Tom Cunliffe visits HMS Medusa to learn about her fascinating history during WWII
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- čas přidán 18. 12. 2018
- Alan Watson and the crew of HMS Medusa, a WWII Harbour Defence Launch, show Tom Cunliffe their vessel and explain the unique story of a truly remarkable boat.
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Welcome on board!
Tom
copyright Tom Cunliffe 2020
As a former crew member in the 60's I love this ship, we achieved some fantastic feats as a Hydroghraphic vessel.
yes, we had a great time on this vessel.
I am one of the volunteers for this boat and this video is great thank you Tom much appreciated ❤️😁
Morrislouise Eagle Thank you for your service to such an honorable vessel 🙏🏻
I have to say this is the best video i have ever watched on youtube. A remarkable boat and what a fanatic group of people.
To have done such a incredible restoration.
Tom you have to be the only person who could have told this story and make it come to life.
Fantastic.
Many thanks. That's probably the nicest comment I've ever had.
what a beautiful sound on that gardiner diesel long stroke
Amazing engine also the Kelvin great bits of engineering #buzzofftoxic
I wish someone would somehow restore one of his majesty’s trawlers from world war 2. They had coal fired triple expansion steam engines, and wandered all around the world dealing with mines, planes, torpedo boats, submarines, and the vicissitudes of the sea.
@Phil Cadey Thanks Phil. That’s as close to a wartime trawler as I’ve gotten, even if she’s a drifter, not a trawler, and she’s RAF instead of RN. Probably being in the Air Force saved her. The RN suffered extreme gutting. The HMS Belfast is really the biggest RN vessel saved in a museum from the 20th century? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised no trawlers seem to have made it.
Thank you Mr Alan Watson, such a compelling story. What a meticulous restoration. Tom is such an amazing character and always gets the best out of everyone he interviews.
Lest we forget.
I had a chance to visit HMS Brave Borderer while she was on a goodwill visit to Caen in, I think, 1963. I seem to remember that she had a Decca Navigator and being very impressed by the high tech system.
It was probably well ahead of its time. Tom
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns There were quite a few things on Brave Borderer and Brave Swordsman that were considered to be advanced. For example, the top speed was classified at that time.
This is, without doubt, the most interesting film I have seen on CZcams. You can almost smell the cordite, diesel and sweaty socks. Thanks you.
Thanks Terry. That's high praise indeed. Tom
👍🤣
My dad captained one of the HDML in Dunedin NZ for the Volunteer Naval Reserve in the 70's, he was Lt Cmdr, and also a foreign going Master, born in Sutton Coldfield and emigrated to NZ in his late 20's, I later joined RNZVR Toroa in the 80's we had much more modern patrol craft then. I remember being on board the HDML as a young boy, and have seen both HDML in NZ which are still operational, just recently. . This movie was wonderful to watch, bought back some wonderful memories, thank you so much, My Dad would have LOVED it.
B Z to all who restored this fine little ship. Having served aboard 3 wooden minesweepers (USN) many years ago I admire small wooden vessels that go to sea and often perform very important tasks. Thanks to Alan, Tom, and the crew.
What an interesting chap Alan is, wish we had had, a schoolteacher like him.
As an ex Decca engineer this was very interesting,
Both the boat and the history, great job on the restoration and an enjoyable interview.
Back in the 90’s Decca was common in yachts and light aircraft. I owned a Rallye aircraft where the Decca navigator was the main long range nav device.
Whoever would have put a thumbs down on this video I cannot understand? My goodness this was this is this continues to be and will forever be spectacular thank you.
Fantastic Boat - Story - Video, Thank you.
"When Ships were Wood and Men were Iron and Giants strode the Decks."
Jay Kaye Never heard that before, what great words indeed!
@@AfricanFlightStar
I agree
Excellent video a Burmese friend of mine lived 3 years on a ship like this made of teak during ww2. He was telling me about it this morning over coffee. So your video added another dimension to his stories of fighting the japanese and mine sweeping. Now I have a lot of other questions for him.
