Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Enquiries relating to individual men and women who served with HM Light Coastal Forces; help with interpreting service records, or with tracing former comrades
half12
Seaman
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:34 pm

Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby half12 » Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:25 am

Hello,

I am looking for informations about Lt P.D. Barlow DSC RNVR, CO MGB 659 in 1944 :
Service records, portrait ...

Best regards .. Herve

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

Re: Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby Brian Holmes » Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:43 pm

MGB_659 Boat Construction Co Ltd, Barracks Ope, Falmouth 5/43
For raids with French commandos in the Tyrrhenian Sea 1943
CdeG TLt Peter Douglas Barlow RNVR

For actions in the Adriatic and off the west coast of Italy 1/44
MID TLt Peter Douglas Barlow RNVR
DSM POMtrMch George Henry Daley P/MX89675
MID AB Charles Rudkin C/JX301652

Birthday Honours 1944
DSC TALtCdr Kenneth Egremont Anson Bayley RNVR

For actions off the west coast of Italy and Dalmatia 6/44
MID TLt Peter Douglas Barlow RNVR
MID PO Patrick John O’Hare D/JX153903
MID AB Walter Albert Love C/JX317747

For operations in the Adriatic and Aegean (Gazette Date - 5/12/44)
DSC TLt Peter Douglas Barlow RNVR
DSM PO Patrick John O’Hare D/JX153903
MID AB Thomas Frederick Hemmings P/SSX31048

For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44
MID TSLt Neil McLay Mills RNVR

For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44
MID TSLt Reginald John Mudd RNVR
MID LSea Frederick Benn Taylor D/JX287919
DSM AB Walter Albert Love C/JX317747

Birthday Honours 1945
DSM LTel Robert Ackers P/SSX33328

Known Crew
TLt Edmund Fitzgerald Smyth RNVR TSLt 3rd MASB Flotilla MASB 57 13/9/40 4th MGB Flotilla MGB 57 HMS Minos II (Lowestoft) 14/8/41 5th or 7th MGB Flotilla 14/8/41 TLt 1/5/42 20th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 659 23/7/43 – 7/9/43 32nd MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 637 For an action off Kelibia and Cap Bon 28/4/43 DSC For entering Bizerta Harbour 8/5/43 MID Commanding Officer MGB 642 24/5/44 An action with four large enemy schooners in theAdriatic 8/10/44 MID
TLt Kenneth Egremont Anson Bayley RNVR Motor Boat Princess Lilly at Dunkirk. TLt 3/8/40 HMS Defiance 13/8/40 19th MGB Flotilla MGB 647 19th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 648 13/12/42 – 24/6/43, 19th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 642 25/6/43 – 7/9/43, 20th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 659 8/9/43 TALtCdr Birthday Honours 1944 DSC HMS Beehive (Felixstowe) 5/5/44 MID 1940. Born 15/9/03 and died in 1975 in Chichester area.
TLt Peter Douglas Barlow RNVR HMS Drake 19/8/40 TSLt 8/41 HMS St Christopher 1/9/41 Commanding Officer ML 283 8/9/41 TLt 1/5/42 HMS Cormorant (Gibraltar) 20th MGB Flotilla 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 659 20/1/44? Operation Shingle Landings at Anzio For raids with French commandos in the Tyrrhenian Sea 1943 CdeG For actions in the Adriatic and off the west coast of Italy 1/44 MID For actions off the west coast of Italy and Dalmatia 6/44 MID For operations in the Adriatic and Aegean DSC HMS Hornet
TLt Robert Colin Davidson RNVR TLt 17/11/40 MASB 29 23/7/41 HMS St Christopher 20th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 659 22/3/43 32nd/57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona. Commanding Officer MTB 637 26/9/43 For an action off the Dalmatian coast 18/12/43 DSC For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 MID For an attack on an enemy convoy in the Adriatic 11/10/44 DSC*
TLt P L Smallwood RNVR TSLt 22/6/43 MTB 659 18/1/43

