TNA ADM 199 790

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3.
31
nday
8
nd.
There was no hope of repairing the clutch which was practically
burned out, for two days. I went round to Dover with two
commanders and a lieutenant.-commander. S/L Clarabut volunteered
to accompany me. I was sent, with one and eight ratings from
Hotspur and Ajax to ginger up the French cross-channel steamer
Newhaven. It was some four hours before we could discover
from the Naval Signal station where she was. She had actually
entered harbour about 1030 but they informed us she was not in. We
were unable, therefore, to leave until about 2130 instead of 1830
as ordered. The master of the shop handled his vessel extremely
well, in spite of her small high-speed propellors, and got alongside
East Jetty in B berth, ahead of wreck, about 0045 (,). Tynwald
rammed us on entering causing slight damage. There were no troops
on the jetty so I went to the inner end where I found a French
colonel with about 3000 men waiting to be told where to go. I had
to stand at the end telling them that their colonel was in my ship
before they would follow. A paddle steamer in berth c delayed
proceedings by insisting on filling up. The Franch would not
pass by any spot where embarking was going on! Nor would the
narrowness of the jetty actually allow them to pass. The French
would not send word to the rear and I had to request the colonel
to send two officers to the rear of his men to hurry them up. This
rd. ay was at 0215. At 0245 we were ordered to proceed (from the M.T.B)
On return I reported to Captain Bisset that a loudspeaker on
the jetty would be most useful. I was able to obtain one by
Captain Dawson's efforts. This was a great help the next night, both
for talking to ships when entering and leaving Dunkirk harbour, and
for talking to the French troops and directing the securing of
ropes and passing embarkation orders.
We left harbour after oiling (very slowly owing to wrong connections)
about 1915 and reached Dunkirk entrance at 2430 (?). The strong
easterly current and wind made securing very difficult but the master
did very well and we were secured by about 2300. Embarking went on
satisfactorily until an order was passed to stop. We were by no
means full and I got them going again. I suspect this order came
from one of the officers who accompanied Admiral Abrial and a General
who had just embarked. One of the General's staff officers was
most solicitous for the safety of his superiors and insisted on
life-belts' being provided for them the instant they came on board!
We left on Commander Buchanahiss arrival on the jetty, and I had
no opportunity of turning the loudspeaker set over to him.
We anchored off the North Goodwin at about 0300 in fog and weight at
0500, proceeding to Folkestone where we disembarked.
heart. Commandis