National Historic Ships: HMS Medusa (HDML 1387) [Archive]

holmesb4

20-10-2008, 12:16

I have just joined the Forum so i should introduce myself.
I am part of the team restoring HMS Medusa the HDML built in 1943 which marked one of the approach lanes to Omaha Beach and was the first boat into Amsterdam.

You can learn a lot more at our website http://www.hmsmedusa.org.uk where we have inserted the records of HDMLS.

The records are part of my research over the last ten years or more which cover the whole of the British Coastal Forces of World War II and information on E and R Boats. This is not on the web but I could answer questions.

holmesb4

14-01-2009, 14:27

I am coxswain of HDML 1387 (Later HMS Medusa) which remains operational. As part of this I am researching the history of the more than 400 HDMLs that were built and would appreciate any suitable data.

My current HDML data can be found at http://www.hmsmedusa.org.uk/ under HDML Archive

jbryce1437

16-01-2009, 18:13

A great site with some very interesting information about the HDML's:D

Horst

29-01-2009, 16:12

Thank you for this great site. A wealth of information. Wish I had this before.

On my website there are two versions of the HDML, designed using the Lambert-plans. If you like visit

http://cfp.muerell.de/product/details/2

(you get the English version by clicking on the small flag on the left)

Horst

terenceallen38

04-03-2009, 19:35

Hi my name is Terry and I am trying to find out info about the ML356 pictures and possible crew info for my father who served on her between 1942 -1944 any help would be appreciated many thanks

holmesb4

28-05-2009, 14:38

I am the researcher for the Medusa Trust who are running HDML 1387 and have produced a database for HDMLs on our website http://www.hmsmedusa.org.uk/

Now the RNZN operated HDMLs for many years and we have met some former crewmen but I suspect there are more out there. So I am looking for information for our site which I think is the only overall record of HDMLs

John Odom

30-05-2009, 18:37

Good work on the Medusa! Ive followed up and read many interesting stories as a result of visiting the site.

holmesb4

15-02-2010, 12:10

Particularly for those who read the thread on MGB 81 and HSL 102 last week.

“Be Warned” is the motto of the Medusa (HDML1387) and she is about to come back on public view on 1st March 2010. On this day she will be launched from the slipway in Hythe near Southampton where she has spent the last three years in a refit to take her back to the 1943/44 state.

Details of the boat and the restoration with a database covering all the HDMLs is on the Medusa Website http://www.hmsmedusa.org.uk/

To put her into history, her flotilla where equipped with beacons and electronic navigation equipment and where used to mark the entrances to the 10 approach channels on D Day in 1944 for which the skipper was mentioned in despatches.

She escorted convoys to and from the D Day Beaches and nearly sank when she hit an obstruction in the British Mulberry Harbour and had to make a quick run for Portsmouth and slipping.

The end of the war saw her in Holland at the liberation of Ijmuiden and she was the first allied vessel up the canal to Amsterdam.

The aim now is to put her on show again as a living museum

In 14 days I become an HDML Coxswain again

Bee

15-02-2010, 12:25

Great news (Coxswain) Brian and a HUGE WELL DONE to you and all the volunteers who have put in so much effort in to getting her this far.

I hope you'll be taking plenty of photos of her launching (and posting them on here, of course.) :)

Looking forward to that time,

Regards,

Bee

Gypsyvannergirl

15-02-2010, 16:07

That's great news.

I love hearing about a ship becoming a museum piece and not junked like so many of the great one's were. Yes. Please enclose some photo's - would love to see her.

Corinne

Rob Hoole

15-02-2010, 21:12

Wonderful news. Well done to all the volunteers and sponsors. I much look forward to seeing the photos or, even better, the real thing.

holmesb4

17-02-2010, 10:19

Those of you who have visited the Medusa Website and looked at the Restoration Pages will have seen that we suffered a major fire in the boatyard causing much damage. The boat was in a separate shed and was not touched however we lost all the workshops, the crew area and the heads.

Despite the presence of an acetylene cylinder close to the centre of the fire, the Volunteer Firemen of the local brigade remained in place for over 24 hours pouring water into the fire and preventing it from spreading until it was out.

I have attached some pictures taken by one of the Medusa Volunteers who went into the wreckage, clearing away the rubbish and recovering parts. The boxed objects are the two Gardener 8L3 diesels being covered for protection before they were taken away. The object with the large flywheel is the Gardener 1L2 auxillary engine which had been fully restored before the fire. All three have now been fully restored again and fitted to the ship.

The charred object on the trolley is the modern diesel generator which has now been replaced.

It’s still a bit harrowing but the next pictures should be a lot better.

RogerP

17-02-2010, 10:34

This is most certainly heartening news indeed, what a thrill for all concerned and what a spectacle it might be to see all four boats in the water together.