TLt William John Callow RNVR HMS Forte IV (Falmouth) for MLs 26/10/42 TSLt 13/11/42 HMS St Christopher 20th MGB Flotilla First Lieutenant MGB 661 12/4/43 For boarding and capturing a German intelligence gathering craft (Gazette Date - 5/9/44) MID, MGB 637 10/44 For an attack on an enemy convoy in the Adriatic 11/10/44 MID TLt 14/1/45 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 659 3/3/45 Born 13/11/21 in South Petherton, England and died in Fort Victoria, Rhodesia 15/1/76
TSLt A H Marriott RNVR TSLt 2/1/44 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MTB 655 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MGB 659 12/2/45
TSLt D G West RNVR TASLt HMS St Christopher for MLs 25/5/42 TSLt 1/12/42 20th MGB Flotilla First Lieutenant MGB 659 19/7/43 – 22/9/43 7th MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MTB 57 03/10/43 TLt 7/7/44 Commanding Officer MTB 402 22/9/44
TLt D G T Hill RNVR TSLt 16/5/42 19th MGB Flotilla MGB 648 14/12/42 20th MGB Flotilla First Lieutenant MGB 659 23/9/43 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona TLt 1/7/44 60th MTB/MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 643 5/2/45
TSLt A H Marriott First Lieutenant MGB 659 12/2/45
TASLt Neil McLay Mills RNVR TMid 33rd MTB Flotilla MTB 656 14/12/42 TASLt 29/7/43 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla MGB 659 TSLt 29/1/44 For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 MID First Lieutenant MGB 657 23/2/44 – 12/9/44 HMS Gregale (Malta) MTB 375 13/3/45
TASLt Reginald John Mudd RNVR TASLt 6/7/43 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 659 8/10/43 TSLt 6/1/44 For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44 MID 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla First Lieutenant MTB 655 10/11/44 – 1945 HMS Gregale (Malta)
TSLt H E O Regout RNVR 20th MGB Flotilla MGB 659 5/4/43 TSLt 1/7/43 19th MGB Flotilla MGB 643 4/10/43 TLt 1/11/44 HMS Western Isles (Tobermory Work Up Base)
TSLt F Palmer RNVR TSLt 25/8/44 59th MTB Flotilla MTB 705 20/9/44 MGB 659 6/5/45
TSLt K F Metcalf RNVR TASLt 6/10/44 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla MGB 659 10/11/44 TSLt 6/4/45 HDML 1246 7/5/45
POMtrMch George Henry Daley P/MX89675 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 659 For actions in the Adriatic and off the west coast of Italy 1/44 DSM
PO Patrick John O’Hare D/JX153903 HMS Revenge (battleship) HMS Repulse (battlecruiser) HMS St Christopher standing by, MTB 663 MTB 648 passage to Gibraltar, Bone and Bizerta MTB 642 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 659 For actions off the west coast of Italy and Dalmatia 6/44 MID For operations in the Adriatic and Aegean DSM
LSea Frederick Benn Taylor D/JX287919 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla MGB 659 For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44 MID
LTel Robert Ackers P/SSX33328 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla MGB 659 Birthday Honours 1945 DSM
AB Thomas Frederick Hemmings P/SSX31048 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 659 For operations in the Adriatic and Aegean MID
AB Walter Albert Love C/JX317747 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 659 For actions off the west coast of Italy and Dalmatia 6/44 MID For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44 DSM
AB Charles Rudkin C/JX301652 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 659 For actions in the Adriatic and off the west coast of Italy 1/44 MID
Tel Leonard Mears C/JX322643 20th MGB Flotilla MGB 659 MTB 73 7/43 7th MTB Flotilla Based on Bastia MTB 421 For an attack on an enemy convoy off La Spezia 27/5/44 DSM Born in Ferndale, Pontypridd district, Glamorgan 28/6/23

