TNA ADM 199 790

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 385.

358
364
Page II
proceed at slow speed. "Express" arrived at midnight and troops
a trawler to escort "Jaguar" who was later able to
were performance. disembarked, the number of wounded making this a slow
Having completed with fuel "Express" left
Dover by route Y at 0920 30th May,arrived alongside Dunkirk
pier at 1245 and with about 800 troops onboard sailed at 1315
arriving Dover 1650. Ship sailed again by route Y at 1800
and arrived off La Panne beach at 2130 and commenced embarking
troops by ships and other small boats.
At 0250 31st May Rear Admiral Dover Straits
and staffembarked and later "Express" acted as desired by the
Rear Admiral who transferred to "Keith" at 0700/31. More troops
were embarked and having got about 600 onboard including Major-
General Thorne I proceeded to Dover arriving at 1115.
"Express" sailed again by route Y at 1215.
While passing 511 buay the ship came under fire from Gravelines
batteries and was straddled. This fire was returned.
On arrival off Dunkirk roads all ships
present engaged enemy aircraft intermitiently who were carrying
out bombing attacks and the prospect of going alongside the
Eastern side of Dunicirk Pier was investigated. At about 1700 dive
bombing attacks on Destroyers off Bray was particularly heavy.
Two attacks were carried out on "Express",one salvo was a near
miss ahead, and the other straddled, five depth charge type bomba
falling close all round the ship. Aircraft were heavily engaged
and no damage was sustained except for small breakages. At 1830
"Express" again entered Dunkirk and embarked about 700 troops
sailing at 1900.
Shortly after a large number of enecty bonbers
and fighters attacked ships approaching Dunkirk including a large
number of small craft. Several aircraft were seen to be destroyed
as a result of our aircraft attacking.
After disemberking troops at about 2300/31
"Express" proceeded to oil and at about 0400 1st June secured to
buoy and made good small defects including severed Coll.
At 2200 2nd June "Express" left Dover and
arrived off Dunkirk where there was considerable congestion
and I was unable to get wires secured - the bonhardment appeared
alongside. Ship entered at 0200/3 but the pier una eapty of troops
this time. The Rear Admiral accordingly
to return to Dover in company with "Codrington"
and ships arrived there at 0500.
into North Goodwin which persisted until to buay. sink
"Express" proceeded at 2200 3rd June aya and ran
as Dunkirk at presumed mine. explosion. "Express" British Beach
Arrived thick fog off 0230/4 where an unknown ship was seen secured to
party. pier and embarked appeared to be not quite after passing on
the a result of a 600 French Proops and the 80 heavy as
the previous The bombardment night. ht. The ship mailed at 0300 and through
rog in the Downa arrived Dover at 0610.
At 1200 "Express" and "Windsor" sailed for
Portamouth.
About 3500 troopa had been whichet transported.
red to be
mailed at
at 0610.