MGB 609

Motor Gunboats (MGB) & Steam Gunboats (SGB)
JockWilliams97
Seaman
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:28 pm

MGB 609

Postby JockWilliams97 » Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:30 pm

My father William L Williams, JX158412 was a PO Coxswain joining HMS Midge on 1st January 1942 and was still with the group at the end of the war. He hailed from Glasgow and was a career naval man having joined in 1935 and staying in the service until 1957. His last posting was to HMS Ganges where he was a CPO instructor. Whilst in Great Yarmouth he met my mother and settled in the town until he was discharged. A civilian job in a factory did not suit and he quickly signed up with HM Coastguard with posting to St David's in West Wales where he lived until his death in 1997.
I notice he appears on the crew list for MTB 609 with a mention in despatches on two occasions. However his service record shows him on 319, 604, 734 and 756, with no record of 609. He only spoke briefly about his time at HM Midge, though did on one occasion make reference to abandoning ship with the rum ration. If anyone is interested I have a very good series of photographs produced by the Daily Sketch showing of life a HM Midge at the end of the war. I would be pleased to receive any detail about Jock or bungy during his time in Great Yarmouth.

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

Re: MGB 609

Postby Admin » Fri Jun 18, 2021 11:14 am

Hello Jock

Thank you for your post. MTB 609 started off life as MGB 609 so I have renamed your post and moved it to the MGB section for clarity to aid anyone else searching the subject in future. MGB 609 was part of the 17th MGB Flotilla and comprised MGBs 601, 603, 604,605,606, 607, 609, 610 and 612. Later as MTB 609 it formed part of the 50th MTB Flotilla with MTBs 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 609, 610, 612, 673, 676, 677, 678, 734, 751 and 756.

I have emailed you with a link to some resources you may find interesting. It's possible if your father's service record simply shows Midge for certain timeframes that he was with MGB 609 on those occasions. MGB 319 was one of the Fairmile 'C' Class Gunboats, and MTB 734, part of the 50th MTB Flotilla, is shown was being lost through bombing just a month after entering service as a new boat.

I would be interested to obtain copies of the photographs you mention.

Regards
Admin


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