HDML 1128

Berthon Boat, Lymington 30/6/42

London Gazette 21/12/43 – For Operation Husky – Invasion of Sicily

London Gazette 25/1/44 – For Operations Baytown and Ferdy landings in Italy in September 1943

Known Crew

TLt Douglas John Browne RANVR HDML 1128 22/6/42 For Operation Husky – Invasion of Sicily MID TLt 28/8/42 HMS St Christopher HDML 1327 8/44
TLt R Sheppard RNVR TSLt 24/7/41 Commanding Officer HDML 1128 18/11/43 TLt 24/1/44 HMS Wildfire (Sheerness)
TSLt L Schofield RNVR TASLt 1/9/43 First Lieutenant HDML 1128 9/11/43 TSLt 1/3/44 ML 565 8/10/44
TSLt S B deC Baker RNVR TASLt 18/12/42 HDML 1253 22/3/43 TSLt 18/6/43 Operation Husky – Invasion of Sicily Operation Avalanche – Salerno Landings 31st ML Flotilla ML 555 5/11/44 Commanding Officer HDML 1128 7/3/45
ACMMch Daniel Greenhalgh D/MX74299 HDML 1128 For Operation Husky – Invasion of Sicily MID
LSea Jack Skeels D/SSX17799 HDML 1128 For Operations Baytown and Ferdy landings in Italy in September 1943 MID

Wartime Activities

Mediterranean
11/42 Operation Torch – Invasion of Algeria
6/11/42 ML 280, ML 463, ML 469, ML 471, ML 480 and ML 483 and HDML 1127, HDML 1128, HDML 1139 and HDML 1142 sail from Gibraltar, after dark, for Operation Torch
10/7/43 Operation Husky Invasion of Sicily
3/9/43 Operation Baytown – Landing at Reggio
8/9/43 Operation Ferdy Landing at Vibo Valentia, Italy. Group One consisting of ML 1127 with nine LCI(L)s
At 0800, with Rear Admiral Rhoderick R McGrigor, Flag Officer Sicily and supervising the landing, embarked, MTB 77 was around three miles west of the small harbour when an air attack developed. A near miss from a bomb dropped by a FW 190 exploded two feet from the starboard quarter and ripped out the bottom of the boat. Rear Admiral Rhoderick McGrigor was blown off the bridge and landed on the deck, injuring a leg. MTB 77 sank off Vibo Valentia, Italy and survivors were recovered by HDML 1128, which hoisted the admiral’s flag.
ML 1128 took over as the flagship of Rear Admiral Rhoderick R McGrigor, who continued to direct operations despite a leg injury. ML 1128 lead an LST, carrying artillery, into the beach under heavy fire. Landing the artillery proved to be the turning point of the action. ML 1128 was hit forty times during the action.
1944 Free French – VP 6

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