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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: David Lea on Wednesday 05 February 14 13:33 GMT (UK)
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I'm researching the war time history of my Uncle who served with the Royal Navy between 03/08/1943 and 05/12/1946.
After spending nearly 2 years posted to a Mk 3 LCT (7086),
On 07/02/1946 to 31/03/1946, he was posted to LCH 275
and
From 17/05/1946 to 30/06/1946, he was posted to LCI(L) 282
I would like to try and understand what activity my Uncle would have been involved in during this immediate post-war period on board the LCH and LCI(L)?
Also, any information regarding the LCHs and LCI(L)s would be gratefully received, especially if it relates to the specific landing crafts in question.
Many thanks in anticipation
David
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After spending nearly 2 years posted to a Mk 3 LCT (7086),
On 07/02/1946 to 31/03/1946, he was posted to LCH 275
and
From 17/05/1946 to 30/06/1946, he was posted to LCI(L) 282
LCH stands for Landing Craft Headquarters. They were essentially Landing Craft Infantry (Large) that had been converted (by packing them with various types of radios and other gear) to act as communications ships. 275 was one such ship.
LCI (L) 282 was returned to the Americans in September 1946, so he may have been involved in the decommissioning of the ship.
However, between the end of the war and the dates you have, ships and landing craft were very busy transporting goods and men back and forth between Britain and Europe. Men (both POWs and men to be demobbed were returned to Britain, and by 1946/47 German POWs were being returned to Germany).
I hope that's a start for your research.
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Many thanks Spikey68, that's really helpful, I'm very grateful!
Do you mind me asking where you got this specific information from? I'm just wondering if there's any mileage for me going back to your source to see if there's any more detail to be obtained?
Once again, thanks for your help.
David
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Many thanks Spikey68, that's really helpful, I'm very grateful!
Do you mind me asking where you got this specific information from? I'm just wondering if there's any mileage for me going back to your source to see if there's any more detail to be obtained?
Once again, thanks for your help.
David
Hi David
The info on what a LCH was was picked up over the years so afraid can't point you to anywhere specific. However, the info on LCI 282 was via google. Afraid you won't find much else out there on the interweb. Some Landing craft do get mentioned in memoirs or histories, but most slip into obscurity except in service records.
Those with more knowledge on naval records at the National Archives may be able to point you towards specific files (if they still exist).
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Thanks Spikey68, much appreciated.
I have never been to TNA but I really must plan a trip. I was also told one of their collections was the 'Green List' which lists the weekly locations of all RN small craft, so I would think that would be useful as perhaps a starting point there.
All very interesting!
Kind Regards
David
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Hi David, just in case you're still looking into HM LCI(H)275, I have a photo of the ship and a couple of the crew, a few names etc Get in touch if you want what little info I have.
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Hi hulme-griff,
Yes, I'm still researching LCH 275 and LCI(L) 282 but haven't made any significant progress to date, so I'm very excited to receive your message!
My Uncle was on one of the LCTs during the war but post war, served on the LCH and LCI(L).
I'd be really interested to see the photo and information that you have and am grateful for your time and trouble in contacting me.
My email address is david@familea.freeserve.co.uk which is probably the best way to send the info through if that's ok with you?
Once again, thank you for your message.
David
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Hi David, It was actually my dad that served on 275, he was sent to the USA with a few others to bring it back for conversion, served on it till it was delivered (safely) back to the USA so he'd have known your uncle. Unfortunately, he didn't talk about it except for telling me it was anchored off Gold beach, about a mile out, and they came ashore every night because it was too dangerous to stay aboard. He also heard the bombing of Caen from Gold. I've found the odd bit here and there including his application to join The Landing Craft Association with a list of places they were sent to. Anyway I'll E-Mail you, might not be today though, I have to dig it out and see what I have.
regards, Griff
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Hi, here are the dates for HM LCI(H)-275:
"Returned to US Naval custody, 27 March 1946
Struck, 5 June 1946 from the Naval Register"
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150275.htm (http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150275.htm)
(photo of the tower shows not LCI(H)-275, see Reply #9)
Technical data, information & photos:
LCI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Infantry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Craft_Infantry) *)
LCT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_craft_tank (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_craft_tank)
Regards
Rudolf
*) The quality of the article is good, but LCI(H) is missing - up to now.
