History of Service
Honours and Awards
London Gazette 14/6/45 – Birthday Honours 1945
DSC TLtCdr Harry Mannix Nees RNZNVR 3/45
MID TLt Kenneth Metcalfe Banks RNVR (Commanding Officer 8/1/43)
TSLt E T Melly RNVR 11/44
MID POEng Jack Jacob Cotton LT/KX160104
HDML_1085 launched at Sussex Shipbuilding Company, Shoreham, Sussex 16/9/41
Wartime Activities
1/1/42 Joined 190th ML Flotilla based at Scapa Flow
ML 1047, ML 1054, ML 1055, ML 1056, ML 1060, ML 1075, ML 1081 and ML 1085
History of Service
Honours and Awards
London Gazette 14/6/45 – Birthday Honours 1945
DSC TLtCdr Harry Mannix Nees RNZNVR 3/45
MID TLt Kenneth Metcalfe Banks RNVR (Commanding Officer 8/1/43)
TSLt E T Melly RNVR 11/44
MID POEng Jack Jacob Cotton LT/KX160104
HDML_1085 launched at Sussex Shipbuilding Company, Shoreham, Sussex 16/9/41
Wartime Activities
1/1/42 Joined 190th ML Flotilla based at Scapa Flow
ML 1047, ML 1054, ML 1055, ML 1056, ML 1060, ML 1075, ML 1081 and ML 1085
6/44 Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
Joined 150th ML Flotilla
ML1055, ML1056, ML1060, ML1081, ML1085, ML1091, ML1279, ML1382, ML1390 in company with 150th, 159th, 165th, 167th Flotillas
6/6/44 Normandy – Operation Neptune and the DDay invasion for the liberation of Europe.
25/6/44 Cherbourg – Naval bombardment of Port defences in support of military actions ashore to capture Cherbourg Harbour.
1945 Redesignated Survey Motor Launch SML 4
Post War
8-9/45 With HMS Franklin, SML 4 surveyed the Weser Estuary and the approaches to Bremen
Birthday Honours List 1945
In ML 1085, the Commanding Officer is awarded a Distinguished Service Cross and two men are Mentioned In Despatches.
1949 Redesignated SML 324, attached to HMS Scott conducting surveys of The Thames and East Coast.
9/6/59 Sold and then Named Pembroke Shearwater, converted to carry passengers.
1964 Change of ownership and name when moved to Loch Etive as a ferry.
1973 Renamed Etive Shearwater and used as a ferry and sight seeing vessel on Loch Etive then sold on to and operated by Arisaig Marine as the Hebradean ferry serving the Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rum, Canna or even Soay or Skye
2002 Transferred to new owners in Inverness and converted to a houseboat.
2012 Sold to an owner at Loch Ness hoping to get her back to a running condition and repair her decks.
11/16 Purchased from an owner at Loch Ness for her engines, sold on as a potential house boat. New owner to move her south during the new year, to restore her to wartime appearance whilst retaining as much of her original internal appearance from her ferry days as possible.