Name Royal William

ROYAL WILLIAM was built by Landmore & Co Ltd, Elando Works, at Wroxham in Norfolk. She was completed on the 21 July 1944 and was allocated to the Allied Naval Command Expeditionary Force to be used by the Flag Officer of the British Amphibious Assault (D-Day). The Principal Boat Overseer was directed to arrange delivery of the motor passenger launch (MPL) to Luke Brothers at Hamble. The vessel was then enlisted to assist the Commander Minesweepers at Cherbourg on the 5 September 1944 and sailed for Cherbourg ten days later.

On 18 September, she was commissioned as the nominal depot ship for HMS ROYAL WILLIAM and remained at Cherbourg as the base ship. HMS ROYAL WILLIAM paid off on the 31 December 1944 and the MPL reverted to the number 431223 and was ordered to return to Southampton. Before she reached England, orders were changed and she was re-allocated to Millwall Dock.

From there, she was sent to Ghent, operated in that area for the early summer and then ended up in Rotterdam. On becoming surplus to requirements, the MPL was returned to East India Dock and allocated to the War Office. This allocation was subsequently cancelled and she remained in Care & Maintenance at London until being used by the Senior Officer of the Reserve Flotilla at Harwich later that year.

Whilst in Harwich, she suffered considerable damage to her hull during a gale and, at that time, was considered to be beyond repair. Disposal instructions were requested, but they never arrived and, as a result, she was temporarily repaired on the Cuillen Sound.

In 1949, she was purchased and converted into a motor-cruiser by Mr R. Collinson. She was registered as JANMAY in 1949 and replaced his existing sailing yacht. In 1971 she was bought by Aubrey Swan and in 1974 bought by A Serruys, sold in 1996 to Brian Sloam who sold her to her current owners in 2012.