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London Branch June 2010


Written by London Branch | Posted on 25th June 2010


Secretary's Report

Hello to all. Attendance at the May meeting was a little lower than usual for various reasons, mainly beyond the control of members but every now and again these things happen and the best laid plans go astray. We were pleased to be under the control of Charlie Smorthit, who will be taking the Chair at Branch meetings in future. Charlie 'volunteered' for the job, (under pressure) but the whole thing went with a swing. Charlie managed to inject some laughter into the serious business of the meeting, but at the same time covered the task effectively. The Branch Committee are seeking means of using up some of our cash assets in a way that would be of benefit to members. Whilst we are not exactly awash with money, and spending some of it would seem to be a relatively simple task, it simply does not work out that way. This is nothing new - the subject has been raised many times before, without any solutions emerging. But if anyone has any ideas that would benefit members we would be happy to hear about them. There was one suggestion made at the last meeting that the Committee will discuss, but this would not benefit the majority of the membership, although it would be relatively easy to carry out. Any other ideas would be carefully considered. Members in receipt of the Branch minutes will see that that following the cancellation of the May Belfast Social, Bill Fenton had now arranged a replacement, scheduled for Sunday, 11th July; on the Belfast, commencing 12 noon. Ted Else has received a few further supplies of CF mugs and they should be available at the next meeting. On the health front Doug Elliott is still suffering, though not quite so much, after the operation on his back, Sybil Reeve has just had a hip operation but husband Dennis is still very much restricted as far as mobility is concerned. Sybil said that they are "very lucky in having a daughter living nearby who does so much for them". Gwen Leader (late Harrys wife) is due to go soon for a hip operation. Ken Gadsdon is now severely restricted in the amount of driving that he can undertake for the time being, due to current conditions. We have you all in our thoughts. With great regret we learn that Branch member Peter Shorer suffered a heart attack from which he died on 3rd. of June and a Service will be held for Peter on Tuesday, 22nd. June in St. Johns Church at Seven Kings, followed by cremation at Forest Park Crematorium, Hainault. Also with regret we received news of the death of Charles Milner. DSM. A member of the CFVA Executive Committee and the Association's Treasurer, he had served the Association so well for so many years. E.D.

Social & Welfare Secretary

VE Day 65th Anniversary 2010

This event was organised by the Royal British Legion to take place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and it would seem that only the Metropolitan area was involved, and even then, the Legion I belong to only had one ticket. I had a phone call from a Committee member to ask if I had a blazer and medals and would my wife and myself be interested in attending. I replied that we would welcome the privilege. The ticket instructions and map of the area were delivered on Friday morning and on the Saturday we travelled to Victoria and walked to Parliament Street and found the police manned barrier at King Charles Street. A lady from the Legion was there with a print out of names. I called out our name and she confirmed that this was on the list, and with that, the barrier was opened for us. I spotted two seats at the front and we settled in. I was sitting next to the Chairman of the Normandy Veterans Association. Senior Officers of the Armed Forces were formed up facing the Cenotaph, and the leaders of the three main political parties were just in front of the Foreign Office, as were seating for the wives etc. of the Officers. The Royal Marine Band marched on to the remaining side of the Cenotaph and Prince Charles took his place at the head of the Senior Officers. The Last Post was sounded and all those assembled laid their wreaths. A Cavalry Officer came up to us and said that all those who wished to march off should form themselves into columns of three. The cold and aching bones forgotten, we all got into a line of three, four or five deep—we had not a care. As we passed along, the applause and cheers from the crowds outside the secure area was, to say the least, uplifting. We made our way to the marquee and coffee was just what we needed. It was quite crowded and a number of young ladies were carrying plates of canapés. At the counter, they had some nice sandwiches. Young people were carrying bottles of wine to top up our glasses—all of this was free. At one end of the marquee was a stage, and a dance band was playing. Olive and myself ‘strutted our stuff’ to much applause. There were two girl singers and two men, and later three young ladies appeared dressed in the nineteen forties style and singing wartime songs. While this was going on, the three leaders of the political parties were shaking hands with all, and I noticed that Prince Charles was being greeted in the same way. Not to 'be out done', I leaned forward and said "Excuse me sir, would you shake hands with another sailor?" He looked at my badge and said "Trust the Navy". A thoroughly good day, we did enjoy it! Bill Fenton

Web Site

And from Ted Else is an update on the reconstruction of the Royal Naval Coastal Forces Veterans web site. He acknowledges that we have been very fortunate with our recruitment of Associate member, Kevin Costello, who has certainly shown the expertise required for such an undertaking. Eddie Dibley

