803 LCV (p) Flotilla

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The Crews

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Above: 803 Flotilla at Dartmouth College (September/October 1943). Top row (left to right): Tosh Beacal; Freddie Field; Jimmy Galt; Frank Wyatt; Arthur Rowe; Killick; Ron Dunham; Jack Lord. Second row: Bob Smith; Harry Goldsmith; Unknown; Unknown; Unknown; Herbie White; Ninnian Cassidy; Spike Hastings; Ron Cleary. Third row: Ken Brown; Stan Simmonds; Phil Crampton; Unknown; Unknown; Bill Ellis; Unknown; Unknown. Fourth row: Jack Benham; Ray Hemsley; Unknown; Andy Anderson; Ron Savage; Pete Russel; Unknown; John Wimhurst; Ron Cherriman. Front row: Unknown Lt.; Len Ewington; Duffield; Sgt Vowell; McNeil; Jock Hunter; Alf Heal; Unknown; Captain Walker.

Several members of 803 Flotilla are missing from this photograph, having been on duty clearing bodies from Slapton Sands, Devon following a disastrous beach landing exercise. Among those not in the picture are: Reg Blake, Pete Frampton, H. Elliott, Taffy Jenkins, Jimmy Preston, Stan Forbes, Ken Bousfield and Maurice Dixey.

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Above: 803 Flotilla at Hayling Island (May 1944). Photograph by kind courtesy of Ron Dunham.Top row (left to right): Reg Blake; Alf Trigg; Darkie White; Horace Elliot; Andy Anderson; Frank Wyatt; Ron Cleary; Ron Dunham; Ken Brown; Fred Brown; Bill Ellis; Spike Hastings; Ron Turton; Ron Appleby; Charlie Flint; Unknown. Second row: Jock Martin; Unknown; Pete Russel; Ginger Earley; Dutton; Stan Simmonds; Unknown; Alf Heal; Jack Lord; Harry Goldsmith; Bogey Knight; Harry Smith; Unknown; Ron Cherriman; Herbie White; Unknown. Third row: Unknown; Kirkpatrick; Jimmy Galt; Unknown; Jock Kelly; Alan Blake; Nobby Arnold; Unknown; Ron Savage; Duffield; Jimmy Preston; Unknown; Pete Frampton; Unknown; Baker. Fourth row: Jock Orr; Ninnian Cassidy; Dick Harper; Tosh Beacal; Dixey Dean; Jock Allen; Maurice Dixey; Unknown; C.P.O. Evans; Frank Goodwin; Jock Cockburn; Lawrence; Unknown; Dusty Miller; Ken Reeves; McNeil; Taffy Fortune; Arthur Rowe. Front row: Taffy Jenkins; Unknown; Ray Higgs; Sgt. Drewery; Sub/Lt. Swain; Sub/Lt. Peirce; Sub/Lt. Mitchel; Captain Kerbey; Lt. Ings; Sub/Lt. Strange; Unknown; Sgt. Vowell; Freddie Field; Unknown; Phil Crampton; Jock Hunter.

Among those not in the picture are: Ray Hemsley, Bob Smith, Jimmy Galt and Basher Benham.

The 803 Flotilla was initially formed at HMS Effingham, Dartmouth College, Devon as 434 LCA Flotilla. Captain John Walker was the first C.O. We then moved to the transit camp at Westcliffe on Sea, Essex, where we were re-named 803 LCV(p) Flotilla. We moved to HMS Lizard, Brighton to pick up our craft, transferred from the Navy. Captain Walker relinquished command to Captain Kerbey.