Post-war LCH and LCI(L) postings

[brent.westwood]

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

[JEATON]

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.

[David Lea]

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

[Gone]

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

[David Lea]

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

[Gone]

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

[David Lea]

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

[Coggy1001]

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.

[JEATON]

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.