I had just come out of the Engine Room after putting the loose wires back in the DG (De-Gausing) Equipment boxes. We, that is, Charlie NEWALL and me, had found our fault on the Standard Binnacle Compass on the open bridge.

On the way out I passed Stan TURNER and winked my right eye.

Getting on deck we saw we were very near the MERMAID. Charlie and I looked at the log, which had been brought up by PO (REAMECH 3) WILLIAMS and OEM Steve PARKER and placed on the Spade Pumps external cover in the starboard waist.

Charlie stayed on the upper deck and I went to the MSO (Mine Sweeping Office) to pick up the Bridge Megger (Electrical Test equipment to check the resistance on the loop), for use later on, as the compass wire was disconnected from circuit at MSB (Main Switch Board).

 I heard on my way out, the 1st Lieutenant had told the seaman to wear the same type of lifejacket. The green type, self-inflating, lifejackets were to be stowed behind a locker aft on the Fo'c's'le Deck. 'VICTORY' type lifejackets were to be worn by the seaman.

I knew that Special Sea Dutymen should be closed up and 'State 2 Condition 'Yankee' piped (I don't recall ever hearing the pipe !!).

As I descended the ladder to the waist adjacent to the Wardroom door, we were nudged twice and water was splashing onto the upper deck - But I thought nothing of this and neither did anyone else.

Entering 31-45 compartment, Wardroom Lobby, I opened the 'Y' hatch to the Generator Room (my Special Sea Duty place was in the GCR (General.Control.Room) and started to go down. About half way from the bottom the ship was nudged again causing a list of about 30º. I thought I'll stop and wait for everything to return to normal. Then  we received one long continuous nudge......... I was forced along the ladder and back out into the Wardroom Lobby, guided by the side of the fridge. I rolled onto the deck head.

 On getting up there was a pause...........The generators had stopped & no alarms sounded. I looked left and right and noticed that the AELs (Automatic Emergency Lanterns) were on and water was pouring in (I had a wonderful snapshot of daylight fading as an increasing volume of water spilled through the Wardroom/Waist door.

Dave (Brigam) YOUNG came running past and I asked which way was out ? He said "This way !!" indicating towards the previously mentioned door. Fred PILGRIM followed him in as Dave asked me "Have you got your shoes on ?"

I replied "Yes !!"

"Take them off" he told me.

I did one-handed, removing my socks at the same time. Then, in bare feet, I waited.

By this time the water level had reached our necks and, after the air "Huffed" out, Dave asked me to try and swim out. I tried to but came back because of the water pressure.

We waited a little longer.

Then Dave said "I don't know about you but I'm going !" So he went. Fred then said "Here goes then" and he went as well, apparently holding onto, or trying to hold onto Daves' feet. (Later on Brigam said someone had grabbed his feet. and he'd thought it was me !!)

I was left there on my own, so, after taking a lung full of air, I decided to follow.

The water was as clear as swimming underwater in the local pool. The current took me between the upper deck Generator Room Hatch and Funnel Flat housing. It pushed me into the Generator Room hatch-railing. I pushed back and out, got back into the main current and dived down 3/4 feet to clear the bulwark.

On reaching the surface my left hand touched a green self-inflating life jacket. (I did not think this was initially important as I wanted air) but I pulled the red toggle and inflated it anyway.

I started to drift away from the starboard quarter of the stricken ship and  noticed small, black droplets of oil in the water. I pulled the life jacket to my chest and turned my body so that my back was facing the 2 to 3 ft high swell of the North Sea..

I could see the MERMAIDS 27ft Motor Whaler coming towards me and, after being picked up, we headed towards the FITTLETONS upturned hull where we found MEM1 Dave BROWN sitting atop it.

When asked to drop into the water Dave hit his thighbone on the bilge keel before being covered in oil, on impact, from the slick.

We picked him up and cleared his airways before proceeding around the hull were we found MEM2 'Fraz' FARRAND.

Fraz was loaded into the boat and we headed away towards MERMAID.

We climbed up the MERMAIDs scramble-net and were guided down to the canteen where tea and sandwiches were available.

One of MERMAIDS stokers told me that one of his men mentioned he was going to get his camera and so he had hit him !!

I managed to get a shower pretty quickly, using 'Swarfiga' to clean the oil from my hair, before getting into a clean boiler suit and plimsolls. I remember Dave was very sick (I thought he must have swallowed some oil).

Met O.J. (AB JEFFERY) in the canteen on my return.

After an hour we were allowed into the P.O's & C.P.O's Mess for free drinks, then  were allocated a place to sleep (in 3E - the R.O's Mess).

I had supper and then visited 3Q Mess (OEM'S) where I met Paul DAUBNEY, once drafted to HMS PRESIDENT (London Division RNR) as an electrician.

Had a great time listening to others telling Sea Stories....... GOT DRUNK (With a very good excuse) !!!

H.M.S. Fittleton later sank between 2100 - 2200 that evening.

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