Greg! Let me surprise you ! I have been aboard the MEDUSA in Solent and have met the Skipper. My first command as Sub Lt. Burma RNVR at nineteen was sister boat HDML 1456.
Brilliant.
A totally fascinating story of an historic and heroic ship. She has been beautifully preserved too. Hats off to everyone involved. Thank you for sharing.
I remember my uncle making appreciative noises about the Gardiner diesel on a bigger rival boat. We had a clattery old Isuzu 4 pot and it was really nice when we shut it down at the end of day.
Wow! Just WOW, on a number of levels.
Many thanks, Tom! This video is priceless.
I'm the grandson of a bloke who was a lad during the war, but I was raised by him and Nan on a diet of classic movies - John Mills, Trevor Howard and the rest, taking on Jerry - in a Weymouth council house which was a bit of a 50's / 60's time capsule (this was the 1980s). My grandad served in Malaya as an RAF policeman during the Emergency, but he really had an admirable fondness for the old tales of wartime from his childhood. (When I was four, the first warship's name I ever knew was Ark Royal, thanks to the TV, but it was Gilbert's stories which resulted in the *second* warship I could name being the elusive and fearsome Scharnhorst (thanks Granfa).
Yet I never really knew anything much about the little ships of that war and, back in my youth, the research materials could be a bit thin on the ground and you had to make do with what was in the local library (and that wasn't bad at all; it's where I met the work of Fred T Jane, after all).
Recently, I've been reading much about the RN's light Coastal Forces and, while the Vospers, Fairmiles and British Power Boats steal the limelight, I have been struggling to find out very much about the HDMLs. What did they actually *do* and where? What were the internals like, what was their performance, why were they built in such huge numbers (I think only the Fairmile B was built in larger numbers than these craft)?
This video - *your* film - has brought this to life in such a way as never before during all my research.
I can't express what a sea change this is in my understanding of these remarkable boats.
Kudos to Alan and his team for the impressive rebuild and restoration, and full marks to Bill Holt and his department for coming up with such an obviously sterling design !
Thanks again, Tom; stay safe.
Thanks Andrew. I'm really pleased we've shed a little light on your study of these boats. All best Tom
Thank you memories of me at 19 on a pr war coaster alone cup of tea on the bridge with decca and radar thought how amazing it was now I know the history. Brilliant film now going to watch you with a sextant ! Will share and I must visit that little ship and meet the people all the best buzz it looks awesome
Do go and visit Medusa Buzz. You won't be disappointed. Tom
I've not enjoyed a video on CZcams as much as this for years. I could listen to Alan all day. Tom's enthusiasm came across so well thank you for taking the time to make this video. I hope Medusa may sail on for years.
Really enjoyed this. Here in New Zealand we had very similar HDMLs assigned to the 4 Naval Reserve Divisions right through to the early 80's. They came to NZ during the war. I served on Kuparu, which was assigned to HMNZS Pegasus, in Christchurch. There are now a couple of these HDMLs in private ownership, Paea & Kuparu, which have been restored to full sea-worthiness, albeit not to the amazing historical standard of Medusa!
Thanks Tim. I was really interested to learn about the HDMLs finding their way to NZ. I wonder how many under-sung craft that have served their country well are still around. It's surprising how long a well-built wooden boat can live.
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns I do agree. The Navy Museum has several web pages that talk about their history in the context of the NZ Navy - see navymuseum.co.nz/hmnzs-mako-defence-motor-launch/ and navymuseum.co.nz/hdml-flotillas-in-the-second-world-war/. And of course their close cousin, the Fairmile is talked about at navymuseum.co.nz/fairmiles-in-rnzn-service/.
@@TomCunliffeYachtsandYarns Also, regarding the survivors, the two that I know about are Kuparu & Paea. Kuparu has a public Facebook page - facebook.com/savingkuparu/. And there is a small but dedicated group of ex-sailors that served on them over the years, that take a keen interest in their preservation.
