TNA ADM 199 790

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bringing was entering faster trawler's counter, her stem was damaged
At her 0730, up against the "Mary the Rose" reported that, due to a following sea
and water decided that than it could be pumped and bailed out.
Dunkerque-even presuming we could get her there-she should be
I therefore as she was unlikely to be of any use at
abandoned and sunk.I therefore ordered the rest of the convoy to
proceed under the Lieutenant R.N.R.. We then took off the crew of the
"Mary Rose" and fired one tray of Lewis gun ammunition into her water
line, finally breaking her up by ramming her to prevent her becoming
a danger to navigation. We then proceeded after the convoy and picked
up another boat which was being towed.
At 0820, the "Skylark" sustained further damage to her stern
due to the strain on the tow caused by the heavy seas, and, as she
was in danger of foundering, her crew were taken off and a cargo of
ladders and petrol and all serviceable stores aboard transferred to
the "Strathelliot" the boat being them cut adrift. We then closed
a trawler "KO" and semaphored her to sink this boat which she did.
At 0845, we took in tow the "Malden Annie IV", nut at 0855
her Port mooring bollard tore away and the towing hawser was then
secured to the Starboard. This was showing signs of parting, and
finally tore away at 0940. The hawser was then secured to a small
hook.
At 1000 we closed the trawler "Grimsby Town" and sent a
message ashore by her reporting our position. A mechanic was put
aboard the "Malden Annie IV" to try to effect repairs to her magneto,
but this was found to be impossible. A hawser was then passed right
round underneath her and was secured on deck, the towing hawser being
bent to this. This hawser parted at 1215, when "Malden Annie IV"
reported that water was entering due to damage received forward. A
new hawser was passed and the vessel towed stern first. A great deal
of damage. had been caused to her superstructure by heavy seas crashing
her into the trawler, but having lost two ships, I was loth to lose
a third. The tow parted twice more in the course of the afternoon, but
the vessel was eventually taken to Dunkerque. I would like to mention
the conduct of the officer in command of the "Malden Annie IV" who
worked extremely hard under very trying conditions to bring his ship
to port.
At 1530 we were proceeding down the channel into Dunkerque
when a destroyer came out firing on and being fired on by batteries
ashore. It was impossible for us to steer out of her line of fire,
due to our tow, but fortunately, although shells were falling close
to us and planes were trying to bomb the destroyer, we sustained no
damage the mearest shell being about 70 yards on our starboard beam.
On two other occasions between 1530 and our arrival off Dunkerque
but sustained hits. We came to anchor off Dunkerque beaches ( as
beaches at 1620, we received salvoes of bombs intended for destroyers
close in no draft would allow) and eventually attracted the attention
of a motor as launch our manned by Sea Scouts. They came alongside and we asked
them to bring us some troops from the beach. We put our this ship's and boat
over the side and she was towed ashore to assist. From
another motor launch we eventually received a total of fifty-four
French soldiers.
unable further boatloads of soldiers, and at
Although we waited for a total of two and a half 1920 hours we we were
deceded to get not any knowing the state of the tide and being in danger Had of
settling there on the possibility of getting any more men, we would there. waited
that, sand, we would weigh and proceed to Sheerness. have
but there been were any insufficient small boats to supply the ships