TNA ADM 199 795

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and bombing the beach, which was terrible to see, boat
drowned and kibled. Aircraft was active all the time, upset duri
VESSELS
TAKING
PART
IN
OPERATION
DYNAMO.
all ships with guns and shore batteries never ceased firing,
P.G.O's
1700 TILBURY & 1.723. CONTRACTING & DREDGING CO. LTD.
STEAM
planes were brought down on land and sea and we could see
HOPPER "JAMES 67"
REPORT OF MASTER.
dropping by parachute, one dropped near to us his parachute the
open. We never had much time to look round and see what
Re voyage from Portsmouth to Ramsgate and return from
we had our work cut out lugging half drowned men out of the was
Ramsgate to Portsmouth - 30th May to June 1st.
safety if luch was with us, which it was in the end. We
300 on board, I put one wounded man in my cabin and the next had
Left Portsmouth in convoy with four other steam hoppers
I went to the cabin there was two in my bunk, clothes and boot
Our long before reaching Beachy Head. My problem could find in to get the
speed averaged seven knots, so I lost sight of the was other
wet through, and six on the floor, they were in every bunk an
in the ship dead beat. It was nine o'clock so I decided we 1
vessels ship to her destination. The only chart I had old
get them as it was getting like hell, so we helped to load 800
the was one of Christchurch to the Owers. I back a very to 1922.
the other ships that did not have many on board and at ten 0'1
chart included all the English Channel and was of a very set to
ship of my own, which was cancelled and dating small
we left for Ramsgate towing two motor boats, and leaving one
It With a parallel rule and pair of dividers I work, that
for another ship to use. The journey through Dúnkirk Roads
and scale. plotted the courses of as far as the Downs, as I expected
dangerous owing to the darkness and sunken ships, as we appros
all the distance we could make by dark.
Gravelines the German searchlight was in action, and we expect
would get us in the ray at any minute, and shell us but luck
the same courses as the others until losing of
us, aircraft was over us at all times of the night, so we only
Royal Sovereign thence to Folkestone, expecting mile
sight of them, Light Vessel to the south, then to Dungeness to find pass-
I followed then I checked my course to pass half a mile
our lights when it was absolutely necessary. During the night
lost one motor boat, her towing bollards pulled out. We arri
Ramsgate at 5 a.m. June 1st and got orders to proceed to Marge
ing two miles there. off, Altered course to pass Dover one and off,
put off our troops, where we had to wait out turn, we eventuall
examination and again to the South Goodwin Lt.V. thence to the Down
alongside of the pier at 2 p.m. discharged troops, took in foot
anchored at 8.35 p.m.
water, and went off to anchor and await orders, all expecting
willing to go over again, but we got orders on Tuesday 4th July
vessel came alongside, and ordered scaled us to
sail for Portsmouth at 4 a.m. on June 5th. While we were lap
The examination there with the other hoppers. My small I made
Margate one of our planes crashed into the sea close to our
Ramsgate and anchor for this part of the journey Ramsgate so
chart was not any good I made my way towards far as at
pilot baled out by parachute and went drifting over the land.
left Margate leading four more hoppers but could not make the
in the specified time so we decided to go into Seaford Roads
Pegwell Bay, got Underweigh Friday morning
a reduced speed in a sounding the of three and a half 4.45 and
enquiries how to get there. inside channel, but only fathoms got as and
night, on our way in we picked up one of the Cowes and Portsmon whilst
Car ferry Steamers out of control, and took her in tow,
arrived anchored Ramsgate 10.10 p.m. about six anchoring off the entrance awaiting
the other ships went ahead, and by the time we anchored at
orders.
so, dark and we did not see them any more. We hove up anchor after
to our home They port. did not Everyone on board trip were on the greatly mission disappointed.re we
come until 5 p.m. which were to return
June 6th and arrived with our tow at Portsmouth at 4 p.m.
pathetic voyage.
as
well
as
myself
not
making
one
for.
(sa.) W.C. Attwaters.
I followed the same route back to Portsmouth.
The following are the times and distance off:
P.T.O.
the beach, which was terrible
kibled. Aircraft was active
OS with guns and shore batteriiore bat
vere brought down on land and on land and
by parachute, one dropie, one dropped near
We never had much timead much time to look
our work cut out luggiit out lugging half dr
if luch was with us, as with us, which it Vth.
oard, I put one was put one wounded man in
to the cabin there cabin there was two in my
ough, and six on tand six on the floor, they
ship dead beat. ead beat. It was nine 0'