26th April 1945

Sir,

1. I have the honour to teport on the sinking of H.M."M.T.B.697" on the 17th April, 1945.
2. "M.T.B.697" sailed from Rab at 2030 for patrol in company with "M.G.B.658" (V,59
embarked) and "M.T.B.633".
3. At 0234 unit was in order one, "M.T.B.697" fleet No,2. in position 1 cable north of
Glavotok Point, Kirk Island. An explosîon was felt and the ship stopped. From abaft the
bridge the ship had disintegrated into several small sections, some of which were on fire;
the for’d part remained afloat but also caught fire at once and began to settle. The petrol
in the tanks under the bridge was burning and orders were given to abandon ship. "M.G.B.633"
came alongside and the survivors remaining on board were transferred. Two seriously wounded
men in the water were rescued, one by "M.G.B.658"s dinghy manned by Lieut.Commander
Montgomerie and the lst Lieutenant, and the other by Sub-Lieut. Herd of "M.T.B.697" who after
throwing the C.B. chest over the side, then threw a Denton raft overboard and dived in after
it, accompanied by A.B. Walker. "M.T.B.697" was abandoned in an orderly manner and the rescue
of the survivors was carried out coolly and efficiently in the face of considerable danger
from exploding ammunition of "M.T.B.697" which was blazing furiousiy from burning petrol on
the water, from floating mines, three of which had been sighted in the vicinity by the lights
of the flames, and from shore batteries which were only 3 miles distant but which did not open
fire.
4. A section of the mine was found on the fo’c’sle of "M.G.B.658", the leading ship.

I have the honour to be,

	Sir,
		Your obedient Servant,
		Dennis Booth
		LIEUTENANT, R.N.V.R.
		(then) Commanding Officer, H.M."M.T.B.697"

THE SENIOR 0FFICER,
59th M.T.B. FLOTILLA.


Regret to report the following casualties when MTB697 was
sunk by mine a.m. 17th April 1945.
Missing presumed killed:— B.T. Richardson, Chief M.M.; John T. Colthurst, Ldg. M.M.; Arthur
Dickens, Ldg. Stoker; Leonard Peabody, Stoker 1/c; Dennis G. Clarke, Stoker 1/c; James T. Clarke, 
Stoker 1/c; Frank E. Fennell, A.B.; Clifford Price, A.B.; Kenneth G. Constable. A.B.; John I.
Beddoes, A.B.
Wounded. Serious Case List:- Claude Noel Murch, A.B. Dangerous Case List:- Patrick Devereaux, A.B.
Daylight search being carried out by aircraft.
No wilis found in effects.
				T.O.O. 171435 B April.
"LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON THEM"