Four very different boats with varying roles -- MGB 81, HSL 102, MTB 102 and HDML 1387. Oh yes please, someone please take lots of piccies for those of us out 'ere in the colonies and not able to be part of this momentous occasion.

holmesb4

02-03-2010, 13:18

Yesterday we launched Medusa again so here are a few pictures taken just before slipping

holmesb4

02-03-2010, 13:22

And here are a few after the launch.

The boat is now on Saxon Wharf in Southampton and we will be working there on Saturdays.

More to come

Bee

02-03-2010, 14:31

RogerP

02-03-2010, 22:01

Thanks Brian,:)

I echo 'Bee's' comments and heartiest congratulations on a job very well done.

tooseyboy

07-03-2010, 19:54

Thankyou for posting the latest pictures of Medusa (ML 1387), Brian.
She's looking good :) .....and obviously happy to be back in the water. How great for you all to see your labours come to fruition.

Now that forum members know where she will be ( in Southampton ) you might have a bit of an audience, as you and your volunteers complete her final touches.

Regards,
Bee

Then, once your Medusa is completed....your helpers will obviously want another project...of course there's always ML357. :rolleyes: :) I'm sure that Terry (Tooseyboy) ML357's new owner, would welcome any advice in helping restore her too. (Anyway, I'm hoping that he'll get to restoring her.....in a proper and fitting way - just like you and your helpers have done with Medusa...although I know that would be a BIG ask.) :)

well she does still float and surprisingly enough takes on little water apart from what drips though the hatches and deck . but i can fix that, if had a lot! of money would like to recreate her in all her war paint and finery but life's not like that so will just do my best to preserve what is there and make her into my home. at least she wont feature on here as another poor broken down girl lying on her bottom mind might mount a gun back on her deck to scare a few people!!and when i paint here this summer she is getting her no on her side again

Bee

08-03-2010, 15:05

Hi again Terry (Tooseyboy),

I'm so glad you're going to preserve her....and it's a lovely idea that you're giving her back her number. (I'm sure that will bode well for you.) :)

Please feel free to copy whatever information you want about her, from my Dad's stories in the Aegean Memories thread. Also, as Roger P has already mentioned....we do have access to some photos of her crew just post 1946....(care of Rick Dixon and his late Dad "Ken" Dixon's photos.) Thus, even though you might not be able to afford to make her look like what she was (in her younger days), you will at least have a great history along with her, which should make for interesting conversation when you're "swinging the lamp" with friends. She's obviously a "keeper" and I wish you all the very best with your restoration efforts. Please keep us informed as to her progress.

Best Regards,
Bee :)

holmesb4

15-03-2010, 09:19

The latest news about Medusa.

Our berth on Saxon Wharf is a temporary one and we are going to move her again. The news is that we are going to leave Southampton and take up a berth in Portsmouth alongside MGB 81 and the HSL which currently sit in Gunwharf at the base of the Spinnaker Tower.

The aim is to move her, under her own power, on 27th March so here's hoping for a good day.

We will initially go to a working berth in Clarence Yard and will aim to be on show in Gunwharf by the summer when she will be visible from the main wharf and we should be able to have visitors.

rimbo

17-03-2010, 16:11

Wonderful news. Well done to all volunteers and thanks to the sponsors. I look forward very much to seeing the photos or, even better, the real thing.

your Aye
http://www.hmscavalier.org.uk

holmesb4

31-03-2010, 09:18

On the 27th March we took Medusa out to sea and down the coast to Portsmouth Harbour. Thankfully it was the one calm day in an otherwise grotty week.

As well as our normal engineers, we had two Gardener diesel experts to run trials on our reconditioned engines of which the oldest is 70 years old and still running. The boat ran well and apart from a stop near Calshott to make adjustments to one engine where she proved that HDMLs can still roll to 45 degrees and back we had a steady trip. The Gardener experts wanted to prove the engines so we ran at 900 revs for about half an hour making the top HDML speed of 12 knots.

First picture is on the bridge heading down to Fort Gillkicker

Second picture is a view astern at top speed

Third picture proves that the engineers do come up from their smoky hole occasionally

Fourth picture was taken at Saxon Wharf before we set off for Portsmouth. The deck has to be painted and we are still missing a few pieces lost in the fire

The boat is now in the marina at the former Clarence Yard in Gosport where we will work on her for two months before we move her to Gunwharf.

steve roberts

31-03-2010, 09:31

Oh Goody Goody,another ship for members to have harbour trips on.Seriously though,it's good to see her at sea with only minor problems.Very nice shots of her.Thank you for posting them.Regards Steve.

MelQuick

31-03-2010, 10:18

Hi

Great to see some more preservation taking place. Good pictures too.