What an amazing restoration and an awesome team. I loved the two old sea dogs showing their respect for the vessel and the men who sailed her. Fantastic video
Thanks Gringo for those kind remarks. She's a special boat. Tom
my grandfather built boats like this during the war at the Daytona Beach boat yard . they built PT boats and sub chasers . he was a master carpenter and a true craftsman
That's very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Tom
The Trust have done an outstanding job with Medusa and Tom you have done them proud with this wee film too.👍
I suspect there will be others recently who have followed the same CZcams voyage as I have: David from Cruising the Cut visits Ship Happens, Gemma and Simon from Ship Happens visit HMS Medusa and as a result I now find myself washed up here with HMS Medusa being visited by Tom Cunliffe. I'm very glad to have done so - the best kind of channel surfing!.
Wonderful video and should be compulsory viewing in schools.. George Santana, " those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
Thanks Fred. You're right, it would be good for schools. Tom
Great British vessel, great production values, great restoration and great story -- all round just great! Thanks tom.
Wow great story and Tom always a pleasure to have you present it
You must be the finest presenter on CZcams there is. Thanks for yet another charming, historically accurate and honest video. Many thanks!
Tom.....Great video!
What a brilliant video of a fantastic and great little ship with a big history. A true tribute to the heroes of the Navy by some really dedicated volunteers. Thank goodness there are still people out there that have the sort of comitment to take on projects such as this.
Thanks Tom and Medusa crew. What a story .. first deca first ship of d day. Than the restoration.That’s impressive
I stumbled across your videos some weeks ago due to my growing fascination for sailing.
This, however, is truly special. What an incredible restoration and story.
Thank you so much for taking the time to document it so well. Quite brilliant.
Thanks Jason. I'm so pleased I could bring the meticulous work these guys do to people's attention. Tom
A really charming, humble and illustrative conversation, thank you!
Thanks guys, brings tears to the eye, lets hope those younger than us have sense to keep such history going.
I quite agree David and I'm delighted that my daughter Hannah is involved with National Historic Ships. All those years living on an old boat must have left their mark! Tom
Like everybody has said here - a beautifully produced piece of work honoring an amazing piece of WWII history. Thank you for doing this Mr Cunliffe 👍🏼🙏🏻
Great story! I remember reading that the Canadien who helped invent the Decca system was “blacklisted” for security reasons prior to D-day. He took two gasmeters and set up his own receiver in his garage and when it came online he knew D-Day was on!
History is so important. The stories kept alive by vessels such as this are vital to not be forgotten.
I do agree Stephen. Watch out for another
Superb job, I used to use Decca potting and trawling in Lyme bay in the 80s and 90s remember the old MK 21 and the even older MK 12, I visited the nuclear submarine in Plymouth that is retired and was impressed to see they had a MK 21 aboard her. Nothing like towing down the D zero with the ebb behind you
I'm pleased the video brought back some memories.
Living across the pond,,,, i happen to stumble across your channel. Much to my surprise while going through my face book groups , i just saw you give a review on a book "Brave or stupid . I did not know that you are a contributor to many magazines articles , a professorial writer, you have won best writer of the sea twice, and in 2010 you did an award winning documentary series with the BBC..... JOLLY GOOD JOB SIR!!!!!!
Thanks for the kind words. I'm pleased to reach out across the pond where I've spent many happy hours.
Beautiful ship well done.
Wow!! Fabulous. Well done, all involved. She is a gorgeous, tidy little vessel with a big history. What lovely lines.
Tom - fantastic
The father of my best friend at school was on a sister ML to Medusa in the channel.
He would tell many WW2 stories about collecting mines in the channel throughout the war.
And another of our school friends from the 70s started his NZ navy career on a similar ML - sake design built on NZ.
Wonderful documentary.
Congratulations and thanks.
Very cool little boat, nice restoration
Great video Tom, and very interesting explanation from the skipper about the early Decca, the ASCIC, the navigation and the historical details to get ships into the swept channels for the beaches. She's a lovely 'attention to detail' time capsule. Many thanks.
