"A" Troop Boarding Party night of 9/10 June 1944
The party consisted of Lt. Copsey, Cpl Mee, Mne. Marshall, Mne. James, Mne. Bryce, Mne. Steer and Mne. Botho. They embarked on M.G.B. 647 and sailed at about 1900 hours in company with an M.T.B. The channel between Mljet Island and the Peljesac peninsula was reached at dusk and speed was reduced to 4 or 5 knots. There was a full moon and observation was very easy. The boats "idled" down the Peninsula coast, lying about 40 yards off shore. Nothing was seen until the boats turned about to go back up the coast, then the M.T.B. in the rear signalled "enemy sighted astern". The patrol turned again on to its original course, but as they did so a white verys light was put up from the shore. Speed was increased and the boats went a further 5 or 6 miles south - no sign of the enemy was seen and it was concluded that they had taken refuge amongst a group of small islands among which the channels were too shallow and dangerous for an M.G.B. to venture. The M.T.B. furnished the information that there were three ships which had been proceeding from Mljet to the mainland.
Returning up the coast it was determined to mark the point where the light had been fired as an enemy observation post. As the point was reached a coastal gun battery opened fire on the two boats. About 20 secs later two enemy boats were sighted approaching along the coast about 20 yards off shoring coming from the north. They were an E boat and an I lighter. Fire was opened simultaneously but the enemy's opening burst put the 2pr. pom-pom, the starboard twin 0.5 turret and the starboard twin Lewis out of action. The M.G.B. passed between the E and I boats and was repeatedly hit by their fire. The M.G.B. 6 pr. sank the E boat as it was passing and seriously damaged the I boat. At this point the action was broken off and some 4 minutes later a loud explosion was heard from the damaged I boat.
At this point it was found that the Navy had 3 sailors dead and 3 badly wounded, while the Marines had 1 dead and 2 badly wounded. The casualties were taken below and tended by the boarding party until the boat reached Komiza at 0600 hours. The wounded men were Mne. Marshall and Mne. Botho; the fatality was Mne. Bryce.
D. Copsel Lt. R.M.
