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By Mike Kemble (c) From information provided by Ray Holden, Clem Bray, Christine Chaplin, Lionel Irish, Mary Davies, Paul Masterson & Others Created 24 November 2001
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Report
of the Board of Enquiry into LEADING SEAMAN ERNEST CHAPMAN BRADLEY Off No: D/JX 136903 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q36 Are you Leading Seaman Ernest Chapman Bradley
Off No: 136903? A36 Yes Sir
Q37 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st
August 1944? A37 Yes Sir
Q38 Will you tell the Board about the explosions
and subsequent action in HMS Kite?
A38 We were asleep down the for'd mess deck Sir.
On the first bang nearly all the mess deck woke up, and the second
bang followed
Q39 Do you mean the conning tower or the
periscope? A39 The conning tower Sir.
Q40 How long did the conning tower stay up? A40 The water was a bit loppy Sir and swinging us around, and I only had one glimpse of it. I told the Petty Officer on the float to duck because I thought they were firing at us, but we found afterwards it was depth charges from our own ship exploding under the water.
Q41 How many explosions did you notice? A41 Under water explosions Sir?
Q42 Yes? A42 3 or 4 Sir, they appeared pretty deep.
Q43 How much of the ship was still floating when
the explosions took place? A43 The half that we went over the side was floating Sir, and just as we hit the water the stern was disappearing.
Q44 Were you wearing a life belt? A44 No I had an oilskin all weather suit on Sir. It seemed very buoyant.
Q45 Were you wearing a piece of rope tied round
you? A45 No Sir
Q46 Were there any ships orders about wearing
life belts and ropes? A46 There was an order in the ships list Sir, and I had my life belt near at hand Sir, but when she got hit she started to list and I thought it was best to get out.
Q47 But there were no orders about pieces of
rope? A47 All men were issued with ropes Sir and were told to make them, when I was first in the ship.
Q48 But you hadn't got your ropes end on at the
time? A48 No Sir, it was with my gas mask.
Q49 Did you stay on the flotanet until you were
picked up? A49 No, we were all drifting together. There were 2 carley floats and when we got there we swam onto the Carley float, but there were still two men on the flotanet.
Q50 How many men did you see in the water? A50 About 60 or 70 I should think Sir.
Q51 You went out of the fore mess hatch and over
the port side. Do you recall anything of what happened to No 2 guns crew? A51 No Sir
Q53 Was there much oil in the water? A53 When we went over the side we were in clear water Sir, but when we started swimming to the float we found the oil and it kept us warm, so we tried to stick near to the oil fuel all the time.
Examination of witness
terminated
LEADING SEAMAN DANIEL BRANNIGAN D/SSX 23262 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q54 Are you Leading Seaman Daniel Brannigan Off
No: D/SSX 23262? A54 Yes Sir
Q55 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st
August 1944? A55 Yes Sir
Q56 Will you tell the Board what you know of what
happened that morning? A56 I was lying on the lockers on the for'd mess deck when I heard the first explosion. I just dashed up the ladder and as I was on the ladder there was another explosion, and I just got up and jumped over the port side. I got on the Carley Float and then I was picked up by HMS Keppel. Q57 Were you wearing a life belt? A57 No Sir. I got one out of the port whaler as I came up.
Q58 Were you wearing a ropes end secured round
you? A58 No Sir.
Q59 Were there any orders in the ship about the
wearing of life belts and ropes ends? A59 Not when you were off watch or turned in Sir.
Q60 Did you see any signs of a U Boat?
A60 No Sir, only what Leading Seaman Bradley said
to me on the float, when he told me to duck because he thought
they were firing
at us.
There
was no Question 61 on the copy received by me.
Q62 Did you see many other people in the water? A62 About 70 I should say Sir.
Q63 On the port side? A63 Yes Sir
Q64 Was there any oil on the water? A64 There was no oil fuel as we jumped into the water at the start Sir, but as we swam away we came into it Sir.
Q65 Did you notice any other explosions when you
were away from the ship? A65 As the stern was going down there was another explosion Sir.
Q66 Were there any under water explosions that
you noticed? A66 Yes Sir
Q67 Did they shake you up? A67 There was not much of a shaking with it Sir.
