M.V. Llangibby Castle

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by dbf, Sep 17, 2009.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    The Llangibby Castle was involved on at least two occasions in transporting the Irish Guards: the 1Bn across the Med. to Italy in December 1943 and the 3rd Bn across the Channel to France in June 1944.



    001 Link BROADLEY W - MV LLANGIBBY CASTLE LIVERPOOL 18/07/1940 MERCHANT NAVY
    BLOCK L. GRAVE 123.
    002 Link COULTHARD F PLY/X106715 HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 06/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES
    XV. A. 17.
    003 Link GREGORY W PLY/X108740 HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 06/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES
    X. M. 15.
    004 Link LECKY JC CSS 005950 MV LLANGIBBY CASTLE 09/07/1941 MERCHANT NAVY
    SEC. 1. GRAVE 22250B.
    005 Link MOORE NH - MV LLANGIBBY CASTLE LONDON 08/11/1942 MERCHANT NAVY
    PANEL 65.
    006 Link WOODWARD F CH/X 114330 557 LCA FLOTILLA HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 16/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES
    79, 2.

    :poppy:
     

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  2. Gsyfestung

    Gsyfestung Member

    DBF
    Some more photos for you on this vessel
    S
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Thanks much appreciated.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2019
  4. WILLIEW

    WILLIEW Junior Member

    Does anyone have a list of the sailors who died when Llangibby was torpedoed on 16th January 1942?

    I am about to publish a book entitled "Seen from the Wings" written by an RAF officer who survived the torpedo but I would like to give a mention to the sailors who died. The RAF men's names were readily available.
     
  5. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    Hi.
    If no-one is forthcoming, perhaps try the following Catalogue items at TNA:

    Item reference ADM 267/138
    S/S Llangibby Castle
    1942
    ADM 267/138 Merchant vessels sunk or damaged by torpedo, mine and bomb


    Piece reference WO 361/158
    Casualties at sea, Atlantic: SS Llangibby Castle (Y7), sunk on 16 January 1942
    1942 Jan 01 - 1942 Dec 31
    WO 361 War Office: Department of the Permanent UnderSecretary of State: Casualties (L) Branch: Enquiries into Missing Personnel,1939-45 War
     
  6. kathleen

    kathleen Junior Member

    Hi There is a article for Frank Coulthard son of James and Sarah Coulthard in the Liverpool Evening Express 31st August 1944. This includes a picture of him
     
  7. tony1040

    tony1040 Junior Member

    The Llangibby Castle was involved on at least two occasions in transporting the Irish Guards: the 1Bn across the Med. to Italy in December 1943 and the 3rd Bn across the Channel to France in June 1944.


    BROADLEY W - MV LLANGIBBY CASTLE LIVERPOOL 18/07/1940 MERCHANT NAVY
    COULTHARD F PLY/X106715 HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 06/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES
    GREGORY W PLY/X108740 HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 06/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES
    LECKY JC CSS 005950 MV LLANGIBBY CASTLE 09/07/1941 MERCHANT NAVY
    MOORE NH - MV LLANGIBBY CASTLE LONDON 08/11/1942 MERCHANT NAVY
    WOODWARD F CH/X 114330 557 LCA FLOTILLA HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 16/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES


    :poppy:
    Hi,
    I was in Normandy last week looking for information on GREGORY W PLY/X108740 HMS LLANGIBBY CASTLE 06/06/1944 ROYAL MARINES, from what i have read so far would i be correct in thinking that there where 2 loss of lives from the LLANGIBBY CASTLE on the 06/06/1944 (Coulthard and gregory)
    regards,
    Tony.
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Tony welcome to the forum and thanks for adding the photos.

    Yes correct, and both Royal Marines. I'm afraid I can't help further with this, but the search results for the list above which I posted, rely entirely on "Llangibby Castle" appearing in the 'Unit' details. Some entries do not have complete information, so there could have been more casualties associated with the ship for that date and others.
    Regards
    Diane


    edit
    Movement card for Llangibby Castle
    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Merchant Shipping Movement Cards

    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
    Ship Name: Llangibby Castle
    Gross Tonnage: 11951
    Date 1939-1946
    Catalogue reference BT 389/19
    Dept Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies
    Series Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards
     
  9. Gary S

    Gary S Member

    Hi
    Just thought that I would add to this forum.
    I have just found out that the Llangibby Castle transported my Grandfather and the 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards from Bizerte, Tunisia to Tarranto, Italy between 3rd and 6th December 1943. The Battalion then went to Naples before being landing at Anzio 0900 22nd January 1944.
    In the 5th Battalion war diaries there is some interesting information on the voyage including original documents listing all the Grenadier Guards the ship transported on the voyage.
    Regards
    Gary
     
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  10. Clare Williams

    Clare Williams New Member

    Hi
    My father Cpl F Thorne was one of the first RMs to land his landing craft on Juno beach on D Day. Does anyone have a photo of the MV Llangibby Castle starboard side with the 2 tiers of LCas on, as my father's was bottom row 2nd from bow
    Any help greatly appreciated
    Clarr
     
  11. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Is requested Clare.
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. Hello Clare,

    Welcome to the forum! It is always a pleasure to have family of veterans joining.

