Preceded by Mine Sweepers the invasion convoy, including landing craft, supply ships and escorting warships, leaves Spithead for France.

Photographs thanks to J. R. Grimley. 

Distinguished Service Cross awarded to Temp. Lieutenant H. R. Walker.

OFFICERS ON THE NAVY LIST, June 1944,
Temp. Lieut, R. N. R., H. R. Walker 15 Nov 43 (In Command)
Temp. Lieut, R. N. R., N. H. Cleare, 25 July 43

 
OFFICERS ON THE NAVY LIST, July 1945.
Temp. Lieut, R. N. R., H. R. Walker DSC. 15 Nov 43 (In Command)
Temp. Lieut, R. N. V. R., H. Blackwell, 7 July 44.

Preparing to start sweeping.

BYMS 2079

Officers of BYMS 2079
​Center, Kenneth Edward Moxley

​BYMS 2079
British Yard Mine Sweeper 2079.
Nore Command, World War Two 1939 to 1945.

BRITISH YARD MINE SWEEPERS

BYMS’s were built in the United States and transferred the Royal Navy under the Lend-lease Programme. “British Yard Mine Sweepers” are so called because they were built to the same design as the US Navy’s “Yard Mine Sweepers”.  

Crews for the BYMS’s would sail to the United States, often on the Queen Mary, which could sail unescorted because of her greater speed, to collect their vessel. They would then have the formidable task of sailing their small vessel back across the Atlantic Ocean, often in winter. 

 If you, your father or your grandfather have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs, please send copies of them to be added to our records and this website.

Thank you.

Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk

RETURN TO SHIP DATABASE.
Click here.

RETURN TO FRONT PAGE.
Click here.

Crew of BYMS 2079.

British Yard Minesweeper BYMS 2079.

Sub-lieutenant Kenneth Edward Moxley

Thank you to Mike Brewser for sending these photographs.

MOVEMENTS.

24 July 43, Completed.
19 Sep 43, New York.
23 Sept 43, Boston.
25 to 27 Sep 43, Halifax.
29 Sep to 11 October 43, St John’s. Crossed Atlantic Ocean from Canada to the U.K.
18 Oct 43, Londonderry.
25 and 26 Oct 43, Plymouth.
1 Nov 43 Southend.
25 April 44 Harwich.
7 May to 23 May 44 Harwich.
D Day, 6 June 44.  BYMS (British Yard Mine Sweepers) 2079 swept the inshore areas off the D-day landing beaches, especially the boat lanes between the transport areas and the beaches.
24 June 44 Southend. Leading military convoys on way to D-day beaches
24 June to 5 July 44 Harwich.
5 July to 25 July 44, Southend
​23 Aug 44 Lowestoft.
23 and 24 Aug 44, Harwich.
24 and 25 Aug 44, Southend.
18 Sep 44, Le Havre. As the army advance overland taking the ports, the minesweepers cleared the mines from them.
18 Sep to 30 Oct 44, Portsmouth.
2 Nov 44, Portsmouth.
20 to 23 Nov 44, Lowestoft.
23 Nov 44, Humber.
13 June to 8 July 45, Humber.
9 July to 20 Aug 45, Cuxhaven, Germany. Although the War in Europe is over, mines still need clearing from German harbours and ports allowing ships carrying humanitarian aid, for people close to starvation, to discharge their cargoes.
21 to 23 Aug 45, Lowestoft.
23 Aug to 7 Sep 45, Dover.
7 Sep 45. Lowestoft.
1947 at Foulmouth.
8 May 48, Sold.

Sub-lieutenant  Moxley joined the Royal Navy (seniority) 08/07/43.

Prior to serving on BYMS 2079  he is also listed as serving at HMS Quebec, (Combined Training Center located on the shores of Loch Fyne in Scotland) HMS Melampus (a shore establishment at Bathurst, Gambia.)  and Sqdn. 848 (a naval air squadron) 

Watch these short videos about the Wildfire III Minesweepers.
Minesweepers:
https://youtu.be/aTsYiZFzv5M
D-day minesweepers:
https://youtu.be/ZjlA5LxCAsg
Clearing the Scheldt:
https://youtu.be/8ELsc9T3Lbw
The Relief of Holland:
https://youtu.be/GghYEFHmOfY 

Crew of BYME 2079

BYMS 2079, FLOTILLA 163.

Built by: Wheeler Shipbuilding Corp., Whitestone, New York, USA.
Laid down:  29 October 1942
Launched: 22 May 1943
Completed and transferred to Royal Navy: 24 July 1943,
Reclassified: HMS J-879 later HMS BYMS-2079
Assigned to the Nore Command, Flotilla 163

Took part in the D-day landings.