TNA ADM 199 795

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 638.

444
succession of British shipping as motley in its larger form as
were the motor-boats themselves. Tramps, cargo ships, barges,
drifters, tugs, Dutch schoots, British warships, even river
ferry-boats such as carry one's car across the Thames at
Woolwich and elsewhere.
Of individual acts only a few can be given; every crew,
every man almost, experienced some incident or another. some
adventure that could fill a whole small volume on its own. And
yet what can a writer do when such men report such events in the
tersest of language such as "heavily shelled whilst at work";
A few reminiscenses may be given here in the hope that
some idea of the work may be gathered by anyone who cares to
piece them together. Here are some extracts from a letter
written by Sub. Lt. .Williams, R.N. which serve to illustrate
that merry sangfroid which has been referred to earlier:-
"So I proceeded by compass (error 20°) to the Calais out. -
Gravelines sands and anchored & few hundred yards
while about I 8 quarter of a mile I saw two men silhouetted to
I was walked inland in search of Allied
pulled ashore in the boat, which waited soldiers. for me
After against the glow of a distant blaze. them. I approached
within a few yards of them and say hailed "Lieber Gott!" and they time turned I
I heard and one commenced to shoot at me. By this territory, so had
around to the conclusion that I was in enemy
I come behind a dune and shot back.
Fortunately see me properly, while I could see twice out-
hid it was a very dark night and the their Germans
could not quite well. I shot the one on other the right one screamed
lines and he fired fell without two bullets a sound. at him, The and he dropped By whatever this
when I and then fell and lay discretion still. to be
he was carrying nearby shouts so, deeming back to
the the boat better and my ship was under way at her mots
time I heard part of valour, I ran at top speed full six
within less than five minutes."
the soldiers dusk bombing and shelling. greatly lot
"I proceeded at Ramagate and arrived just There was a
back to Dunkirk as soon as in I had time landed to
of shrapnel by the Tommies and Poilus who the boats. into
catch the falling on the beach and I was waded out
impressed and helped the sailors with anything Nowhere but
did the sea Isee any signs of cracking morale or
cheerfulness. back for the last time the same in evening. the "Swallow" Dunicirk
"I went flaming ruin. I again went with a
and proceeded motor-boat. While in there I shortly
was by now a to the inner harbour in company saw another War
slower power boat which was, Ibelieve, of after- the
Department wards sunk. I had been ordered to take off some
- 4