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The Veterans web site had this very interesting mail from one of our American cousins; a naval historian researching Allied coastal forces, foreign crewed craft with seconded RN ratings, during the Second World War. If you can assist this gentleman his e-mail address is at jones.mark.c@gmail.com

Hello,

   I am a naval historian in the United States. I am researching a topic concerning the RN during World War II. I am interested in the liaison teams placed by the RN on Allied warships from Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Free France, Yugoslavia and Greece. Each foreign warship of trawler size or larger that operated as an independent unit received a liaison team of a single junior officer plus 2-12 enlisted communications ratings. The single officer, usually a Sub-Lieutenant or Lieutenant, RNVR, was known as a British Naval Liaison Officer or BNLO.

  As best I can tell, individual MTBs, MGBs, MLs etc did not carry a liaison team. Instead, the flotilla had one or more BNLOs and each MTB in the flotilla may have had a single British sailor aboard to assist with communications. This information comes from a book about the 23rd Free French MTB flotilla at Dartmouth as well as from some files at the National Archives at Kew. The Free French seem to have decorated quite a few RN sailors, one from each boat in the flotilla, for their liaison duties.

   My question for you is, how might I find out more about how RN liaison personnel worked with coastal forces? Can any of your members point me toward published accounts of Polish, Norwegian, Dutch or Free French coastal craft? These published accounts could include newspaper obituaries of former coastal forces personnel who served aboard foreign boats. I see that you have a forum. Would a message from me likely draw any responses? Can you recommend any other organizations or museums to contact?

Sincerely,

Mark C. Jones
naval historian
Morristown, New Jersey, USA

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Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Information Required Posted: 20 December 2008 at 11:22am
	The Veterans web site had this very interesting mail from one of our American cousins; a naval historian researching Allied coastal forces, foreign crewed craft with seconded RN ratings, during the Second World War. If you can assist this gentleman his e-mail address is at jones.mark.c@gmail.com Hello, I am a naval historian in the United States. I am researching a topic concerning the RN during World War II. I am interested in the liaison teams placed by the RN on Allied warships from Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Free France, Yugoslavia and Greece. Each foreign warship of trawler size or larger that operated as an independent unit received a liaison team of a single junior officer plus 2-12 enlisted communications ratings. The single officer, usually a Sub-Lieutenant or Lieutenant, RNVR, was known as a British Naval Liaison Officer or BNLO. As best I can tell, individual MTBs, MGBs, MLs etc did not carry a liaison team. Instead, the flotilla had one or more BNLOs and each MTB in the flotilla may have had a single British sailor aboard to assist with communications. This information comes from a book about the 23rd Free French MTB flotilla at Dartmouth as well as from some files at the National Archives at Kew. The Free French seem to have decorated quite a few RN sailors, one from each boat in the flotilla, for their liaison duties. My question for you is, how might I find out more about how RN liaison personnel worked with coastal forces? Can any of your members point me toward published accounts of Polish, Norwegian, Dutch or Free French coastal craft? These published accounts could include newspaper obituaries of former coastal forces personnel who served aboard foreign boats. I see that you have a forum. Would a message from me likely draw any responses? Can you recommend any other organizations or museums to contact? Sincerely, Mark C. Jones naval historian Morristown, New Jersey, USA
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tramontana Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 April 2007 Status: Offline Points: 418	Post Options Post Reply Quote tramontana Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 December 2008 at 3:58pm
	Mark, Greetings to you, I did have contact with a chap (since crossed the Bar) who was involved with the Free French on one of their Corvette's, the purpose of the Naval Party was as you indicated in regards to communication's to prevent language difficulties, he and other's were Encoder's/Decoder's and responsible for ensuring that the correct "Codes of the Day" were in use along with any changes, they made sure that they were kept secure and thrown overboard in the lead weighted bag in the event of possible capture. As you may be aware the world of communications is still a "Secret Area" as the "Coding Principles" have not changed despite "electronics". Best place for any info on people involved has to be the R.N.'s publcaction "Navy News" however a lot of the Senior Citizen's still abide by the Official Secret's Act they signed during their Wartime Service. Season's Greetings to those across the Pond, those at Home and those serving their Country.