The ships formed part of a force in St. Helen's Road off the Isle of Wight to guard against the latest German weapon; long range rockets fired from the French coast toward Southern England. H.M.S. 'Glen Avon' was lost 'through stress of weather' in September 1944.

Glen Usk was chartered by the Dutch Government until the Autumn of 1945. She sailed via Southampton to Bristol arriving in home waters in October. I recall her in the 1950's with gleaming white funnels and a gold line on a gloss black hull just as 'The White Funnel Handbook' description indicates. [001] [307] Truly the grand old lady of the fleet and what a glorious record for a 'ship with mudguards'!

Chris Collard, in his wonderful book, sums up well when he quotes : -

'Many thousands of men risked their lives, night and day, in the minesweepers alone . . . Their toils and tireless courage were our salvation.'