T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 33

particularly necessary on the dingy engines, which are so often taken up from the water. I think we should speedy them, if the Power Co. do not move in the matter. I did not find it easy to get 208 away from Calshot on Friday last. I had to go down twice for her. She had been taken over by W/Cmdr. Watkins, who had tried to start her but failed; and was very unwilling to let her go, even after the Group Captain had read him your signal from 10 Group. It was after 4 p.m. before they agreed to it, and by then there were no ... to lend me to bring her up. Eventually I asked Walsh and Gardar, two of the civilian instructors, to lend me a hand. They agreed, as Hythe lies on their way home. I had to sign for the boat. She started first kick. While we were entering the Power yard (me driving) Walsh got excited and began to shout orders and spin the wheel about (I was bringing her in on her engines, as usual when going less than 5 m.p.h.) and afterwards he ran about the deck throwing ropes and shouting to Leonard and Banks on shore. After Gardar and I had tied up, Gardar told me not to worry about Walsh, "as he always gets excited whenever anyone but himself brings her alongside"; but the whole performance did not give me much confidence in him as an instructor. These boats have no helm at 4 m.p.h. and the glasses should be taught to use their engines exclusively.