    On D Day LSI(L) MV Llangibby Castle was part of Assault Group "J" 1. She was Serial J16, Group 314(f) and was carrying eighteen LCA of 557 Assault Flotilla, consisting of:
    LCA 303 – lost
    LCA 590 – lost
    LCA 642 – lost
    LCA 830
    LCA 989
    LCA 1016 – lost
    LCA 1017
    LCA 1036
    LCA 1037
    LCA 1089
    LCA 1090
    LCA 1093 – lost
    LCA 1096 – lost
    LCA 1124
    LCA 1131 – lost
    LCA 1146 – lost
    LCA 1173
    LCA 1382 – lost

    LCA 1036, 1382, 1090 and a few others during exercise FABIUS III, 5 May 44:
    LCA 1036, 1382 LC, 1090, ex FABIUS III, 5 May 44 [Grant, Donald I.] - MEMO_PHOT_14627.wmg.jpg

    LCA 1093 during exercises (probably also FABIUS III):
    LCA 1093 LC - pre-D Day ex - PA135889.jpg
    Source: Archives Search - Library and Archives Canada

    LCA 1093 LC - 33679-2 - PA-97632.jpg

    For D Day Llangibby Castle embarked troops at Southampton 39 Berth starting at 1700 D Minus 4 (1 June 44):

    Here is a view of the starboard side with the aftermost two craft, LCA 1017 (top) and 1173 (bottom):
    Llangibby Castle, LCA 1017, 1173, RWR embarking - Southampton - 1 Jun 44.jpg

    Another view with a wider angle covers all nine craft on her starboard side. Unfortunately not all hull numbers are visible, but we can see (from left to right, i.e. from aft to fore of the ship):
    Top row: LCA 1017, LCA 590, LCA 1136, LCA 'X'
    Bottom row: LCA 1173, LCA 1124, LCA 'Y', LCA 'Z', LCA 1090:
    Llangibby Castle LCA 1070,590,1036,X; 1173,1024,Y,Z,1090, prob 1 Jun 44, 39 Berth - 145046.jpg

    Your father's craft was thus LCA 'Z'. Do you know her hull number? Do you have any photo and/or stories he might have left you? Any additional information such as his full name, service number, his crew, commanding officer etc. would be most appreciated.

    Michel
     
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  13. Clare Williams

    Clare Williams New Member

    Hi
    Thank you so much for your email
    I will ask him today when I see him, he's 94 now but still going strong
     
  14. Very happy to hear the good news about your father!

    Maybe he knows what the Serial (a.k.a. Landing Table Index Number) of his craft was? It should be a number between 1056 and 1073. Were the troops he landed from the Winnipeg Rifles or from the Regina Rifles? Was he supposed to land on NAN or on MIKE Sector of JUNO Area?

    See more detail in Trux' posts here:
    Serials 1056-1061 and 1062-1067 : JUNO BEACH Post #14
    Serials 1068-1073 :JUNO BEACH Post #32

    Please convey our admiration and our gratitude to your father for us.

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2019
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  15. Clare Williams

    Clare Williams New Member

    Hi
    Just asked him and his LCa was 989
    He took the Regina Rifles in and landed on Mike

    Regards
    Clare
     
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  16. Thank you for this information Clare.

    There seems to be a discrepancy between the landing Sector and the unit carried, since the Reginas were supposed to land on NAN Sector and the Winnipegs on MIKE. Only some of the vehicles of the Reginas were to land on MIKE. It is however possible that one or more LCA landed on MIKE instead. Another explanation could be that one group of LCA planned to carry the Winnipegs to MIKE (Serials 1056 to 1061) carried a small party of three men including the Unit Landing Officer of the Reginas. This might be why you father is referring to them. Does your father perhaps remember what his craft's Serial on D Day was?

    Here are a couple more photos of Llangibby Castle:

    Llangibby_Castle_FL5793.jpg
    Source: LLANGIBBY CASTLE. © IWM (FL 5793) IWM Non Commercial License

    Llangibby Castle LC.jpg

    LLANGIBBY CASTLE LC COLOUR - R112-6046-1-E - MIKAN 4821092 - e010777284-v8.jpg
    Source: Archives Search - Library and Archives Canada

    Does your father remember Marine Edward Charles BRYDGES? See this other thread:
    557 Lca Flotilla. Hms Copra.

    Any additional information you may have, however insignificant it might seem, would be most welcome.

    Michel
     
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  17. LCA 1173 (bottom photo) stranded on the beach:
    LCA 1173 LC & 1372 No.3 PH - 3vgc0044.jpg
     
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  18. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    Report on the 1942 torpedo attack on Llangibby Castle, from Vice Admiral Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron - Letter of Proceedings 5th to 25th January 1942 (ADM 199/1211):

    1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg 5.jpg
     
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