TNA ADM 199 790

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FROM
The Senior Officer, Thames Local Defence 10/14/19 Flotills. 276
7
DATE
16th June 1940.
Y
TO
The Extended Defences Officer, Sheerness.
SUBJECT..CRESTED EAGLE - ACTION OFF DUNKIRK.
Submitted-
I have now interviewed Lieutenant Commander
B. Booth the Commanding Officer of H.M.S. CRESTED EAGLE,
in
and have had a personal account of the loss of the ship
at Dunkirk.
I feel that in his original account Lieutenant
Commander Booth has hardly done justice to the splended
work accomplished by himself, his officers and ship's
company.
The ship was machine gunned on her way into
Dunkirk and under continuous bombing and machine gun fire
for many hours before being hit and also later whilst
/lers
on fire and whilst endeavours were being made to rescue
iat
the wounded.
I was particularly impressed by his account of
the behaviour of Sub. Lieutenant M.Roberts RNR who
2.
encouraged his gun's crews to keep up to their guns
under continuous machine gun and bombing attacks - the
guns and gun positions being entirely unprotected -
and continued careful and controlled fire until
practically the whole of the ammunition was exhausted.
Lieutenant Commander Booth considers that the
accurate pom-pom fire was undoubtedly the reason that the
ship remained unhit for so long.
It appears to me also that the behaviour of
Lieutenant Commander Booth himself, in his general handling
of the ship and situation is deserving of great praise.
COMMANDER R.N.
S.O. T.L.D.F.
da
steel chest by the P.O. Telegraphist.
Ship's head turned to the beach where she brought up sometime
later.
Fire steadily gained ground and with the wind aft in very few
minutes on fire fore and aft.
the conditions It is difficult that they were embarked, I should say round 600.
she was to estimate the number of men on board, about under
decks were filled first, casualties advised from the all bomb
explosions must the water as their only chance, and probably to 200
As the lower have been severe. After beaching I
men hands could to take be sighted to at one time in the water. I regret say that
they were badly machine gunned.
In less than of the hull, she was blazing furiously or instruments and
half an hour owing to the ship being all fore wood,
with aft and the I exception feel that I can safetly say that any gear