Foley, was on at least one of these boats. I was only a boy but I remember that he said his boat was sunk by a mine during the Normandy invasion. He also served on MTB 761 and "5020," according to AFPAA/NPP. He was commissioned as an Ordinary Seaman on 6 July 1943, and promoted to Able Seaman on 6 July 1944. My father died in 1986. I would like to retrieve additional service records and records of his boats' actions during WWII. Can someone tell me how to do that?

Re: MGB 326 and MTB 761

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 9:20 pm
by Admin
Hello AAF

MGB 326 was lost off Normandy on the 28th June, and MGB 17 earlier than that on the 11th. It could well be that if another member of crew from 326 transferred to 761, that your father did likewise. The only recourse open to you if you do not have your father’s service record on parchment would be to apply for his service record from the Royal Naval Disclosure Cell, which incurs a charge and will take some months. It’s also the case that these records detail the Coastal Forces bases, and sometimes the boat number(s) alongside that, but not always the boat number in the case of each base.

Regards
Admin