SGB 6 Grey Shark

[JWARsgb09]

Hi,
I am trying to trace the crew members of SGB6 Grey Shark which my dad John Rouse served on. I have a photo dated September 1943 at New Haven showing the whole crew of 37.

Any ideas on how I can get a War Record as my dad was previously on a MGB.
Thanks ,
JWAR

[jonco]

This link should set you on the right route to your dad's record but there are other routes. Note: it takes a few weeks and they will only release to next of kin- it's all in the text.

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_rec ... _navy.html

[Brian Holmes]

SGB_6 HMS Grey Shark Hawthorn Leslie (Hebburn) 30/4/42

For an action off Le Havre on 15th April 1943
DSC TLt Peter Markham Scott RNVR
DSM AB Norman Clegg D/JX237892

For an action in enemy waters in the Channel on 26th July 1943
MID TLt Howard Owen Turner Bradford RNVR
MID PO Herbert Joseph Kitchener Hicks D/JX134882
DSM Sig Jack Dutton Stanway D/JX250255

For a series of actions in the Channel over a period of two years
MID StoPO William James Milne C/KX80713

Permission to wear a US award for services in the Bay of Seine in June 1944
LLegMer TLt Roger King RN

Known Crew
TLtCdr Peter Markham Scott RNVR joined Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve [attached to London Division RNVR] 15/5/39 TLt 2/1/40 HMS Broke (destroyer) 12/2/40-42 Commanding Officer SGB 9 and Senior Officer 1st SGB Flotilla Temporary Commanding Officer SGB 6 SGB 3 Staff, Captain Coastal Forces (Channel), C-in-C Portsmouth [HMS Victory] 21/3/44 Detached as Staff Officer, Coastal Forces, British Assault Area (Courseulles) Detached as Liaison Officer, PT Boats (Cherbourg) Artist, ornithologist, and broadcaster, the son of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott. An Olympic sportsman (dinghy sailing), he served in the navy in World War 2. He began to exhibit his paintings of bird scenes in 1933, and after the war led several ornithological expeditions (Iceland, 1951, 1953; Australasia and the Pacific, 1956-7). His writing and television programmes helped to popularize natural history. Hon. Chairman of Council, World Wildlife Fund International, since 1985 (Chairman, 1961-82; Chairman of Council, 1983-85); Hon. Director: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust; Survival Anglia Ltd; FRS 1987.
Published: The battle of the narrow seas : a history of the light Coastal Forces in the Channel and North Sea, 1939-1945 (1945); and several other books on art & nature
Born in London 14/9/09 and died in Bristol 29/8/89
TLt Howard Owen Turner Bradford RNVR Commanding Officer of SGB 6. Commanding Officer MTB 698 3/44 – 7/45 then appointed to HMS Attack DSC 1940 DSC 1944 MID 1943 Born 1914 in Eastbourne and died 1963 in St Pancras, London
TLt Herbert Gaskell Bown RNVR First Lieutenant SGB 6 1/42 Commanding Officer MTB 489 25/1/44 – 7/45 Born in Barton Upon Irwell district, Lancashire 5/1/16 and died in Mid Warwickshire 8/98
TSLt John McPherson Harris RNVR SGB 6 9/11/42 wounded in an action with German E-boats north of Cherbourg in the night of 26/27.07.1943 which incapacitated him for further service Born in Paisley, Scotland 28/5/21 and died in Worthing district 12/11/51
TLt Roger King RN (A French National) MGB 41 SGB 6
StoPO William James Milne C/KX80713
PO Herbert Joseph Kitchener Hicks D/JX134882
AB Norman Clegg D/JX237892
Sig Jack Dutton Stanway D/JX250255

Wartime Activities
18-9/6/42 HMS Albrighton, SGB 4, SGB 6, SGB 7 and SGB 8 attempt to intercept two German merchant vessels accompanied by E Boats that have departed Le Havre off CapBarfleur at approx. 0100.
0100 Shortly afterwards SGB 6 has an engine failure, loses contact and returned to Portsmouth
On the German side Channel Island steamer Turquoise (ex-Belgian, 810 GRT) and minesweepers R 41 are lost. - When towing R 41, auxiliary minesweeper M 3800 (ex-Dutch Stoomloodsvartuig 16,585 GRT) is next day in the Bay of St. Vaast attacked by a destroyer and runs on the beach, but is recovered and repaired
15/4/43 SGB 6, MGB 608 and MGB 615 in an action with Fifteenth Vp. Boat Flotilla V1520, V1524 and V 1525 and U-Jäger off Cap de la Hague. SGB 6 and V1525 are damaged
26/7/43 SGB 6 and SGB 9 are in an action in the Channel
1944 Converted to a fast minesweeper

Post War Fate
13/10/47 Sold
1949 Houseboat

[annehardie21]

I also have a copy of this photograph.
I am currently typing up my Grandpa's wartime memories for him - his name is Edward Hardie, he will be 95 in January and lives in Glasgow.
I have names for some of the people in the photo but a lot of unknowns. My Grandpa is the tallest one in the middle of the middle rank.
Hope this is useful:
Rear rank: unknown, Mason, unknown, unknown, O'Loughlin, Clegg, unknown, unknown, Turner, Wynn, unknown, Paterson, Bradshaw.
Centre rank: Young, unknown, unknown, unknown, Witt, Hicks, Hardie, Cowcher, Burkhill, Milne, McMullen, McGill, Pateman, Kelly, Rees
Front rank: Woods, unknown, Hadley, Russell-Smith, King, Browne, Miller, unknown

My grandpa was in charge of engineering staff. He joined Grey Shark in June 1943 and was there until transferred to 'Grey Seal' on 12th Dec 1944.

