Victor Ernest Robinson MTB 639

[AlastairNW]

Hello all, new all to this, so please be paitent with me!

I'm looking for information on Victor Ernest Robinson (my grandmother's uncle), photos, who he served with etc. I only found about him a few years ago, with very little information, as my grandma never talked much about him.

So far I've learnt that he served on MTB 639, in the the 3rd MTB Flotilla (I think), and was killed in April 28th 1943 when sunk by either an Italian MTB or a German aircraft off Sagittario.

He was a Stoker 1st Class, service no.P/KX 138391.

Any help would be really appriciated, and help me build a picture of his (short) life.

Regards, Alastair Wilson

[Admin]

Hello Alastair, and welcome to the forum

MTB 639 belonged to the 32nd MTB Flotilla, and there is information on 639 and other boats in the flotilla in other threads in the forum which I list below. The official Admiralty listing of vessels lost at sea during the Second World War gives attack by aircraft as the reason for the boat's loss. I have drawn together the information we have from available sources such as casualty and award databases, and there is also a crew photo to be found on the Royal Navy Research Archive Archive web site which is also given below.

Associated Threads:

MTB 633

MTB 640

MTB 634, MTB 624, MGB 662

MTB 638

=========================

32nd MTB Flotilla: 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640


Crew Photo:
Crew Photo for MTB 639 on Royal Navy Research Archive, posted by Frank O’Neill


Casualties:

Lieutenant Philip Francis Stewart Gould
Navy: Royal Navy Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 28th April 1943 Age: 26 Burial or Memorial: Enfidaville War Cemetery (II. F. 27.) Next of Kin: Son of lt.-col. Philip Gould and Marie Agusta Gould, of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire; Husband of Mary Gould, of Shedfield, Hampshire.

Ordinary Seaman Frank Hargreaves
Service No: D/JX 347760 Navy: Royal Navy Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 28th April 1943 Burial or Memorial: Plymouth Naval MemoriaL (Panel 80, Column 2.)

Lieutenant Arthur Gordan Douglas Heybyrne
Navy: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 4th May 1943 Age: 28 Burial or Memorial: Enfidaville War Cemetery (I. D. 29.) Next of Kin: Son of Arthur James Heybyrne and Elizabeth Graham Heybyrne, of Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset; Husband of Olive Elsie Heybyrne.

Ordinary Seaman Leonard Lloyd
Service No: P/JX 347066 Navy: Royal Navy Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 28th April 1943 Age: 20 Burial or Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 76, Column 2.) Next of Kin: Son of Thomas and Annie J. Lloyd, of Hulme, Manchester.

Stoker 1st Class Victor Ernest Robinson
Service No: P/KX 138391 Navy: Royal Navy Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 28th April 1943 Age: 22 Burial or Memorial: Portsmouth Naval MemoriaL (Panel 78, Column 2.) Next of Kin: Son of Fred and Edhel Robinson, of Fairfield, Buxton, Derbyshire.

Lieutenant George Lambert Russell
Navy: Royal Navy Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 28th April 1943 Burial or Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 80, Column 1.)

Able Seaman Arthur Kenneth Woods
Service No: P/JX 160888 Navy: Royal Navy Unit: H.M.M.T.B. 639 Date: 28th April 1943 Age: 19 Burial or Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 76, Column 1.) Next of Kin: Son of Maj. Arthur Woods and Elsie May Woods, of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.

Awards:

Temporary Lieutenant George Lambert Russell RNVR MID London Gazette: 11th January 1944

Temporary Acting Sub-Lieutenant Anthony Youatt RNVR DSC London Gazette: 11th January 1944

Petty Officer Patrick Fenwick Crossey RN P/JX 126527 DSM London Gazette: 11th January 1944


CFVA Membership:

John Hargreaves (1427) Preston, Lancashire

George Lesslie (2125) Great Yarmouth, Norfolk


References:

Ships of the Royal Navy Satement of Losses (British Vessels Lost at Sea - Stephens - 1976) p26

Sunk by A/C, Central Mediterranean


Regards
Admin

[AlastairNW]

Thank you for the help, really appriciated.

[Admin]

Did you recognise your Uncle in the the crew photograph?

[AlastairNW]

Unfortunatley not, as I don't know what he looks like. I'll have to ask my Grandma if she does, but unlikely as she was only young when he was killed.

[GrahamC]

Hello - I have just registered to the Forum to reply to this post!

Stoker (1st Class) Victor Ernest Robinson is named on the WW2 Royal Navy Panel on Buxton Memorial. My website dedicated to all on that Memorial is currently being re-written, but you can preview Victor's page at https://buxtonwarmemorials.co.uk/wordpr ... -robinson/
The link should work, but the site has not yet been fully uploaded.
Hope this helps - especially Alistair, who is Victor's gr-gr-nephew.
Best wishes
GrahamC

[vscott]

Dear Alastair,
Though 82 years have passed since your great-great-uncle, Stoker First Class Victor Ernest Robinson, was killed while serving aboard MTB 639, I want to extend my family's sincere condolences to yours for this profound loss.