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Hi Rudolf, thanks for the info, but the picture of the tower on navsource is NOT LCI(H)275. someone put that on without looking too hard, I think its LMS 275 or something like that. LCI(H) had a square tower. I bought the book with that pic in it too, just to make absolutely sure.
regards, Griff
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incidently, I seem to remeber a story in the bbc archives "peoples war" about group 210, sent out in advance of D Day to land some tanks on gold beach, the weather turned them back though. ML303, LCH 275, and a few other vessels were in the group. LCH275 was probably chosen because she was one of only a handful of LCI'S fitted with the then new Decca Radar, a big, round glass thing stuck on top of the Gantry which made it stand out from a normal LCI's
Griff
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How many LCI(H)-type crafts had been commissioned?
Is there a source?
I have found 7 Royal & 1 US Navy.
Hi Griff, thank you!
I have modified my reply.
RootsChat is going to be a Naval Source!
Regards
Rudolf
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Rudolf, that made me laugh. I was a little annoyed when I first saw the pic because I knew it was wrong but we all make mistakes when we rush things. I E-Mailed navsource, so hopefully it will be removed. I've been googling 275 for years on and off and come to realise its only the next generation,us, that will add anything, if at all. I'm just glad my mum saw fit to give me a couple of things rather than bin them, and this is a great place to share things.
regards, griff
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Thanks gents for your information, it is of great interest to me and I'll go through it in detail and incorporate it into my files.
I really am grateful.
Kind Regards
David
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you're welcome David, and the pic on navsource is being moved to the correct page so as not to confuse anyone,
Regards, Griff
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Hi David, just in case you're still looking into HM LCI(H)275, I have a photo of the ship and a couple of the crew, a few names etc Get in touch if you want what little info I have.
My father served on LCH275, during its time off the Normandy beaches, I still have his combined ops badge somewhere! He was Richard (dick) Reynolds otherwise know as 'Snowy' and he was a signalman. Love to see those images if there's any chance at all!
Kind regards
John
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Hi John
No problem at all, they were kindly supplied to me by Griff as referred to earlier in this thread, I'm sure he won't mind me passing them on to you.
Do you want to give me your email address and I'll send them on to you?
Cheers
David
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Hi John,
welcome to RootsChat, I think you need to have 3 posts to send a message.
Just post "Hi" two times ...
Regards
Rudolf
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Hi David.
I've just found this website, whilst looking for something else entirely. However, my father, Derrick Joseph Westwood, served on LCH 275 from 1943 to 1946. He was a Sub Lieutenant/Acting Lieutenant RNVR during that period and was present at the D-Day landings at Gold Beach, near Arromanches. He stayed close friends with the Captain, Charles Hill, for the rest of his life (both died in early 1993). The 1st Lieutenant was Paul Josling, later a JP. Before the landings, LCH 275 was based out of Portsmouth and was involved in convoy escort duties in the English Channel. LCH 275 had radar installed before the landings but, apparently, not even the Captain was allowed into the radar room.
After the end of the war, my father was also part of the crew that returned LCH 275 to the USA, via Gibraltar (possibly the Canaries too?) and Bermuda (the best route for low-powered ships), to either Baltimore or New York (not sure which, as he also delivered another lend-lease landing craft to the USA in 1946), travelling back to Britain on the then troopship, RMS Queen Mary.
I have some photographs of LCH 275 in an album of my father's photos. I'll try to attach them to another e-mail at a later date but I'm away at sea and won't be home before July 2018.
I hope these brief details are of some help with your research.
Kind regards,
Brent Westwood MNI
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Brent Westwood I have just seen you reply to my cousin David`s request from 2014 for information on LCT 275 on which my Dad served. I noted you were away at sea until July . I would be interested in any information/photographs you would be willing to share.
Best Wishes
June.
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Hi Brent
I'm grateful to my cousin June's 'tip off' regarding your recent reply to my original post from 2014 since through the passage of time, I had not seen it myself, so I apologise for not acknowledging it or replying.
I have read it with interest and it seems likely that your father would most likely have known my uncle who whilst part of the crew for only a short time, would I think have been involved in returning the craft to the USA in 1946.
As June states in her post, we would be most grateful to see any photographs or additional information you may have on LCH275 to help develop the history we are trying to compile of my Uncle (June's father)'s naval story.
Once again, I'm sorry for not replying earlier.
Kind Regards
David
If it helps, my new email address is davidlea222@gmail.com
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Hi David and Brent, I thought this post had finished a long time ago, nice to see it revived.
I've got a partial crew list which my father, Ewart (taff) Griffiths wrote down for me a few years ago. He was an ab from day one till returned to the USA.
