hello hello people, need some help, have come across a photo with two old sailers. On the photo one of the men has hmml 351 on his hat, anyone know what ship this is? is it likely to be ww1 or ww2? many thanks for any help.

WW1, built by Canadian Vickers and delivered from late 1915. Forty boats went to the French. Used by the Auxiliary Patrol.
Aye
Malcolm

here is the picture, it is my great grandfather padraig macleod and my great uncle donald macleod from the isle of harris,western isles

thanks malcolm, any more information on type,size,duties?

Motor Launches 51 to 580 were 37 tons ; 46 tons gross, 80' x 12.5'x 4' , 1 3 pounder, depth charges, 440 bhp giving 19.5 knots, crew of 8. acted as scouts, anti-submarine craft, inshore minesweepers, smokescreen layers and hydrophone vessels. ML356 was lost in collision 11/4/1918 off Dover. Several others by various means but not 351. Survivors sold in three lots and ended up either in two scrapyards in Britain or one in Malta.

Aye
Malcolm

Angus,

I have an old book called "Inshore Heroes- The story of H.M Motor Launches in Two World Wars " by Wilfred Granville & Robin A Kelly. It was published in 1961 so it might be hard too find, but you could try your local libraries.

It is mainly concerned with the pre-fab Fairmile motor launches of the second world war, however the first seven chapters are on the operations of ML's in the Great War. It is a good starting point. It does describe ML involvement in the Zeebrugge Raid and Dover Patrol well.

As I said, a good starting point.

That's a great photo by the way. You don't see moustaches like that now!

Scott.

Edit- ML 351 is not mentioned in the book.

Angus, loved your photo, I have tidied it up for you - I think it's nice to see how it would originally have looked, but still like them better in their battered and worn form.

A search of the RN seamen's registers for MacLeod, born Harris returns the following
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...mp;mediaarray=*

Only one match in the RNVR ratings:
Name Macleod, Donald
Service Number: Z/9964
RNVR Division: Clyde
Date 04 July 1900
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=2

They may have been in the Royal Naval Reserve, but their records are not online. Copies of the service cards are held on microfiche at the UK Natioanl Archives, Kew in BT377/7, Available on microfilm is BT 377/5 Alphabetical indexes to service numbers (microfilm copies): N-R 1908 Jan 01 - 1955 Dec 31. The originals of the cards are held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

thank you so much,love the work you have done to the old photo.our family will be delighted

Hi all, I am trying to find any information about ML373, ML475, ML550 and ML393 as I have a photo of these four boats in a flotilla but do not know the location. Any info about their crews or service details would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Angus, find here two awards to crew of HMML 373 ;

GERAHTY Cecil E N/E Lt. RNVR 83P387 H.M.M.L. 373
Senior Naval Officer Gibraltar 17.03.19 Gazetted
Actions with enemy submarines 09.11.18 Mentioned in Despatches
Depth charged the German submarine U.34, on the night of the 9th November, 1918.
Showed great presence of mind in putting gun-layers of his battery on the target in the minimum time, therebu obtaining three hits on the submarine and one round uncertain in the space of 20 seconds whilst the latter was submerging. Was excellent in the spirited way he took charge of his men.
Prompt action and good judgment in carrying out a successful attack.

GERAHTY Cecil E N/E Lt. RNVR 80E191 H.M.M.L. 373
S.N.O. Gibraltar 22.04.19 Gazetted Mediterranean 01.07.18 to 11.11.18 M in D
Has commanded H.M.M.L. 373, since October, 1916, and carried out his duty as Senior Officer of the Hunting Flotilla with zeal and ability.
Carried out a depth charge attack on an enemy submarine on the night of the 9th November, 1918, which resulted in her ultimate destruction by H.M.S. "Privet".

Sadsac

Welcome to the forum eastwood
These Ship's logs are at the UK National Archives, Kew:
ADM 53/51825 MOTOR LAUNCH No. 393 1917 Apr. 17 - 1917 Sept. 7
ADM 53/51957 MOTOR LAUNCH No. 475 1917 Feb. 10 - 1917 Mar. 18 to ADM 53/51962 1918 Sept.15 - 1919 Jan. 31
ADM 53/52121 MOTOR LAUNCH No. 550 1917 Jan. 12 - 1917 June 25 to ADM 53/52127 1918 Nov. 5 - 1919 Mar. 26

Unfortunately there are no Royal Navy crew lists for this time.

thanks - that's great. I am due to go to Kew next month and so will look them up then. I wanted to attach a photo but seem to exceed my limit each time - is there a knack to this?

Eastwood

To access the records above, you will need a readers ticket. Here's the link to their information, if you don't alreadt have one:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/registration/

Photos need to be less than 100k to be uploaded, reduce the resolution and play around until its smaller than 100.