Members’ Area
The Friends of Coastal Forces
Welcome to the Members’ Area for the Friends of Coastal Forces
This section of the Website links to various articles, photographs, books and features that are only available to members.
Motor Launch – A World War II Chronicle
The first instalment of exclusive content for members is a previously unpublished memoir by Lieutenant Norman Stanley Braithwaite, who served in the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve during World War II. His book ‘Motor Launch – A World War II Chronicle’ details his adventures (and mis-adventures) serving in 112-foot Motor Launches in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East.
Download each Chapter of Norman’s book here:
Motor Launch – Chapter 1 – August 1943, where the Chronicle begins in Gibraltar.
Motor Launch – Chapter 2 – Algeria and Tunisia
Motor Launch – Chapter 3 – Tunisia, Malta and North Africa
Motor Launch – Chapter 4 – North Africa (Libya and Egypt)
Motor Launch – Chapter 5 – Excursions in the Levant, the Suez, and the Dodecanese
Motor Launch – Chapter 6 – The Middle East
Motor Launch – Chapter 7 – Turkey for Christmas
Further chapters will be added over the next few days, until the whole book has been uploaded to your Member’s Area
Photo Gallery
The Coastal Forces Heritage Trust has received hundreds images from veterans. Many of these remain unpublished elsewhere and are exclusively included here. They are free of copyright and may be reproduced by the Friends of Coastal Forces.
All images are of High Resolution – it is recommended that a high-bandwidth connection is used to open each gallery.
Image Gallery One – Coastal Motor Boats
Image Gallery Two – Group Photos of Sailors
Image Gallery Three – Broken Boats