Hi Everyone I have found the minutes of a meeting of 12 individuals from all three services in Athens on 29th December 1944. It was of a meeting to discuss the possible evacuations of the British military presences at Salonika and Patras if the situation worsened. One of those present was "Commander Monckton RN". I have found two possibls: Francis Philip Monckton (DSO Aegean MS Ops 1945) or Edward Walter Monckoton (OBE New Years List 1944). I have a hunch it is the latter who was listed as being at HMS Byrsa (Naples) in October 1944 but at HMS Trumpeter by January of 1945. Has anyone got anything which could help me figure which one it likely to be and what their role was in December 1944. Thanks in advance Gus
A Google search found an entry for Francis Philip Monckton stating: Which is attributed to his name appearing in a Spink's catalogue 24/11/2011 on this e-magazine site, minus access though. See: Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria Perhaps Spink's catalogues are on their own website? Edward Walter Monckton was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Navy as Lieut. Commander in December 1936, announced in February 1937. Link: http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1937/12.pdf
Hi Davidfpo This document is locked for reading, but the cached text states D.S.C. London Gazette 18.9.1945 Acting LieutenantCommander Francis Philip Monckton, R.N.V.R. ‘For bravery, determination and great devotion to duty in minesweeping operations in the Adriatic over a period from October, 1944, to May, 1945.’ This is why I don't believe it is this chap Gus
Edward Walter Monckton's entry on the peerage website gives his rank as Lt-Commander. Person Page Source seems to be Burkes Peerage 2003 ed. where he is listed as a descendent of John Monckton 1st Viscount Galway (1695 - 1751)
Hi According to Navy Lists E W Monckton was acting Commander from 28 Feb 44 and F P Monckton an acting Lt-Commander. from 06 Dec 44. So has anyone know of anything that could place Commander E W Monckton in Athens in December 1944? Gus
Gus E.W.Monckton was on the staff of H.M.S. Hannibal, a shore establshment in Algiers from 28.1.1944 F.P. Monckton In Command and S.O. of 24th Motor Launch Flotilla attached to M.L. 451 from 20.1.1944, M.L.299 from 25.3.1944 On the staff of H.M.S. Gregale, Malta Coastal Forces base from 6.12.1944 Guy
This is offered for context, it from the activities of a RN cruiser HMS Argonaut, with my bold: From: HMS Argonaut, British light cruiser, WW2 Note Salonika was liberated on 30/10/1944 and the 5th Parachute Battalion landed over the beach near to the city without opposition. The 5th later left to return to Italy and were recalled to fight in Athens. From assorted online sources. This article mentions Salonika having a small Allied presence, though without saying it did withdraw. Again useful context: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/docume...r_N_Med_Ops_in_WW_II_Italy_Balkans_Greece.pdf On 3/12/1944 when the civil war began, in Athens with fire exchanged: From Ch. 4 of a 1985 USMC thesis on The Greek Civil War: The Greek Civil War 1943-1949 A little more: Note the communists later would shell the city. From: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Por...i-books/ArtOfWar_InstillingAggressiveness.pdf To Patras (western Greece, on the north coast of the Peloponnese): From: Post 1023 On this day during WW2 and Post 110 War Diary: 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944 From 'After the Battle' which focusses on Athens: Athens, December 1944 [After the Battle №155].pdf Note there are many threads on Patras for this period, they indicate the brigade there were besieged by the communist forces until January 1945. See: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/20283043/&q=patras&o=relevance
Just to confirm what Guy has stated. F.P. Monckton was awarded the D.S.C. as A/Lt.Cdr aboard M.L. 451 (24th Motor Launch Flotilla) in the Adriatic. The award was gazetted 18 September 1945. He became Lt.Cdr on 8th February 1948. E.W. Monckton became Lt.Cdr on 28 February 1934 was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours list 1944. He was placed on the retired list on 25 September 1948 at the rank of Cdr (Retd). His OBE was for serving on HMS DUKE OF YORK or he was aboard at the time his award was gazetted, not sure which at this stage. Regard Hugh
Hi everyone I am now satisfied that Edward Walter Monckton is most likely to be the naval officer at the meeting in Athens as he is the only one to have held the rank of Acting Commander in 1944. Now just got to figure out how he ended up there from Algiers. Thanks everyone Gus
