My Mothers cousin served in M.T.B.671 and was in support of a clandestine operation called Able Madonna or it might have been Madonna Able it was before 22/04/1944 as he was K.I.A on that date. Can any tell me a little more information on the mission.
Drew cheers for that i had a list of the bases that my relative was based but not the location your link filled in a few gaps thanks for that.
No Worries..I can't find anything on the Operation though. You might want to add Royal Navy to the title to attact the RN nuts Regards Andy
Izzy A website on naval losses shows the casualty list for MTB671 as 24 April 1944. These were the men on that boat:- MTB.671, ship loss BROOKE, Howard J, Leading Motor Mechanic, P/MX 635894, MPK BROWN, Raymond G, Able Seaman, P/JX 369893, killed BUCKLEY, Joseph A, Chief Motor Mechanic 4c, P/MX 116188, killed DEAN, Bernard, Petty Officer, D/JX 140045, killed GOLDSWORTHY, Davey J, Ty/Leading Seaman, D/SSX 26540, killed GROVES, Kenneth D, Stoker 1c, D/KX 158677, MPK HARDIE, Manus, Stoker 1c, C/KX 158851, MPK HILL, George D, Wireman, P/MX 102404, MPK HORLEY, John L, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, killed JONES, Ronald W, Able Seaman, P/JX 421023, MPK LAMBERT, Job, Able Seaman, C/JX 376632, killed LEGG, Leslie, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 428612, MPK LEONARD, Edward, Able Seaman, P/JX 396438, MPK MACPHERSON, William W, Able Seaman, P/JX 417851, killed OWEN, Jack, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 396223, killed PULLEN, Frank W, Able Seaman, P/JX 296441, MPK ROOK, Cecil, Act/Able Seaman, C/JX 301352, killed RUSSELL, Robert, Able Seaman, P/JX 385946, MPK SAUNDERS, Walter G, Telegraphist, C/JX 341007, killed SIMMS, Leonard R, Stoker 2c, P/KX 158876, MPK SMALLWOOD, Patrick L, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNVR, killed TOOGOOD, Lawrence E, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, killed WHARTON, Frederick T, Telegraphist, P/JX 405825, killed WOODBURN, George H, Able Seaman, P/JX 385979, MPK WOODHEAD, Edward C, Ty/Midshipman, RNVR, MPK It says that they were sunk during a torpedo attack on destroyers off Barfleur, N.France on April 24, 1944. Cheers - Robert
Izzy Thanks for sharing that with us. I didn't want to ask at first as you might have wanted to keep this matter private. Was just about to ask what does MPK mean and realised that it is Missing Presumed Killed. Regards - Robert
Sadly one of those listed as missing:- Name:WOODBURN, GEORGE HECTOR Initials:G H Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Able Seaman Regiment/Service:Royal Navy Unit Text:H.M.M.T.B. 671 Age:20 Date of Death:24/04/1944 Service No:P/JX 385979 Additional information:Son of James and Elizabeth Woodburn, of Liverpool. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:Panel 83, Column 3.Memorial:PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Operation PREMIUM: 1944, Unsuccessful raid landing attempt at Scheveningen, Holland. Attempted previously as MADONNA ABLE. Details here translated from Dutch. Google Translate Incidentally, This MTB was based at HMS ST Christopher at Fort William. The name still lives today through the local sea cadet unit. I was a member in the early 1970's Regards Hugh
Operation Able Madonna October 26, 1943 (first landing attempt) There was no contacts with the enemy. The dory got lost (compass failure) and the MTB returned back in the morning without commandos. The commandos arrived the next day in their dory! Operation Premium January 28, 1944 (second landing attempt) The ships, led by commander Bradford in the 617 left Chatham with a speed of 22 knots to IJmuiden. Here they chose position. At about 02.58 they got a message that a German E-Boot unit came in their direction. The Germans were on their way back from a successful attack on an Allied convoy at Tyne which was on its way to London. They had sunk the SS Phillip M and then they escaped from a attack by British warships who were escorted the convoy. Via Texel they came down along the Dutch coast to IJmuiden. Bradford was told the ship to catch up this German force. The naval officer then split his ships into two formations are of three ships each. The first, consisting of the M for Monkey's: MTB 617, 621 and 629. The others were C for Charlie; the 630, 652 and 668. The former band came unexpectedly up on a five enemy trailers who immediately opened fire. Bradford did not tempted to attack. Immediately after the E-Boots were reported, a sharp seabattle was erupting. Eventually the fight was broken off because it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. On MBT 621 was one men killed. The fight was broken off and they returned at 10.15 in Great Yarmouth. The MBT's belonged to the 55th MTB Flotilla. Premium Operation February 27, 1944 In this effort took only MTB 617 part. Graet Yarmouth they left at 16.00 hours. The crossing went well. Near the Dutch coast suddenly the coastlight went indicating the arrival of a German convoy. Soon loomed from the north five German minesweepers, the vanguard of a convoy. To their surprise, the Germans did not immediately opened fire. It passed without any reaction what so ever. Bradford decided then to a dangerous gamble. He trusted that the Germans held his vessel for a friendly ship, he crossed the minesweepers from behind in the direction of the the Dutch coast. Then he followed the convoy - between the convoy and the German motor torpedo boats following behind. After Katwijk had been passed Bradford slowed down and did put up a smoke screen. This list also succeeded. Cautiously they approached now the disembarcation point for the commandos. The commandos left the MTB at 01.30 hours and went into a dory. Shortly afterwards they saw flares going up on the coast and heard terrible Geramn cry's ... From the MTB could be seen that a German patrol neared the landing area. By 04.00 to rest on the beach turned back. By 0500 appeared the dory containing two French commandos who had set off the commando's and had been waiting more out of sea. At 05.10 hours Bradford accepted the return trip and they reached without indidents Great Yarmouth. This is in brief what happened from the sea side.
Sadly one of those listed as missing:- Name:WOODBURN, GEORGE HECTOR Initials:G H Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Able Seaman Regiment/Service:Royal Navy Unit Text:H.M.M.T.B. 671 Age:20 Date of Death:24/04/1944 Service No:P/JX 385979 Additional information:Son of James and Elizabeth Woodburn, of Liverpool. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:Panel 83, Column 3.Memorial:PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