Absolutely wonderful. Thank you Tom for sharing!!
My father served in the Royal Navy Submarine Service from 1934 to 1945. He taught me sailing and a good deal of seamanship-from the Admiralty Seamanship Manual he was issued when he started his training as a boy (HMS Ganges, HMS Courageous). Over the years he often talked of “the war” but seldom touched on the hardship or death. Our last shared memory was watching Das Boot (1981 cc in English) which, in a moment of candor, he allowed “captured the reality” of his experience as a submariner. He passed away in 1983. I know that he would have so enjoyed such historical videos which are now available in abundance through the internet. It was, for this reason, that this simple reminiscence is so moving for me.
Your dad would have been a button boy at Ganges, Ann. That is, they had to climb the mast and stand on the truck. I'm sorry he's no longer with us. I can imagine him enjoying Das Boot. Some of my older friends who also served in WWII subs said the same. What a great film. Tom
That was awesome guys, thanks so much for your work restoring Medusa to her former glory and for making/posting this video... #RN
All the hard work goes to the guys on board and to my cameraman/editor on this one, Steve. Tom
This is a real gem of a CZcams video and opens a door on stuff which I , as a WW2 researcher knew absolutely nothing about. Thanks so much.
A tear ran here too, from the description of Omaha Beach D-Day +1. Europe and the U.K. should remember the enormous sacrifice of U.S. lives in that war.
Amazing story of Medusa's role in D-Day, and of her restoration. The description and look at a Deccometer was enlightening also.
Enormous sacrifice by all for us all. We certainly thank them and remember them. Tom
An incredible achievement, well done everyone involved. You have saved a priceless piece of British history.
Brilliant historical tellers
Marvelous history. Tom you have added to many a sea story around the galley table with this one.
Amazing video. Amazing story from two interesting men.
I just found this channel yesterday and I an enthralled.
Without getting political I wish young people today, who think life is too difficult, would understand the existential circumstances of those who served on HMS Medusa and in WWII.
Thanks! So pleased you're enjoying the channel. Some more videos coming soon.
I wouldn't be so quick to paint all young people with the same brush old boy. Tom's channel is indeed fantastic and I've already shared various videos with freinds and family that are my age, and I'm one of those dreaded students!
Absolutely Fascinating. So Wonderful and all Thanks to so much effort and passion for this beautiful but deadly Ship.
Lest We Forget.
Hear hear. Tom
My grandad landed on Gold beach on D-day, he'd also taken part in the amphibious landing on Sicily, he was convinced that the Royal Navy put its worse seamen on the landing ships and landingcraft - afterall their job was to run their ships aground :-)! (No idea if there was any truth to it but wasn't going to argue, he did tell the story of cooking on an open fire on deck in the Med!). Personally just old enough to remember decca, had no idea about its connection to d-day. Another thing I recently learnt was d-day was the first time that antibiotics were used by the british army. Amazing video and a great project. Thank you Tom.
Brilliant, GMY when steaming forward HMS Medusa and team. From Minesweeper M20 ex swedish navy.
Fantastic in every way! Thanks a million.
Thank you too for watching. Tom
Thoroughly enjoyed that Tom! Thanks very much!
Thanks for watching Martin. Tom
Wonderful story of a great restoration! The history is just amazing how a group of men ran her during the war. It was my pleasure to provide the 1K like! Great job!
Fantastic film just plain fantastic - most definately one of the best films shown on CZcams, not just the boat herself [but of course she takes center stage] but also the little dits during filming! As for the proverbial Decca Navigator - a little complicated ut by heck when you considered it's age it was a beautiful piece of kit! A Navigators dream back in the 60's and 70's . . . . see I'm only a boy compared to some!
Tom, I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I do all your material.
Thanks for watching Stephen. Tom
Fantastic!
Many thanks! Tom
Fascinating. Thanks so much for this.
