TNA ADM 199 795

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 582.

413
LETTER OF 6TH JUNE 1940 FROM THE OFFICER IN CHARGE NO.3.
387
PARTY N .BARRACKS, CHATHAM, to VICE ADMIRAL, DOVER.
II.
7. 3.8. "Seiriol. It was reported that the Captain
of this ship had refused duty. As there were no spare
Crews for Merchant ships in the port, Lieutenant Mc.Ewen,
R.N.R. was ordered to take command of the ship. Petty
Officer Harding and six armed ratings, with one Stoker
Petty Officer and six Stokers joined the ship at 1000 on
29th May, 1940. The Captain was put under open arrest
and the ship proceeded. The Naval ratings manned the
Lewis Guns and Bren Guns in the ship and on arrival at
Dunkirk were standing by to take lines ashore had it been
possible to get alongside. This was not possible so they
manned the only two boats left in the ship. The only
ships ratings who assisted were one Officer and as Steward.
They embarked survivors from S.S. "Crested Ragle* which
was on fire, and H.M.S. "Grenade" which had been sunk
alongside. They also embarked soldiers from the beach.
About two hundred men were brought on board, half of whom
were badly wounded. As there was no medical party on
board the ship left before being fully loaded on account
of the latter.
the crew 8. of this ship were very tired and shaken and re-
Hospital Ship "St.Julien". It was reported that
quired assistance in working the ship. à party of twenty-
two hands under Sub. Lieutenant Radeliffe, R.N.V.R. was
sent for this purpose, half of whom were to assist in the
engine-room. The crew were very willing and the Naval
party lent practical and moral support. The ship proceed-
ed to Dunkirk on May 31st, where she arrived at 0850 and
went alongside the pier. She remained there until 1015
and was under heavy fire during the whole of this time. All
the Naval ratings except the Stokers on watch were ashore
bringing off stretcher cases. No casualties were sustain-
ed. Sub. Lieutenant Radcliffe was himself ashore carrying
stretchers and was the last man on board having seen all
his men had returned.
9. FOLKESTONE.
At 0500 on Sunday 2nd June, 1940, it was reported
that three ships 9.3. *Malines* 5.9. "Ben-my-Chree" S.S.
"Tynewald" - were giving trouble. An armed party under
Petty Officer Hollingsworth was sent over to take guard
duties on these ships. The Petty Officer had instructions
that no-one was to leave these ships under any circumstances.
Shortly after the arrival of this party the ships were sent
out to anchorage. Nothing untoward occurred before 1400
when at relief party under Leading Stoker Booth took over
duties.
At 1850 S.S. "Ben-my-Chree" came alongside the
jetty. Three sentries - A.B.Clithero, 0.8m. Tomlinson,
Cook Blackman - were placed on the gangway, the remainder
being posted at intervals along the ship. As the ship was
being berthed the crew were demonstrating and shouting
that they were going to leave the ship, and on the brow.
being run out they attempted to do so with their kits.