ML 269

Motor Launches (ML), Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDML) & Rescue Motor Launches (RML)
johnk
Chief Petty Officer
Posts: 67
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:21 am

Re: ML 269

Postby johnk » Sat Feb 14, 2015 12:59 pm

Hello there,


Just posted on your FB page, caught by chance your latest news on 526 there, which is great of course, to see another of our surviving CF craft going to be restored, with recent re-launch of hull of MTB 219, along with as ever MTB 102, HDM Medusa, MGB 81 won't list them all! but no dis-respect intended, my hat if I wore one, would and is off, I can only manage arm chair support, time taken with a non CF but in my humble opinion, great vessel in Paddle Steamer Medway Queen...all the best.

Johnk

BenMoxey
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 9:59 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby BenMoxey » Fri Jun 03, 2016 10:05 pm

Hello all

In the midst of doing a family tree and I've just discovered that my grandfather was seconded to the ML269 on D-Day as a navigator for the event itself. He had previously been an Observer in the Fleet Air Arm (so why he was sent to the ML was beyond him). He remained on the ML269 until August when the boat went for refit - possibly before being sent to Burma it seems.
He passed away in 1985 but had the foresight to record his thoughts of the landings, of which a small portion was posted on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... 3944.shtml recently.

Does anyone happen to have any information or even photos of the crew around early 1944 before the landings?

David Carter
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 93
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:06 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby David Carter » Sat Jun 04, 2016 11:25 am

Ben Welcome to our website. There are some photos of ML 269 posted February 2013 - follow this thread backwards. David

skiphaddon
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 12:44 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby skiphaddon » Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:07 pm

Hello,

Since my original post in 2010 I sadly forgot about this post until now.

I'd like to thank everyone for the information regarding ML 269 and my grandad ginger Haddon (john Haddon).

Unfortunately he passed away a couple of weeks ago at the good age of 92. I recall with fond memories all the times he would point to the picture of ML 269 he had on his living room wall and tell me stories about his time serving during the war.

BenMoxey
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 9:59 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby BenMoxey » Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:52 pm

Hi skip

Sorry to hear about your loss

DAVIDFRY
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:44 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby DAVIDFRY » Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:34 pm

Just wanted to record that my wifes father is Henry (Harry) Wilson, he is now 95 and a survivor of ML296 deployed in Burma. Ive found the posts very interesting as i am in the process of obtaining Harrys records during the war. Ive briefly made him aware of the posts and Im now looking forward to being able to talk with him with the knowledge you have all posted.
Harry is in the photo previously posted front row 1st on the left (we also have this photo) and his signature is on the other photo.
Im happy to ask any questions anyone may have and relay any information that may come from our conversations.
Im also wondering who the survivors are now and whether they are in contact?
He was also on HMS Cowdray & HMS Thyme during WW2.

David Carter
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 93
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:06 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby David Carter » Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:38 pm

Hello David I am glad to hear your father-in-law is active and well. The London Branch of the Coastal Forces Veterans Association still meets regularly on HMS Belfast. Many of them were born in 1924 as well. We would be delighted if he would like to join us. Even if he cannot get to HMS Belfast, we have a regular newsletter to keep members in touch. Let me know if he is interested and I will contact you/him. David Carter (Secretary)

skiphaddon
Seaman
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 12:44 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby skiphaddon » Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:57 pm

Hi David. It’s good to hear that Harry is still with you all at the age of 95. We lost my grandad John Haddon (ginger Haddon) in September 2017 he passed away peacefully in his sleep at 92yrs old. We all still miss him greatly but have a lifetime of amazing memories. We owe so much to their generation. If Harry has any stories about my grandad or ML269 that he would be happy to share I would love to hear them.

Kind regards.
David.

DAVIDFRY
Seaman
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:44 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby DAVIDFRY » Thu May 09, 2019 7:25 pm

Hi both Davids, thanks for your reply's, i sat down with Harry on Monday and went through the the previous posts and i had received the details of his war record, so had a great day filling in on the details of the ships and training.
It really stunned me when he said he had no fear of death during those days, he said he didnt even consider the possibility, men were made of different stuff in those days!
He said he remembered Ginger and several others, also escorting Canadians in landing craft at Normandy on D Day (operation Neptune), seeing one of the first flying bombs and early radar on ML269.
He was on ML269 from 3rd Feb 44 to 30th Oct 45 and recollected going through the Suez canal - Red Sea - Gulf of Aden - Indian Ocean and across to Burma.
Also during their time patrolling the Burmese rivers they were hit midships and the sailor standing next to him was badly injured and taken off the ship, but he never heard if he survived.
He recollects STO Bramire from the ML269, who introduced Harry to his future wife, the mother of my wife.
I will ask him what he remembers of Ginger specifically, we got through quite a lot of info, also about other ships (HMS Cowdray and the Arctic convoys), we were both a bit weary as a consequence.
I would love to get him down to HMS Belfast, but we are near Durham, and as the local shops are a bit of a challenge at the moment, its unlikely. the newsletter sounds great and it would be great to receive that. he has macular degeneration now so reading is virtually impossible, but if you can send details i can read it to him.
I can be contacted on davidfry55@outlook.com, as ive only just got back to the forum, and im likely to answer my email more promptly.
Many thanks and Regards Dave

David Carter
Sub Lieutenant
Posts: 93
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:06 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby David Carter » Sun May 12, 2019 2:08 pm

Hello David Fry. I have sent you an e-mail a couple of days ago asking for your address, so that I can send you a newsletter and other information. If you haven't received it, let me know and I'll try again. Regards David Carter

Moxey
Seaman
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:22 pm

Re: ML 269

Postby Moxey » Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:37 pm

I have just been relistening to a recording my father made on the 40th anniversary of D Day of his experiences on-board ML269 in the run up to the invasion, D Day itself and the ops until the ship returned to Southend in August. The tapes was transcribed to BBC website link below. My dad's name is Jack Moxey and at the time he was a S/It if anyone has any other info I would be very grateful to hear from you as my father passed away a year after making the recording


http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peoples ... 3944.shtml


Return to “Motor Launches”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests