MGB 328
(Source warshipsww2.eu)
A small group of
gunboats consisting of MGB.328, MGB.322 and
MGB.601, were ordered to conduct a night
patrol in the Channel, with the aim of
intercepting coastal traffic south of
Boulogne. Soon after midnight the group were
informed by Dover that a group of ships had
been detected by shore radar off Cap Gris
Nez which appeared to be a coastal convoy.
The enemy ships were sighted forty five
minutes later and found to be a single
merchant ship escorted by a number of armed
trawlers and patrol craft. This was not a
favourable gun boat target, but an attack
was decided on. Led by Lieutenant Henry Cobb
in 328, the three ran at high speed towards
the enemy, and initially it went well.
Taking the enemy by surprise, they ran past
several escort vessels, leaving them to
port, then closed the merchant ship and
engaged her with gunfire at close range to
starboard. It may well have been the
intention to run under her bows and drop a
depth charge, but by now they were coming
under intense fire from the escorts, and all
the craft were hit; MGB.328 was hit several
times and then disappeared in an enormous
flash and flames. The other two managed to
extricate themselves, although both were hit
repeatedly, continued to engage the enemy
which eventually turned back into Boulogne.
At least one seamna of MGB 328 survived and
spent 24 hours in the waters of the English
channel before being picked up by an German
E boat. He spent te rest of the war as a PoW.
MGB 328 commander,
Henry Cobb was killed, as well as Eric. Two
other men of the 328 were found and buried
in Belgium and France. Two more are
mentioned on the Plymouth Memorial.
Eric's body either
washed upon the Dutch shore or was recovered
by a Dutch or German Soldaat vessel. He was
buried in Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery.
