ESCORT WORK IN CHANNEL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23232, 20 January 1941, Page 8

ESCORT WORK IN CHANNEL

Christchurch Man’s Experiences

The commander of a small escort vessel in the English Channel is a former Christchurch man, well known as a member of the staff of the National Bank. He is now LieutenantCommander Peter Phipps, and has written to a friend here as follows: “I have command of a 600-ton escort vessel, brand new last June. A fine little ship. We spend our time taking convoys up the Channel to the Thames—one of the most interesting jobs at sea to be had. The number of times the Germans claim to have sunk us is incredible.

“I. have never yet seen one of our ships fail to reach port. They hit us sometimes, it is true, but not sink. My ship has had two bombs on her stern; we have been machine-gunned and hit by H.E. fired from guns on the French coast. But another couple of patches and out we go again. It is not as bad as it may sound really. My biggest horror is the weather. The channels through the Goodwin Sands and Thames Estuary are narrow and full of wrecks and cross tides. All right on fine nights, but a worry on bad ones.”