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Help: MTBs on RN Service Records

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Category: Boats (In alphabetical order)
Forum Name: Motor Torpedo Boats
Forum Description: Discussion on Motor Torpedo Boats
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=514
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 9:10pm


Topic: Help: MTBs on RN Service Records
Posted By: mhedges
Subject: Help: MTBs on RN Service Records
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 2:28am

Hello all,

My grandfather was in the RNVR during WW2. Family lore says he served on MTBs during the war and was on one that was sunk by an E-boat.

I have obtained his service record and am trying to interpret it. Under ships served on, it lists ships and shore establishments, but no MTB numbers.

Would service on MTBs be listed by MTB number under ships?

During one period of service, there is a dash "-" for ship name. Any idea what that could mean?

Many thanks for any help.

 


Replies:
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 9:42am

Hello 'mhedges'

Welcome aboard.

Your Grandfathers records will give the clue's that may help. If you can see - in the Establishments that are recorded - any of the the Coastal Forces Bases - from those you may be able to trace what Flotilla's were based there and what dates etc that may coincide with Grandad's records - if you PM (private messge) me, I may be able to assist you further.

Rgds



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Pioneer - Forum Moderator

Posted By: mhedges
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 12:50pm

Thanks for the reply.

From the list of postings, I can't see any Coastal Bases, but you would know better than I. Listed in order (writing is bad, best guess):

Praleigh (2 mnths); Victory (1 mnth); Daedalus (1 mnth); Victory (1 mnth); Vernon (6 mnths); Victory (now AB, three different from dates, ~4 mtnhs); Hawkins (6 mths); "-" (7 months); Victory (6mths); Shrapuil (Bricket) (2 mths); Victory (2 mths); Queens (5 mths); Victory (5 mths) releasen in Class A.

The "-" ship name is from Feb 45 to Jul 45. July was a few months after the end of hostilities wasn't it?

I thought Victory was a training establishment and he went there in between Sea postings? I've managed to find most of the ships. Assuming posting to Victory is not for MTBs, that only leaves the dash posting.

 

 

Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 1:17pm
I would think that 'Praliegh' would be HMS Raleigh (still extant at Torpoint Cornwall UK) This has been widely recognised as the Training Base for new recruits. HMS Victory, obviously at Portsmouth, had several annex's ie Victory 1 - 2 etc and could be loosely interpreted as part of Portsmouth RNB - I will get back to with the other shore establishments - I would think that 'Shrapuil' could be HMS Shrapnel -  aka the Great Western Hotel in Southampton. This establishment I believe was used as a transition camp but I could be wrong there but many troops and Naval Officers were billeted there in the build up to 'D' day - I'll dig further.

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Pioneer - Forum Moderator

Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 5:02pm

HMS Daedalus was a Fleet Air Arm Station at Lee on Solent (fairly recently closed)

HMS Vernon (R) Torpedo, Mine and Electrical Training Establishment transfered from Portsmouth to the Roedean Girls School -Brighton (due to the heavy bombing of Portsmouth). Commissioned in May 1941 - the girls having been transfered to Keswick - at first it was used by the Army (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders being the first to actually be billeted there, followed by the 'Queens') Whether this 'Queens' is the one mentioned in your grandfathers records may depend on the date (1941).

As a Leading Rate - it would be doubtful whether he could have 'hitched a ride' with any friends he may have made in the many MTB/MGB flotilla's in the area (as many Officer's certainly did) but not impossible.



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Pioneer - Forum Moderator


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