Charles H Hill commander RNVR
Paul C Joslin LT RNVR
Derrek J Westwood S/LT RNVR
Bill Chambers, Coder
....... Pritchard, able seaman
Tubby Cartwright, signalman
A Caldwell, chef
J Twist AB
R Bradley, wireman
P Lister, Coder
........ Edge, PO/mechanic
Richard H Wilby, telegraphist.
Hopefully that's right, he was old when he wrote the list and his memory was not as good as it was.
He was great mates with Richard Wilby, who as you'd know died of shrapnel wounds, I think on the 7th June.
Tubby Cartwright was fined for being found asleep in The Arms of Queen Victoria, Liverpool.
J Twist from Liverpool, transferred to the army.
This crew list were apparently the original ones sent to USA to bring the ship back, as the war continued, more crew became available and increased till there were too many.
When the ship was collected, Commander Hill called the crew together and asked them various questions, eg, "anyone ever fired a gun before"? My father answered "only a shotgun" he was the gunner from that point onwards,
Hope you find this of interest.
Regards
Chris
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Hi Chris
Good to hear from you again and thanks for getting back in touch!
I was surprised to have received a follow-up message from Brent regarding my posting from a few years ago since I like you, I thought it had 'come to the end of the road' and with me having changed my email address, hadn't received the 'notification' that another message had been posted. It was only thanks to me cousin doing a bit of 'digging' that I found out about it! It's good to see thought that the system is working though and that there is still new information out there waiting to be discovered!
Brent has kindly sent me some information which I am in the process of working through.
Thanks again for getting back in touch and for all your information which I will also share with my cousin.
Kind Regards
David
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Good morning David.
I found very little online about 275, except for the odd mention in stories of other LCH's where they sailed in convoy. I know 275 was around the Med for some time, I found an application for "heroes return" where my father listed D Day Gold beach,
But other locations were (he spelled it wrongly) Dejeli , wherever this place was, I'm sure he said they had a base there.
Also, 2 1\2 years North Africa coast, and the invasion of Sicily and Salerno, I'd imagine putting troops ashore, I'm not sure that the radar and radio equipment was fitted at this time.
Of course, if you have any info relating to this, I'd welcome it.
He only told me a few things a couple of days before he died, so I never had the chance to ask him much.
Regards,
Chris
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Good Morning Chris
Sorry for the delay getting back to you.
Thanks again for your contact, it's good to keep in touch and I really appreciate the information you have kindly shared.
Brent has been very helpful in providing me with some great information about LCH 275 and some brilliant photographs. I have just responded to his emails and informed him of your connection to LCH 275. I'm not sure if he is going to contact you directly or I can forward his emails on to you which I know will be of interest. My Uncle appears on one of his photos, so I imagine there may be a good chance of your father being on there too!
Kind Regards
David
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I have information regarding LCH275 in respect of one of the original crew members who served until it was decommissioned. His name is Ken Haines - and he has named other original crew members. He remained in contact with Taff Griffiths and his wife Gloria.
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Thank you for your reply. I would be interested in any info/photo`s you may be willing to share. My Dad James Timlin would have been a crew member whilst it was being returned to America. Many Thanks June.
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I have information regarding LCH275 in respect of one of the original crew members who served until it was decommissioned. His name is Ken Haines - and he has named other original crew members. He remained in contact with Taff Griffiths and his wife Gloria.
Ken Haines was the best man at their wedding. Often mentioned when I was young
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Spoke to Ken Haines and he has named another crew member - Nobby Hall.
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Another crew member - Jock Wallis (Stoker)
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HI DAVID, I HAVE BEEN GOING THOUGH MY LATE FATHERS PAPERS AND HAVE FOUND ALL HIS NAVY PAPERWORK WITH IT IS A LIST OF HIS SHIP LCH 275 THAT HE SERVED ON FROM 5th SEPT 1943 TO 22nd JUNE 1946 AFTER HE WENT TO AMERICA TO RETURN THE SHIP BACK STOPING AT BERMUDA ON THE WAY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP. BEST REGARDS TONY PRITCHARD.
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Hi Tony.
I've just seen your reply to David Lea about LCH 275. My father, Derrick Joseph Westwood served on the ship from 1943-1946, taking part in the D-Day Landings on 6 June 1943 at Gold Beach (Sector King Red) and delivering the ship back to the USA in 1946 (stopping at Bermuda). He subsequently delivered a second landing craft, LCI 505, to the USA, also in 1946, before being demobbed. Sometime ago, I sent some photos and information to David and his cousin, June. I'd be happy to forward the same to you, if you wish - you may find photos of your father amongst them?
Kind regards,
Brent Westwood MNI