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| George Courtnell, Chairman of the Merseyside branch of the RNPSA, reflects on one particular experience while out on minesweeping duty. |
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| The Treacherous task of sweeping the Channel |
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For the men of the RNPS serving in the minesweeping trawlers and drifters, the hard and dangerous task of clearing the mines around the coast of Britain was made all the more treacherous by the constant threat of attacks by the enemy.
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One of the most dangerous areas to carry out a sweeping manoeuvre was in the English Channel and many vessels were lost as a result. An attack could come suddenly, maybe from a lurking E-boat, or more likely from the real menace of the minesweepers, an enemy aircraft. During the early part of the war these German fighters and bombers would relentlessly strafe the ships around the coast. |
| "Sitting Ducks"- Picture taken inside the nose of a German aircraft as it prepares an attack on a British minesweeper. |
One of the most dangerous areas to carry out a sweeping manoeuvre was in the English Channel and many vessels were lost as a result. An attack could come suddenly, maybe from a lurking E-boat, or more likely from the real menace of the minesweepers, an enemy aircraft. During the early part of the war these German fighters and bombers would relentlessly strafe the ships around the coast.
While out sweeping the channel an experience that seemed far removed from the normal hostilities and engagements of war was witnessed by George Courtnell
Any Shipmates, having the same experience as us on the Drifters, when sweeping in the channel?
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We had a visit from a German aircraft but he never attacked us. He used to come in and fly past, then wave to us in passing. We would close up to action stations but with the sweep out, couldn’t do much manoeuvring. In other words we were "Sitting Ducks"
An example of a minesweeping Drifter
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We had a visit from a German aircraft but he never attacked us. He used to come in and fly past, then wave to us in passing. We would close up to action stations but with the sweep out, couldn’t do much manoeuvring. In other words we were "Sitting Ducks"
There was something about his actions that said he wasn't’ attacking. We got used to him in the end and I think he must have been on training flights because he would spend a short time with us flying over us as if making bombing attacks, then fly off then come back with the same routine. Flying at almost surface level, wave to us, do his routine then fly off again. Not all pilots were the same; others used to enjoy strafing us. It was nice to see a friendly enemy.
George Courtnell 2000
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