ERNEST IVOR HOLMES:JX383846 ML182

[Seagulls182]

I'm researching my grandfathers history.

He joined as an HO Rating in September 1942 and was released to shore Class A on 2nd August 1946.

He served mostly aboard ML182.

During June to August 1944 he was off of Sword Beach and along the Trout Line. HMS Forbisher was her stores ship.
About the 18th July she was ordered to protect Endeavour (a Cruiser - Heavy). On the 23rd July she was used to tranfer Officers from Hawkins to Frobisher, back to Hawkins and then onto UK.

After this she was sailed through the Med to Ceylon and was then involved in the Burma campaign.

She was part of the 13th ML Flotilla and was decommissioned on 22nd October 1945 at 09:30 along with the remainder of the 13th. She did here stuff to the end by towing all the others to the graveyard and then was eventually stripped and had the words "The last of the 13th goes to her rest in a fighting mood".

Officer was Ernest. S. Jones

Other crew included Smallwood, Biggar, Barlow and Medler.

Then served onboard HDML1398 for which I have no information.

Any information that can be given (Especially Photos) would be great.

Thank you

[Brian Holmes]

ML_182 Leonard Robinson, Tewkesbury 2/8/41

Known Crew
TLt Ernest Selby Jones RNVR (Commanding Officer 4/44 – 7/45)
Lt Fox RNVR (Commanding Officer 1944-45)
TSLt Devon Ormond Close RNZNVR ML 182 17/4/45 HMNZS Cook (depot & training establishment, Wellington, NZ)
SLt D P Snell
Barlow
Cook
G Etheridge
AB Ernest Ivor Holmes JX383846
G Robertson
E Medler
E Smallwood
H Currie
Hickson
Green
A Biggar

Wartime Activities
1/41 10th ML Flotilla
ML 179, ML 180, ML 181, ML 182, ML 183, ML 184, ML 185 and ML 186
1/4/42 Free French = Sein
20th ML Flotilla (Based on Weymouth)
Convoy escort, patrols and Air Sea Rescue
8/42 Returned to Royal Navy Crew transferred to 23rd MTB Flotilla (Free French)
7th ML Flotilla
ML 131, ML 136, ML 152, ML 154, ML 182, ML 245, ML 248, ML 303, ML 347, ML 594, ML 599 and ML 904
Based on Portsmouth
Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
Navigation leader at Gold Beach
Paid Off
9/44 Recommissioned after major refit
13th ML Flotilla
22/10/44 Flotilla departs Pembroke Dock for the Far East
18/2/45 Flotilla reaches Bombay
Operations off the Arakan coast
11/5/45 Flotilla arrives in Rangoon

Post War Fate
2/46 Sold at Trincomalee
Burmese Navy

[Brian Holmes]

HDML_1398 Ekins, Christchurch, Dorset 6/43

Known Crew
TLt S T Charlton RNVR (Commanding Officer 24/6/43
TLt D F Barton RNVR (Commanding Officer 3/45)
TSLt W D T Newman RNVR 28/6/43

Wartime Activities
9/9/45 Operation Zipper – Invasion of Malaya.

Post War Fate
7/47 Malay Government

Particularly interested in this as I am Chairman of the Medusa Support Group preserving HDML 1387.

Have a look at our website The Medusa Trust