Postby Brian Holmes » Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:16 pm
MTB_431 British Power Boat Co, Hythe Hampshire
For an action south of Jersey 26/2/44
DSC TSLt Charles Cameron Gough RNVR
DSM AB Thomas Walter Simpson C/JX350853
For devotion to duty during an escape of fumes in the engine room 11/44
MID Sto1 Trevor Anstes D/KX525896 (Post)
Known Crew
TLt Patrick Alexander Baldwin RCNVR 1st MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 431 Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
TLt C C P Broadhurst RNVR TSLt 24/4/41 8th MGB Flotilla HMS Beehive (Felixstowe) Commanding Officer MGB 112 19/4/43 TLt 24/10/43 Redesignated as MTB 431 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) 1944
TSLt Charles Cameron Gough RNVR TMid 4th MTB Flotilla 16/11/42 TSLt 27/8/43 MGB 77 30/8/43 MTB 434 Commanding Officer MTB 431 2/44 – 6/44 For an action south of Jersey 26/2/44 DSC. Commanding Officer MTB 416 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft) 14/9/44 HMS Beehive (for miscellaneous services) 27/11/44 TLt 1/8/45 Born 1923 in Calne district, Wiltshire and died 28/5/2009 in Torbay Hospital
TSLt George Alexander Baptie RNVR TASLt MTB 431 22/9/43 TSLt 21/11/43 HMS Cicala (Dartmouth) MTB 499 14/2/45 Wind up of the war in Europe MID
AB Henry George Back C/JX 208194 1st MTB Flotilla Based at Dartmouth, Ramsgate, Portsmouth, Lowestoft and Felixstowe MTB 431 Died 9/11/44 cause unknown. Son of Richard Back, and of Ada Annie Back, of Blandford. Buried in Durweston (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Dorset
AB Robert R Parry C/JX 278883 MTB 431 Killed in action 10/3/45 Age 24 Son of Robert Parry, and of Elizabeth Ann Parry, of Deneside, Seaham, Co. Durham buried at Oostende New Communal Cemetery, Belgium Plot 9. Row 9 Grave 26
AB Thomas Walter Simpson C/JX350853 MTB 431 For an action south of Jersey 26/2/44 DSM 1944 MTB 416 Died cause unknown 24/6/44 aged 21 Son of James and Annie Simpson, of Wapping, London Buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery F. 2. 11
Sto1 Trevor Anstes D/KX525896 HMS Beehive 1st MTB Flotilla MTB 431 For devotion to duty during an escape of fumes in the engine room 11/44 MID(Post) Killed 9/11/44 Age 20 Son of William Arthur and Catherine Anstes, of Rhydfelan, Pontypridd Buried in Pontypridd (Glyntaff) Cemetery Plot U. Grave 15
Wartime Activities
Built as MGB112
1943 Redesignated as MTB 431
10/43 1st MTB Flotilla
MTB 412, MTB 413, MTB 414, MTB 415, MTB 416, MTB 430, MTB 431 and MTB 434
Based at Dartmouth, Ramsgate, Portsmouth, Lowestoft and Felixstowe
26-27/2/44 MTB 415, MTB 430 and MTB 431 attack a convoy entering harbour in Jersey. The German minesweeping trawler M 4618 is damaged but makes port in Jersey.
Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
Assault period based on Plymouth
9/6/44 Transfered to Portsmouth
26-7/7/44 Frigate HMS Retalick MTB 412, MTB 430 (SO) and MTB 431 are on patrol off Cap d’Antifer and intercept second S-Flotilla S 176, S 182, S 174, S 181 and S 180. MTB 412, MTB 430 and MTB 431 break through the line but, in the process, MTB 430 is rammed by S 182 and blows up. MTB 412, following close astern, runs into the wreckage, is severely damaged and has to be sunk later. S 182 is sunk and one other E Boat severely damaged. From MTB 430, the First Lieutenant has been killed, eight men are wounded and ten men missing.
9/11/44 Possible action
9-10/3/45 MTB 431 and MTB 483 exchange fire with E Boats. One E Boat and MTB 431 are damaged. In MTB 431, one man is killed and three wounded.
Post War Fate