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[Paul Skidmore]

Hi Spooks,
Sometime ago you provided me with some very useful information regarding LCI(L)'s and in particular 263 Flotilla. My dad's last seaborne posting was aboard the LCQ 489 as Stoker 1st Class. I have now managed to secure more details of his posting here and I know you have been trying to obtain more details regarding LCQ's and LCH's.
US LCI(L)489 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and was involved in the Normandy landings between 6th - 25th June 1944. I believe she was withdrawn as a result of damage sustained and was leased to the Royal Navy on 20th November 1944.
My dad was posted to 489 from 1st November 1945 to 13th June 1946 and I have obtained the following details of the time he spent aboard.
08.10.1945 - LCQ489 was not allocated to any specific unit and was under Plymouth Command administered by CLSCU - Captain Landing Ships and Craft (Unallocated ) for Tropical Service.
05.11.1945 - Allocated to SORNE(I) Senior Officer Royal Navy Establishments (India) for re-allocation and was locally converted for use as LCH.
03.12.1945 - On passage to India.
29.01.1945 - Location Eastern Mediterranean at Port Said, Egypt.
12.03.1946 - Location Western and Central Mediterranean at Malta for return to the USA.
23.04.1946 - Location Malta ; Surplus Craft for return to USA.
21.05.1946 - On passage to US Naval Base Norfolk Virginia.
04.06.1946 - On passage to US Naval Base Norfolk Virginia.
18.06.1946 - Location US Naval Base Norfolk Virginia.
Hope the above is of help to you.
Regards,

Paul

[spooks1959]

Hi Paul,

Excellent - I have added this info to the LCI Excel spreadsheet I have created to hold info on all these small ships. Available to download from this link http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/Documents/LCI(L)%20Master%20list2.xlsx

Very interesting to learn that she was further converted into an Landing Craft Headquarters from an LC Administration ship.

For anyone unfamiliar with this type of vessel there is a history of her sister ship  LCQ-491 on the site. http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/BPF-EIF/Ships/LCQ_491 .htm This has one of only two known photos of an LC(Q) located so far, the other is of LC(Q)-381 http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/BPF-EIF/Ships/LCQ_381 .htm.

Thanks

Tony

[Paul Skidmore]

Hi Tony,
Glad the info on 489 was useful.
Have tried to open the link to view the LCI database without success. Keep getting message in pop up window saying Argument out of range Exception . Index out of range. Must be non negative and less than size of the collection.

Gobbledygook to me but possible because not running an Excel program ?

Any ideas?

Cheers

Paul

[spooks1959]

Hi Paul,

You can save the file to your PC from the link? Next download the free Microsoft Excel Viewer program from this URL https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kIpNBaAGrvgLOlOpX0ls4iFNq4jfY-ju

Alternatively anyone wishing to view it on-line can contact me editor@royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk for a link to access the document on Google Drive which has a built in viewer.

Tony

[Paul Skidmore]

Hi Tony,

Many thanks for putting me right concerning LCI (L) spreadsheet. If it will help you I have posted some further information that I have been provided with as a result of my continuing research into 263 LCI (L) Flotilla during the time that my late dad spent as a Stoker 1st Class attached to the various craft.

Paul

[sue fraser-mitchell]

I have found a photograph of my late father which is written on sub; lt. L.A.G. Fraser-Mitchell HM LCQ 489 Port Said, he was part of the D Day landings and I have just three photos of his war service on this vessel. He did say that either they, or another LC had been damaged and lashed themselves together to limp back home, I wish I had asked a lot more now, so I was pleased to find this site through google

[sue fraser-mitchell]

first photo was Malta, this is Port Said

[Paul Skidmore]

Hi Sue,
Quite possible that the photos of your dad were taken around the time that my late father was also serving on 489 as Stoker 1st Class from 01.11.1945 to 13.06.1945. The photo in Port Said could possibly be around 29.01.1946 when 489 was berthed and in Malta between 12.03.1946 and 2304.1946 after which she would have been on passage to US Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia.
Sadly, like your dad mine never really spoke of his time that he was posted to 263 LCI (L) Flotilla between D-Day and VE Day. LCQ489 was his last sea posting and I recall him saying that after the 489 was handed back to the US Navy the ships personnel returned to the UK aboard the Queen Mary which was used during wartime as a troopship.