TNA ADM 199 790

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'yangbourne"
158
9
At Sea.
5th.June 1940.
Sir,
in accordance with your signal 2049/4/6.
I have the honour to forward the following narrative
midnight on Sunday 26th. day, H.M.S.
with the remainder of the 5th.w.s.
North Shields, and proceeded to Harwich, arriving at about
less "Saltash" slipped from Union Sharf,
2300 Monday 27th.May. The ship coaled and provisioned S.D.
Tuesday 28th. May, and proceeded to the beach east of Dunkin
at 1200. On arrival off the beach Fangbourne vas ordered
into Dunkirk harbour, and secured al ngside the last mole
at 2145. Some difficulty was experienced in getting along)
side properly as a wire cable vas discovered across the stem
which prevented the ship going ahead far enough to clear
the Gossamer, who was secured alongsidein the next berth to
Fastward seaward. Pangbourne's stern ma thus outside
Gossamer's stem which meant that embarkation of troops
could only take place over the lower bridge and & ladder
on the forecastle.
When about & hundred to & hundred and fifty
troops had embarked Commander .Clouston R.N. who vas
N.O.I.C. on the jetty informed ae that an unknown number
of badly wounded were isolated on & jetty the other side
or the entrance about one and a half siles further up, and
asked ae if I could go and collect them. 1 pointed out
the presence of the wire across my bow, but he assured Be
that the centre of the channel was clear, as he had just
seen some French destroyers go ug. 1 backed out clear and
proceeded as directed, turning before going alongaide.
In this 1 was assisted by thelight of blaming buildings
although the wharf itself was in deep shadow. Un securing
alongside 1 found about one thousand troops including a
large number of stretcher cases and saveral hundred walking
cases.
Owing to th a tide being low and still abbing
it was necessary to rig wooden gangways from the boatdeck
to the wharf, and the stretcher cases and walking cases
were embarked by this mathod. It soon became apparent
that we could not accomodate all the stretcher cases :
the quarterdeck. passages, Wardroom etc. were soon full
80 non-wounded were embarked over the bridge forward until
the ship was full. The troops on the mole behaved well
and carried out instructions, but as there appeared to be
very few officers or N.C.Os. ashore to take charge there
was, when it became apparent that the entire party could
not be taken off, & certain amount of crowding round the
gangways.