TNA ADM 199 790

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was noticed that ships at anchor had heavy boabs directed at them, whereas Lydd who was under weigh was only treated to light stuff. During the embarkation H.M.S. Crested Eagle, which had bombed aft and caught fire, beached herself 01088 by and the troops on board began to jump into the water. Lydd's bosts immediately went to their assistance, picking up a large number, including twenty five very badly burnt and injured non.
Albury arrived shortly after this and her assistance was called for, which was at once rendered.
AS there was no doctor on board it was deemed essential to get the wounded home as quickly as possible, and I laft the scene at 2100, with three hundred troops enboard.
When off the Middelkirke Buoy at 2200 11 was reported to ne that the D.G. cabled had caught fire and had had to be switched off. IT was discovered that They had been pairced by bomb splint
-ters, the steering compase was now so sluggish that the ship had to be steared by a star When visible. Temporary repairs to
D.G. cable were carried out next day.
At 2205 and so 3 was reserved from the Travler TOR BAY 2.
ON closing her it was discovered that all she had wrong was &
foul propeller. I explained about the necessity of getting ay
Wounded home quickly, told her that there were other ships following, continued on ay way, and reported the matter on arrival at Margate.
I arrived at Margate at 0515 30th May, but could not get alongside to disembark until 0855, owing to the large number of ships already there.
I then proceeded to Sheerness to coal and ammunition,

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Sheet 4. & final embarkation.
At 0200 a lifeboat with 43 French troops and 4 Officers came alongside and embarked. They stated that they were from a French vessel which had run aground on & sandbank.
Whilst getting this party inboard I was ordered by R.A.D to *
return to England. As Albury was leaving harbour at this time I followed her out clear of the channel and then proceeded to Folkestone and disembarked troops, then proceeded to Dover and coaled as I had only 15 tons of coal remaining. Owing to being unable to leave Granville
Dock until 2130 Pangbourne did not take part in any further operations.
1 have the honour to be Sir,
Your Obsdient Servant
VICE ADMIRAL
Commander R.N.
9- JUN 1940
*
*
DOVER

Dynams 202.
BIGLO
- 337
H.M.S. Albury. H.M.S.
9th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to formed the account of proceedings of His Majesty's Ship Albury during the days May 28 th to June 6th 1940.
25
I left Harwich at noon on lay 38th in company with the Fifth Minesweeping Flotilla, arrived off
Zudecotte Beach at 3130 and, anchoring as close as possible, sent Doats inshore to embark troops. The rate of embarkation was then slow as the tide vis low and a small surf was troublesome 00 the beach. The troops were in good spirits though short of rations;
I landed a quantity of dry provisions in the skiff.
mile 3. to seamed of the ship, but no interference was
About 2330 a bomb was seen to drop about one caused to the work in hand.
4. ceeded without incident to Margate, where the troops
At 0830 on May 20th I got under my and prowere disembarked.
5. at 1930 on May 29th; a considerable amount of bombing
I then returned to Zudecotte, arriving there was in progress. On arrival the roads were fairly empty, as we had passed,on the my,a number of loaded ships returning.
had 6. grounded and,beirg being full of troops and survivors,
I made towards a burning Paddl -stommer, which appeared to be in 8 bad my. All boats and Carley up. Bombs were being dropped continually around the floats were sent any and many survivors were picked two Machino-gun attacks were carried out. I have ship and the Paddle-steamor during this operation, and but the utmost praise for all concerned, the majority nothing of whom are very young and had certainly never fire was kent as by the Twelve Pounder. I sent been in action before. Continual Anti-aircraft a signal for Fighter assistance, which arrived later in the evening.

