Motor Launch 466
The Fairmile B motor launch was a type of motor launch built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine during the Second World War for the Royal Navy for coastal operations.Detailed design and production was taken on by Fairmile.
Like all their designs it was based on total prefabrication so individual components could be contracted out to small factories for production and these arranged as kits that would be delivered to various boatyards for assembly and fitting out.
Altogether approximately 650 boats were built between 1940 and 1945. Like the A Type, the B Type were initially intended as submarine chasers, so the boats were fitted with ASDIC (sonar) as standard. Their main armament initially reflected their anti-submarine focus, with 12 depth charges, a single QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss gun aft, and one set of twin 0.303-in machine guns. The specifications given are for the original 1940 British version. As the war moved on, the vessels were adapted to other roles and the armament was modified and upgraded such as the replacement of the 3 pounder with one or more 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and removal of the ASDIC dome for more clearance as minesweepers. Some boats were configured as motor torpedo boats.
Motor Launch 46 struck off a mine on the Schelde, off Walcheren on 25-03-1945.
18 Men were killed, 15 are missing since.
Name: Bowden, Frederick George
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:34
No.C/JX 260953
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Rachael Eleanor Bowden, husband of Kathleen Bowden, of Chiswick, Middlesex
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Coffell, Norman
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:22
No.C/JX 352904
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Edward and Nora Coffell, of Bill Quay, Co Durham
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: McNeil, William
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:20
No.D/JX 417414
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Alexander and Jean McNeill, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire
Plymouth memorial Panel: 94-1
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Mead, William Charles
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:19
No.D/JX 649340
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Ernest William and Selina Mead, of Rowbarton, Somerset
Plymouth memorial Panel: 94-1
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Rhatigan, Thomas
Rank: Motor Mechanic
Age:21
No.P/MX 634700
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Thomas and Bridget Rhatigan, of Fairview, Dublin
Portsmouth memorial Panel: 89-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Taylor, Cyril Arthur
Rank: Sub-Lieutenant
Age:22
No.
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Arthur Charles and Lisle Taylor, husband of Winifred French Taylor, of Regent's Park, London
Portsmouth memorial Panel: 90-2
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Bone, George
Rank: Leading Seaman
Age:22
No.C/SSX 31278
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Thomas and Margaret Bone, of Hartlepool, Co Durham
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-2
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Gee, Charles Alfred Sidney
Rank: AbleSeaman
Age:20
No.C/JX 378337
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Samuel and Doris E. Gee, of Leicester
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Mann, William Smith
Rank: Telegraphist
Age:
No.P/JX 357292
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin:
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Reardon, Herbert Valentine
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:22
No. D/JX 369390
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son Jeremiah Silvester Reardon and Emma Caroline Reardon, of Woolwich, London
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Robinson, Francis
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:24
No. D/SSX 22722
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Elizabeth Robinson, of Newtonards, Co, Down
Plymouth Memorial Panel: 80-1
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Westland, Kenneth
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:
No. P/JX 187190
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin:
Plymouth Memorial Panel: 89-2
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Clark, Victor Joseph
Rank: Leading Stoker
Age:24
No.D/KX 127152
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Husband of R.A. clark of Bermondsey, London
Plymouth memorial Panel: 94-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Henstridge, John Walter
Rank: Telegraphist
Age:19
No.P/JX 523243
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Wilfred .R. and Florence C Henstridge, of Battersea, London.
Portsmouth memorial Panel: 89-2
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Masters, Victor James
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:21
No.C/JX 319967
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Walter Thomas and Jessye Masters, of Clapham Park, London
Chatham memorial Panel: 80-3
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Rees, Ronald
Rank: Able Seaman
Age:
No.D/SSX 35064
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin:
Plymouth memorial Panel: 94-1
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.
Name: Smith, Charles Maclennan
Rank: Lieutenant
Age:30
No.
Missing since: 25-03-1945
Next of Kin: Son of Peter and Annie Smith, of Pitlochry, Perthshire
Plymouth memorial Panel: 94-1
KIA Information: Known to have been killed at Schelde, off Walcheren.