TNA ADM 334 83

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of
SEAL
STUD
OF
and
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along
STATE
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SITE
was wanted down to there the as correspondent for a well-known who
konked out within this a wretched boat in the Government the only
effort made see by show for himself. This was about paper and
TO
bing it ourselves,
could rowing boat to come out and fetch off ships
and get a anchor to prevent drifting other refused
fire so I had to few yards of leaving moorings and service, it to
course.
should report the trouble. Within an hour, a me good deal so that I
and Sub-Lieutenant, R.N., two Petty Officers Artificers R.N.V.R.,
an Engineer say, we had an Engineer-Lieutenant Commander, less I
engine one trouble. leading Artificer, investigating the question of our
dripping stoker away, and here I rather suspect the activities simply of
One not unimportant item was that the magneto was
with using the oil can I know, but he seemed to be quite familiar had
rating who was the senior again of my crew, who my been
oil the petrol engines and I certainly did not see him to
face magneto, but I noticed a change of expression trying
oil. when the Mag. was detached and found to be actually on his
by which Thames as the experts worked on her until 20.00 that from night,
the that boat was ever brought round to Ramsgate
to me This, that however, was not the only trouble and it is a mystery oozing
take engine running again. We raised anchor and started we to
got the time they had succeeded in getting a spark, and
was no between two ships at anchor and opening throttle, a there
right space so long as we were going dead slow but on getting all clear
her for a trial run round the harbour. This went
clutch increase in speed but a most terrible noise from
engine identified the engine on sight as a very old very Camel amused,
he had who was with me on the little bridge was
Commanded which was obviously slipping badly. The Engineer-Lieutenart the
of neutral the clutch lever and putting the gear lever my in efforts at
joggling converted and I think he realised that all Lorry
was pretty were not going to have the least effect as the and out
be done hopeless. As it was quite clear that thing
to the except move her ahead at dead slow, I brought nothing her could over
side and tied up out of the fairway.
were kept my foot being secured, I had, as an additional precaution, ropes
While already the gear was in neutral and the fore and aft
down on the hard down on the clutch pedal which
out with deck, so that the clutch should have was right
commenced a to good deal to spare; in spite of this she been suddenly well
most joggling, or verification of the fact that the clutch
go gently astern and " no amount of
unsafe in she started to go slowly ahead. It was a
or two clearly when in neutral, seemed to have any effect gear for lever moment was
at all so I a crowded harbour to have this wretched clearly
and have her called down to the stoker to switch off engine the engine running
worked to get her tied up securely. Again the was
required manhandled for the little adjustment that
was that they took down pretty well everything. The Sunday, final 2nd
June, on her until 22.30 that night and all day engineers
to the engine was worth about £10 and it would report
four found myself living on a house boat with my own about it
and repair I it. so they did not propose to do any more cost £20
whose ratings and a lodger in the shape of another stoker crew rating of
had original boat had been lost somehow with his kit. He
been supplied with a new kit at Merrie England, the
temporary thought he Naval might barracks, as well throw and being in his a luck friend with of my us. stoker rating
by contingents were being brought off from Dunkirk Jetty itself last
By this time the beach show was well over and the
destroyers, etc., this being a deep water job.
last lunch on Sunday that volunteers were wanted to just before
There time was a rumour round the harbour precincts
of the Dunkirk troops off the Jetty, this cleared fetch all the the