MGB 606 and MTB 684

Motor Gunboats (MGB) & Steam Gunboats (SGB)
James kerby
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MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby James kerby » Sun Sep 04, 2016 6:03 pm

Hi.
I am the youngest son of GEORGE ALFRED KERBY RN
MiD 1943 and 1944.
Like to hear from anyone who knows of my father's decorations and for what.
Cheers.

Admin
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:40 pm

Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby Admin » Mon Sep 05, 2016 1:34 am

Hello James

Welcome to the forum, and thank you for your enquiry.

As far as I can ascertain the award whilst a member of MGB 606's crew likely involved an attack by Don Bradford of the 55th MTB Flotilla, in the company of certain of the MGBs from the 17th MGB Flotilla which included 606 commanded by Lieutenant Don Dowling, the Divisional Leader of that Flotilla, all operating out of Great Yarmouth. Off the Dutch coast at Ijmuiden, the patrol stumbled across upon "...a very large ship... apparently lying stopped or at anchor about three quarters of a mile from the harbour entrance". This turned out to be the liner Strasbourg being used by the Germans as a troop transport, which the MTBs proceeded to sink with torpedoes. The MGBs commenced to shoot up the heavily-armed escort which included flak trawlers, along with E-boats and R-boats.

The action on MTB 684 is less clear since the awards for the Gazette date given as 19th September 1944 are believed to relate to actions in the Nore area on 3rd and 13th July 1944. There are a number of actions recorded for July in Dog Boats at War by Len Reynolds, but none that involve 684, which appears to have been in the thick of it, having been involved in actions earlier in June 1944, and again in August of that year off Walcheren.

Admin
mgb-606.jpg
The crew of MGB 606

James kerby
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Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2016 5:53 pm

Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby James kerby » Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:45 pm

Many thanks. Together with my family, I'm forever being shocked by the part played by our Father during WWII.
In his words "I wasn't the only man in the Navy" is perhaps an understatement. His actions clearly attracted the opinions of the chain of command, as I've done as a Soldier on active service and as a commander of men, I've recorded others actions, and in actions, accordingly, however,
I'm forever hitting a dead end only discovering a list of known crew. When of course it's got to be laid down somewhere what an individual done after all an MGB did not have a company of hundreds, a close knit fighting body of guys, to me at least I do think it's there somewhere.
It isn't a case of a vessels whole contingent being MiD for an action, so the next stop is Kew, though I wish ide been aware of this site sooner, it was eye raising to see dads name forever to be seen and him being a shy man who just got on with the job in hand not wanting to be singled out, birthdays were bad his 65th then 70 and 80th were met by "I bet your behind this, is it necessary ?"
Your site is without question invaluable, there is no question about that, you have me, us hooked.
James Kerby

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

Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby Brian Holmes » Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:30 pm

LSea George Alfred Kerby D/SSX17963 AB MTB 606 For an action in the Nore area 19/10/43 MID LSea 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID 1944

MGB_606 Wallasea Bay Yacht Station Ltd, Wallasea Bay, Nr Rochford 7/7/42
For an action in the Nore area 27/3/43
MID CMtrMch Joseph Howard Thompson P/MX98650

For an action in which an enemy merchant ship was sunk 19/9/43
MID TLt Donald George Dowling RNVR

For an action in the Nore area 19/10/43
MID AB George Alfred Kerby D/SSX17963

For an action off Smiths Knoll 24/10/43
MID PO Edmund William Hogarth D/JX135490
MID Sto1 Ronald Reginald Smith D/KX140160

For an action in the Nore area in which two trawlers were sunk and E Boats damaged 3/11/43
MID TSLt Ivone Kinross RNVR
MID LMtrMch Richard Mulrooney P/MX99486

Known Crew (MGB 606)
TLt E D Truman RNVR TLt 13/10/40 HMS St Christopher for MLs 18/8/41 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth Commanding Officer MGB 606 18/5/42 TALtCdr Commanding Officer MGB 313 & as Senior Officer, 12th MGB Flotilla 19/7/43 HMS Mantis (Lowestoft)
TLtCdr Donald George Dowling RNVR TLt 15/5/40 HMS Midge (Great Yarmouth) for minelayers 29/9/42 Commanding Officer MGB 503 19/7/43 17th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 606 19/7/43 For an action in which an enemy merchant ship was sunk 19/9/43 MID TALtCdr HMS Midge for MLs 22/11/43 72nd MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 790 & Senior Officer 68th MTB Flotilla 12/2/45 Senior Officer 72nd MTB Flotilla and Commanding Officer MTB 786 11/6/45 Born 22/5/09 in Camberwell, London and died 12/84 in Newton Abbot, Devon
TLt F L Hewitt RNVR First Lieutenant 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MGB 606 12/7/43
TSLt P F Ronayne RNVR MGB 503 9/6/42 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MGB 606 9/6/43
CMtrMch Joseph Howard Thompson P/MX98650
PO Teague
LSea Raybould
AB Robert Kenneth Forrester P/JX295085 HMS Collingwood 14/8/41 HMS Excellent AA3 HMS St Christopher Manor Naval Barracks, Brightlingsea, Essex HDML 1060 Based at HMS Claverhouse, Leith and Granton HMS Attack (Portland) 5/42 17th MGB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth MGB 606 AB LSea HMS Ganges 8/43 HMS Hornet 55th MTB Flotilla Based at Portsmouth MTB 632 Further award for Operation Neptune MID


Crew of MGB 606


Known Crew (MTB 606)
TSLt Ivone Kinross RNVR TSLt 11/3/41 ML 515 14/12/42 50th MTB Flotilla Navigating Officer MTB 606 1943 For an action in the Nore area in which two trawlers were sunk and E Boats damaged 3/11/43 MID 52nd MTB Flotilla MTB 719 73rd MTB Flotilla Based at Portsmouth and Portland MTB 5003 2/45 TLt 11/3/45
A/ChMtrMch Joseph Howard Thompson P/MX98650 50th MTB Flotilla MTB 612 For an action in the Nore area 19/10/43 DSM MGB 606 For an action in the Nore area 27/3/43 MID 1943 MTB 606 killed in action 03/11/1943 aged 22 when MTB 606 is lost. Son of Joseph and Victoria Thompson, of Sunderland, Co. Durham
PO Edmund William Hogarth D/JX135490 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 606 For an action off Smiths Knoll 24/10/43 MID
LMtrMch Richard Mulrooney P/MX99486 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 606 For an action in the Nore area in which two trawlers were sunk and E Boats damaged 3/11/43 MID
AB George Alfred Kerby D/SSX17963 AB MTB 606 For an action in the Nore area 19/10/43 MID LSea 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID 1944
Sto1 Ronald Reginald Smith D/KX140160 50th MTB Flotilla Based at Great Yarmouth, Dover, Newhaven, Ostend MTB 606 For an action off Smiths Knoll 24/10/43 MID
Sto1 James Totton D/KX 137206 50th MTB Flotilla MTB 606 Killed in action 03/11/1943
Sig Thomas Singleton D/JX 231867 50th MTB Flotilla MTB 606 killed in action 4/11/43 aged 20 Son of Henry and Alice Singleton, of Preston Buried in Preston New hall Lane Cemetery Sec. K.K. C. of E. Grave 443 CWGC says HMS Midge

War Activities
7/42 Working up at Weymouth
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
Memory of Ken Forrester P/JX295085
I got off to a bad start on our first mission over the Dutch coast. We were spotted by a prowling Messerschmitt 109 when we were approximately half way over. He never attacked us although we opened fire on him, myself included, but he kept us (MGBs 606, 603, 605, the latter being the leader) under surveillance and plotted our course. As night fell we lost him, but you can guess that the enemy ships were waiting for us. Our captain was Lt Truman (of the brewing family) who I had not a lot of faith in. I soon learned that his voice quivered when under stress. It was not long before tracer shells and bullets began firing at us, and we were lit up as bright as day with star shells. It was my first time in action. I was trembling like a leaf but being a twin Oerlikon gunner (I had been up rated to Oerlikon by then), I had to do my duty and fire back. The shaking made no difference to my aim because the guns were hydraulically operated and not hand held. By this time shells were flying over us, some ricocheting off the water and flying overhead and some hitting us. It was at this time we got badly hit with a shell in the engine room, my gun lost power, the engines stopped and we were a sitting duck. In a broken voice the captain gave the order “Stand by to abandon ship”. I thought to myself, unlucky 13, my first action and at the very best I’m going to finish up in the water and be taken P.O.W. However, I think it was 603 who came alongside in the mayhem that was going on around us and got us in tow. The other boat was dropping smoke floats and luckily the enemy fire was directed at the flames that were coming from these floats. We were gradually towed out of danger, and a little later the motor mechanic and his staff got one engine going and we limped back to our base at Great Yarmouth. It was unbelievable, but I can’t remember any casualties being sustained on that mission which would take place in October 1942.
27/3/43 MGB 603, MGB 606 and MGB 607 intercept and damage a German armed trawler.
4/43 MGBs 603, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 intercept a convoy and engage the escort but are unable to break through.
30/4/43 MGB 605, MGB 606, MGB 610, MGB 612 and MGB 621 with MTB 624, MTB 630 and MTB 632 depart Great Yarmouth to patrol the northern section of the Dutch coast.
MGB 621 is compelled to turn back with an engine defect. MGB 606 and MGB 612 with MTB 624 patrol the outer convoy routes off Vlieland and Terschelling.
MGB 605 and MGB 610 with MTB 630 and MTB 632 patrol the inner convoy routes.
0500 Both groups turn for home and shortly afterwards MGB 605 and MGB 610 with MTB 630 and MTB 632 sight four German vessels and close hoping that they will be taken for E Boats. MGB 605 and MGB 610 with MTB 630 and MGB 632 engage with gunfire and severely damage three Flak Lighters. A German account states the force was four boats from 12. Vorposten-Flotilla and. V 1241 / Stangenwalde was sunk
19-20/9/43 MTB 617, MTB 624, MTB 621, MTB 652, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 depart GreatYarmouth at 1400
MTB 624 returns with engine problems
2030 MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 reach the Hook and turn northward
2300 Approaching Ijmuiden, a Radar contact is obtained on a large ship about 4 miles away and close to shore. The ship is stopped and has an escort around it.
MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 turn southward and approach from a better direction. The close escort has moved off to the west.
MTB 617 closes to 300 yards to make a torpedo attack but water depth is 6 fathoms with a risk that the torpedoes will ground so MTB 617 crept away to find a better position.
2336 MTB 617 fires two torpedoes from 1000 yards in 7 fathoms of water. Both torpedoes hit the liner Strasbourg (17,000 tons) aground off the entrance to Ijmuiden.
MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 attack two armed trawlers severely damaging them.
Two R Boats are sighted coming out of Ijmuiden and MGB 610 and MGB 612 engage them forcing them to retire.
Four M class minesweepers approach engaging with guns and MGB 610 is hit but remains in action.
MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 retire to the northwest under smoke and sight four more M class minesweepers coming rapidly out of Ijmuiden.
MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652, MGB 606, MGB 610 and MGB 612 stop about eight miles away from the action. MGB 610 has the fire under control but is making water. MGB 606 has two guns out of action and only six rounds of 6pdr ammunition left having fired 88 rounds. MGB 606 and MGB 610 are despatched to Great Yarmouth.
MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652 and MGB 612 head northeast to resume their search of the convoy route. MTB 617s Radar has been damaged in the action and MTB 652 assumes Radar watch.
0138 MTB 652 plotted Radar contacts at 3 miles and three M class minesweepers and two Flak Lighters are spotted. MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652 and MGB 612 close and come under heavy fire and retire to the west
0228 Return to harbour is received from CinC Nore
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
19/10/43 MTB 606, MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 652 and MTB 682 are in an action in the Nore area
24/10/43 An action off Smith’s Knoll involving MTB 439, MTB 442, MTB 606, MTB 610, MTB 629, MTB 630, MTB 632, MTB 650 and MTB 652. MTB 439 is damaged
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 Mac#kay, 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
3-4/11/43 MTB 606, MTB 617, MTB 621, MTB 630, MTB 632, MTB 650 and MTB 671 are on an operation to land a party of commandos on the Dutch coast.
Approaching the coast they sight four E boats. Two E boats are damaged and retire towards the coast. MTB 617 is hit and an oerlikon gun is out of action. MTB 617 is sent back to the base with the commandos since the landing is compromised and the Senior Officer transfers boats to MTB 606.
MTB 606, MTB 621, MTB 630, MTB 632, MTB 650 and MTB 671 sweep northward from the Hook and sight a convoy consisting of a large buoy laying ship Main escorted by armed trawlers Vp 1401 and Vp 1419 and Flak lighter FJ23.
MTB 606, MTB 621, MTB 630, MTB 6, MTB 650 and MTB 671 attack.
Vp 1419 hits the bridge of MTB 606 with an 88mm shell. Two more hits are received in the engine room one in a petrol space and one in the tiller flat. The steering is stuck and MTB 606 goes round in a circle. The LMtrMch gets two engines working spasmodically.
MTB 621 received hits and retired to the west.
MTB 630 attemps to take MTB 606 in tow but fails and then comes alongside and rescues survivors.


Memory of TSLt Ivone Kinross RNVR
I realised they needed a compass aft so I wrenched the main compass off its stand and carried it aft. Don Bradford stayed on the bridge trying to direct the boat, and I went down into the engine room to see what was happening. I went down the fo’d ladder and found visibility cut to about three feet by a steamy smoky fog. I tried to move aft along the centre gangway but was horrified to see a long blue flame horizontally barring the way. It came from the starboard inner engine. I couldn’t get by so shot up the for’d ladder and made my way back aft and down the after hatch. There was smoke and fire everywhere and strong exhaust fumes. I was worried that the methyl-bromide automatic extinguishers might either be inadvertently set off or activated from the bridge. I knew they were lethal so I turned aff four ignition switches to ‘Off’ and rushed up to report the shambles to the SO, who had seen the abortive efforts of 630 to rig a tow and decided 606 was too far gone to save. Lt Jim Kirkpatrick laid 630 alongside and all the wounded were passed over. Don Dowling organised the destruction of the secret gear and the safety of the confidential books and Tubby Hewitt was sent to set demolition charges in the engine room.

Memory of TLt F L Hewitt RNVR
While I was setting the charges, I suddenly realised 630 had departed - and I was left behind in the burning boat! I felt very lonely. Fortunately, Alan Yates, the First Lieutenant of 630, realised I was not among those present and ‘Kirk’ reversed 630 back to collect me. All the time we were being lit up by starshell and still being shelled.

Brian Holmes
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Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby Brian Holmes » Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:32 pm

MTB_684 Woodnut & Co Ltd, St Helens, Isle of Wight 28/4/43
For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44
DSC TLt David Caldwell Storrie RNVR
MID TLt Joseph Anthony Reeves RNVR
DSM ACMtrMch Leonard John Terry P/MX99262
MID PO Frederick Jones D/SSx15843
MID LSea George Alfred Kerby D/SSX17953
DSM AB James Hubert Brewer P/JX395572
MID AB Richard Samuel Dellow C/JX318304
DSM AB Stanley Smith P/JX168255
MID AB Albert Sweetlove C/JX298647
MID Sto1 Thomas Campbell C/KX141369

For an action off the Hook of Schouwen 24/8/44
MID AB Joseph McNamara C/JX223019
MID AB Ernest Wright C/JX405025

Known Crew
TLt F R Stamp RNVR TLt 27/6/41 HMS St Christopher for MLs 13/4/42 Commanding Officer MTB 684 8/3/43 HMS Drake 1945
TLt David Caldwell Storrie RNVR TLt 21/2/41 HMS St Christopher for MLs 28/6/41 First Lieutenant MTB 684 12/8/43 and later Commanding Officer MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 DSC CFMD
TLt Joseph Anthony Reeves RNVR TLt 26/6/43 34th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft First Lieutenant MTB 684 22/3/43 – 44 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft Temporarily in Command MTB 684 10/43 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID 52nd MTB Flotilla Based at Plymouth MTB 713 Birthday Honours 1945 DSC
TLt Gerard Dacres Olivier RNVR Skipper Motor Yacht Marsayru (Dunkirk) DSM TLt 24/4/41 HMS Midge (Great Yarmouth) for minelayers 16/2/42 ML 102 24/11/42 24th ML Flotilla 19/5/43 69th ML Flotilla Based at Immingham Commanding Officer ML 547 5/43 and replaced due to illness, 52nd MTB Flotilla Based at Plymouth Commanding Officer MTB 713 15/11/43, Commanding Officer MTB 684 9/10/44 Plans Division Admiralty 14/3/45 (Brother of the actor Laurence Olivier) Born in Dorking district, Surrey 1904
TSLt J Wilson RNVR TASLt 61st RML Flotilla Based at HMS Aggressive, Newhaven ML 495 11/1/43 34th MTB Flotilla 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 29/3/43 TSLt 15/5/43 63rd MTB Flotilla MTB 769 14/10/44
ACMtrMch Leonard John Terry P/MX99262 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 DSM
PO Frederick Jones D/SSx15843 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID
LSea George Alfred Kerby D/SSX17963 AB MTB 606 For an action in the Nore area 19/10/43 MID LSea 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID 1944
AB James Hubert Brewer P/JX395572 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 DSM
AB Richard Samuel Dellow C/JX318304 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID
AB Joseph McNamara C/JX223019 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Hook of Schouwen 24/8/44 MID
AB Stanley Smith P/JX168255 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 DSM
AB Albert Sweetlove C/JX298647 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID
Sto1 Thomas Campbell C/KX141369 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft MTB 684 For an action off the Dutch coast 9/6/44 MID
AB Ernest Wright C/JX405025 58th MTB Flotilla Based on Lowestoft For an action off the Hook of Schouwen 24/8/44 MID