[MTB490HGB]

Hello Anne Hardie & Jwar,

My father TLtHerbert Gaskell Bown RNVR First Lieutenant SGB 6 1/42 Commanding Officer MTB 489 25/1/44 – 7/45 Born in Barton Upon Irwell district, Lancashire 5/1/16 and died in Mid Warwickshire 8/98 is very likely in that photo.

I would really appreciate seeing that photo - if possible could you e-mail me: cjbown@hotmail.com

This weekend I met up with Randy Langford who was on MTB 490 which I was told was commanded my father after his time on Grey Shark, however he is very switched on and definitely can't recall my father so I think that the conflicting record that he was commander of MTB 489 may be correct - any information appreciated.

If anybody can recognise the other individual in the photo attached or where taken that would be interesting.

Chris (MTB490HGB)

[MTB490HGB]

Sorry so as to be the previously attached photo is of Herbert Gaskell or Sandy Bown on the LHS. The other individual is unknown

[CAM]

15/4/43 SGB 6, MGB 608 and MGB 615 in an action with Fifteenth Vp. Boat Flotilla V1520, V1524 and V 1525 and U-Jäger off Cap de la Hague. SGB 6 and V1525 are damaged
26/7/43 SGB 6 and SGB 9 are in an action in the Channel

Hello.
He wanted to know how the battle 15/04/43 and what damage were at SGB-6 in both fights. There is information that in the battle 27/07/43 killed one officer and 6 sailors.

[pablo]

Hi,

My grandfather was a crew member on Grey Shark - Sig Jack Dutton Stanway D/JX250255.

I am trying to obtain a copy of the photo mentioned in the first posts:

"photo dated September 1943 at New Haven showing the whole crew of 37."

If you have a copy please can you send to inspiredthinking@hotmail.com

Thanks

[Admin]

This is a copy of a photograph of Grey Shark's crew taken at Newhaven in September 1943. This version comes from a page in one of the old Coastal Forces Veterans Association (CFVA) newsletters, and is not very big, or very well reproduced in the original publication (click on photo for a larger version). I have scanned it at a larger size, and performed some post-processing work to improve the contrast in an effort to make the faces as clear as possible, so this is the best I could do I'm afraid. I don't know who may have an original print copy of the photograph which could form the basis of a better scan.

The original caption accompanying the photo states:

Seen here is the ship's company of Steam Gunboat 'Grey Shark' Commanding officer Lieut. Roger King DSC, RN. The photograph was taken at Newhaven in September 1943. The officers are, from left to right: Sub Lt D. E. Hartley, RNVR; Sub Lt J. Russell-Smith , RNVR; Ty Lieut R. King, DSC, RN; Midshipman A. H. Browne, RNVR

The crew of SGB Grey Shark at Newhaven in September 1943

[dtomkinson]

My brother Frank Judson Tomkinson was killed in the action of the 27 July 1943. He was transferred to the towing destroyer and died on the way back to port. In his book Peter Scott referred to the midshipman being killed, but he had recently been promoted to sub-lieutenant after reaching his 20th birthday.

Don Tomkinson

[Pioneer]

Hello Don
Welcome aboard.
Thank you for the information regarding your brother- Sub Lt. Frank Judson Tomkinson RNVR.
Our webmaster has updated the Casualty Database with details confirmed by the CWGC.
Best Regards

[Jcarver]

I remember family mentioning that my Grandfather served on Grey Shark mtb out of Newhaven.
Having looked at the photo of all crew members I can confirm the one on centre left is John Young... Known as Jack for obvious reasons.
I believe he was hit by shrapnel at some point. There was talk that the remaining crew were to be sent to Far East... Not sure if that happened.

He wasn't one to talk about it much though. Any more info much appreciated.

[Admin]

Hello Jcarver, thanks for the confirmation of your grandfather as part of the crew of SGB 6. Can I ask you please just to confirm which row number, and which number of person from left or right in that row he is, just to be sure.

Thanks
Admin

[Jcarver]

Hi Admin,

John "Jack" Young is in middle row first on left.

Regards

John

[Jcarver]

Photo from my grandfathers collection of Grey Shark. Will see if more.

[Jcarver]

I’m just wondering if anyone has anymore photos of Grey Shark or it’s crew and would not mind sharing.
My grandfather John Young did not really talk much about his time during the war -
Probably not just down to being injured but also coming back to family issues that he probably saw the war as having created.
Anyway, it would be great to see or hear more.
Regards
John

[Pioneer]

Hello John
A little late with a reply to your post but have you managed to read the article on the loss of SGB 7 ? https://cfv.org.uk/research/history/arti ... s-of-sgb-7
A little way down within the narrative of the discovery of the wreck, there is a rather fuzzy image of what may be S 306 (SGB 6).

[Jcarver]

Thankyou Pioneer, and apologies for late response.

[Jcarver]

I have come across some notes my grandfather John “Jack” Young made in a newspaper many years back. Suggests Grey Shark was involved in laying a smoke screen and firing on cliff defences during D Day. At around 0600 being in vicinity of Fox Red sector of Omaha.
Also interesting that they were mistakenly fired on by USS Ancon.
He mentions their skipper was French and they were in contact with George Leygues free French ship.
Also mention of an action with Grey Owl near Barfleur a few months before.