Mel

Geoff Brebner

31-03-2010, 10:22

Congratulations Brian,to you and your great team. Took me back to when our little ML1350 Koura was alive and well here in New Zealand. Great little ships!
Regards,Geoff Brebner

Bee

31-03-2010, 14:57

Hi Brian,

Re: Your Medusa run:

I bet you were all smiling the whole time, looks like you had a great trip. Well done to all of you.....long may the Little Ship live on. :)

Regards,
Bee

p.s. Thankyou for posting your pictures of the event...a true living history.

holmesb4

26-04-2010, 10:41

Just taking the opportunity to publicise the 150th Anniversary of the Sea Cadets event at Gunwharf Keys in Portsmouth this weekend.

We will be supporting this in Medusa with MGB 81 and HSL 102 alongside and hopefully open for visitors on 1st and 2nd May. So if anyone is in the area and wants to get a close look come and see us.

Intention is for the boat to move across from Gosport on Friday afternoon.

Dave Hutson

26-04-2010, 10:56

Hi Brian,

Just looked in on Medusa photos - Great job boys - you are certainly getting some great looking restorations in Pompey/Gosport. Pity some of it doesn't rub on Guzz - we are looking like a lot of hasbeens in the West Country with nothing to reflect upon except the eventual loss of all our Naval Heritage.

Good luck for the 150th - hope it goes well as we know it will.

BZ to all.

Dave H

INVINCIBLE

26-04-2010, 11:12

Brian,

Well done indeed "BZ!!"- fantastic effort.
Are you by any chance coming under the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust?. They have taken over our museum in Gosport - "EXPLOSION" the museum of naval firepower and naval warfare. We understand from the trustees that they have now acquired a small flotilla of ex naval small craft and were wondering if tthis included your vessel?

holmesb4

27-04-2010, 12:30

Medusa is owned by the Medusa Trust (A Registered Charity) and manned by a support group of volunters. This is an independant organisation which works closely with the Naval Base Property Trust as we have some similar aims (Preservation of historical artefacts, Display to the Public and the promotion of heritage related activities within the area).

The Property Trust has MGB 81 and HSL 102 and runs a group of volunteers as we do. Both organisations could do with more volunteers.

holmesb4

05-05-2010, 08:16

We attended the 150th Anniversary of the Sea Cadets event at Gunwharf Quays last weekend and I have attached a few pictures.

Unfortunately the event was overshadowed by the death of one of the cadets when he fell from the rigging of the training ship Royalist when she had anchored out in the Solent after the event. The pictures show the boats that were there and include the Royalist with her yards manned by cadets.

It is not my aim to offend anyone but rather to recall the anniversary event itself.

JamesD

11-07-2010, 06:13

Hi,

All is revealed here http://nznavy.bravehost.com/MLs.html

Regards
Jim

Dreadnought

11-07-2010, 07:37

My dear Holmes,

Merged your three HDML/Medusa threads just to keep it all together.

Cheers

Rob Hoole

11-07-2010, 08:57

HMS Medusa (ML 1387) silhouetted by the sun in the Solent last Tuesday.

Brian Holmes2

24-10-2010, 14:30

On trafalgar Day, this year Medusa (HDML 1387) was rededicated in Portsmouth Naval Base with The Princess Royal as guest of honour.

At this time we were presented with new colours by the princess as we have been accepted as the first member of the UK National Historic Fleet and now have to fly a new flag.

So for all those who may see us, I have attached recognition pictures.

Brian Holmes
Coxswain

Destroyerman

24-10-2010, 14:33

Very many congratulations Brian.

Wish you continued success with your venture.:)

Dave Hutson

24-10-2010, 20:30

BZ Brian, good luck and calm seas to you and your crew.

Dave H

RogerP

25-10-2010, 23:45

Our heartiest congratulations to everyone concerned with this lovely 'little ship'. I live in hope that one day we will get to England and have a ride.

Deb & Roger Pearson.
Bendigo, Australia.

Brian Holmes2

11-11-2010, 17:57

For anyone in the Portsmouth area

On Remembrance Sunday Medusa and her crew will be attending the Remembrance Service at Hornet Sailing Centre in Gosport and will be open to anyone who wants to board her.

The ceremony takes place in front of the Coastak Forces War Memorial, designed by a coastal forces officer and in the shape of an MTB Bridge

jamesapottinger

19-02-2011, 19:13

I am questioning the noted history of HDML 1022.
My late father served on her from May until Nov. 1945 before being demobbed, she was based mostly at Bursledon.

JackW1208

31-05-2012, 20:07

I had the privilege of going onboard Medusa on Tuesday 29th May 2012 whilst she was berthed in Ramsgate Harbour on route to the Jubiilee River Pageant on the Thames.
I also had the privilege of meeting Brian Holmes and the crew and have a chat. The work that has been carried out to restore the vessel is first class, well done to all involved.
A few pics attached, ignore the date imprinted on the engine pics!!

Jack.