HDML 1392
Berthon Boat, Lymington 20/12/43
ML 1392 at Breskens 1945 (John Smith Collection)
London Gazette 19/12/44 – For good service distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy
- MID LSea Maurice Quinton LT/JX272775
- MID Engm Thomas Boyle LT/KX135807
Known Crew
- TLt D F Merritt RNVR TSLt 12/6/42 149th ML Flotilla Commanding Officer HDML 1392 13/12/43 Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy TLt 24/10/44TSLt J M B Lloyd RNVR TASLt 20/8/43 TSLt 20/2/44 149th ML Flotilla First Lieutenant HDML 1392 17/3/44 Operation Neptune – Invasion of Normandy
- LSea Maurice Quinton LT/JX272775 149th ML Flotilla HDML 1392 For good service distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy MID
- Engm Thomas Boyle LT/KX135807 149th ML Flotilla HDML 1392 For good service distributing instructions in the assault anchorage after the first landings in Normandy MID
- LSea Walter “Tug” George Wilson LT/JX 378195
- Tel Betts
- Sea Buckley
- POMM Creasey
- Radar English
- Sigs Gordon Forbes (NZ)
- Jackson
- Kelly
- Stoker Kiltie
- Sea/gunner Roy Lacey
- Sea Maclean
- Sea Norman
- Tel Potts
- Asdic “Ping” Roberts
- Cook Shafto
- ASDIC/Seaman Taylor
- ASea Patrick Flynn
- ASea Charlie Warwick
- Sea Radar Frank “curly” Capstick
- Sea Sid Jones
- ASea Joe Harper
LSea Walter “Tug” George Wilson LT/JX 378195
Wartime Activities
- 6/44 Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
149th ML Flotilla
ML1295, ML1309, ML1383, ML1387, ML1389, ML1391, ML1392, ML1393, ML1407, ML1409, ML1421. ML1422 - 6/6/44 Channel Marker at Gold Beach on D Day
- 6/3/45 Captured a German Biber Type midget submarine off Breskens in the Scheldt Estuary. Eleven Bibers had sortied that day. Four were found abandoned along the coast at North Beveland, Knocke, Domberg and Zeebrugge.
- One was sunk by gunfire off Westkapelle on 8 March and five vanished.
Midget submarine captured by HDML 1392
Post War History
- 1946 Fast Despatch Boat = FDB73
- 10/47 HM Customs & Excise = Valiant
- 1967 Sold = Frol – Pejo
- 1974 =Sarinda (Charter work on Crinan Canal)
- 1980-91 Extensive conversion to luxury motor yacht
- 11/95 Base ported at Liverpool.
- Reduced to a hull, rebuilt with new engines and superstructure, used as a houseboat. Fitted with fin stabilisers to reduce rolling.
- 2018 In Heswall
- 2021 Purchased by Simon and Gemma Robins who begin an extensive restoration…see Youtube “Ship Happens”. Wartime diary of crewmember Frank Capstick published by Gemma Robins “The 1944 Diaries”.
Photograph courtesy of Brian Haseler
