 Among the last of the minesweepers to reach the Orkney Islands "Auk" missed the first, experimental, mine clearance (29 April to 2 May).However, "Auk" suffered the first fatality of the operation on 3 May, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class William McHaskell, was fatally crushed while unreeling sweep wire from the drum of the anchor engine.A Naval Board of Inquiry which met to ascertain the particulars of the death of the boatswain's mate recommended that safety guards be installed on that equipment in all sweepers to prevent similar accidents.