TNA ADM 199 790

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 164.

160
Sheet 3.
and wounding of seven
a lull in the bombing attacks the cable was slipped, and
ratings and two officers, and two Belgian soldiers. During
the capstan being out of action, and Lthe ship got under
way, the troops by this time coming off in various boats
were picked up, and the boats abandoned as they were holed
and boats' falls shot away. As both compasses were out of
action I decided to get clear of the sandbanks before dark.
During the above attacks fire was opened on the bombers,
but one near miss aft wounded or killed the 12 pdr. gun's
crew. The majority of Lewis gun pans in ready use racks
were pierced by bomb fragments and caused several jambs.
The spare I2 pdr. gun's crew was closed up, but by this
time the bomners appeared to be concentrating on the harbour
although several high bombing attacks were nad along the
coast. On clearing the Nieuport Bank the paddle-minesweeper
Gracie Fields asked for assistance. She had suffere direct
hits and was out of control, steaming at about six knots with
her helm jambed, with 15 degrees starboard wheel on. 1
proceeded alongside and took off about eighty British
soldiers. After this, as she appeared to be & danger to
navi ation, I took her in tow leaving the ship's company
on board. Kellett passed and at ay request led ae as ay
compasses were still dead.
At 0130 Thursday 36th. May the Gracie Fields
reported that she was sinking. 1 slipped her and went
alongside, took off the ship's company, four badly wounded
soldiers, and abandoned her and broadcast her approximate
position (51 degrees 20 minutes North, 02 degrees 05 minutes
East). By this time Kellett was out of sight and visibility
was poor. At 0646 the South Goodwin Light Vessel was
sighted and 1 was led into Dover by H.M.S. "Mosquito:
1 secured alongside disembarking jetty at 1000 and landed
troops. wounde d and dead.
After disembarkation ship proceeded to Submarine
Basin and was taken in hand for temporary repairs by
Sandhurst, and remained out of action until 20.0 Saturday
Ist. June. By this time the D.O. coil was functioning but
the compasses were still out of action. After leaving
harbour 1 was ordered to roceed in company with Halcyon
and ordered her to rendezvous at North Goodwin. On arrival
at North Goodwin 1 patrolled in the vicinity, but saw no
sign of Halcyon, and I heard on return that she had not
left harbour. AS all ship ing going towards the beaches
had now ceased, 1 decided to proceed to the eastward with
& view of assisting any ships returning in difficulties.
T buoy was passed at 0532 and course altered to westward.
off. buey. Off S buoy A/V Stella Regal closed and
transferred 23 British troops whom she had picked up some
time previously. Returned to Dover by 1030 and landed
troops. At 2000 proceeded to Dunkirk in company with
Halcyon and Speedwell by West Fass, entering the break-
water at 0030 Monday June 3rd. On entering Iwas ordered
by R.A.D. to wait outside as there were no troops waiting
embarkation.