TNA ADM 199 790

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R.N. Chatham. Barracks,
The Commanding Officer,
H.M.S. "Crested Eagle".
Sir,
I have the honour to report that during the intense
beaching, and burning of the vessel, all men under my con-
aerial bombardment of the pier, and the subsequent bombing,
trol remained steady at their posts and carried out their
duties with great coolness. I should like especially to
report on the following men:
Tilbury A.B.
1e
Frend. A.B.
Plack, A.B.
Patrick.
for their work in keeping the vessel alongside the quay and
for assisting the wounded men to board the vessel. I have
to report that an unknown A.B. or O.S. a survivor from the
"Grenade" suffering from severe facial injuries, requested
that he should assist to men the A.A. guns. Being short-
handed I posted him as gunlayer and Captain of the Gun at
No.2 Pom pom. This Gun he kept in action for 20 minutes
after the bombing of the vessel.
Four German Prisoners on board were of great
al
assistance in rescuing wounded from the damaged compart-
ments, these men were handed over to a French N.C.O. on
reaching shore.
side
Engineer Lieut. Turnbull, R.N.R. was placed in
hospital in a large hotel about 2 miles East of Dunkirk.
He was badly burnt about the hands and face and suffering
slightly from shock. Owing to the congested state of the
beaches it was impossible to collect all survivors. All
men seen were instructed to return to England by the earliest
availableboat.
in.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
R.M. Roberts,
Sub.Lieut. R.N.R.
1035. Observed large number of troops waiting by
Zuidcoote Sanatarium'and no boats or ships in immediate
vicinity.
1040 Anchored in 2½ fathoms in position
Dunkirk High lighthouse bearing 237 deg. 3.25 miles.
Established communication ashore by using ship's ropes
secured ashore and by using two ship's boats and two small
boats salved from beach, ferried troops from beach to ship.
Owing to falling tide, shallow water and inshore swell
operations were difficult and troops had to wade into 3 feet
of water to keep boats afloat but by changing the boats
creews for every trip - about 60 troops per hour were
embarked.
During this time bombing, shelling and aerial
and machine gunning took place, and gun's crews were
continually on the alert and in action and embarking operations
continued without a break.
Embarked about 340 troops.