Q68 How many of these explosions were there? Did
you notice? A68 About 5 I think Sir.
Q69 You did not hear any orders being given
regarding abandoning ship or anything of that sort? A69 No Sir, no orders at all came through; we were very lucky to get on top at all Sir.
Q70 What were the orders in HMS Kite in case of
collision? A70 It was a long ring on the bell Sir.
Q71 Was that done?
A71 No Sir, because if it had we would have all
been at Action Stations in a couple of seconds.
Examination of Witness
terminated Witness withdrew
ABLE SEAMAN CHARLES BONSALL Off No: D/JX 419597 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q72 Are you Able Seaman Charles Bonsall Off No: D/JX 419597? A72 Yes Sir Q73 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st August 1944? A73 Yes Sir Q74 Will you tell the Board what you know of what happened that morning?
A74
Well I don't know much Sir because I was in the for'd mess deck. I had come off
the middle watch and was going to sleep
using my life Q75 You went into the water on the port side? A75 No Sir, on the starboard side; the same side as she was listing. Q76 Had you got your lifebelt on by that time? A76 No Sir. When the first bump threw me off the lockers my first thought was to get up top. Q77 Had you a piece of rope secured round you? A77 No sir. Q78 What were the Ship's Orders as regards life belts and ropes ends? A78 If you were on the upper deck you had to wear your life belt Sir, but I don't know about ropes ends. Q79 But there were no definite orders that you had to wear them the whole time? A79 No Sir, I don't think so. It was just made clear that we always had to wear them on the upper deck. Q80 When you got into the water, what did you swim to to keep you up?
A80
To a flotanet Sir, but we couldn't unroll it so I swam for a fender and then saw
a Carley float and swam for that,
I stayed there until I was Q81 Was there much oil about? A81 Yes Sir, I was covered from head to foot in oil. I think that is what finished one or two of the chaps Sir, their nostrils were full with oil. Q82 Did you see many others in the water? A82 Yes Sir, there were quite a few floating round on wreckage but I don't know how many there were. Q83 Did you see anything resembling a U Boat? A83 No Sir.
Examination
of Witness terminated
ABLE SEAMAN ARTHUR PRATT SHARPLES Off No: D/JX 563041 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q84 Are you Able Seaman Arthur Pratt Sharples D/JX 563041? A84 Yes Sir Q85 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st August 1944? A85 Yes Sir Q86 Will you tell the Board all you know of what occurred that morning?
A86
I do not know very much Sir. I was asleep on the lockers. The explosion woke me
up and as I was getting up the
hatch
another bang Q87 What happened after you got into the water?
A87
I swam away from the ship to get away from the suction. I was floating round on
my back and then got away
clear from the
oil that was Q88 Had you a life belt on? A88 No Sir Q89 Or a piece of rope secured round you?
A89
No Sir, I never had one of these pieces of rope. There were some on the ship and
we were given rope to make them, but I
never got one Q90 Do you know what the Ship's Orders were about wearing life belts and securing ropes ends round you?
A90
As regards life belts, when we fell in of a morning the First Lieutenant used to
pick us out and put us in his report
for having no life belt, Q91 Did you see any signs of a U Boat about? A91 No Sir, I never noticed anything like that.
Examination
of Witness terminated
ABLE SEAMAN GEORGE HENRY JOHNSON Off No: D/JX 568812 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q92 Are you Able Seaman George Henry Johnson Off No: D/JX 568812? A92 Yes Sir Q93 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st August 1944? A93 Yes Sir Q94Will you tell the Board what happened that morning?
A94
I was sleeping in my hammock Sir, and I heard two explosions. I dashed up the
ladder, through the for'd hatch, and
slid down the port Q95 You actually saw a submarine yourself? A95 Yes Sir Q96 How much of it did you see? A96 The conning tower Sir. Q97 Were you wearing a life belt at the time? A97 No Sir, just a vest. Q98 Were there any Orders about wearing life belts and ropes ends? A98 Only one about wearing life belts Sir. Q99 But there were no definite orders that you had to wear them at all times? A99 No Sir Q100 Did you see any other people in the water? A100 Yes Sir, plenty of them. Q101 Were most of the men undressed when they turned in? A101 Yes Sir.