War Activities
6/43 HMS St Christopher
20th MGB Flotilla
MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 659, MGB 660, MGB 661, MGB 662, MGB 663, MGB 674
Mediterranean
13-4/6/43 MGB 648 and MTB 656 sail from Malta to Pantellaria. They arrive at first light and, one hour later, are attacked by aircraft. MGB 648 is alongside a damaged and abandoned water tanker. A bomb explodes under MGB 648 abaft the 6 Pdr gun. MTB 656 comes alongside MGB 648 and pushes her into shallow water. There are no casualties aboard MGB 648 which is written off as a constructive total loss. The crew are withdrawn to Sousse and onwards to Bone where they take over first MGB 642 and then MGB 659
10/7/43 Operation Husky Invasion of Sicily
20th MGB Flotilla
MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 659, MGB 660, MGB 662
14/7/43 MGB 659 and MGB 662 escort Ulster Monarch and Tetcott, with a special reconnaisance column embarked, into Augusta Harbour Sicily. MGB 659 runs aground 600 yds from an enemy held fort. Whilst stranded, MGB 659 claims a Fw190 aircraft shot down. MGB 659 is towed off by a destroyer on the following day.
26-27/7/43 MGB 657, MGB 658 and 659, bombard the railway station and sidings at Taormina, Sicily.
1943 Raids with French commandos in the Tyrrhenian Sea
19/12/43 MGB 659, MGB 663 and MTB 655 with PT 209 acting as Radar boat are on patrol in the Piombino Channel. They attempt to intercept destroyers near Elba with PT 209 giving range and bearing information. MTB 655 and PT 209 turn south to make a torpedo attack. MGB 659 and MGB 663 maintain course and close the destroyers engaging with gunfire. The destroyers turn northeast away from Bastia.
1/44 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla
MGB 638, MGB 659, MGB 660, MGB 662, MGB 674, MTB 634, MTB 637, MTB 670
Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona
17-8/1/44 MGB 659 and two PT boats sight several Flak lighters off La Spezia. MGB 659 makes a gun attack and the two PT boats make a torpedo attack but miss
21/1/44 Operation Lurcher
1700 MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 663, MTB 640, MTB 655 and MTB 659 depart Bastia to create a diversion at Civitavecchia in support of the landings at Anzio twenty miles to the south.
2109 The vessels are on patrol between Giglio Island and Giannutri Island.
2341 The vessels rendezvous with USN PTs 203, 209, 211 and 217, form two columns and head for the ‘release’ point off Civitavecchia.
0147 PT 209 reports Radar contacts on the port bow at 2800 yds. The USN vessels continue with the diversion whilst MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 663, MTB 640, MTB 655 and MTB 659 turn to close the Radar contacts. The cruiser HMS Dido commences a bombardment firing over the force. MGB 657 reports two Radar contacts at 1500 and 1700 yds.
0207 The contacts are identified as a Flak Lighter escorted by two E Boats heading southeast at 7 kts.
0211 The targets are engaged and repeatedly hit by gunfire from all six boats.
0213 The boats turn onto a reciprocal northwest course and make a second run. The Flak Lighter is again hit, one E Boat is set on fire and stopped and the other E Boat makes off.
0216 The boats turn onto a reciprocal southeast course and make a third run. The Flak Lighter is now also on fire.
0222 MTB 655 disengages to the west due to action damage. The remaining boats close the Flak Lighter and engage with gunfire. Shore batteries open up on the boats but they evade and retire towards MTB 655.
0240 The Flak Lighter explodes and sinks.
22/1/44 Operation Shingle Landings at Anzio
56th MGB/MTB Flotilla
MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 663, MTB 640, MTB 655 and MTB 659
7-8/2/44 At 1800 MGB 658, MGB 659 and MTB 640 depart from Bastia for a patrol off Giglio Island.
2207 MGB 658, MGB 659 and MTB 640 are, in bright moonlight, ten miles off Giglio Island and sight a convoy four miles away.
2211 The convoy is identified as six Flak Lighters, in two columns, escorted by two larger Flak Ships ahead and astern. MGB 658, MGB 659 and MTB 640 approach the convoy from astern and are challenged by a Flak Ship. Shortly afterwards the convoy opens up with 88mm guns. Shore batteries then join the action. MGB 658, MGB 659 and MTB 640 withdraw to the west behind a smokescreen before bombarding a lighthouse and then returning to Bastia.
13-14/2/44 MGB 658 and MGB 659 with USN PTs 203 and 215 patrol between the Piombino Channel and Livorno. PT 215 develops a major engine defect and returns to base. PT 203 reports a Radar contact on the starboard bow at 4500 yds.
2305 The contact is identified as several Flak Lighters. PT 203 fires two torpedoes from more than 2000yds. Both torpedoes miss well astern and PT 203 retires to seaward.
2308 The convoy is abeam of MGB 658 and MGB 659 at 2200 yds and is identified as seven Flak Lighters and one E Boat.
2311 Two Flak Lighters have separated from the convoy and are now between MGB 658 and MGB 659 and the convoy and are now seen to be gunboats.
