TNA ADM 199 790

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CONFIDENTIAL
97
96
ORANJE's dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
communicate.
At this time a Blenheim bomber -1th British markings, flew
overhead. towards the beach where st dropped all number of small
bombs and was fired at with mechine runs and rifles. It was
then presumed that the beach was held by German troops, but
it was later ascertained that the Germans had obtained and
were using a number of aircraft with British markings.
Alongside the Barrage vessel we were informed by el number of
soldiers wearin British and French uniforms that the B.E.F.
was being evacuated, and that they had been told to find
their own way back to England as best they could, all their
officers having already left them. They also stated that they
had nothing to eat and asked us to provide them with bread.
I informedthem that I was proceeding to Dunkirk, but would
consider pickin them on the return journey. ORANJE then
proceeded on her way.
7. On approaching Dunkirk ORANJE met snother scoot
coming away who informed us that we were too small to be of
use alongside, nor could we land stores there, and should
return home. ORANJE turned about, recovered 5 soldiers from
the barrage vessel after insuring that they were genuine,
supplied the remaining Frenchmen with bread, and sailed for in
hom_e. A number of rafts, boats and lifebuoys were observed
on the way home, all of which were investigated, but no
survivors were found nor were any names found on any of the
ORANJE wreckage. arrived off the North Goodwin Light Vessel at 1500 and
was ordered to Ramsgate, proceeding alongside about 1630. The
majority of the bomb dam_age was made good, and ORANJE sailed
at 1930. with orders to disembark provisions at Le Panne,
about 10 miles east of Dunkirk.
8. Wednesday 29th May. ORANJE arrived off Le Panne
at 0430 and picked up one man off a raft in an exhausted sond
condition. An attempt was then made to beach the ship after
streaming a kedge anchor, but the kedge would not hold, and
so the bower anchor was let go and the ship allowed to swing
round with the tide. In view of the fact that the ship was
drawing eight feet of water and that the beach shelves very
gradually it was not possible to get closer in than è of 8
mile.
I then proceeded ashore personmally to interview
the military 9. authorities and returned on board at 0730 to
move the ship to a more convenient place. An arrangement had
been made for one working party to come on board to unload
the holds, ano ther to muster on the beach to unload the boats,
and as many large boats as pos ible would be commandeered.
It was now.
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