Web Site Update

As you may know there are major changes afoot with the web site. Later this summer we are hoping to go 'live’ with a completely new design, using a state of the art publishing system that will allow for the easier creation and maintenance of the site's content and navigation. In addition, a number of built-in features of the system, such as a search facility, together with new content for the site, such as a data base on Coastal Forces craft and a Photo Gallery, should hopefully attract new visitors to the site whilst offering an enhanced experience to existing users. Most importantly, the self publishing capabilities at the heart of the new system, will hopefully encourage our dwindling band of surviving Branches to use their own distinct areas, designed into the site, to post their news or announcements. The web site will be under constant development but when first going 'live’ (probably by the time of the next Branch newsletter) some of the planned new content may not be fully ready. The research for the searchable database on all British Coastal Forces boats is proving to be very time consuming so it has been decided that this ambitious project will be implemented in stages. The known Coastal Forces Bases of the Second World War, as shown in our Maps area, will be expanded to cover West Africa, India and the Far East, which will be added to as and when accurate information becomes known. Finally for this month, just one of our success stories. Some time before our publishing of the first War Report, a request was made for information regarding the sinking of MTB 671 in April 1944, and if possible, in particular any details of a Wireman lost in the tragedy. Owing to publication restraints imposed on the web site at the time, although we had the war report on hand, we could only pass on the address of a fellow crew member (not on board at the time of the loss) who was able to confirm more fully the details of the tragedy and the fate of the Wireman. Eventually the publication restraints were removed and an edited version of the war report now appears on our web site. Very recently (April 2010), the original enquirer was contacted by a French historian who has identified the location of a grave for an RN Seaman washed ashore in France shortly after the action of April 1944. The grave has not yet been formally given its true status by the War Graves Commission, as there are some problems with authentication of the identity, but it is hoped that these issues can be resolved. This poignant tale still has some way to run we feel, we will keep you informed of any further developments. Ted Else

Minesweeping in some haste

Now and again, items from the past, hidden away and largely forgotten, surface once more and bring back memories of events of long ago. What follows is largely due to someone who was in Coastal Forces, mentioning that he had some papers relating to an operation undertaken in the days that followed the D Day landings. The papers consisted of a report from a boatyard in Poole and a cutting from a supplement to the London Gazette dated November 1945. To develop the story it is necessary to go back a little… From published material, it is known that at some stage during WW2 our opponents began the production of newly developed pressure sensitive mines (the Oyster mine) which could be dropped by aircraft and were designed to lie on the sea bed in relatively shallow waters, activated by the change in water pressure from the hulls of vessels above. Their design was such that they were difficult to sweep by normal minesweeping methods. It was decided that a policy of secrecy about their development should be observed, and stockpiling began. Following the Normandy landings the oyster mines were used in an attempt to disrupt and sever Allied supply lines. Bombers flying low to escape radar detection and in many case flying singly, laid significant numbers of the mines in previously safe approaches and anchorages along the French coast. The losses to merchant supply ships reached serious proportions, E-boats were also engaged in placing the mines, this being confirmed by German Navy Enigma messages decrypted at Bletchley Park. The approaches to Le Havre were mined. As a quick fix, four Fairmile Ds equipped for anti-submarine work (MASBs) and manned by skeleton crews were despatched from Portland to destroy the Le Havre mines by dropping depth charges on them. In the approaches, the location of the mines was all too apparent as a lone merchantman carrying American service personnel and supplies, was in the process of sinking, having taken a direct hit. With caution boats concentrated on picking up survivors. Once commenced, the mine clearance runs were undertaken at top speed with depth charges primed to detonate in shallow water. This type of priming effectively reduced the time available to get out of the way, but nevertheless, three of the Ds survived quite well, the fourth not so well. The fourth boat went in to one of the boatyards in Poole and it is a copy of the Defect List for this boat that has survived over the years. Reflecting the British tendency for reserved comment, item A(5) on the Defect List said:
It is noted that this craft has been very close to an exploding mine and also exposed to very heavy weather
Other things noted were :
8(a) 15ft. x 3ft. of planking starboard side amidships fractured 8(b) 3ft. x 3ft. of planking starboard side forward on flare fractured 8(c) 3ft. x 3ft. of planking port side amidships fractured 8(d) Planking on port and starboard badly shaken, requires to be refastened as necessary. lt is noted that where the skin has been damaged, frames, beams and stringers will also require to be repaired
And so it continued. Perhaps more telling was the report on the fuel storage tanks :
(16) Petrol tanks in the after compartment to be removed and examined. The force of the explosion obviously lifted the centre tank with sufficient force to smash the athwartships securing beam. The centre tank has a leak and will definitely require to be replaced. The remaining after tanks have been subjected to similar treatment and although not leaking, it is considered that all the After tanks should be renewed. The centre Aft tank is at present full of salt water. Precautions are to be taken as all petrol has not been cleaned from the petrol compartment bilges. It is noted that the port and starboard outer petrol tanks are both bulged unduly
Subsequently, the boat was repaired and re-entered service. The operation was recorded by an entry in a supplement to the London Gazette, 13th November 1945.
an extract from the London Gazette
Excerpt from the London Gazette of 13th November 1945
But there are not many things like that left, in view of all the years that have gone by. Memories though, have them. You have them. The things that you never get round to talking about very much. Let's have your story. It needn't be lengthy (preferably not) and you don’t have to add your name unless you want to - use a pseudonym and nobody will know where it came from. But your contribution will provide an insight into what happened on the many days and on the many nights of Coastal Forces. Send it off to the address on the back of the envelope that brought you the Newsletter and it could make a welcome addition to a future issue.

A Reminder about the Social

SUNDAY, 11th. JULY – COMMENCE 12 noon.