2338 MGB 658 and MGB 659 engage the leading gunboat. Return fire becomes increasingly more accurate and MGB 658 and MGB 659 break off the action.
27/3/44 An escort with 6 (?) MFPs, including F 609 , F 706 , F 4785 and F 4795 off Vado encounters an allied group MTB 634, MGB 662, MGB 660, MGB 659, LCG 14, LCG 19, LCG 20 and PT 212 , PT 214 , PT 208 and PT 218
24-25/6/44 MGBs 659 and 662 with MTB 670 sight a two masted schooner, which proves to be partisan crewed, near Bacvica Rock.
2200 The Croatian torpedo boat T 7 is sighted. MTB 670 launches two torpedoes from 500 yds but they miss and explode against Kukuljari Island. In MGB 662, a partisan liaison officer from Marshall Tito’s staff clutches the Senior Officer, (Bligh) and begs him not to attack an obviously bigger and more powerfull enemy vessel. MGBs 659 and 662 with MTB 670 turn to give chase. At 150 yds, T 7 finally opens fire at MGB 662 with her aft gun. MGBs 659 and 662 with MTB 670 return fire and inflict severe damage on T 7 which turns to starboard heading for the shore and missing MGB 662 by about five feet. T 7 grounds on Murter whilst running at around 12 kts. MGB 659 stands off whilst MGB 662 and MTB 670 search along the track for survivors. MGB 662 goes alongside T 7 and conduct a search finding three wounded crew members. TLt William Darracott RNVR leads a party of men onto the island and captures five more crew from T 7. Four of them are seriously wounded. Prisoners confirm that there were escorting vessels. MGBs 659 and 662 with MTB 670 return to Komiza.
17-18/7/44 MGB 659 with MTBs 649 and 670 intercept a convoy of two lighters, escorted by E Boats and I Boats, in the Mljet Channel. Two escorting boats are sunk and a Siebel Ferry is damaged.
17-18/8/44 MGBs 658 and 659 with MTB 653 are on patrol in the Mljet Channel and intercept a convoy. MGB 658 is hit in the engine room leaving only one engine running. Within ten minutes, a second engine is running with a jury rigged cooling system. Two schooners of about 300 tons, an E Boat, an oil lighter and one Pil Boat are sunk in the action and at least four vessels including a Flak Lighter are damaged.
18-9/8/44 MGBs 643, 659 and 663 intercept a group of E Boats in the Miljet Channel. The German vessels are S30, S33, S57, S58 and S60 escorting a group of I Boats searching for survivors of the previopus night’s action. S57 is hit by at least twenty 40mm rounds, is severely damaged and is scuttled to avoid capture.
8 - 9/44 Actions in the Adriatic
18/8/44 Destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean
14/9/44 MGBs 645, 647, 659 and MTB 667 depart Brindisi and land troops on Krithera, carry out patrols and land agents over the next two weeks.
Operations in the Adriatic and Aegean (Gazette Date - 5/12/44)
21/10/44 MGBs 659, 662 and 674 with MTBs 637 and 638 are on passage from Vis to Ist when they sight a German convoy of four I Boats. Two I Boats are sunk and two captured. Ninety two prisoners are taken. MGBs 659, 662 and 674 with MTBs 637 and 638 have intercepted an attempted evacuation of Dubrovnik
2-3/5/45 At 1930, MGBs 642, 643, 645, 659 and 662 arrive at Taliamento, from Ancona, to reinforce MTBs 634, 651 and 670. The weather is deteriorating and all eight boats anchor off the harbour. MGB 662 maintains a Radar watch through the night. At 0500, MGBs 642 and 643 round up and take in tow three vessels that have drifted out the harbour to the east. MGBs 642 and 643 also take a Flak Lighter in tow before anchoring it off the harbour with a prize crew aboard. During the forenoon the boats tow German vessels out of the harbour to the collection point and make them ready for towing to Ancona. The Germans try to get the New Zealanders to tow the Flak Lighters back into harbour on the pretext that they contain urgently needed food supplies. The prizes are searched and no significant food supplies are found.
1230 A convoy leaves Tagliamento for Ancona and consists of:
MGB 642 towing a Flak Lighter F509
MGB 643 towing a Flak Lighter
MGB 659 towing the barge ‘Karl’ and a caique
Adria, Sigismund and a small craft under power
MGB 645 acting as a pick up boat.
1445 A second convoy leaves Tagliamento for Ancona and consists of:
MGB 662
MTB 634 towing a Flak Lighter
MTB 651 towing ‘Eddie’ and a small boat
MTB 670 towing a Flak Lighter
Two Flak Lighters under power
A small hospital ship
Flak Lighter F1156D is unable to maintain steerage way and is abandoned, at anchor, eight miles off Tagliamento. MTBs 651 and 670 proceed at 8 kts and MGB 662 takes a Flak Lighter in tow.
1845 MGB 645 takes Sigismund and the small craft in tow. At 1945, MGB 642’s tow parts for the fourth time and F509 is sunk by gunfire.
2130 MGB 662 parts her tow. The tow can not be taken up again and the Flak Lighter proceeds under her own power and MGB 662 stays in company.
4/5/45 At 0400, MGB 662 manages to take the Flak Lighter in tow again.
1200 MGBs 642, 643, 645 and 659, with their prizes reach Ancona.
1615 MGB 662 abandons her tow in Ancona.

