A story Jim Connors told Marj Ennis-Pittman

UP SHE COMES

Leo worked part of one summer on the Base (for a couple of months starting in March). Leo, Jim and Willie Patrick worked aboard the ‘Richard Peck"...Leo and Willie Patrick were sailors and Jim was steward. The ‘Richard Peck’ was an American river boat. She was anchored in the Retch and some Yanks lived on her. The boat used to go into the dock in the morning to land some Yanks. There were no barracks.

One day, during the war, when they were out in a dory on the Grand Banks, the skipper came to pick up Leo and Jim. They were supposed to have the oars down to keep clear of the boat (the Glider) while being picked up, but Leo was up forward rolling a cigarette and Jim was back aft doing the same. The oars weren't in, so the Glider hooked in the stern of the dory and it went up in the air. Leo was able to jump aboard, but Jim went down under and was about half a mile away when he came up. He had to swim back with his oil clothes and long rubbers on. They didn't think of throwing out the life ring and because the schooner had come to a stop, Jim had to swim to it.’