大象传媒

This story has been written onto the 大象传媒 People鈥檚 War website by CSV Storygatherer Carole on behalf of Alan Thorpe. The story has been added to the site with his permission. Alan Thorpe fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

I served in the Royal Navy鈥檚 Light Coastal Force during the latter part of 39/45 war, prior to that as a teenager I was a member of the 鈥淎ir Training Corps鈥� based at Norbury Manor School in London.
After VE day, whilst based at HMS Midge in Great Yarmouth, some form of competition took place, I imagine instigated at Coastal Forces Headquarters at HMS Hornet in Gosport, Hants. Four of the smartest 鈥淒鈥� for Dog Class motor boats were going to make a courtesy tour (showing the White Ensign) of the Cornish coast and Devon Riviera coast towns.
Our boat HMMTB 779 was one of the four boats chosen, as a result of the crew鈥檚 clean-up operation.
We arrived at Plymouth Harbour on VJ night, August 15th, 1945. next day we sailed on to Penzance, our first port of call on the tour.
The boats were on show to the public, on then to Padstow, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, where we were refuelled by petrol tankers from Bristol 鈥� our Packard engines ran on high octane petrol, so that was a tricky operation.
During the whole tour of coastal towns the reception we received was fantastic, even when weather conditions prevented us from visiting Clovelly, the local people arranged a reception and dance for us, the boat鈥檚 crew being transported by Royal Marine transport form Appledore.
Final stopovers before returning to HMS Attack 鈥� another Coastal Force base at Portland Harbour 鈥� were Brixham and Torquay, berthed alongside jetties at both resorts.
My naval service continued with time spent in the Mediterranean Fleet at Malta and in the Home Fleet aboard HMS Indomitable and HMS Vanguard.
Obviously the end of war celebrations were special to us in the Light Coastal Forces.

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