My Uncle, Martin Long and the loss of HMLCT 488

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Mike L, Oct 19, 2011.

  1. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    After a lesson in Photobucket from Owen (thanks very much, greatly appreciated) I have resized many of the images.
    Martin's entry on panel 78 of the Chatham Royal Navy Memorial.

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  2. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    After this tradgedy, LCT489(Mk3) did get to the Far East.My friend Arthur Fairchild left Falmouth in December 1944 as the Telegraphist and has quite a tale to tell of the journey under their own steam through the Med to Cochin.He remembers other LCTs being in this later convoy and would love to know more.I have been trying to make enquiries for him but as I don't know the convoy number am rather stuck.Any idea where I could find out more?
     
  3. anna590

    anna590 Junior Member

    Hello!
    I'm not sure if you would be interested but I am currently putting together a publication that will record people's spoken histories from the second world war. I am an artist based in liverpool and my work is based on the loss memory and history. We are amongst the last generation that will hear these stories first hand and I think it is a shame that all of these amazing things that have happened to people we know will be lost or succumb to a chinese whispers like chain. I wouls be really interested in hearing about your family's history in the war and if you are interested I would be glad to input your information into the publication. I am endeavoring to provide a copy of the book to anyone who contributes so it might be a nice keepsake?

    let me know if you are interested and ill try my best to get your stories out to people who want to hear them :smile:

    Anna Mulhearn

    Final year fine art student at LJMU
     
  4. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Shiny 9th,
    I would love to chat to Arthur if that is possible. I have some information and a few pictures he may be interested to see.
    Re the convoys I would suggest starting with the Arnold Hague database:
    Arnold Hague database OS/ KMS convoys
    There is also a lot of information on this website:
    The primary task of WW2 Combined Operations was to plan for the invasion of mainland Europe following the evacuation at Dunkirk. It's synonymous with Commando raids and landings, landing craft design, training of personnel from the 3 services in amph
    and through a link there you should be able to contact Tony Chapman, the historian of the LST and Landing Craft Association (now officially disbanded).
    If you are having trouble I can put you in touch with Tony directly.

    Keep in touch.

    Mike
     
  5. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Anna,
    Very interested in your publication. Obviously I can't help with a recording of my Uncle's experiences but if you find anything I have posted of interest feel free to use it.
    I would also suggest trying the links above I have suggested for 'Shiny 9th', you might well find some useful information there, possibly including contact details for some surviving veterans.
    Just remembered finding this site:
    Recollections of WWII - London
    Might be worth having a poke round there.

    Good luck,

    Mike
     
  6. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    After an interesting few days visiting relatives in Preston (for the start of Preston Guild) and Yorkshire I now have copies of some further documents and photos:

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    Martin with his Corporation dustcart prior to becoming a Telephone Operator with Preston Corporation, his occupation on call-up.

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    Martin (on left) prior to call-up with his Mother and Uncle George outside his Mother's house in Fishwick Parade, Preston.

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    Perhaps most interesting of all is this, the original of the photo of Martin in his Petty Officer's uniform. All other versions I have seen were 'zoomed in' but on this, the original, the White House in Washington is in the background.
     
  7. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    And from my Cousin in Yorkshire another of Martin's letters home, this one written when he was assigned to HMS Victory in 1943 prior to his promotion to Petty Officer Motor Mechanic.

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    CL1 and Deacs like this.
  8. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Mike,

    Thanks for pointing me to your Uncle's story. You and your Father have done a wonderful job in tracking down the material that tells the tragic tale of your Uncle's death and the loss of his LCT and others on that ill-fated convoy. I felt at times I was on board with them as they attempted to deal with the mishaps and breakdowns that followed ominously one upon the other in the raging seas. Such an unnecessary waste of young life. His last letter home is truly heart breaking in retrospect.

    Regards ...
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    MikeL,

    I have to agree with Cee, a most wonderful piece of research to read.

    Many thanks for including Martin's last letter and I can well image the feeling reading it the first time.

    Martin surely had a premonition.

    My late Father, born February 1921, grew up just off Fishwich Parade at No 10 Downing Street, Preston :D and must have lived very close to your family.

    Thank you for such a good piece of Historical research.


    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Cee, Tom, thanks for those kind thoughts. Tom - small world eh?
    I am still working on research on the Mk1 LCTs lost in Crete with the Australian archaeologist and might be meeting the surviving skipper of one (now well into his 90s).
    I recently asked Qinetiq (formerly Admiralty Research Establishment) at Haslar, Portsmouth, to get MOD to declassify some early wartime LCT research results. They were happy to do this and one of these documents (copyright Qinetiq) clearly states model tests revealed that in heavy seas vessels of this type are unstable whilst being towed. If only someone at the Admiralty knew that.......
     
  11. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Mike,

    The old Nelson touch. Turning a blind eye.

    Yes it is a small world.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  12. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Mike,

    Googled my fathers address at No 10,Downing street, and your family address at 149, Fishwick parade.

    Both houses very close!

    Interesting thought, that perhaps they knew each other.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  13. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    I have just been sent the attached photo by a relative in Preston.
    First time I have seen this and what is interesting is that everyone is named on the back.
    Judging from the Bournemouth photographer I would guess the photo was taken whilst Martin 'shorty' was at HMS Shrapnel from 26th September 1942 to 26th March 1943. I wonder if any of the others in the photo are still alive?
    Just noticed something else, in a few days (11th January) it would have been Martin's 90th birthday.
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Next Sunday, the 19th of October, at approximately 0500 it will be the 70th anniversary of the sinking of HMLCT 488 and my Uncle Martin’s death.

    Approximately 50 RN LCT personnel died due to the tragic events of Convoy OS92 and the storm that blew up in the Irish Sea. Most of the bodies, including Martin’s, were never recovered.

    Part of my ongoing research has revealed a manual for the Ricardo Paxman diesel engines in the Essex County Records Office. These engines had a capacity of around 58.7 litres and 2 were fitted in each Mk3 landing craft. I have also found, at The National Archives, a copy of the minutes of the Board of Enquiry held in Gibraltar to investigate the circumstances of the losses. One factor that contributed to the loss of several of the vessels appears to be failure of, and difficult access to, the ‘forward 70 ton pump’. Despite spending 2 days at the National Maritime Museum (Plans and Photos Department) searching their collection of LCT drawings I can only find details of the later ‘7000’ series of vessels and these do not appear to have had a forward pump fitted.

    There are still some other LCT drawings at the NMM that I can search through and my efforts to answer some of the questions regarding this tragedy will continue.

    RIP Martin Long, Petty Officer (Motor Mechanic), Royal Navy.
    11th January 1923 – 19th October 1944. :poppy:
     

    Attached Files:

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