TNA ADM 199 790

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Dynam A14/01 3 3
From Lieutenant Commander T.G.P. Crick, Royal Navy.
in H.M.S. Calcutta" for passage.
Date .. 29th May 1940.
To
..
The Vice-Admiral, Dover.
Submitted:-
As the Senior Officer of H.M.Ships"Abel Tasman",
"Alice" and "Kaapfalga" (Dutch barges), I have the honour
to make the following report on operations at La Panne on
28th May.
2.
"Abel Tasman" was loaded with ammunition,
"Alice" and "Kaapfalga" with provisions. The destination
of La Panne was received at Dover at 1900 on 27th May
and ships sailed forthwith.
3.
On arrival at about 0500 ships were beached
shortly after high water. A number of H.M. Ships were
in the process of evacuating troops.
I proceeded ashore to make arrangements with
the Military for unloading. It was extremely hard to get
any information at all or to understand the situation.
After 2½ hours search I was able to locate G.H.Q. and
reported to General Adam, who was in command of the Adam
force. He stated that it was of paramount importance to
evacuate as many troops on the beaches between La Panne
and Dunkirk. I accordingly made those arrangements. There
was great air activity all day and at about 1400 approximately
6 bombers commenced a wave of attacks with bombs and machine-gun
on the three ships and the personnel in general on the beach.
The Military were about to commence embarking. I had left
orders that in the event of attack the crew were to take
cover on the beach, or elsewhere than on board, where there
was still a quantity of ammunition. Immediately after, the
second attack I went on board "Abel Tasman" to see that
my orders had been carried out. The crew of 9 were extremely
young and 6 of them had not been to sea before. I found
one rating on board and got him ashore. There was only time
to take cover under the ship closewto the keel. I was
wounded in the foot by a machine-gun bullet during one of
the attacks.
When the attacks were over my wound was dressed
on the beach. I was in considerable pain and did not feel
that I could adequately perform the duty of getting my ship
back to Dover. I therefore turned over to the next Senior
C.O.. Later on I learned that my 1st Lieutenant had been
very badly wounded. I therefore determined to return to
Dover. I was feeling much better after receiving proper
medical attention. Ships were due to sail at 1700, and I
felt that I could carry out the navigation with one of the
1st Lieutenants in charge of the ship and that by stationing
the ship with the sole Officer astern in the line that the
three ships would return.to Dover with the troops.
Accordingly I was carried down to the beach
at 1630 by the military, only to find that two of the ships
had sailed. I could get no answer from the remaining ship
by hailing. Apparently it had been decided to sail as were soon
as possible after the bombing was over and as there