TNA ADM 199 795

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About midnight A.L.C. 5 grounded on 2
falling tide and was eventually left high and try
and she was not able to be refloated again until
broad daylight. The crew took advantage of this
3
mishap to clear both the propellors, These were
found to be badly fouled with rope, equipment,
clothing, etc., which had probably been the cause
of a certain amount of clutch trouble that had
been experienced the previous day.
7.
On Friday S1st day the wind got to
causing a heavy surf which made the embarkation
of troops extremely difficult, and added to the
exhaustion of the crew, who were, by this time,
shewing considerable signs of fatigus, due to
lack of sleep and to continually hawling the
heavily laden craft off the shore on the anchor,
During the forenoon the reather
conditions became much worse and eventually they
were so bad that beaching was impossible. Finally
when very overladen with troops, the craft grounded
beam on, to the wind and sea, the engines stopped
and she seemed likely to become a wreck.
The troops on board refused to disembark
until I pursuaded them to assist as to right a
waterlogged ship's lifeboat nearby,
As soon as they were out of the boat
the coxewain, Leading Seaman Harris, seised the
opportunity to get his engines going and turned the
craft and got her out to -