From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Eyewitness statement from Thomas Cooper Pattinson concerning the accident of the motor launch Miss England II.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img112 | |
| Date | 16th June 1930 guessed | |
| THOMAS COOPER PATTINSON of Raas Wyke, Windermere, Builder and Contractor will say:- On Friday June 13th I was out in my motor launch watching the trials of Miss England II. I saw the accident but was not sufficiently near to obtain a clear impression of the details. I would be about 600 yards away. I went to the scene of the disaster immediately and for a period my boat was attached to Miss England II. Miss England II was inverted and I took particular notice of her condition, because I am interested in the construction of stepped hulls. I saw that the forward part of the step was broken off on the port side. Most of the bolts which fastened the step to the hull remained in the hull. The forward rudder, the propeller shaft, the propeller itself and the after rudder were all intact. The nose of the boat was intact and the deck in front of the forward hatch was also intact. I could see no hole whatever in any part of the hull. Neither side of the boat was damaged. So far as I could see, and I had ample opportunity for making observation, the boat showed no signs of damage whatever apart, from the broken step. Miss England II was disturbed in the course of attempts to tow which were made by my boat. This was the immediate cause of the boat sinking. I mean that if the boat had not been touched she would have floated longer. | ||