HMS FOULNESS

[asen33]

hi,i am re searching my grandads naval career . we have his service record etc but i am looking for any info that i might be able to start and put things in some sort of order
hms foulness
hms oracle (possibly lucifer)
europa
he was a gunner and served some time on whale island
charles henry senior
if anyone has any info for me , i might have something that might be of help to you
adam

[Batstiger]

Hello Adam

A bit of a mixed bunch there but here are a few pointers.
There was a trawler HMS Foulness and here is a picture of her entering Scapa Flow in the winter of 43/44. She was an Isle class trawler launched 23/3/42. T342. Built by Lewis and sons Aberdeen.
HMS Lucifer was an RNR base in Swansea
HMS Europa was a Royal Navy Patrol base in Lowestoft.
I hope this will start you on your way to a successful research, perhaps you could give us a bit more information so that we could maybe assist you.

Bob.

[asen33]

hi matey thanks for that i know he was based in lowestoft for a while and he also served on the atlantic convoys which explains scapa flow.the only other ship that is causing a massive headache is the yacht oracle ...only thing i know is that it was on fire outside liverpool ???????

love to hear from people who might have served on foulness etc

[Batstiger]

I have had a scout around Adam and the only reference I can find about a yacht named Oracle is in Warships of World War 11, An Ian Allan publication by H.T. Lenton and J.J. Colledge.
There is a mention of an armed A/S yacht Oracle ( ex Osprey ) FY. 020. built in 1929 and lost 29/1/44.
I hope this helps. I have put out some feelers and if I learn of anything new I will let you know.

Bob.

[tonclass]

HMY ORACLE (Ex-OSPREY)
625 tons
Built: 1929
Purchased by Admiralty as Anti Submarine Yacht: Sept 1939
Radar Trials: 1943
Burnt out: 29 Jan 1944 off Liverpool
Arrived at WARDS, Preston for breaking: 14 May 1948

[tonclass]

Another pic of FOULNESS

[Batstiger]

Adam, if you are still following this thread here is a bit more about the ORACLE's history.
The chap who supplied me with this information and is researching the Osprey has asked me if you have in any form a picture of the Oracle, if so could you let me have a copy so that I can pass it on please?

Bob.

[Richard Tagart]

My late father, Ronald Tagart, served on the yacht Oracle, I think under a Kiwi skipper named Arch (presumably Archibald) Naylor (Nailor?), who visited my parents back in the late 60's/early 70's. In fact, I'm looking at a rather fine picture of Oracle, hanging on the wall, just below dad (in RNVR lieutenant's uniform), which I found in his drawer a couple of years back. Kind regards, Richard Tagart;

[tonclass]

Would love to see what she looked like, Richard.

[Richard Tagart]

Will try to overcome my lack of skill with pc to upload a picture for you soonish.

[astraltrader]

Richard - please see my PM [private message] I have sent you.

[Strachan]

Hi Adam

My dad did his national service on HMS Foulness and has many fond memories of it. I think it's role then was as an inshore minesweeper. During his time on it he travelled quite widely - I will get some more details from him for you but if there is anything specific that you want to know I can ask him for you.

Best wishes

:)

[Steamshy]

[QUOTE=Strachan;68917]Hi Adam

My dad did his national service on HMS Foulness and has many fond memories of it. I think it's role then was as an inshore minesweeper. During his time on it he travelled quite widely - I will get some more details from him for you but if there is anything specific that you want to know I can ask him for you.

Best wishes

The year 1956, the Suez situation had begun and our ship HMS Veryan Bay on passage from Brazil to standby at Simonstown.
Off the African coast we gave assistance to a steam trawler that was in difficulty. This ship had been diverted around the Cape due to the closure of the Suez canal and was destined to be converted to a tank cleaning vessel at Singapore. Could this have been the Foulness?

[james_harvey]

As he served on minesweepers and anti submarine vessels and was attached to HMS Europa, could he have been in the Royal navy patrol service?

If so their HQ at lowestoft has a museum at sparrows nest with an archive.

If you google HMS Europa or RNPS it should give you the address.

Regards

James

[jimmca78]

Hi Adam

My dad did his national service on HMS Foulness and has many fond memories of it. I think it's role then was as an inshore minesweeper. During his time on it he travelled quite widely - I will get some more details from him for you but if there is anything specific that you want to know I can ask him for you.

Best wishes

:)
I served most of my National Service in Foulness. 49-51. Did your dad coincide with these dates. I was a seaman.
jimmca78

[jimmca78]

Hello Adam

A bit of a mixed bunch there but here are a few pointers.
There was a trawler HMS Foulness and here is a picture of her entering Scapa Flow in the winter of 43/44. She was an Isle class trawler launched 23/3/42. T342. Built by Lewis and sons Aberdeen.
HMS Lucifer was an RNR base in Swansea
HMS Europa was a Royal Navy Patrol base in Lowestoft.
I hope this will start you on your way to a successful research, perhaps you could give us a bit more information so that we could maybe assist you.

Bob.

Two further pictures concerning HMS Foulness. The first one shows her on her way from Portsmouth to Port Edgar, November 1949 and the second shows some of the crew coaling ship in either West Hartlepool or South Shields.
jimmca78

[jbryce1437]

Nice set of photos jimmca78, thanks for sharing them with us.

Jim

[GeoffC]

My father served on HMS Foulness 1943-44. It was used as a convoy escort.
The data I collected is here: http://www.cannonlive.org.uk/George/
You may be able to tie your relative's service with the convoy sailings.
I'm fairly sure it's the same boat and I might have a photo of HMS Foulness but I can't remember where I put it.