Ivor Gilbert Luker JX 569248

[JohnGLuker]

I have recently received my late father's service record. Ivor Gilbert Luker JX 569248. 1925 to 2020. I would be interested to know if there is any information available about the boats that he served on. He only told the 'funny' stories but was guarded about his service.
HMS Raleigh: (Class 88) 28th July1943 to 6th October 1943
HMS Victory: Various dates 1943 and 1944 (He did actually sling his hammock on board HMS Victory, which he said was very spooky.
ML 260 10th to 16th July 1944 (HMS St Christopher). He was an Oerlikon gunner.
MGB 16 28th July 1944 to 16 August 1945
MTB 2015 6th September 1945 to 20th May 1946
MTB 2014 25th June 1946 to 27th June 1946.
EVT Course Southampton 1st July 1946 10 15th July 1947
Released to shore 21st November 1946.

The attached picture was taken by Wright and Logan of Southsea and is out of copyright. I asked my father if he is the tall guy standing between the two officers (he was 6'1 tall). Alas not, he was with the photographer directing the shot.

[John110547]

Hi John

Some information on the boats your father served on:

• ML 260 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940 and built by T. Thorncroft & Company of Woolaston, Southampton. The boat was commissioned on 22 May 1941. In July 1944 was part of the Training Flotilla based at HMS St Christopher, Fort William.

• MGB 016 was one of thirty-three Motor Anti-Submarine Boats ordered from the British Power Boat Company, Hythe, on 4 September 1939. The boat was commissioned as MASB 016 on 14 December 1940 & was assigned to the 5th MASB Flotilla based in Portland. In 1941 MASB 016 went for a refit as a Motor Gun Boat and, on completion, was recommissioned as MGB 016. MGB 016 in July and August 1945 was based at the Mobile Radar Workshop, Hamble.

• MTB 2015 was one of eight Motor Gun Boats ordered from Camper & Nicholson, Gosport, on 21 January 1943. Originally, the boat was known as MTB 515, but during the build, the boat was redesignated MTB 2009. However, on completion, the boat was commissioned as MTB 2015 on 15 June 1945 & assigned to the 52nd MTB Flotilla. MTB 2015 was based at Portsmouth between 1945 and 1946, before it was later redesignated MTB 5515.

• MTB 2014 was one of eight Motor Gun Boats ordered from Camper & Nicholson, Gosport, on 21 January 1943. Originally, the boat was known as MTB 514. However, on completion, the boat was commissioned as MTB 2008 on 9 April 1945 & assigned to the 52nd MTB Flotilla. In May 1945, MTB 2008 was redesignated as MTB 2014. MTB 2014 was based at Portsmouth in 1946 before it was later redesignated MTB 5514.

Hope this helps.

Best regards
John

[JohnGLuker]

Hi John,

Thank you very much for the information on the boats mentioned in my father’s service record. I would really appreciate it if you have any suggestions as to how I can follow up my research on his time with MGB 016. All he ever said was that they provided anti-aircraft cover while in port, and he spent far too many evenings as a member of the Regulator’s Party due to his height and experience in handling drunks! He did recall seeing the surrender of some U-boats in 1945 and the excitement when their crews came ashore. He was supposed to go on special training in early 1944, which he always believed was to join an LCOCU course, but he was diagnosed with diphtheria the day he was supposed to start and felt that may well have saved his life.

All he ever said about MTB 2015 was that it broke down just before they were supposed to go and ‘show the flag’ in the Netherlands in 1945. Once the boat was fixed, they went to the Channel Islands and UK canals instead.

Again, many thanks for your help, and I would welcome any advice from forum members about continuing my research into MGB 016 from July 1944 and August 1945.

Kind regards,
John

[Admin]

Hello John

Thank you for your enquiry, and welcome to the forum.

It would be interesting to learn what your father may have been doing during the period October 1943 to July 1944, if there are no further details listed on his Certificate of Service.

Just to add to what John has already told you, ML 260 was at Falmouth later in 1944, was paid off for refitting, and to be equipped for minesweeping and lent to the Dutch Navy. This photo of the boat is from the Dutch archives.

ML 260 converted for minesweeping and lent to the Dutch Navy in 1945 (courtesy Dutch Maritime Archive)

By early 1944 MGB 16 formed part of the Engine Room Training Flotilla based at Portland (HMS Attack) but in the lead up to D-Day it along with MGBs 17, 20 & 100 were allocated to Force 'G' which was the British sector at Gold Beach. It is understood that MGB 100 functioned as a mobile radio repair unit, but it's unclear what specialist role MGB 16 was assigned.

MGB 16 possibly taken in Weymouth Bay (courtesy Geoffrey Dale collection)

Regards
Admin