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15.
the Breedt bank, the nost intense bombing attacks were
While leaving the charnel and couing up to experienced, Repeated Lear misses were registered on
His Majesty's Ship Gossamer, ahead of ne, His Majest's
Destroyer Havant, who had just overtaken me, was hit in the vicinity of number Three gun; continuing at high speed, she described a large circle to starbcard, and when last seen was steaming in a Southerly direction.
Near misses were 30 registered on His Majesty's Ship
Albury; Fighter assistance The requested.
16.
These bombers came in relays and pursued the ship well out to sea, The Twelve pounder ms kept in action the whole time, 'Id it the very noticeab 0 that
11 fire has witheld until aircraft approaching from astern were close, they were forced to sheer off and go round again. Effective use ms unde of Lends and
Bren guns, the atter obtained from and samed by the troops,
17.
I proceeded to Sheerness, anded the trooys, replenished supplies of coal and ammunition, and sail ed for Dunkirk at 1600,on June 2nd,
18.
On arrival in Dunkirk harbour at 0015 on June
3rd, I went alongside the Bastern 113, French troops were embarked, though there did not supear to be many waiting, and It ms necessary to send along the jetty towards the tom to 001 set then. During the time that
His Najesty's Ship Albury ms niongaide,intermittent shelling was taking place, apparently directed at the harbour and ships alongside. I sailed eventually about
0215 with Two hundred troops on board, off 19. "U" buoy, which I reported to you. It ms afightly
While returning I encountered a floating mine contral in shape, and from its appearance night have been a Dutch nine. I sank it and proceeded to Sheerness to land the troops and to coal.
in 30. with His Majesty's Ships Gossaner and Leda,
I sail ed again for Dunkirk at 1630 OD June 3rd order to arrive at the herbour at 0020 on June 4th. I
and company was detached off ⑈ buoy to not independently, in was ordered a ongside the lest pier, filled w with
French soldiers, and left the harbour at 0130.
21, Goodwin Light-vessel, and I overtook His Majesty's
Fog ms encountered between "U" buoy and the unti relieved by His Majesty's Ship Hellett
North Ship Leda, who had been in 001 laton; I stood by her
22, In Naval Tessel Saile Deschamps, crowded five the vicinity of the 31bow buoy, the with French troops of her, and signalling her course to
Auxiliary and refugees, ms passed, I ms about the the North blew up and sank within half a cab: es ahead Goodwin Light-vessel, which she minute. had missed, I
turned when she to pick up survivors, and reported to you that she had been sunk by a mine,

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22.
Skipper beaches A. Gardner, at 2200 R.N.R. - Went in Tug "Tanga" arrived bombed machine-gunned throughout the night, while at the and on Friday, May 31st. They were lying off an life inprovised boat jetty. He helped to ferry troops life boat.
down and he returned on Saturday in "Leda", leaving the in a power which "Tanga" had towed. This broke
23.
Sub Lieut. E.T. Garside, R.N.V.R. - Went to Le Panne in
"Elizabeth Green" and ferried for larger craft. He sighted "Viewfinder" on the beach. He got back to
Ramsgate on Thursday May 30th, transferred to the R.F.A.
launch "Andora II" and returned to beaches where he ferried for a bit and then brought back 23 French. Arrived
Ramsgate on Friday. On Monday night he was towed over in the "Elizabeth Green" by a tug, which he could not afterwards find and so he brought his load home.
24. Sub Lieut. R. Shrimpton, R.N.V.R. - In an Admiralty, open
36 ft. launch he was towed over by a drifter and pent
Saturday night at the beaches. On a later night he went into Dunkirk.
25. Sub Lieut. S.C. Allen, R.N.V.R. - Went over to Le Panne in the "Frightened Lady" which was beached after fouling the screw. He reported to an Admiral with side whiskers who was escorting Gort. He was told to help some soldiers getting abandoned pinnaces away. He also assisted to build a jetty with trailers etc. Left the beaches in the
"Horst".
26. Sub Lieut. A.V. Weaver, R.N.V.R. - Went over in "Quijijana"
and brought back a party of 18 troops mostly Coldstream
Guards. He went over again in "Sun X".
27.
Sub Lieut. W.G.H. Bonham, R.N. went over in "BOBELI"
in the first batch and ferried until about midnight on
Wednesday night. His boat was broken up by a destroyer which went full ahead while he was alongside. He went on ferrying for a bit but had to abandon the "Bobeli" and returned to Margate in the "Albury". He then went over in the "Horst" which had to be abandoned owing to engine trouble and a near miss.
28.
Sub Lieut. J.W. Culham, R.N. - in "Smolt" which broke down on way over and was towed back by "Midas"?. Went over in "Glitter II" to the beaches about 6m East of
Dunkirk arrived at 1600 on Wed. 29th. Stayed ferrying until 0200 on Thursday when she lost her rudder on some wreckage and was towed back to Dover by a drifter. The
"Black Arrow" was seen aground at Dunkirk.
29. Sub Lieut. R.A.W. Pool, R.N. - Took lighter X.817 to
Dunkirk and then back to Ramsgate. He went over again on last night to Dunkirk in the M.T.B. "Marlborough".
Mares
30.
Sub Lieut. E.G.B. Enxnish, R.N.V.R. - in "Skylark" but she sank on the way over. He also saw "Mary Rose" sink in mid ocean and the "Ellen Mary" run down by a life boat and abandoned.
31,
Sub Lieut. E.A.E. Cornish, R.N.V.R. - was in the
"Lansdowne" which slipped her tow outside Dunkirk.