Lieutenant R.N.V.R. Patrick George Troughton MiD (1920-1987)

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by SteveDee, Sep 3, 2022.

  1. SteveDee

    SteveDee Well-Known Member

    To my generation, he is better known as the actor that played the 2nd incarnation of Dr. Who.

    In his biography, written by his son Michael, chapter 2 is devoted to his WW2 experiences. But even before he signed up, he managed to get blown up on a Belgian ship which was sunk south of Portland/Weymouth while crossing the Atlantic from the USA.

    As soon as he was old enough, he signed up and joined a Naval officer training scheme. Navigation theory was supplemented with some bizarre practical sessions. In Pat's words; "...navigational instruments lashed to a three-wheeler bicycle pulling a wheeled platform. It is quite the most ridiculous thing I have ever done, pretending to steer our "vessel" around a sea of grass and calculating the correct bearing to intercept the enemy."

    His men gave him the nickname "Lieutenant Cosy", because he wore a tea cosy on his head. This seems to have been prompted by his wife telling him to wear a hat when out on winter patrols.

    By all accounts, Pat Troughton had an eventful war, and went on to have an interesting life.

    A very good read: Patrick Troughton Special Anniversary Edition: The Biography
     
  2. Rattler

    Rattler Junior Member

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  3. SteveDee

    SteveDee Well-Known Member

    DrWho.png

    That's interesting. His biography only mentions MGB 603 & RML 514.
     
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  4. Rattler

    Rattler Junior Member

    The 3rd actor who played Dr Who, ie reincarnated following Patrick Troughton's tenure, was Jon Pertwee. Joining up just prior to the start of WWII he spent much of his naval career during the war in Naval intelligence. He also had a long stint in the radio show 'The Navy Lark'.
     
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  5. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi, I was wondering how one reads the dates in the summary of Troughton's service. They're start and end dates, right? So at the time he was MiD he would have been on MTB 500?

    There is something odd - maybe a typo - in that it says his service with MTB 500 ended 06.1944 and was then on RML 514 from 07.1945. it seems likely to me that either 06.1944 should be 06.1945, or that 07.1945 should be 07.1944 - unless he was doing something else for a year.
     
  6. SteveDee

    SteveDee Well-Known Member

    Hi Chris, I've just had a quick look at his biography and found this;

    On 21st June 1944, fifteen days after the invasion of Europe, Pat was given command of his own vessel, RML 514.
    The job this time was to patrol the coastal strip and rescue airmen who had been shot down over the North Sea. His wife can remember how relieved she felt at the news of Pat's promotion to Captain of the RML;
    "Although the RML was still very dangerous work, at least he was away from those dreaded E-boats".

    I hope this helps.
     
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  7. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    His MiD was for action 24 October 1943 not 30 May 1943, suspect you may have mixed up the LG issue which was 30 May but 1944.

    Anyway, Ty Lt Patrick Troughton R.N.V.R. was awarded a Mention in Despatches for action 24 October 1943. For outstanding courage, leadership and skill in Light Coastal Craft in many daring attacks on enemy shipping in enemy waters: —

    He was serving in MGB 603 at the time. If you look around the internet you will see MGB 603 was involved in a lot of action with the enemy and maybe his wife was right and RML was a break from that.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Thanks to you both!!
     

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