TNA ADM 199 790

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H.M.S. "Pangbourne"
158
At Sea.
5th.June 1940
Sir,
I have the honour to forward the following narrative
in accordance with your signal 2049/4/6.
At approximately midnight on Sunday 26th. May, H.M.S.
with the remainder of the 5th.m.8.
150
4
155
at 1600. Dive bombers everywhere and shells falling on
beach. Although attack after attack TSS made by bombers
on various ships relatively ****** few hits appeared to
be secured. Motor Launch having lost dinghy on previous
day I went alongside an abandoned wreck. One of the
wreck's boats was swung out, lowered, and taken in too
by Launch. French troops were ferried to the Launch in
this boat by Launch crew. Conditions (other than state
of sea which was good) were shocking as German planes
were flying low, dropping bombs and using machine-guns.
Operation delayed 89 great difficulty was experienced
in rersuading some of the Frenchmen to ambark. So far
as I could understand, their units were incomplete and
they were unwilling that part of a unit should embark
without thefrest. At one point on the beach there were
at least 2,000 men, none of whom would embark. The
rowing boat bad to be pulled back to the Launch and towed
further Rest where 8 fresh start me made. Eventually
& full load was obtained and we sailed for Hamagate by the
same route. Throughout the first part of the return
journey repeated bombing and machine gun attacks were
made. On one occasion a salvo of 6 bombs was released
so low that they were plainly visible as they left the
racks. They all fell close together near the Launch but
all failed to explode. Several machine gun bullets