WW2 rescue boat faces bleak future - Telegraph HSL 102 (525) British Military Powerboat Trust, Coastal Forces, Gunboats, Target Boats, High Speed Launches, Motor Gun Boats, Torpedo Boats, Patrol Boats, Seaplane Tenders
Wouldn't it be better to donate her ... rather than let her go to rot ?? :noidea: I understand he's put a lot of money into it ... and he'd like that back but if nobody will buy her .... give her to a museum or Trust or something if she means that much to him and he did it as a labour of love !! :noidea:
I suspect he might be a bit hard up now, Annie, otherwise someone with his passion would certainly donate the vessel. A crying shame that people as dedicated as him are better recognised and assisted. Now, if I sell everything I own, steal some of Kyt's books and sell them, we might have a Chat flagship! Morse would be happy!
As part of my research, l have been trying to find out what happened to HSL 108. Does anyone have any ideas? Nick
Hi Nick .... it seems you've asked in a lot of places about the HSL 108 !! I know you have a lot of information about your Dad already ! I came across this and the thought occurred to me that this man may have some answers ... you might try a message to him .... its worth a shot .... if the experts here don't see this post first ! Colin Davies Annie
Sorry ! ... I forgot this ..... https://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/forum/displaytopic.asp?T=10372 I suppose you've already tried getting in touch here .... British Military Powerboat Trust, Coastal Forces, Gunboats, Target Boats, High Speed Launches, Motor Gun Boats, Torpedo Boats, Patrol Boats, Seaplane Tenders
Hsl 108 Thanks Annie, I will go through these to see what l can find. I will get a web site going at some point on my findings but l have had a lot of help from a Dutchman, Hans Nauta, who is going to issue a book on the events of 1st July 1941 and it is only right that l let him lead. My understanding is that following it's capture on 1st/2nd July 1941, HSL 108 was recovered and taken to Borkum and then Wilhelmshaven from which point, l believe that it was renamed 'Sengwarden' as part of 1./Sperrbecher Flottilla. During the war as a POW, Roger Daggett, one of the surviving launch crew, saw HSL 108 in a German magazine in German colors being used to pick up survivors from the 'Lobster pot' survival buoys along the Dutch coast between Wilhelshaven and Flushing (Vlissingen). Roger attended my Father's funeral and l recently discussed this with him. I also understand that there is a photograph in existence taken on the surrender of Keil, with the caption 'German E boat coming alondside' which the 'pros.' think to be a HSL in German colors. Photo remembered but not produced as yet. My search includes anyone who was with my Father, it is amazing the connections that you come across. I recently joined the 'Blenheim Society' and was contacted by the Brother of Douglas Barker. Douglas was shot down about a month after my Father and had very similar experiences, same POW camps, etc. but we thought, no other connection. Further research shows that Douglas was on the same raid as my Father on 30th June 1941 with a joint operation between 139 and 18 Squadrons. A certain Sgt. James McCairns, l believe, escorted my Father on this raid and was shot down shortly afterwards. A few months later, James and my Father escaped together as per McCairns E&E report but were recaptured. McCairns subsequently escaped again and was successful in returning to England, the rest is fairly well known. My Grandparents and, l believe, Roger Daggett's parents, received mail from McCairns after his return for sometime until his death in 1946. But the search continues:- Recently my middle son Sean wanted to go to the IWM in London as part of his school research into WW2. Walking around by the Desert rat truch he was standing next to a bent nose cone and said, 'Dad, is this from Grandpa's friend?'. Sure enough, the caption underneith showed that it was from a nose cone of a Lysander piloted by James McCairns that was damaged during a SOE pick up/drop off. Small world. Still researching. Regards, Nick