My father, Lieutenant H.E. Butler R.N.R., commanded MTB 633 during that mission. The scene was chaotic—MTB 639 ablaze, many crew dead or wounded, up to 40 German aircraft attacking from all directions, enemy destroyers and shore batteries firing relentlessly. Despite these conditions, my father and his crew managed to rescue twelve survivors from the waters around MTB 639, but tragically not Stoker Robinson.

During the rescue, my father's boat took hits, lost one engine and radio contact. There was an urgent need to evacuate the survivors and escape the continuing assault forced their departure from the area.

While researching my father's wartime service for a memoir, I've examined all available documentation of the Kelibia Point mission. The records remain unclear about whether my father knew that he missed Stoker Robinson before they returned to Sousse, or if he died while in the water, or whether he may have been rescued but died later. According to a Report of Action written by Petty Officer P.J. Crossey upon returning to Sousse (I have the original document from my father's papers), Crossey of MTB 639 wrote: "M.T.B. 633 under the Command of Lt. Butler picked up the remainder of our ship's company except Sto. Robinson. I had given him my lifebelt previously. He was probably picked up by the Hospital ship. M.T.B. [633] was still being attacked by aircraft and were unable to go back for the Sto."

I know that even after many decades, the ripple effects of such losses continue to resonate through families. Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your family's sacrifice. Expressing this sorrow is something I know my father would have deeply wanted me to do.

With sincere respect,
Vicky (Butler) Scott

[AlastairNW]

Dear Alastair,
Though 82 years have passed since your great-great-uncle, Stoker First Class Victor Ernest Robinson, was killed while serving aboard MTB 639, I want to extend my family's sincere condolences to yours for this profound loss.

My father, Lieutenant H.E. Butler R.N.R., commanded MTB 633 during that mission. The scene was chaotic—MTB 639 ablaze, many crew dead or wounded, up to 40 German aircraft attacking from all directions, enemy destroyers and shore batteries firing relentlessly. Despite these conditions, my father and his crew managed to rescue twelve survivors from the waters around MTB 639, but tragically not Stoker Robinson.

During the rescue, my father's boat took hits, lost one engine and radio contact. There was an urgent need to evacuate the survivors and escape the continuing assault forced their departure from the area.

While researching my father's wartime service for a memoir, I've examined all available documentation of the Kelibia Point mission. The records remain unclear about whether my father knew that he missed Stoker Robinson before they returned to Sousse, or if he died while in the water, or whether he may have been rescued but died later. According to a Report of Action written by Petty Officer P.J. Crossey upon returning to Sousse (I have the original document from my father's papers), Crossey of MTB 639 wrote: "M.T.B. 633 under the Command of Lt. Butler picked up the remainder of our ship's company except Sto. Robinson. I had given him my lifebelt previously. He was probably picked up by the Hospital ship. M.T.B. [633] was still being attacked by aircraft and were unable to go back for the Sto."

I know that even after many decades, the ripple effects of such losses continue to resonate through families. Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your family's sacrifice. Expressing this sorrow is something I know my father would have deeply wanted me to do.

With sincere respect,
Vicky (Butler) Scott

I never really knew about my great uncle until very recently, and have since bene trying to find out about him as much as possible. My sincere thanks for this personal record of your father's, it has been humbling.

[John110547]

Hi Alastair

Here is some data on MTB 639

Regards
John


• MTB 639 was one of twenty-eight Fairmile D-type boats that were ordered on 27 April 1941 & the order was split between ten boatbuilders. All these boats were built with torpedo scallops cut into the hull to be armed as either an MGB or MTB & the Fairmile boat component kits (keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking) were prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey & shipped to the boatbuilder who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. The MGB 639 order was placed with Brook Marine, Oulton Broad. Later, the order was changed from Motor Gun Boat to Motor Torpedo Boat; MGB 639 was subsequently reclassified as MTB 639. The boat's length was 115ft, its beam was 20ft 3ins, the draught was 5ft & its displacement was 95 tons. It was powered by four Packard V12 4M-2500 1250bhp petrol engines, achieving a speed of 31 knots & was armed with one 40mm/39(1.575”) 2pdr Vickers Mk VIII Gun, one twin 20mm/70(0.79”) Oerlikon Mk II Cannon, two twin 0.5”/62(12.7mm) Vickers Mk III Machine Gun, two twin 0.303”/93(7.7mm) Vickers K Machine Gun, one Holman Projector, two 21” Mk X Torpedoes & four Mk XIII Depth Charges. MTB 639 was commissioned on 9 March 1943 & assigned to the 32nd MTB Flotilla in the Mediterranean with a crew of three officers & twenty-seven other ranks.

