Motor Launch H.M.M.L.403

At Runswick Bay

22nd August 1918

Built by ELCO The Electric Launch Company of New Jersey these 86 foot long wooden hulled motor launches were used by the British Navy during World War 1 as submarine chasers and mine sweepers. The launches were armed with a threepounder gun on the foredeck, depth charges on the aft and driven by a petrol engine at up to 19 knots. Usually crewed by eight R.N.V.R. the boats were nicknamed "Movies" due to their motion in the water.

After the war most of the M.L.’s were sold off very cheaply many being converted into pleasure craft.

M.L.403 was one of several launches operating along the East Coast and a regular visitor to Whitby Harbour. On the 21^st August 1918 a German submarine fired a torpedo at a northbound steamer off Runswick Bay. The steamer’s lookouts watched the torpedo’s wake as it passed them and ran onto rocks in the western side of the bay without exploding. Signals were sent to motor launches anchored in the bay and the submarine was pursued and depth charged.

On the 22^nd it was decided to recover the torpedo and Lieut. A. Whiting R.N.V.R. was tasked with the dangerous procedure. It was a perfect summer’s day as M.L. 403 left Whitby and travelled to Runswick Bay. She was accompanied by a second launch and manned with a crew of ten plus two torpedo experts. The torpedo was soon located about a two hundred meters from the cliffs. People gathered on the cliff top to watch as the torpedo was safely lifted out of the water. Just after 2o'clock as the experts began to remove the warhead there was a large flash, the torpedo had detonated. This was followed quickly by another as the four depth charges on the afterdeck went off in sympathy and then a third explosion as the vessel’s petrol began to burn. The shock from the explosion broke many windows brought down ceilings and damaged roofs in Runswick village. It was heard as far away as Scarborough. When the shocked spectators had picked themselves up and the smoke form burning fuel cleared they saw all that was remaining of the launch was the bow section which had been blown close into the shore. Of the ten crew and two experts only the Coxswain survived. He had been feeling unwell for several days and was laid down in the forecastle at the time of the explosion. He was quickly taken to Middlesborough hospital where he remained for several weeks.

"Lieut. Whiting had earned much popularity during his stays in Whitby, and his demise was deeply regretted as was that of his crew" Whitby Gazette

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I once heard a story that there was an unexploded depth charge on the beach between Runswick Bay and Port Mulgrave, it was twice destroyed by bomb disposal "experts". (thanks Gerry)

There is to this day a deactivated World War 2 mine near to the village of Runswick. The top has been removed and there are a couple of bullet holes in it.

Although not set in Robin Hood's Bay I have included this story out of general interest. The Launches and their brave crews played an important roll along the coast. Sadly they are all but forgotten today.

See http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm for information on the other M.L.s.