TNA ADM 199 792

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which between GRENADE'S Port the water dropped
About hit X four gun minutes shield, bounced later a third into bomb was
both. exploded Details of the damage done Side and the pier, where it
MAY in appendix. by these bombs are damagi give
an
6.
Experiences of and action taken by Bridge personn
take orders for I did not and engaged gave
As fire soon to as be I opened heard the attack.commencing I
When hit all the that they were getting but
I realised cover. from their noise actually see the bombs falling, to
force they of the Bridge personnel were lying down. very clo
I personaly noticed that I was level with the top of the
explosion blew everyone 3 - 4 feet into the Th ai
screen at the back of the bridge before I commenced to fall
Almost immediately a large quantity of water and oil fuel
commenced to fall on the Bridge until it was 1/2 feet deep.
No further bombs were dropped for a minute or so and everyon
on the Bridge commenced to think about the amount of damage
done, when more bombs were heard, one of which hit X gun
shield.
This was the final serious raid and as I saw several
men in the water close to the ship I ordered them to swim
back. I sent for the Engineer Officer and asked him if we
could move the engines, as by this time GRENADE'S stern had
commenced to swing out away from the pier right across the
harbour. He informed me that the engines were out of action
and that there was a serious fire in No. I Boiler Room. I
sent the First Lieutenant to find out our condition forrard
and he informed me that the after end of the Upper Mess
Deck and the Canteen Flat were ablaze. The destroyer
mentioned in para. 3 proceeded out of harbour and I shouted
to her captain as she passed US to report the damage to
GRENADE by signal.
29/5
I then decided to give the order to Abandon Ship. In
the meantime GRENADE had swung still further round and many
POLLY JOHNSON. When I had seen that everyone was away Deck from
officer and men were able to step on board the trawler
Port Side, intending to charge by the Asdic Dome could the
the ship I see for myself the damage forrard in
left the bridge and went down to the Iron
fore store, but owi g I consider that it was it
and to try and fire the to depth the fire in the Canteen Flat just I as
not well make that my this way charge forrard. was not now exploded at this time the as
would have undoubtedly then walked caused aft and RENADE tried to to sink get into in the was after
fairway. I Books. While I as I
doing this more bombs were dropped the clips in off the doors, lobby, I
lobb to see about my Confidential the vicinity and which had
found that I could not bottle get the fire in the after walked
been decided hammered that I up could to do no more up good on into board. the water I from and was the
deck which board was the only remaining trawler. It
forrard on the now Port practically Side and stepped level with the water, had
wires. bridge hauled originally us clear prevented on but I been ordered this my anyone was the intention rendered trawler getting to impossible to forrard order take this me to as to let trawler him the the go for pier fire the to a bow by tow the
with
I tug, met which Commander and was for in Clouston. depth the charges vicinity, I arranged to to be pust placed GRENADE near clear the Asic fire had
channel found necessary when
and died my out. cabin, I then should proceeded it be on board the CRESTED