Post War Fate
30/1/46 Lost on passage Malta – Alexandria

half12
Seaman
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:34 pm

Re: Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby half12 » Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:51 pm

Hello Brian,

Thanks for these informations. Do you know where I could have a chance to find pictures of MGB 659 and a portrait of Mr Barlow ?

Best regards .. Herve

Peter
Able Seaman Radar
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby Peter » Mon Aug 15, 2016 12:18 pm

Greetings Herve
It is with interest that I read of the exploits of MGB 659 having served aboard MGB 647 I can recall many of those
actions mentioned , looking through Rover Reynolds " Dog Boats at War " those details are recorded
but sadly no photographs of Peter D Barlow . although his name is mentioned many times .
Regards
Peter Bickmore BEM

Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 500
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby Admin » Mon Aug 15, 2016 12:54 pm

Do you know where I could have a chance to find pictures of MGB 659 and a portrait of Mr Barlow?
A photo of MGB 659 has proved hard to come by. It's possible that it features in one of these photos, but I couldn't say for sure. The boat nearest the quay in the first photo is MGB 658, and in the second MGB 660, both part of the same flotilla. They are seen here at Bastia, Corsica in June 1944.

Image
THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. © IWM (A 24228)IWM Non Commercial Licence

Image
THE NAVY AT BASTIA. 1 JUNE 1944, ADVANCED COASTAL FORCES BASE, BASTIA, CORSICA. © IWM (A 24229)IWM Non Commercial Licence

Image
THE NAVY AT BASTIA. 1 JUNE 1944, ADVANCED COASTAL FORCES BASE, BASTIA, CORSICA. © IWM (A 24231)IWM Non Commercial Licence

Image
THE NAVY AT BASTIA. 1 JUNE 1944, ADVANCED COASTAL FORCES BASE, BASTIA, CORSICA. © IWM (A 24232)IWM Non Commercial Licence

half12
Seaman
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:34 pm

Re: Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby half12 » Mon Aug 15, 2016 5:38 pm

Hello,

@Peter : thanks for your message. I have enjoyed reading "Dog boats at war".

I should be very happy to get more informations about the action "... raids with French commandos in the Tyrrhenian Sea 1943" where Peter Barlow won the French croix de guerre ... certainly a relation with Corsica liberation.
I don't know if the text of the citation is available in british archives ?

@Admin : Thanks for these very nice pictures showing MGB658 & 660 in Bastia.

I am not discouraged to find more pictures and portraits ... perhaps one day, someone will post a full album !! :o)

Best regards .. Herve

RogerFentem
Leading Seaman
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:15 am

Re: Peter Douglas BARLOW, DSC ... MGB 659

Postby RogerFentem » Wed May 06, 2020 4:32 pm

Hi Herve
MGB659 was built by my grandfather and I am researching all the ww2 boats he built. I managed to get hold of a limited edition print of 659. It is by the artist Nick Bareis in a series called Jack's Taxi. The address is 77 Tonbridge Road Maidstone ME16 8JN
Cheers Roger


Return to “Personnel”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests