MGB_663 William Osbourne Ltd, Littlehampton 8/3/43
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For actions in the Adriatic and off the coast of Italy 1/44
MID TLt Thomas Ellis Ladner RCNVR
MID CMtrMch Herbert Booth P/MX117021
DSM LSea Basil Leonard Makri Nash C/JX154490
For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44
DSC* TLt Thomas Ellis Ladner RCNVR
MID TSLt Derrick Brown RNVR
DSM* TPO Laurie Sanders Nicholl D/JX134503
MID ALSea Jeffrey Brian Billingham C/JX317831
DSM AB David Henry Pain P/JX384824
MID AB James Rowley P/JX369763
For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44
MID TLt Thomas Ellis Ladner RCNVR
MID AB John Aspinall C/JX373872
MID AB Royston Alfred Rowland C/JX359687
New Year Honours 1945
DSC TLt Thomas Ellis Ladner RCNVR
Known Crew
TLt William Roy Darracott RNVR SLt 11/9/42 HMS Midge (Great Yarmouth) 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona First Lieutenant MGB 662 28/5/43 For actions off the west coast of Italy and Dalmatia 6/44 DSC TLt 1/6/44 For operations in the Adriatic and the Aegean (Gazette Date - 5/12/44) DSC* 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 663 1944 HMS Gregale (Malta) 1945 HMS Waxwing (RN camp, Townhill, Dunfermline, Fife) 27/11/45. Born in Dorchester 1921 and died 25/9/2008
TLt Thomas Ellis Ladner RCNVR HMCS Yorck 1940 HMS King Alfred 6/40 TASLt 24/7/40 HMS Forfar (Armed Merchant Cruiser) -12/40 HMS Hornet, 15/3/41 5th MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MGB 19 HMS Hornet for small craft 26/1/42 Commanding Officer MGB 75 1/42 For a successful attack on an enemy tanker off Alderney 14/7/42 MID TLt 24/7/42 For an attack on an enemy convoy in the Nore area 14/9/42 MID Temporary command of a Fairmile C MGB 2/43 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona Commanding Officer MGB 663 22/2/43 For actions in the Adriatic and off the coast of Italy 1/44 MID For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44 MID For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 DSC* New Year Honours 1945 DSC Staff Officer Operations for the Captain of Coastal Forces at Malta
Resumed his law degree and joined his father who was a founding partner in one of Vancouver's largest law firms, Ladner/Downs (Partner, 1945-1993). Queen's Council (1964).
Member of the Board: Police Commissioners, Vancouver 1960-64; Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation; The Hamber Found.; Public Mem. of Counc., Inst. of Chartered Accountants of B.C. 1989-93. Born 8/12/16 in Vancouver and died there 23/6/06
TLt Derrick Brown RNVR TASLt 14/2/43 56th MTB/MGB Flotilla MGB 663 1/3/43 Commanding Officer 10/11/44 - 22/3/45 For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 MID (Wounded when the boat was sunk) TLt 1/12/44 56th MTB/MGB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 655 1945
TLt Barry George Syrett RNVR TSLt 5th MGB Flotilla 22/4/42 20th MGB Flotilla MGB 663 20/2/43 TLt 13/1/44 20th MGB Flotilla MTB 371 28th MTB Flotilla Commanding Officer MTB 411 12/1/45 For a torpedo attack on an enemy convoy in the Mediterranean 9/4/45 MID
TLt R L Campbell RNZNVR TSLt 9/10/42 HMS Mosquito (Alexandria) 20th MGB Flotilla MGB 663 4/8/43 TLt 9/10/43
CMtrMch Herbert Booth P/MX117021 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 For actions in the Adriatic and off the coast of Italy 1/44 MID
PO Laurie Sanders Nicholl D/JX134503 AB 6th MGB Flotilla MGB 67 For an action with E Boats in the Nore area 19/11/41 MID LSea 8th MGB Flotilla Based at Felixstowe MGB 75 For an action with E Boats off Cherbourg 1/8/42 DSM PO 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 DSM* 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla MTB 655 Missing in action 22/3/45 Age 31 when MTB 655 is lost on a mine. Husband of Veronica C. Nicoll, of West Ardsley, Yorkshire
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 Basil Leonard Makri Nash C/JX154490 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 For actions in the Adriatic and off the coast of Italy 1/44 DSM
ALSea Jeffrey Brian Billingham C/JX317831 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla MGB 663 For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 MID
LMtrMch Reginald George Sykes P/MX 634490, Missing Presumed Killed 10/10/44 Son of George Harry and Daisy Isabel Sykes, of Chiswick, Middlesex
LSto George Edward Thackray C/KX 136197 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 Killed in action 10/10/44.Age 21 when MGB 663 is sunk by mine off Maestra Point Northern Adriatic Son of Joseph and Elizebeth Thackray, of Leeds, Yorkshire
AB John Aspinall C/JX373872 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44 MID
AB David Henry Pain P/JX384824 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 For actions in the Adriatic 8 - 9/44 DSM
AB Royston Alfred Rowland C/JX359687 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 For the destruction of a force of enemy vessels in the Mediterranean 18/8/44 MID
AB James Rowley P/JX369763 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona MGB 663 Missing Presumed Killed 10/10/44 aged 20 when MGB 663 is sunk by mine off Maestra Point Northern Adriatic Son of Edwin and Martha Rowley, of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
War Activities
20th MGB Flotilla
MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 659, MGB 660, MGB 661, MGB 662, MGB 663, MGB 674
Mediterranean
30/4/43 Convoy departs Milford Haven for the Mediterranean with MTB 670, MTB 667, MTB 654 and MTB 655 and MGB 648, MGB 657, MGB 658 and MGB 663. ML 240.
3/5/43 The convoy is approached and circled, out of range, by a German Condor reconaisance aircraft. At one point the aircraft comes within range and is engaged
4/5/43 At 0100, convoy bound for Gibraltar is attacked by U 439 and U 659 in a surface gun action. MGB 658 runs down the tracer bearing. MGB 657 is hit and set on fire amidships. MTB 654, MTB 667 and MTB 670 attempt a search for the attackers. U 439 and U 659 collide and both boats sink. MTB 667 picks up two German survivors. MTB 654 picks up a further ten survivors. Convoy then proceeds to Gibraltar
56th MGB/MTB Flotilla
MGBs 657 and 663 take the surrender of the Galita Islands off Tunisia.
6/6/43 At 2200, MTB 633 (Senior Officer), MGB 658 and MGB 663 depart Malta to patrol between Cape Passero and Cape Murro di Porco, Sicily. Cape Passero Lighthouse is lit.
MTB 633, MGB 658 and MGB 663 patrol approximately 3 miles off shore sweeping inshore with Radar for two hours with no contacts. A searchlight is observed sweeping out to sea to the north.
MTB 633, MGB 658 and MGB 663 stop and listen. Nothing is found.
At 0440, MTB 633, MGB 658 and MGB 663 depart the patrol area for Malta.
Based on Maddalena
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 56th MGB/MTB Flotilla
MGB 657, MGB 658, MGB 663, (MGB 642) MTB 655, MTB 633, MTB 640, MTB 649
Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona
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
22/1/44 At 1745, MGBs 657, 659 and 663 depart Bastia for a patrol north of Civitavecchia arriving on patrol at 2125. At
2327 MGB 657 reports a possible Radar contact on the starboard bow at 4200 yds.
2331 MGB 663 reports a Radar contact correlating with the first contact.
2341 There are three or four confirmed contacts and MGBs 657, 659 and 663 change course to intercept.
2347 Targets are in sight at around 700 yds. At 2349, a convoy of six Flak Lighters and at least four E Boats is identified.
2351 MGBs 657, 659 and 663 alter to port to engage the last Flak Lighter in the starboard column now at a range of 400yds. The leading ship of the starboard column flashes a challenge and is now identified as a small destroyer. MGBs 657, 659 and 663 engage the Flak Lighter at 100 yds and set it on fire. An E Boat cuts through the starboard column, is engaged by MGBs 659 and 663 is set on fire and suffers an internal explosion. MGBs 657, 659 and 663 shift target to the suspected destroyer and the Flak Lighter astern of her. MGB 659 is hit and pulls out of the line with one engine and her 2 pdr gun out of action. MGBs 657, 659 and 663 then break off the action.
1/44 Actions in the Adriatic and off the coast of Italy
17/6/44 MGBs 658 and 663 with MTBs 633 and 655 are on patrol in the Piombino Channel between Elba and the mainland. At 0100, three Radar contacts are reported close inshore. MGBs 658 and 663 with MTBs 633 and 655 close to attack and identify the contacts as a destroyer, a torpedo boat and a Flak Lighter standing off a small harbour. MGBs 658 and 663 with MTBs 633 and 655 open fire and MTB 655 fires torpedoes. German forces return fire. MGB 658 is damaged by gunfire. Her steering is jammed when the wireless aerials and other rigging are brought down and wrap themseves around the wheel. In MGB 658, three men are killed and five are wounded including the temporary commanding officer and the coxswain.
56th MTB/MGB Flotilla
8 - 9/44 Actions in the Adriatic
17-8/8/44 c2300 MGBs 657, 658 and 663 are on patrol. MGB 657 detects a convoy on Radar. The convoy closes to around 300 yds with MGBs 657, 658 and 663 lying invisible close to a cliff. MGB 663 fires starshell and the boats close to attack. Two large armed trawlers return fire. An I Boat is sunk. MGBs 657 and 658 are damaged. MGB 658 extinguishes a fire on deck. MGB has been hit in the engine room by a 37mm shell and three engines are stopped.
c2359 MGBs 657, 658 and 663 make a second attack.
c0035 MGBs 657, 658 and 663 make a third attack. The schooner Dora catches fire and blows up. Schooner Jota turns towards the cliffs. The convoy has scattered.
0150 Schooner Jota is found and is set on fire.
0250 A tanker barge is found and sunk.
0325 Schooner Jota explodes.
0400 MGBs 657, 658 and 663 are engaged from the shore and retire. Schooners Jota and Dora and I48 have been sunk. Tanker barge Peter is burnt out and is sunk by RAF Hurricanes the following day. Tanker Barge Helga and I68 are damaged but hide close inshore before reaching Korkula eventually
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.
9-10/10/44 MGB 663 and MTB 649 have a fruitless patrol near Venice. MGB 663 is sunk by mine off Maestra Point Northern Adriatic when returning from a patrol off Venice. Three men are killed and eight men wounded.