Wartime Activities
6/43 34th MTB Flotilla
MTB 666, MTB 669, MTB 672, MTB 681, MTB 683, MTB 684, MTB 685, MTB 686, MTB 687
Based on Lowestoft
10/43 58th MTB Flotilla
MTB 666, MTB 669, MTB 675, MTB 681, MTB 683, MTB 684, MTB 685, MTB 686, MTB 687, MTB 723
Based on Lowestoft
9-10/6/44 58th MTB flotilla MTB 687, MTB 681, MTB 683, MTB 666, MTB 723 and MTB 684 attack Convoy Nr.1253 near Den Helder and sink armed trawlers V 1314, V 2021 and V 2022 and fire six torpedoes with three claimed hits. In a second attack, two torpedoes are fired and a hit claimed on an armed coaster. MTB 681 is set on fire and sinks. Two men are killed and seven wounded. Survivors are rescued by MTB 683 and MTB 687
26-7/6/44 Boats from the 58th Flotilla are in action with a patrol of four armed trawlers off Walcheren. MTBs 684 and 687 each make a torpedo hit and sink a trawler.
4-5/7/44 At 0047, MTBs 666, 684, 687, 723 and 729 make Radar contact with German vessels and close the enemy.
0132 The boats are one and a half miles off Ymuiden.
0214 VPs 1411 and 1413 with AFs 41 and 47 open fire. MTBs 684 and 723 claim hits on two targets. MTB 666 loses contact. MTB 666 is hit by gunfire from German patrol boat V1415 and brought to a stop. The Commanding Officer reports, by radio, that the engines are disabled, some men have been lost overboard, two German vessels are in close company and he is preparing to abandon ship. MTB 687, the Senior Officers boat, elects to make a diversion whilst MTBs 684 and 723 attempt to rescue survivors. The attempt fails due to heavy gunfire. MTB 723 receives a direct hit on the bridge but recovers station.
24-5/8/44 MTB 684, MTB 687, MTB 723, MTB 763 and MTB 769 engage a German M Class minesweeper, an armed trawler, an armed coaster and a TLC off the Hook of Schouwen. MTB 687 hits and sinks the trawler with two torpedoes. MTB 769 hits the coaster with one out of four torpedoes fired. MTBs 684 and 763 torpedo and sink the minesweeper. MTB 723 torpedoes and damages the TLC.
16/5/45 To Royal Air Force Long Range Rescue Craft (LRRC) 031

Post War Fate
1/47 Converted to a Houseboat at Fanara

Admin
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Posts: 501
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Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby Admin » Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:04 am

Your site is without question invaluable, there is no question about that, you have me, us hooked.
Thanks for the feedback James, and I'm glad you've found the web site helpful! You may already be aware of this document stored at the National Archives

Cumulative awards for Coastal Forces, including awards to 17 officers and men of HM MGBs which covers some of the awards for 606.

The usual process as I understand it, is that the CO for the boat would have written a comprehensive reason for the award nomination, which would have been copied or else turned into a digest for senior officers to consider, which would resulted in a more pithy, less informative formal citation given with an award. This was reduced still further within the London Gazette, usually to a very short description for a group of awards. Basic details such as name, rank, award, date, and boat were recorded on cards held by the Admiralty, which I believe have now been passed to the National Archive, and they are the basis of the list of awards to Coastal Forces compiled by Seedie. I'm not sure how much of the original documentation for an award was ever kept and is still in the archives.

Bradl3y
Seaman
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:30 am

Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby Bradl3y » Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:32 am

My uncle John Allan Bradley served on MGB/MTB 606 until it was lost off the Dutch coast.

The below photo I believe shows the crew of
mainly 606 (perhaps even those from sister boats) celebrating a recent victory..sailor on left appears to be holding a cake.

Do you recognise any of the men & can you put names to them?
Attachments
A9BCE6CC-08B7-4316-8F28-B6FA93E05685.jpeg
Crew of MGB 607
A9BCE6CC-08B7-4316-8F28-B6FA93E05685.jpeg (117.38 KiB) Viewed 28852 times

jpfoynes
Seaman
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:07 pm

Re: MGB 606 and MTB 684

Postby jpfoynes » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:57 pm

A very informative and interesting account of those MGBs' "careers".

I've been researching and writing about Coastal Forces matters for many years, the interest having been sparked by my late father helping build several of their craft at East Coast shipyards (1940-44).
Since I'm planning to revise at least one of my old publications, and also help with the naval collection at Brightlingsea Museum, I'm very keen to see photos of Coastal Forces boats just after their construction (and while doing trials) at East Coast shipyards.

Although only 16 Coastal Forces craft were built at Brightlingsea, about 1 in 3 of all those built were equipped commissioned there, and I'm hoping someone has photos which show such boats "on location" there.
For my bona fides, check Imperial War Museum Collection, British Library Catalogue, Amazon Books, or the excellent website set up by the son of Lt Roderick Timms RNVR (ML 345), which has some contributions from me and gives an idea of my interest area.
Many thanks!


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