• MTBs 639, 633, 634, 636, 637, 638, 640 (32nd MTB Flotilla) on 16 March 1943 with 31st ML Flotilla & two Royal Navy trawlers departed Milford Haven for Gibraltar.

• MTBs 639, 633, 634, 636, 637, 638, 640 (32nd MTB Flotilla) from 17 to 22 March 1943 were en route to Gibraltar with the 31st ML Flotilla & two Royal Navy trawlers.

• MTBs 639, 633, 634, 636, 637, 638, 640 (32nd MTB Flotilla) on 23 March 1943 arrived at Gibraltar with the 31st ML Flotilla & two Royal Navy trawlers.

• MTBs 639, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 640 (32nd MTB Flotilla) on 25 April 1943 at Sousse, Tunisia. Later that same day, MTBs 639 & 635 departed Sousse on patrol & in the Gulf of Tunis, where they attacked & sank two large Flik Lighters & rescued ten survivors.

• MTBs 639 & 635 (32nd MTB Flotilla) on 26 April 1943 arrived at Sousse & handed over their ten prisoners.

• MTBs 639, 633, 637 (32nd MTB Flotilla) on 28 April 1943 at 01.30hrs, departed Sousse for Ras Mahmur, from where they would sail north to clear the sea lanes & commenced an investigative mission to see if they could operate in daylight, gathering intelligence data whilst flying German ensigns. Whilst en route at 03.30hrs, MTB 639 received a signal cancelling the part of their order that required them to clear the sea lanes & they were instructed to focus on gathering shoreline intelligence. The MTBs arrived at Ras Mahmur at approximately 05:00hrs. They commenced their intelligence-gathering mission by proceeding north, keeping about one mile from the shore & plotting German gun emplacements & other shore defences. They passed Kelibia Point at 08.50hrs & arrived at Cape Bonat at 09.20hrs. Having completed their intelligence-gathering mission, the MTBs decided to attack the enemy vessels they had seen at Sidi Daoud & in a creek near Ras el Amaras. The MTBs all switched back to flying their white ensigns & shortly afterwards, attacked Sidi Daoud & strafing vessels in the harbour, leaving the German lifeboat Fl. B 432 on fire & blow-up. Later, they attacked & sank the Italian minesweepers CAMILLO 1 & IMPERO before shifting their attention to enemy aircraft parked on the beach at Ras-el-Amar. The MTBs destroyed one Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft & shot down a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch observation aircraft which was coming into land on the beach at Ras-el-Amar. At 12:00 hours, a large ship was sighted in the Bay of Tunis, which the MTBs were ordered to attack. However, the ship turned out to be a German Hospital Ship, so the three MTBs retired to Kelibia Point without engaging the ship. At 12.40hrs, the MTBs sighted a convoy, but because MTB 639 had expended all its torpedoes in earlier attacks, MTB 639 made an attack using only its guns on the convoy lead ship, the Italian Torpedo Boat SAGITTARIO, while MTBs 633 & 637 made a torpedo run on the merchant ship TERANIO. Following the torpedo runs, the MTBs turned away from the convoy as approximately thirty enemy aircraft arrived in the area. The enemy aircraft concentrated their attack on MTB 639, which was hit multiple times, killing 5-crew members & wounding several others, one of whom died later. The surviving crew members on MTB 639 were fighting the fire, as the boat moved out to sea escorted by MTBs 633 & 637. At 13.10hrs, MTB 639 died in the water ten miles off Cape Bon as MTB 637 came alongside to rescue the crew. As the wounded & dead crew members were being taken aboard MTB 637, other crew members destroyed the confidential books & IFF equipment. However, due to the fire, some MTB 639 crew members were unable to reach MTB 637 & were forced to jump into the sea, where they were rescued by MTB 633. With the surviving crew members from MTB 639 on MTBs 633 & 637, the MTBs open fire on MTB 639 until it sank. The two MTBs then headed south & home, but were under consistent attack from enemy shore batteries & enemy aircraft. During one aircraft attack, MTB 633 shot down one aircraft, which crashed into the sea. The MTBs were in urgent need of help & sent an urgent request to MTB 635, which was maintaining a radio watch while having its engines repaired; the signal requested immediate air support over their locality. However, MTB 635, on receiving the signal for immediate air support, had no means of contacting any airfield. Therefore, T/Lt Perks from MTB 635 went to the nearby anti-aircraft unit on the jetty & used their land line telephone to contact an American airfield & request immediate air support, which was dispatched. MTBs 633 & 637 arrived back at Sousses, with only slight damage. Note: The following awards were Gazetted for their service during the action: MTB 633, TSubLt Golding was Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 637, TLt Smyth was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, PO Clark & ACMtMech Gitsham were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, TSubLt Ridler, ACMtMech Hollis, Able Seamen Bracken & Bullock were Mentioned in Dispatches; MTB 639, TASubLt Youatt was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, PO Crossey was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal & Lt Russell was Mentioned in Dispatches.