Sergeant Leonard Cater - The Forgotten Fleet Memorial

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Reference WMO/279237

Address:

Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove

National Memorial Arboretum

Croxall Road

Alrewas

DE13 7AR

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace
Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet
Materials:
  • Metal Metal (any)
Lettering: Raised
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: "The Forgotten Fleet Memorial" This memorial is in honour of Sergeant Leonard Cater Royal Army Service Corps. During World War Two. many small ships and motor launches were requisitioned for service with the Royal Navy and many with their civilian crews. The most notable use made of small ships was during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940. However a little known group of intrepid watermen was formed by the RASC to help ferry soldiers and supplies but were also used to deliver agents, arms and ammo to resistance forces in occupied countries including Yugoslavia. However a little known group of intrepid Watermen was formed by the Royal Army Service Corps to help ferry soldiers, supplies and land agents, arms and ammunition on enemy shores to resistance forces in occupied countries including Yugoslavia. Leonard Cater originally wanted to join the Navy but was sent to the RASC instead where he qualified as a Waterman in No. 247 Motor Boat Company. During the Dieppe Raid in August 1942 his boat was sunk by enemy fire and he was the only survivor of the twelve men on board. He survived in the oil polluted waters of the Channel for a number of hours before being rescued. Leonard then went onto take part in “Operation Torch”, the landings in North Africa as well as numerous operations in the Mediterranean to Sicily, Greece and Italy and Yugoslavia. These Watermen have often been referred to as the “Forgotten Fleet”.
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This memorial is in honour of Sgt. Leonard Cater Royal Army Service Corps. During World War Two. many small ships and motor launches were requisitioned for service with the Royal Navy and many with their civilian crews. The most notable use made of small ships was during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940. However a little known group of intrepid watermen was formed by the RASC to help ferry soldiers and supplies but were also used to deliver agents, arms and ammo to resistance forces in occupied countries incuiding Yugoslavia.

Sgt Leonard Cater Royal Army Service Corps

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