Examination
of Witness terminated
ABLE SEAMAN LIONEL IRISH Off No: D/JX 351286 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q102 Are you Able Seaman Lionel Irish Offr No: D/JX 351286? A102 Yes Sir Q103 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st August 1944? A103 Yes Sir Q104 Will you tell the Board what you know of what happened that morning?
A104
I was in the after mess deck in my hammock Sir, at the time, and all we knew was
just two bangs. I went up the ladder
through the Q105 You went into the water on the port side? A105 Yes Sir Q106 Were you wearing a life belt at the time? A106 No Sir Q107 Were there any Ship's Orders that you know of about wearing life belts and ropes ends secured round yourself?
A107
Well the First Lieutenant gave strict orders about life belts Sir, but I was
Quartermaster and could never feel
comfortable
in the wheel Q108 Were there any orders to wear them at all times? A108 Well he was very strict Sir. Q109 As far as you know, did many of the Ship's Company sleep in their life belts? A109 There were quite a few did Sir. Q110 Was there any definite mention about having ropes ends secured round you? A110 No Sir, not that I know of. Q111 Did you see any signs of a U Boat when you got into the water? A111 No Sir Q112 When you got into the water, did you notice any other under water explosions? A112 Yes Sir, there were some. Q113 Can you say about how many? A113 I should imagine about three or four Sir, but I could not be sure. Q114 But not very violent? A114 Well, not enough to shake you up Sir, they must have been very deep. Q115 Did they appear to be far away? A115 It would be very difficult to say Sir. I just heard them, that is all, but I didn't feel any vibration. Q116 What did you swim to when you got into the water? A116 I picked up an oar Sir, then I saw a plank and transferred to that and then I went over to a sort of butcher's block Sir. Q117 Did you have much difficulty in getting on to HMS Keppel? A118 I don't really remember Sir. I was told that I went down twice and I don't remember much about being taken on board.
Examination
of Witness terminated
ABLE SEAMAN REGINALD HOLMES Off No: D/JX 369266 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q118 Are you Able Seaman Reginald Holmes, Off No: D/JX 369266? A118 Yes Sir Q119 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st August 1944? A119 Yes Sir Q120 Will you tell the Board all you know of what happened that morning?
A120
I do not know very much Sir. At the time I was on watch on the bridge as
telephone number, and at 0640 there was an
explosion aft Q121 Do you mean that the Lieutenant had left the ship or that he had left the bridge? A121 He had definitely left the bridge. I saw him jump off the bridge so I presume he went into the water Sir. Q122 How far was the bridge from the water at that time? A122 I should say about 60 degrees Sir. Q123 What did you do then? A123 I threw my coat off, took off my boots, and dived over the port side Sir. Q124 Did you see any more of the Captain? A124 No, Sir, I never saw anything more of him. Q125 Did any more of the bridge personnel get away as far as you know?
A125
Well, I never saw any of them Sir. The messenger was sent on a message to the
First Lieutenant and there was only me
and Lieutenant Q126 Had there, to your knowledge, been any report from the Asdic to the bridge? A126 Nothing at all that I know of sir. Q127 Within the last few minutes previous to the explosion? A127 No Sir Q128 Was the Asdic. so far as you know, operating satisfactorily? A128 Yes Sir Q129 No reports of breakdowns? A129 No Sir, nothing at all. Q130 How many Officers of the Watch were there? A130 Two on watch, but Sub Lieutenant Strutbers went below on a message for Lieutenant Savage. I don't know what the message was Sir. Q131 As far as you know, had any signal been received which gave you the impression that U Boats were in the vicinity? A131 Not that I know of Sir Q132 What was the reaction of the signalman and the four lookouts when the two explosions occurred? A132 Well, I never really had time to look Sir. The first thing I thought of was getting out of the way of the stuff coming over. Q133 Did anyone follow you? A133 No Sir. I was the last person to leave the bridge. The Officer of the Watch had gone. Q134 You do not recall what happened to the lookouts or the signalman? A134 No Sir. Q135 You say that Captain used bad language and went below. What did the bad language indicate? A135 It was something about Germans Sir. Q136 Did you gather from his action what he intended to do by going below? A136 No Sir. Q137 Did you hear him give any order at all?
