HDML 1242

HDML 1242

McLean, Renfrew Scotland 31/4/43

London Gazette 3/7/45 – For opening up the port of Livorno 1944

• DSC Lt William Ashton
• DSM LSea Walter Henry Dunford C/JX260490

London Gazette 11/12/45 – Wind up of the war in Europe

• MID LMtrMch James Lane C/MX500897
• BEM AB Richard Norman Bowers D/SSX22221

Known Crew

• TLt Alfred John Keith Anderson RNVR TSLt HMS Skirmisher II (Milford Haven) for MLs 27/4/42 TLt 9/10/42 HMS St Christopher HDML 1242 31/3/43 Operation Avalanche -Salerno Landings Commanding Officer HDML 1221 18/1/44 Commanding Officer ML 386 31/7/44 For services in the clearance of the Aegean and the relief of Greece DSC
• Lt William Ashton Commanding Officer (see further details below) HDML 1242 1/44- 8/45 For opening up the port of Livorno 1944 DSC
• TSLt A W H Bush RNVR TASLt 25/12/42 HMS St Christopher HDML 1242 31/3/43 TSLt 25/6/43 Operation Avalanche -Salerno Landings HDML 1254 31/1/44 25th ML Flotilla ML 238 12/8/44
• LSea Walter Henry Dunford C/JX260490 HDML 1242 For opening up the port of Livorno 1944 DSM
• LMtrMch James Lane C/MX500897 HDML 1242 Wind up of the war in Europe MID
• AB Richard Norman Bowers D/SSX22221 HDML 1242 Wind up of the war in Europe BEM

Wartime Activities

• Mediterranean
• 9/9/43 Operation Avalanche -Salerno Landings
• 1944 Opened up the port of Livorno, including salvage work whilst under fire.

Post War History

• 9/46 For disposal

Lt William Ashton was a specialist survey officer:

• 1938 HMS Flinders off the south coast of England
• 1938-39 HMS Herald off Borneo and Malaya and then in minesweepers at Singapore
• Flying back to the United Kingdom, he survived a crash off Taranto
• 1940 Staff of Flag Officer Dover
• 5/40-42 HMS Scott in northern waters
• 3/42-6/43 HMS Endeavour in the Red Sea and Suez Canal
• 6-12/43 Port Survey Parties in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded an American Bronze Star for services in Naples.
• 1/44 ML 1242 in command and awarded a DSC for salvage work, under fire at Livorno
• 8/45 Returned to the United Kingdom
• 10/45 HMS Scott off the east coast of England
• 3/47 SML 585 in command with the mine clearance force off the east coast of England
• 11/47 HMS Challenger in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean
• 1949-50 HMS Seagull off the west coast of England
• 3/50 Trials in HMS Cook at Devonport
• 8/50 HMS Scott in command off the south coast of England
• 10/51 HMS Challenger in command as an acting commander. Ship was in Japanese Waters on a world cruise
• 1953 Hydrographic Department
• 1955 Retired