TNA ADM 199 790

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Buoy, the we saw two ships ahead of us bombed, one with 8 bombs,
On the return voyage, after passing Nieuport Bank
other with sixteen bombs.
but as we drew nearer it could be seen that one was in
There was no indication that either had been hit,
difficulties, and in reply to a signal we went alongside.
This ship was the GRACIE FIELDS, and while she continued to
steam round in 8 circle. we took off troops, & number
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By 1000 I had received fresh orders and was
proceeding out again on the 15Ya route. Te had passed
the Course. Middlekerke Bank Buoy and were on & South Westerly
I had just remarked the number of ships with which
we were in company at that moment, which was about 1715,
when we were subject to attack by hostile aircraft, bombs
and machine gun bullets falling between us and & hospital
ship on our port hand, the hospital ship being obviously
the target.
While opening the distance between ourselves and the hospital
ship, the attack was repeated twice more. I observed no hits,
although later I noticed one destroyer apparently assisting
another. About three aircraft appeared to be engaged in the
attack. Shortly after passing Nieuport Bank Buoy I steered in
towards La Panne.
with troops and 00 there were no transport ships immediately
The beach just to the West of La Panne was most dense
near.
an R. to operate F. launch which informed no that they could bring off
could to the maximum degree, especially as I contacted
I therefore decided that this was the point at which I
forty at time. The coxswain of the launch also informed me
that his a orders were to bring off British troops and I think
that may accout for the fact that I never saw the launch
again.
in all manner In the of boats to my ship and clambering aboard.
meantime, troops were paddling themselves out
They were French troops.
of There was floating no about adrift. As the troops came left aboard to
scarcity of boats but the greater number
no-one them remained were in the boat to row it back and it was
go adrift.
Two of the French officers who came off were the