A137
He did not give any orders at all Sir. The first thing he said was "Have
you sounded action stations yet?" then
he used the bad language
Q138
Did the Officer of the Watch do anything further, apart from crouch, between the
explosions and leaping
over the side?
Did he give
any A138 No Sir. Q139 How long would you estimate the time between the two explosions and the time Lieutenant Savage went over the side? A139 About 50 seconds, something like that Sir. Q140 How long do you estimate it was before you went over, say between the fist explosion and the time you left the ship?
A140
About 45 or 50 seconds Sir. As soon as I got into the water I turned round and
looked and the ship had turned right over
and was Q141 Were you wearing a life belt at the time? A141 Yes Sir, but I didn't have time to blow it up. Q142 Had you got a rope end secured round you? A142 No Sir, they were not very strict about us carrying those. Q143 Did you succeed in time in getting your left belt blown up? A143 No Sir, when I felt for it in the water it was broken. My hands were numb anyway, and I couldn't feel it in any case. Q144 What did you swim to when you got into the water? A144 It looked like a butcher's block Sir. Q145 Did you stay there all the time until you were picked up? A145 I got on a big plank, there were two of us Sir. Q146 Did you see many other people in the water at that time? A146 I should think about 80 or something Sir. Q147 On the port side only? A147 Yes Sir. Q148 Did you notice any under water explosions? A148 Yes Sir, but I don't know if they were from us or from the Keppel. Q149 Was any part of the ship still floating when the explosions occurred? A149 There might have been about 12 foot of the bows; the stern had completely gone Sir. Q150 Have you any idea what the course and speed of the ship was at 0640? A150 I couldn't tell you the course Sir, but we were doing about 4 knots I should think. We had slowed down to get in the foxers. Q151 Do you know what speed you had been doing previously? A151 I cannot say Sir, I have no idea. Q152 Did you at any time sight anything that resembled a U Boat? A152 No Sir. Q153 Can you remember what revolutions were ordered when you reduced speed? A153 I could not tell you what revolutions they were Sir, but I remember looking on the board and it averaged 4 knots. Q154 Are you sure about that? A154 Certain Sir. Q155 Did you see anything resembling torpedo tracks? A155 No Sir. Q156 You spoke of this debris and the depth charge racks; can you amplify that at all as to what you saw? A156 Well it was all spars of wood and stuff that you could see. Q157 You could see separate depth charges coming into the air? A157 Yes Sir. Q158 Did any of the depth charge throwers come adrift? A158 Yes Sir, they just blew up. They all blew to bits and several splinters of the rack came on the bridge.
Examination
of Witness terminated
ABLE SEAMAN FRANK WEBB Off No: D/JX 418096 Witness Called and Cautioned
Q159 Are you Able Seaman Frank Webb, Off No: DJ/X 418096? A159 Yes Sir. Q160 Were you serving in HMS Kite on the 21st August 1944. A160 Yes Sir. Q161 Will you tell the Board all you know of what happened that morning?
A161
I had the morning watch Sir, B Guns crew doing the lookout on the starboard
Oerlikon. Next thing I knew there was an
explosion
and Q162 Which side did you go over? A162 The starboard side, Sir. Q163 Was there one explosion or more? A163 Two explosions sir. Q164 As lookout, did you observe any torpedo tracks? A164 No Sir. Q165 Did you at any time then or afterwards observe what might have been a U Boat? A165 No Sir Q166 Had you got your life belt on? A166 Fully inflated Sir. Q167 Had you a ropes end on? A167 I had it round my duffle coat Sir, but before going over I took it all off. Q168 Did the life belt keep you afloat? A168 Yes Sir, I couldn't have done without it. Q169 Did you subsequently, in the water, get on to anything? A169 I floated to a plank of wood Sir. Q170 Was there much fuel oil where you were?
A170
Yes Sir, a lot. And the First Lieutenant jumped over the side with me Sir. I
don't know whether he put his life belt on,
but
I saw
him swim
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Copyright © Mike Kemble
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Copyright © mike kemble Home | Walker RN | U boats | Merseyside | U534 | U344 | |
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