HMS Bee

[kenny milne]

My wife’s late father (Owen John Hughes) served on HMS Bee during the second world war, I believe he sailed from Holyhead in Wales and that the vessel was a minesweeper. Would anyone have any information, pictures or crew listing for that vessel.

Any information at all would be great.

[John Brown]

Kenny

During World War 2, HMS Bee was actually a Royal Naval Shore Establishment. It was a Coastal Forces working up base for Motor Launches originally in Weymouth during 1942-1943. It was then moved to Holyhead where it remained from 1943 - 1945.

Hope this helps. Good luck in your research!


Regards....John

[kenny milne]

John,

Maybe i have been given the wrong information, sounds like HMS Bee wasn’t a mine sweepers like i thought. Any idea where i might find out what mine sweepers operated out of Holyhead during the second world war.

Many thanks,

Regards,
Kenny.

[stontamar]

Hi Kenny

You do not mention any dates but HMS BEE was, as mentioned by John, a shore establishment located at Holyhead. It was commissioned on 18 October 1943 and functioned as a combined coastal forces and minesweeper base.

Your information that Owen John Hughes served on a minesweeper may therefore be acurate and his service record would show HMS BEE as his tender authority. His full parchment service record would, if you still have it, also indicate whether he was drafted to the shore establishments for service ashore or if he was on their books and serving on one of the establishement's tenders as you believe is the case. Closure of the minesweeper base was, according to Wardlow (Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy) announced on 3 April 1944 although the establishment did not pay off until 21 July 1945.

Prior to having moved to Holyhead HMS BEE had been located at Weymouth, commissioning on 1 September 1942 as a coastal forces base.

Ship movements throughout the war can be traced by interogating the following National Archive records:

ADM 187 Admiralty: Naval Staff, Operations Division: Lists showing stations and movements of Allied and Royal Naval Ships (Pink Lists), Second World War

ADM 208 Admiralty: Naval Staff, Operations Division: Lists of Minor War Vessels (Red Lists)

ADM 210 Admiralty: Naval Staff, Combined Operations Division: Lists of Landing Ships, Crafts and Barges (Green List)

Regards

stontamar

[jbryce1437]

There may be a book which includes the information, a wealth to choose from here:
http://www.rnps.lowestoft.org.uk/rnpsbooks.htm

or try contacting Harry Tates Navy site, they may be able to point you in the right direction:
http://www.harry-tates.org.uk/

[John Brown]

Hi Kenny

I have found scant references to several converted Dutch trawlers being used as minesweepers at Holyhead. The info I have seen suggests they were manned by Dutch crews but you never know, there may have been Brits on board some of them. Also I have found mention of another coastal forces base in Anglesey called HMS Torch which operated minesweepers as well as MLs. Perhaps some of the other guys could elaborate?

Regards...John

[stontamar]

The shore establishment located at Holyhead was commissioned under the Name HMS TORCH on 11 September 1939. The combined coastal forces & minesweeper base was renamed HMS BEE on 18 October 1943 as previously recorded above.

Regards

stontamar