Ryder / Pilot

Pilot (Bill Green): Yes - there it goes on the echo-sounder - 16 feet - 15 feet - 13 feet - 12 feet - 11 feet - 11 feet - that’s it, it is just beginning to get deeper now. I hope Campbeltown will make it over there.

Ryder: Well, I think Campbeltown will be drawing about 11ft at this speed, although the shallow water will suck her down astern. It will be sad if she gets stuck. It will be a bit of a wasted journey for us all. I think it is about time we all put our tin hats on.

Newman: I think I can see land coming up on the port side, very indistinct, but it’s there. Can you see it, Skipper?

Skipper (Dunstan Curtis): Yes, it’s there alright, but I can’t make out what part we are looking at.
Ryder: Well, Campbeltown is still with us - that’s good. She is over the shoal, and I can see her bow wave, so I think she must have increased speed. She is closing up on us. Go up to 15 knots, Pilot. Any sign of anything ahead?

Pilot (Bill Green): I can just see the vague shape of the coastline ahead - the flashes of the A.A. guns silhouette the land a bit. I’m coming round to starboard - the tide’s sending us in. Ah, there is the Les Morees Tower - just clear of the land on our port bow.

Newman to Ryder: Seems to be a lot of our bombers about still. They will keep the Ack-ack gun crews awake which is a pity, but the cloud is still very low so they won’t be dropping any bombs on us - something to be thankful for. (The bombers had instructions not to drop their bombs unless they actually saw their target - the cloud was very low).

Ryder to Newman: Can you see any sign of the Old Mole?

Newman to Ryder: No. It’s still mighty hard to pick out what’s what - but they obviously haven’t spotted us yet. This is a ruddy lark, isn’t it . Somebody ashore is going to cop it for having shut their eyes and not seen us coming up the river.

Pilot (Bill Green): The Morees Tower is quite clear now - just to port. No sign of life, which is a good thing, otherwise they couldn’t fail to see us.

Ryder: Hell! there’s a searchlight on our port quarter - they are sweeping across the channel towards us. I wonder if they’ll pick up our tail-end. Hold it. Hold it. They must pick us up now - no - they’ve switched off. Wonderful. They haven’t spotted us.

Ryder to Pilot: Up to 19 knots.
Pilot (Bill Green): Aye Aye, Sir.

Ryder: Sparks - pass to all ships “Hold fire till I give the order”. silence. Searchlights go on from several points to port and sporadic small arms fire starts up.

Ryder to Pike: Pass by Aldis in German - Urgent. I am escorting two damaged craft into harbour. Request entry. Phe firing ceases. A quite long pause.

Ryder to Pike: Pass signal to shore - Wait. Pike: Signal passed, Sir.

Then firing recommences.

Ryder: Pike - pass the code signal “Am being fired on by friendly forces”.

The firing ceases again. Another pause. Then searchlights come on from many points, and heavy firing on the port side.

Ryder: Pike, pass to all ships OPEN FIRE.

Pilot (Bill Green): There is a small guard ship on our starboard bow. Can Savage have a go at her?

Ryder: O.K.

Pilot (leaning over the front of the bridge: Savage - ship on the starboard bow. Let her have it.

And our Pom-Pom opens up very loud. I don’t know if you all know Pom-Pom .... Pom .... Pom .... Pom. That’s what it sounds like. After very short time the guard ship ceases to fire.

Pilot: Well done, Savage. Now round onto the pill-box at the end of the Old Mole (which was where all the German firing was coming from).

Savage swings the Pom-Pom round to port and opens up immediately at the pill-box. The same deafening noise...Pom...Pom ... Pom.

Pilot: Well done, Savage. That’s silenced that one, but keep going - he may come up again.

Ryder: We are going round to starboard now. Campbeltown running in towards the dock. We will come round astern of her, and go alongside the Old Entrance to land Colonel Newman and the Commandos.

Skipper (Dunstan Curtis): Take her alongside - port side to. Savage - keep going on the pill-box on the Old Mole as long as you can.

Ryder to Newman: There you are. off you go. Best of luck. It does not look as if we will be able to pick you up. No one has been able to get anywhere near the old Mole.

Newman to Ryder: I agree. We will make our own way home.

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