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).
Narrative account of a naval engagement involving motor gunboats and E-boats.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 175\1\ img025 | |
| Date | 12th April 1943 guessed | |
| 35 THE MOTOR GUNBOATS ARRIVE a one was Lt. Cdr.{W. J. Chandler - Chief Clerk} Robert Hichens, R.N.V.R., whose loss two weeks ago was the most tragic blow to Coastal Forces and indeed to England. He was a man cut out for the job, because in peace-time his interests apart from his work as a solicitor, were in motor racing and dinghy sailing. He won the Rudge-Whitworth cup in the 24-hour Grand Prix at Le Mans with his Aston Martin. I remember seeing that car completely in pieces in a shed at his home at Falmouth five years ago and driving in it again a few months ago at Felixstowe. "In 14-foot dinghies he always went best in a strong breeze, and I used to reckon my boat went best in that kind of weather too. We had some good races in those piping days." "He was known throughout Coastal Forces as 'Hitch,' and most of the tactical theory of motor gunboats was first developed and practised by him. But the chief thing about him was the way he could lead and the confidence he instilled into the officers and men of his flotilla. I remember one of them telling me that his only fear on going into action was that he wouldn't satisfy 'Hitch.' And it wasn't limited to his flotilla, this inspiration. It spread around and developed the spirit which put our Coastal Forces on top whenever they met the enemy, by virtue of their guns but of their determination ..." TO LIE IN WAIT FOR E BOATS It was in the early hours of the 20th November, 1941, that the 6th M.G.B. Flotilla under Hichens scored the first decisive victory over the E boats. On the evening of the 19th three M.G.Bs.{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} were lying in harbour at short notice when E boat activity was reported from our convoy route, and they were ordered to sea with all despatch. Hichens was the leader and the other two Commanding Officers were Lt. L. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Campbell, R.N.V.R. (known in the flotilla and subsequently throughout Coastal Forces as 'Boffin') and Lt. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Bailey, R.N.V.R. The weather was perfect, the sea flat calm, the moon still up, and the gunboats set course for the Hook of Holland with the object of lying in wait for the returning E boats more or less on their doorstep. But they had not gone far before Bailey's boat broke down and had to be left behind. A little later Hichens' own boat broke down. One engine was out of action without prospect of repair and his maximum speed was reduced to 18 knots. Many would have considered their boat in no fit state to meet the enemy, but Hichens decided to go on, and though he could not reach the prescribed position off the Hook, he steered to place himself some 20 miles to seaward of the area in which the E boats were operating and in the direct line of their retreat. Reports of their activities were still being received by the telegraphist in an almost continuous stream and passed to the bridge. Soon after two o'clock in the morning the M.G.Bs.{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} reached the stopping position and cut engines to wait and listen for the approach of the returning E boats. The moon had now set but the sea was still glass calm and there was a slight mist, so that the visibility distance for small craft was no more than a couple of hundred yards at most. They had a long time to wait, but at a quarter to five the faint murmur of engines was heard to the westward. For eight minutes the murmur grew louder as the E boats approached and the bearing of the sound altered slowly to the southward. At last Hichens started up and set off to intercept, though with a maximum of 18 knots he knew it would be difficult enough working only on the course and speed of the enemy estimated during the eight minutes they had been listening. After a little while, however, he stopped again, and quickly cut engines to listen. The E boats' rumble was much louder now and the bearing of the sound had altered slightly. The course was amended and the M.G.Bs.{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} set off again at once. Hichens | ||