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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: leamingtonian on Wednesday 29 January 25 21:52 GMT (UK)

Title: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: leamingtonian on Wednesday 29 January 25 21:52 GMT (UK)

I have my late Uncle's Service Record for WW2. He served on a number of ships; HMS Barham; HMS Excellent are two on the record. However there appears HMS Mile (Western Desert) which he served on from August '41 to June '42. I have tried to find this ship but have been unsuccessful so if anyone has any information on this ship it would be appreciated.

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: Jebber on Wednesday 29 January 25 22:03 GMT (UK)

Are you sure it’s not HMS MILNE.

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: Andy J2022 on Wednesday 29 January 25 22:33 GMT (UK)

Quote from: Jebber on Wednesday 29 January 25 22:03 GMT (UK)

Are you sure it's not HMS MILNE.

HMS Milne was not launched until 30th December 1941 and then underwent work up trials for much of the first half of 1942. In September 1942 she was employed on the Arctic Convoys. http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-42M-Milne.htm

I think it is more likely to be HMS Nile, an RN shore establishment in Alexandria from 1939 to 1946: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Nile

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: leamingtonian on Monday 03 February 25 19:55 GMT (UK)

Thanks for the info; appreciated

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: ASB74 on Sunday 18 May 25 15:24 BST (UK)

My father's uncle served on HMS Barham and was killed when she sank in 1941. He has HMS Nile on his records.

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 18 May 25 16:31 BST (UK)

I'm puzzled by the "Western Desert" reference. Could you please post an image of that part of the record?

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: gaffy on Sunday 18 May 25 19:50 BST (UK)

Quote from: Andy J2022 on Wednesday 29 January 25 22:33 GMT (UK)

I think it is more likely to be HMS Nile, an RN shore establishment in Alexandria from 1939 to 1946: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Nile

That sounds plausible to me too, what little there is on the internet indicates that one of the roles of the HMS Nile shore base was to provide support for the Western Desert Campaign, such as supplies and special services / operations (Royal Marines).

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: HMac on Monday 19 May 25 12:56 BST (UK)

HMS NILE was the RN base at Ras el Tin Point, Alexandria. Commissioned 24.4.1939 and paid off 30.6.1946. It was also the accounting base for most of the personnel in the Eastern Med during WW2.
Regards
Hugh

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: mazi on Monday 19 May 25 19:46 BST (UK)

My cousin spent the time from 1941- 42 ferrying supplies from Alexandria to Tobruk as one of a fleet of landing craft, up the coast in the dark, unload in Tobruk, back up the coast in the dark, load up go again.

June 42 was when Tobruck fell, the operation ceased then.

Mike

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: leamingtonian on Wednesday 21 May 25 19:36 BST (UK)

In response to Shaunj attached is an image of part of my Uncle's record; fingers crossed you can read it. Thanks to all for the info supplied to date.

Title: Re: HMS MILE? WW2
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 28 May 25 22:27 BST (UK)

Only just seen the image. It is Nile (Western Desert) I think.