Loved the video. A bit of history on a boat is great not just okay here is a blank with no explanation of what that is. Not everyone knows what a wherry or cutter is so videos like this really helps. I also love historic pieces put back to original and then used.
I don't know about anyone else but when you go to a museum and some young kid starts telling you that x is y for a completely wrong year is upsets me.
Good job tom more like this please
Wonderful. Thank you Tom.
Another fantastic video Tom, very Rethian
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing and restoring. Greetings from the Netherlands, T.
Thanks Wild Weasel. Good to hear from someone from the Netherlands. Tom
A truly great video!
Thank you Tom. An outstanding story and a part of U.S and British history.
LAS ?
@@normanboyes4983 👍
Great video. I served on several Diesel submarines from 1972 - 2004 and in that time ‘hot bunking’ was a very rare occurrence and certainly not par for the course.
Very interesting. We certainly did a lot of it on race boats back in the 1980s!
This is beautiful! Full credit for a staggering restoration with true passion and quality workmanship. Loved it! 👌🇬🇧
Cracking Video
It is amazing that you preserved the armament. I had seen different restoration video of MTB with fake armament on board, sad story.
Awesome 🙏
One of the best videos I have watched especially about one of the last remaining vessel involved in the d day landings great vid
Wonderful, knowledgeable Skipper, and a great story teller. Brought everything to life, very emotional to watch in parts. Fantastic achievement. Thank you all, very much. 👍👍
'Medusa' does have a sister ship being restored. Though 'Surinda' is now very much living in civvy street her restorers are giving full respect to her veteran status.
If you want to follow her restoration it is being being broadcast on CZcams channel 'Ship Happens'.
thankyou thankyou so much tom i am lost for words the best video i have ever seen on you tube god bless you i will subscribe
Great vid guys,
What a lovely restoration of the HMS Medusa! Thanks for that story, Tom!
She's a real treat. Try and go aboard on one of their open days.
Thank you for a great movie Tom. Expertly told and produced.
To all those who served on her and all those who restored this fantastic little ship, a heartfelt thank you. I hope to visit some day.
From a UK veteran.
I salute you Tom, for a wonderful video and Allan, for the fascinating and informative narrative.
Bloody lucky for all involved on D day though, that the blasted Decca didn't jump a lane! Cannot share your enthusiasm for it. My antipathy based on a harrowing experience going up the swept channel from Terschelling to the Elbe at 23knots, one dark and stormy night about 1970.
....another cracking film Mr Cunliffe! Big up the Oggies!!
Absolute joy to watch.
Thanks for your kind words and for listening. Tom
Wonderful........wish I could find a project like his to support here in SW France..............
Thanks Duncan. I'm sure there must be one out there somewhere. Tom
Brilliant, really enjoyed watching that.
Thanks Glenn. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it. Tom
Brilliant story. Thanks for sharing!
It's a treat for me to go on board such boats as these.
What a fabulous video, well done Tom!!
Many thanks Michael. It's a fabulous subject. Tom
Delightful
What a brilliant CZcams video 10/10
What a lovely ship, and a superb restoration. Moving stuff. Great video.
Thanks. I love the attention to detail in this restoration from the dedicated band of volunteers.
Thanks for sharing that knowledge. As I only imagined the tide would drag you out or push you in a straight line out from a coastline.
Didn't imagine that, you can have a sideways pull on you. Between two coastlines. The curve and swerve
reminds me of David Beckham free kick.
I particularly love the way the tide pushes you off course and then back on again. Very accommodating, laughing.
So much to learn. I suppose it's looking at the map and understanding how the water might flow in and out. Picture it's flow, in your mind.
Thanks again.
What a fun perspective. All sailors learn that when sailing in home waters, or tidal waters elsewhere that the tide is king. A fair tide can be even more important than a fair wind. If you get both, you are in fat city!,
Not sure if anyone else noticed but very interesting how the deck is layed!
Absolutely fucking superb video. A1. Class. Love it.
Zhang you Tom!