M.T.B 671 Crew Research Can you help ?

Glad to help Jon, and thanks for the stamps!

 

Jon, just had a thought. The photo in post #36 includes a good image of Peter Henry Horley (your Uncle?). Your note says he was captured at Arnhem.
I just did a quick search on Paradata and he is not listed at all!
Have you considered adding him to the list there?
ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces
If you want to do that let me know and I will crop the image to suit.

Mike

 

Jon the 2 pictures of the boat were taken in the Bangor Straits as the ship was buit by Dickies boatyard of Bangor.The pictures are the same as mine except i have another pictures on the jetty with a couple of Wrens.I will dig out my list of names tomorrow but the gent in the white jumper on the left is P.O Joseph Alan buckley

 

I didn't realise you already had these pix, Izzy - it seems like maybe all the crew got given a copy, then? Thanks for determining where the boat was at the time. My mother said that I was "made" (as in, begun!) on John's birthday, March 17, when he snicked some leave. She said that was at Yarmouth, but I don't know which Yarmouth that would be - perhaps the one near to Portsmouth/Gosport. I wonder if the crew are readying 671 for her inaugural voyage? Best wishes.

 

Izzy, Jon, could the two pictures be 671 straight out of the boatyard and before painted/identification marks applied? It would also make some sense if the 'group' photo was perhaps at commissioning. The photo does not look to me like it was taken on the MTB itself, perhaps on a hard or jetty, although I could be very wrong.

 

That's an interesting thought, Mike - there's no-one alive in my family who would know, but that makes a lot of sense to me. That would explain why we had pictures of "a boat" - I can't see John keeping a snap of just "a boat", now you put that idea forward. Well done, Hercule Poirot!

 

I was linked for this topic by the Coastal Forces veterans. I am trying to get some information on MTB 671; I have been approached by the sister of L .LEGG, (Ordinary Seaman, P/JX. 428612 - who was reported as missing after the action). She still lives on St Agnes Isles of Scilly where the family were raised; she is travelling to Pointe de Bar Fleur next month to visit the last known position of the vessel. I would be really keen to get any images or information on the vessel and crew which can support her journey. Thank you.

 

Hi izzy, Living close to Thame, Oxon I called at the national war memorial (Yesterday) hoping to find William George Dennis Hill's name upon it. Sadly it's not included. I have some photographs of this memorial that I took last year for someone else, and will post them-up if you would like to see them.

 

I just thought readers might like to have the link that izzy mentioned which is the official war report compiled by Lt Commander Don Bradford for the action in which MTB 671 was lost on the 24th April, 1944

http://cfv.org.uk/mess-deck/war-reports/april-1944

and also this link for chapter 3 of the autobiography of Ken Forrester entitled, If I Only Had Known. Ken served as a forward gunner onboard MTB 632, one of three boats involved in the action, and has a vivid recollection of the events of that night, which he details here.

http://cfv.org.uk/mess-deck/library/if-i-only-had-known

 

Hi,

I thougth this may help, even if the topic is old.

Jack OWEN tomb : HOULGATE CEMETERY (France, Normandy, Calvados)

J. OWEN GM.
Ordinary seaman. RN.
P/JX. 396223
H.M.M.T.B. 671
24th april 1944 Age 29



On the general view, his tomb is the first one on the top. He is the only member of Royal Navy among this group.

 

Joan ismay toogood/ inkson was my grandmother! I was to young to remember my grandfather, id love to find out more about him if anybody has any stories ? I can also ask my aunt cherry if she minds me passing contact details on to those that wanted them ! Thank you so much for enabling me to find out some more family history ! I love it !!

 

Hi Mike,

I'm new to WW2Talk, but I have the DSM to Day and wondered if I could have a copy of this photo? Or if you had any other pictures of him?

Cheers, Fred

 

My mother's cousin was Howard James Brooke, the motor mechanic. He was 35, older than most of the crew. His father had been in the RNAS/RAF again at an older age. Spookily, the Chief motor mechanic was Joseph Alan Buckley, my son in law is Alan Buckley, his son is Joseph Buckley.