My pal Pincher and I volunteered out of the destroyer _Vulture_ for the
Q-boats, and got detailed for the same mystery ship. After a lot of
drills--"Abandon ship," "Panic crews away," etc.--we thought we were
hot stuff.
Knocking about the Channel one fine day the order came, "Panic crews to
stations." Thinking it was drill, Pincher and I nipped into our boat,
when the after fall carried away, letting Pincher, myself, and crew
into the "drink."
Pincher must have caught sight of the periscope of a U-boat, for on
coming up (although he couldn't swim much) he said when I grabbed him:
"Lumme, I'm in for fourteen penn'orth!" (14 days 10A, i.e. punishment
involving extra work). "There's the skipper lookin' at me through 'is
telescope, and they aven't piped 'ands to bathe yet."--_P. Willoughby
(late R.N.), 186 Evelyn Street, S.E.8._