Letop

[john hudson]

Hello. Can anybody help? I am looking for information on a ship or shore base about 1944 called LETOP. On August 9th 1944 the day I was born, my mother sent a naval message to my father serving on LETOP telling him I had arrived! As both my parents have now passed away, I am trying to find any information about LETOP. Thank you. John Hudson

[j.sabourn]

What makes you think it was a ship or shore base John ? It could be the abbreviation for “letters operation “or something similar. The likes of after the war with troops stationed in Germany their address was just BAOR ( British Army Occupation of the Rhine) It was sorted from there. Secrecy of movement in wartime is essential, if someone knows where one person is chances are a few thousand more are in the same place. Cheers JWS

[john hudson]

Hello Gulliver, thanks for your interest. This certainly is a possibility and something I'll look in to. John H.

- - - Updated - - -

Hello, and thank you for your suggestion. This is something I hadn't considered but is a possible answer to my query. John H

[Doc Vernon]

This info I have come across and is a high possibility ??
Hope it may assist you.

Steam Ship "Letop" (1916-1962). Built on the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. In May 1940, it departed to England and employed by Trinity House. 1944: Back in the Netherlands as Letop. In 1946, it renamed "Canopus " and in service. 1953 on loan at the ZKK IJmuiden. Demolition 1962

Letop.JPG

As Canopus

As Canapus.JPG

[Chris Allman]

I wonder if THIS site helps - it refers to a Dutch Pilot Vessel called LETOP - I quote the site

Steam pilots No 13 (1916-1962). Built at the Rijkswerf Amsterdam. In May 1940 they went to England and were employed by Trinity house. 1944: back in the Netherlands as LETOP. In 1946 renamed "Canopus" and in service. 1953 on loan at the ZKK IJmuiden. Demolition 1962 -

I note the picture supplied is a Royal Navy photograph and the time frame appears about right.

AH Vernon beat me to it by a minute ............................ well done that man

[john hudson]

Thank you I think that is it, the dates fit perfectly. I will see if I can get a crew list next. My father was a fisherman out of Great Yarmouth most of his working life, apart from the war years. He was on one of the two drifters belonging to our family.

[john hudson]

Thanks Chris, I have now received the information I've been looking for from both yourself and Vernon. Have been trying to find news about LETOP for a few years but unsure where to start looking. Thanks to this site I now have some details, next task is to look for a crew list around the time my father was serving.

[Colin Wood]

I understand that you can now follow large groups of US army personnel as they are issued with Apple watches which transmit there position. See a conglomeration and probably Yanks exercising