folboat

I had seen the air photographs that the Lightning pilots had returned with, taken as they flew along through flak at fifty feet, and I knew that one of Bill's jobs was to go by night in MTB or submarine, to swim ashore or paddle in a folboat in the darkness under the noses of the Germans at the head of the beach, to examine these things and report on them.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

They tied the folboat to one of the beach obstacles, adjusted the cylinders of oxygen upon the harness round their bodies, and entered the water.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

These conditions were fulfilled on May 5th, and Sergeant Finch and Bill left Gosport in an MTB at about eight o'clock that evening, with a folboat on board, a sort of kayak built of waterproof canvas on a wooden frame that would carry them ashore on to the beach.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

They reached the other side at about midnight and lay-to about four miles off shore, and put the folboat in the water.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

Piecing together what he had been doing in the weeks before 'Overlord' from information that I could collect about him six years later, I think this must have been the time that he was taken in a submarine to St Malo by night, to paddle ashore in a folboat to make a survey of obstacles upon the beach at Dinard.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

He surfaced very cautiously and breathed fresh air, and found that he was on the beach opposite the town, about two hundred yards to the east of the entrance, on the opposite side to where the folboat lay.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

Sergeant Finch and Bill got into the folboat and paddled it ashore, landing about two hundred yards to the west of the river entrance.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

They decided that Bill should swim out first and make his way back to the folboat, postponing the dive under water as late as he dared, to get the maximum distance out from the sentries on his remaining gas.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

He did not dare to go back to the folboat, for the searchlights were playing all around the entrance and discovery of the boat seemed certain.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955

They were to meet at the folboat if all was quiet and go back to the MTB in that.

The Breaking Wave Shute, Nevil, 1899-1960 1955