TNA ADM 199 790

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Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 343.

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the 334
Buoy, the other we saw two ships ahead of us bombed, one with 8 bombs, Bank
On the return voyage, after passing Nieuport
with sixteen bombs.
but as we drew nearer it could be seen that one in
There was no indication that either had been hit,
This ship was the GRACIE FIELDS, and while she continued to
difficulties, and in reply to 8 signal we went alongside. was
steam round in a circle. we took off troops. & number
-327
to 333
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exceptions to that procedure and they each rowed their boat
back to the beach single-handed.
I saw little hope of achieving with these men what their
own officers could not do, so I had the boats made fast until
a few had collected and then, manning the largest with by own
crew, sent them to POW ashore towing the others, with orders to
let go the others on reaching the shore for the troops to man
themselves and to row back the large boat with troops.
On reaching the shore. 30 many troops crowded into this
boat, and none would get out. that there seemed little likelihood
of the boat ever being able shove off the beach.
It was about an hour later when a French officer took
charge and threatened to shoot anyone who did not get out of
shore. the boat when ordered to, that the boat managed to leave the
In the meantime. troops had been coming out to us in
other boats made avaliable to them by the fact that the wind
was gradually blowing the empty boats in to the shore.
I had taken JUTLAND in to about sixty yards from the
shore where we were lying in eight feet of water.
After while an enemy air attack developed. In our
vicinity a bombs were dropped immediately in rear of the
beaches but four the attack seemed to be directed chiefly at the
westward one bomb set on fire. One plane dived to masthead height hit.
receiving lying off; in the after magazine, another ship farther
ships the next ship to the westward of us
or lower being over a nearby ship but, I think, failed to score a
about fifty JUTLAND French rifles - whom I had stationed on deck,
replied with her only and newly found armament the -
remainder of the troops being in the hold.
partly off to the gradually ceased. I estimated we that I
Partly due boat problem again. the supply of troops had some coming
to the presence of hostile aircraft and
275 to the ship board and it was at this juncture returning. decided
to make troops sure on of what we had got and set course for