Postby Brian Holmes » Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:54 pm
High time I posted this
MGB_638 A M Dickie & Sons, Bangor, Wales 14/12/42
For an attack on an enemy convoy in the Adriatic 11/10/44
DSC TLt Dennis Herert Lummis RNVR
DSM AB Joseph Vaughan D/JX251050
MID CMtrMch Stanley James Gifford P/MX117919
MID PO Lawrence Raymond Clutterbuck P/SSX28126
MID AB James Carl McCartney C/JX354435
For an attack on four German lighters in the Gulf of Venice 8/4/5
MID TSLt Kenneth Evan Llewellyn David RNVR
Known Crew
TLt Robert John BURREL RNVR THIRD OFFICER MTB 615 25/11/43 Commanding Officer MGB 638 2/45 _ ?) BORN 28.11.1923 in London. Called to Bar, Inner Temple, 1948; Bencher, Inner Temple, 1980; Member: Senate of Inns of Court and the Bar, 1983-85; Council of Legal Educn, 1984-. Mem., Paddington Borough Council, 1949-56 (Chm. Housing Cttee, 1953-56); Chairman: Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal, 1974-; Pres., Ligue Internationale contre la Concurrence Déloyale (Paris), 1980-82 (Vice¬Pres., 1978-80); Mem., EEC Working Cttee, EEC Trade Mark Law, 1975-77 Died 24.10.1985
TLt Dennis Herbert Lummis RNVR First Lieutenant MTB 52 15/06/42, First Lieutenant MTB 649 10/12/42 TLt 1/11/43 and Commanding Officer MTB 638 1/3/44. HMS Gregale (Malta) 3/9/45 DSC 1945 Born 17/5/20 in Woodbridge, Suffolk and died 12/2003 in Ipswich, Suffolk
TLt E Rose (Commanding Officer 1943)
TSLt Kenneth Evan Llewellyn David RNVR
CMtrMch Stanley James Gifford P/MX117919
PO Lawrence Raymond Clutterbuck P/SSX28126
AB Joseph Vaughan D/JX251050
AB James Carl McCartney C/JX354435
War Activities
32nd MTB Flotilla
MTB 633, MTB 634, MTB 635, MTB 636, MTB 637, MTB 638, MTB 639, MTB 640
Mediterranean
14-15/4/43 MTB 634, MTB 638 and MGB 643 depart Bone after dark to destroy two enemy vessels stranded near Cape Zehib and bombard the beach east of Ras-el-Dukara.
0025 MTB 634, MTB 638 and MGB 643 are stopped observing the stranded vessels and nearby Bizerta for further targets. The larger vessel appears to be afloat and uses a lamp to signal a coatguard station.
0055 Several four star red flares are seen towards Bizerta. MTB 634 closes the larger vessel and fires one torpedo which slews to starboard and explodes on the beach. MTB 634 fires a second torpedo which hits the vessel and appears to break her back. All three vessels close and engage with gunfire for about four minutes. The three vessels then head out to sea to check on the reported flares and sight two U boats heading eastwards. MTB 638 attacks with torpedoes but misses. The other boats follow up with gunfire and depth charges. MGB 643 conducts a depth charge attack but both U boats dive and escape.
MGB 643 then sights destroyers or large torpedo boats around half a mile away. MTB 634 attempt a depth charge attack but the vessels retire at high speed. All three boats then disengage, carry out the ordered bombardment and return to Bone at 0845 with no damage or casualties.
1/44 57th MTB/MGB Flotilla
MGB 638, MGB 659, MGB 660, MGB 662, MGB 674, MTB 634, MTB 637, MTB 670
Based at Bastia, Brindisi, Komiza and Ancona
10/10/44 At 1300, MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 depart Komiza for a patrol off Zara and intendin to lay up at Ist. MTB 634 is sent ahead to Ist to contact an LRDG patrol and partisans to gather intelligence. MTB 634 passes on a report of a northbound convoy seen, by the LRDG patrol, to enter Zara three or four days previously. MGB 662 with
1945 MTBs 634, 637 and 638 pass between Ist and Mulat and alter course towards Vis.
2040 MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 are lying stopped off Vis in thundery weather.
2245 Three white flares are observed over Mulat.
2347 Tracer is observed from what appears to be a land battle on Ist. Some people believe it is a low level air attack or an E Boat. The firing ceases but, ten minutes later more firing is observed near Mulat. This includes 88mm tracer.
11/10.44 At 0039, MTB 634 is detached to contact the LTDG or partisans for information.
0223 MTB 634 makes a radio report of the earlier presence of two destroyers, conducting a bombardment, in the area of firing. MTB 634 also passes on a partisan report of a Flak Lighter. MGB 662 with MTBs 637 and 638 rendezvous with MTB 634 off Kok Point and set course between Skarda and Ist.
0345 MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 break off the search and return to Ist. At 0900, partisans report a two funnelled warship, in a cove, on the east coast of Mulat.
