1109 M.C.U. History
16 Airsea Rescue Squadron,Boston.1942
This is the only photograph to date of a wartime,Boston connection of the ASR/Marinecraft Branch of the RAF.Taken in 1942 kindly donated by Brian Ellis,the son of leonard Francis Ellis,a wartime member of the RAF ASR.Mr Ellis was stationed at Bridlington during his service,so it is possible that the photo was taken during a visit of 16 ASR to Boston.
Mr Ellis is 3rd from left,3rd row.
"Welcome to the History of 1109 M.C.U.Boston".
note:-All the information below I have gleaned from ex-members of 1109 and maybe updated from time to time.
"The following account was given to me by Dok Halliday".
Hello John J
Just been looking @ your site again for any updates & caught your "last of
the few". As I have told you previously, my time @ 1109 was from September
1948
to November 1949, but I hope I can cast some light on those earlier days.
My belief is that the Unit was established only weeks or perhaps a month or
so prior to my posting, because my first billet was @ the Cross Keys Hotel
(now the New England) where I was bed & breakfasted!! for about eight to ten
days, before moving to Bridge House, Wide Bargate. This was where the bulk
of personnel were billeted, well catered for by Ma & Pa Rayton, and the
photo that John Clegg provided originally of that group was a perfect
example
of the Units spirit @ the time. A few others were scattered about the town,
all in private billets. This situation persisted for many months, as I
courted & married a local girl (as did many others!) in June 1949 and we
were still all outbilleted even then. If my memory serves me right, the
camp proper was probably up and running September/October 1949 i.e. just
before I left in the November.
Prior to the camp the Unit's building were two or three large Nissan huts
which served as office, C.O.s room , workshop & radio room. The attached
photo of eleven was taken to the rear of the huts in 1949 and I hope that it
might bring back happy memories to any "old boys" who might recognise
themselves in the group. The attached group of five was taken on the Dock
with Brian Holmes 2nd left & Hector McCluskey far right.
The games room & relaxation was provided by the local Mission to Fishermen
who had a large
corrugated building just by the Dock estate entrance, & this served as a
NAAFI substitute. With regard to your list of "guys served in the '50s" I
recognise a couple
of names but would confirm that Ron "Hurley" is actually Ron Hulley. He is
my brother in law, having married my wife's sister Mavis, in March 1958.
Ron tells me that the Mission was not operating during his time @ the unit
i.e. August '55 to early '57. Ron also tells me that he has regular contact
with John Dalton who possibly may have already contacted you?
I knew Geordie Stothert, but not @ 1109. I am reasonably sure I knew Eddie
Turner WOP, but I was under the impression he was National Service only & I
would not have expected him to be still serving @ your time. I would
appreciate your ack. some time that the picture images have been received
ok.
"Above photos supplied by Dok Halliday,mentioned in above text"
"Following photographs supplied by Malcolm McCluskey"
"Boston Dock Nov 1948 1505 S/T. Hector McCluskey seated center"
"Boston Dock Nov 48,1505,443 and Gs Dinghy 3527"
"Brian Holmes on 1505 Boston Dock 21 Dec 48
"Pete Craddock,Dok Halliday and Hector McCluskey on board 1505 Easter 49"
"Tony Forbes,Dok Halliday,Pete Craddock and John Clegg on 3527 River Witham Easter 49
"Taffy Jones and Hector Mc at Bargate Boston Easter 49
1505 S/T,[SeaplaneTender]arrived at Boston from Calshot in June 1948 There were three S/T's that served at "1109",they were,1505,441 and 443.All were converted to RSL's[Range Safety Launches],during their stay at this unit.
S/T Specs
Length 41.5ft-Beam 11.9ft-Draft 2.4ft.Powered by 2x Perkins S6M diesels.All 3 launches were built in 1941/42 by the British Power Boat Co,Hythe.
1505 Along side River Witham Boston 1949
441 Seen here off Lyme Regis 1947
443 coming alongside Witham wall 1949
Pinnace No 77 arrived,3/9/51 and stayed until 8/1/52.
Pinnace No 1275 arrived from Calshot,23/10/53.
.
Pinnace No 1271 arrived from Calshot,19/3/55.
Pinnace specs
Length 60ft,Beam 14ft.3x Perkins S6M Diesel engines and 1x Norman lyon aux engine.No77 was built by Groves & Gutteridge in 1941.1275 and 1271 were built by J.S.White in 1943.
1275 on mooring at Calshot 1953
"Duties"
Duties during the late 40's as far as I can glean,were patrolling off Heligoland ensuring nobody such as fishermen entered into the danger area where excess bombs left over from ww2 were disposed of,by being dropped into the sea.There were many occassions when local dignitaries,officers from Coningsby and government officials who needed to go down to "The Wash"for differing reasons,were transported by the S.T/R.S.L's.The unit was always on standby for any ASR call out that may occur in its area of influence.
"Names of those who served during late 40's"
Co,Flt Greasley
John clegg
Dok Halliday
Brian Holmes
Hector McCluskey
Eddie Turner
Pete Craddock
Taffy Jones
Tony Forbes
Further names added as they come to hand"
43ft Range Safety Launches
RSL 1649 alongside Boston Dock Wall 1957
RSL 1642
R.S.L. Specs
Engines 2x Rolls Royce C6FLM diesels.43ft long,13ft beam and 4.4ft draft.
5x43ft R.S.L's served at Boston,1641,1642,1644,1645 and 1649.These launches were built by Thorneycrofts 1955/56.
