Forgotten Fleet

“THE FORGOTTEN FLEET MEMORIAL“

Leonard Cater – Royal Army Service Corps

  • Memorial Text
  • “The Forgotten Fleet Memorial”
  • Sergeant Leonard Cater (Waterman) – No 247 Motor Boat Company – Royal Army Service Corps
  • 1911-1980
  • “In Arduis Fidelis” – Faithful in Adversity
  • During World War 2 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 they were also used to deliver agents to Resistance Forces in occupied countries including Yugoslavia on clandestine missions.
  • 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 12 men on board. He survived in 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, Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia.
  • These Watermen have often been referred to as the Forgotten Fleet.
  • Not Forgotten in these gardens by Elizabeth, John & Patricia.
  • Liquidambar (styraciflua) Tree planted in January 2020.
  • Garden 2, Memorial No 20. Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove, National Memorial Arboretum.

PAGE UPDATED 20TH OCTOBER 2025