1000 The report is modified to a Flak Lighter. At 1100, to an E Boat and, at 1200, to nothing.
1700 A conferencee is held with local forces.
1825 MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 depart for Vir.
2220 MTB 634 is damaged when a con rod is pushed through the crank case of the starboard outer engine and most of the engine room crew are overcome by fumes.
2245 MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 roll in what appears to be the wake of large ships.
2300 MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 set off northward and sights four Flak Lighters, on the port bow, at 400 yards.
2306 The German force opens fire on MGB 662 killing a pom pom loading number. A fire in the pom pom ready use locker is extinguished. MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 return fire and MTB 638 illuminates with starshell. MGB 662 observes a Pil Boat blow up with a resultant petrol fire spreading across the surface. An E Boat is also seen to blow up. A second Pil Boat is sunk and a Flak Lighter damaged. MGB 662 passes through the German force and lies stopped waiting for the remainder of the force to join her. MTB 634 attempts a torpedo attack but gets too close and engages a Flak Lighter with gunfire causing serious damage and starting major fires. MTB 634 engages two further Flak Lighters causing damage. One Flak Lighter is seen to sink. MTBs 637 and 638 engage Flak Lighters and set them on fire.
2317 MTB 637 sihts two capsized vessels.
2346 A capsized Flak Lighter is sighted close inshore off Vis Light.
2353 Vessels are sighted and MTB 637 illuminates with starshell. MGB 662 engages a Flak Lighter and a Pil or E Boat. The Flak Lighter is sunk and the other vessel damaged. Fire comes from behind the British force and this is returned before breaking off the action assessing the situation and returning to attack at 0151.
0221 MGB 662 illuminates with starshell and nothin is seen. Two small objects are engaged north of Vir Light. MGB 662 and MTB 634 continue to illuminate with starshell.
0251 MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 turn southwest at 8 kts.
0254 A Flak Lighter is sighted at 400 yards.
0256 MTB 634 makes a torpedo attack achieving two hits on the Flak Lighter.
0310 MGB 662 closes the wreckage and, having passed through a cloud of smoke, sights two Flak Lighters and other smaller craft 50 yards away and lying beached. The force engages with gunfire causing further damage.
0337 MTB 637 sinks a Flak Lighter by torpedo. During the action, MGB 662 with MTBs 634, 637 and 638 have sunk six Flak Lighters, four Pil Boats and an E Boat. Another Flak Lighter is probably sunk and an E Boat is possibly sunk. Two other E Boats are damaged.
21/10/44 MGBs 659, 662 and 674 with MTBs 637 and 638 are on passage from Vis to Ist when they sight a German convoy of four I Boats. Two I Boats are sunk and two captured. Ninety two prisoners are taken. MGBs 659, 662 and 674 with MTBs 637 and 638 have intercepted an attempted evacuation of Dubrovnik
1/11/44 Operation Exterminate - At 1700, HMS Wheatland, HMS Avondale, MTBs 274, 285 and 295, MGBs 633, 638 and 642 and ML 494 sail. HMS Wheatland and HMS Avondale are to land a South African shore watching party on the north side of Pag. MTBs 274, 285 and 295 are to patrol west of Pag. MGBs 633, 638 and 642 are to parol between Ptemuda and Asinello. At c1950, MTBs 274, 285 and 295 sight two German destroyers, DD 202 and DD 208, on a southerly course. HMS Wheatland and HMS Avondale engage the destroyers settin them on fire. HMS Wheatland and HMS Avondale close in and engage with close range weapons until the destroyers sink. A third enemy destroyer, Audace, appears, is engaged by HMS Wheatland and HMS Avondale and sunk.
22-3/12/44 Operation Antagonise Two. MGBs 638, 643, 662 and 674 with two Hunt Class destroyers attack Lussinpiccolo. The destroyers bombard and the MGBs enter the harbour. An E Boat and EMBs are attacked.
8/4/45 An attack on four German lighters in the Gulf of Venice
9-10/4/45 MTBs 633, 634 and 638 with MGB 662 are on patrol off the Arsa Channel. Four Flak Lighters are detected by Radar at 8000 yards and MTBs 633, 634 and 638 with MGB 662 attack from inshore with torpedoes which miss. The Flak Lighters engage with 88mm and 20mm guns. MTBs 633 and 638 are hit and stopped. In MTB 633, the Commanding Officer is severely wounded and the Coxswain is killed. MGB 662 and MTB 634 close and engage with gunfire. MGB 662 is hit by three 88mm rounds. Three men are killed and five men are severely wounded. The Flak Lighters reach the entrance to the channel. MTBs 633, and 634 with MGB 662 close MTB 638 to render assistance. The foredeck is under water but MTB 634 takes MTB in tow, stern first, to Ancona.
Post War Fate
30/1/46 Lost on passage Malta – Alexandria