In the night
of 16 March 1944 (German source states the
night of 14/15 March 1944) MTB 417, as part
of a larger force, attacks a convoy off the
French coast. (English sources state the
location as between Calais and Boulogne.
German sources off the coast of Gravelines.)
The convoy of trawlers is escorted by the
ships of the German 36th M-Flotilla under
command of Kapitan Grosse. The English force
torpedo and sink the M3610 (probably a
minesweeper). Later MTB 353 sinks the German
minesweeper M10 off the coast of Dunkirk.
MTB 417 is sunk by German surface ship.
Later, near
Cape Griz Nez, the English force runs into
the German 18th Vp-Flotilla under
command of Kapitan Boit and disengage.
The remains of
Able Seaman Burring wash ashore on the Dutch
coast and are buried at Castricum Protestant
Cemetery. Of his crew, Lead Telegraphist
Eric Woolis and Lieutenant Ralph Rooper are
buried in Bergen Military Cemetery, just
north of Castricum. Sub-Lieutenant Henry
Berkeley is recovered off the Belgian coast
and buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery.
The commander
of the MTB 417, Sub-Lieutenant Thomas Hughes,
Stoker 2nd Class Albert Fearn are commemorated at the Chatham Naval
Memorial.
Able Seaman Robert W. Cocker, Able Seaman Walter
Hallsworth and Ordinary Seaman James Goostree
are comemmorated at the Portsmouth Naval
Memorial.
Able Seaman
Dennis Burrin was 21 and is buried at Plot
J. Coll. grave 8.
