TNA ADM 199 790

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Lieut. Cdr. W.G. Boaks.
4.
With after guns until motor boat lowered and then went
forward to make quite sure coxswain of boat (Hicks) understood
his orders reference embarking troops and collection of drifting
boats, Just as we got the beat clear I heard & bomb whistling
bombs dropped, one of which was presumably the one that went
down and dived under Pom-Pom platform. About six, possibly more,
through the engine room - this very seriously wounded and burnt
one rating and seriously burnt another but I escaped the full
force of the back flash although thrown heavily against Pom-Pom
deck overhead and almost knocked out.
I then went to the bridge to see what the position was
there, but there were no casualties there and I then went aft to
the after guns to find en route that deck was buckled by mainmast.
The after magazine and shell room were flooding and
decided to close down. I then went down to my cabin and passed
up about eight spare torches (placed there for use in disembark-
ing troops previous day - night) as all lights were out and
being daylight few were carrying torches on them. I found
general chaos in Captain's Cabin flat and sent extra hands down
to resecure deadlights as this compartment being next to the
buckled part was rather important.
I then went forward to supervise tow forward. In the
midst of this another heavy attack was made and most hands took
shelter, some in forecastle locker. I then found all but three
of the cordite rounds from "A" gun had been jettisoned and in
view of the nature of the attack ordered these three to be thrown
overboard. After this attack we came out and then started to
probide cordite again. I then went aft to see what damage had
been done during which the fishing drifter returned and I again
went forward to rig new tow lines and also ordered individual
hands to turn out and lower boats and carley floats into water
as by then it was known ship could not move and drifter could not
have towed faster than say four knots. I also placed one hand
with a lead line aft to keep check on amount of water ship was in
from point of view of grounding and stationed hands ready to cast
off boats' painters should ship sink without warning.
Then to the forecastle to get up the after hemp and
also 32 wire during course of which the third attack developed
and I went aft to the after guns and with one round of cordite
from forward fired the remaining round in Y gun myself at a
passing bomber but not enough aim off in field of view to hit
and noticed that X had a round left but was unable to fire as
even with full deflection. After firing this round I went forward
recoil cylinder had gun been emptied in preparation for firing and
tearing out of mounting overboard. This cylinder was re-
filled but gun forward I discovered that the crack in deck
no have in view of probable beeaking of after
appeared to on going widened and gave orders that after guns off were on
filled then remaining water left in hot water to galley
end. account I to ordered be fired every possible container of water tank to in be
and tore from only ground capes to provide anchors covers were prevent then
placed or contamination alongside and cars provided, and gear
loss up soldiers of this water. Boats' sailing
spare in whaler, torches distributed to boats, After steering
placed in spare boats after steering compass unshipped the after placed life- in
buoy motor boat, whaler for possible use. of weeckage. I
party flare placed in to clear the flat during which the then
went detailed and party time to take in tow deck was cleared. fourth
attack forward developed for - third dive bombing - and upper