Hi AdminIt was on the 28th or 29th of July. The Royal Navy casualities list mentions 4 others as well, all with what looks like shrapnel wounds and brought back to Felixstowe.
Any ideas what happened on those dates?
Is your grandfather specifically named within the records you've seen?
The following extract is from Home Waters MTBs & MGBs by Len Reynolds. The relevant record in the National Archives is MO 10737 which is contained within ADM 199/782
The only action by the ‘short’ boats was in the Nore, when on 28/29 July a double unit from the 4th MTBs and the 6th MGBs from Felixstowe met a convoy escorted by E-boats off Ostend. Both units were ‘under new management’ the 6th MGBs had been handed over to George Bailey, the Senior Officer of the old team, and now leading a new set of COs in their famous boats. They naturally regarded themselves as the ‘second division’ but were determined to prove themselves. Bailey now a Lieutenant Commander, led in 67, with 63 (Boissard) in support. The 4th were led by D G H (Jake) Wright in MTB 32 with MTB 69 (M A Pryor) in company. When the convoy was sighted the MGBs took on the E-boats of the escort, while Wright in 32 was able to close with a merchant vessel and scored a torpedo hit. His boat received some damage and casualties. Soon after Bailey decided to launch a depth charge attack on a trawler — very similar to Hitchens’ attack two weeks earlier; he had similar results both in terms of success and in the severe damage and multiple casualties suffered. Bailey's boat was badly holed forward, and was set on fire. There was another parallel with the earlier action: George Bailey was awarded the DSO, and Jake Wright a DSC, while both their crews were honoured with several DSMs
The two casualties for the boat were:
Able Seaman William F Langley P/SSX 23335 29/7/1942
Sub-Lieutenant Walter Thomas Wilson 29/7/1942 Age: 22
The following awards recorded in Seedies Awards to Coastal Forces were notified in the London Gazette 29th September 1942:
For an attack on enemy supply ships and E-Boats off the Dutch coast on 29 Jul 1942
Temporary Acting Lieutenant-Commander George Edward BAILEY RNVR: Distinguished Service Order
Able Seaman Lawrence FLETCHER C/SSX 20019: Distinguished Service Medal
Stoker 1st Class John HODGKINSON D/KX 87752: Mention in Despatches
Temporary Lieutenant John Brooks HORWOOD RNVR: Mention in Despatches
Able Seaman William Frederick LANGLEY P/SSX 23335: Mention in Despatches (Posthumous)
Able Seaman Jack Beddoe PRESCOTT P/JX 321232: Mention in Despatches
Able Seaman Arthur Neal SAXBY P/SSX 21295: Mention in Despatches
Chief Motor Mechanic Raymond Harold WHITE P/MX 69118: Distinguished Service Medal
Acting Petty Officer William Arthur Joseph WOLLAGE C/JX 136481: Distinguished Service Medal
Admin
On the "findmypast" website, he is named on a Royal Navy casualty log for 29th July, he was in hospital in Felixstowe and listed as having shrapnel wounds. The accompanying transcript states "Ship Name : Motor Gun Boat 67".
Additionally one of the entries in the casualty log alongside him and also in Felixstowe hospital at the same time with shrapnel wounds was Acting Petty Officer William Arthur Joseph Wollage, who is mentioned in the report you've provided above.
I guess Grandad didn't get a medal, so didn't get a mention. I would think being Telegraphist and stuck in a small room, wouldn't offer to many opportunities for gallantry, but it's good to know he did his bit and how he received the wounds he carried with him for the rest of his life.
This shows how limited the Service Records are for Coastal Forces, as it makes no mention of any boat he was on in 1942 and according to the casualty log, he was already a Leading Telegraphist by then, but the Service Record isn't updated with that promotion for another year. I have gone back to the MOD and pleaded my case for the Pay and Virtualising records.
Thanks for your help