TNA ADM 234 360

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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VHI
Isabelle The French carrying trawlers food, also Marie went hit and to and Dunkirk. Pierre exploded carrying While and unloading munitions, under and shell the Ste.
was the Pierre's still on fire munitions when her were consorts left Dunkirk at 1100. the ship caught fire. She fire
Captain Howson returns to Dover
about 1930 some 30 others bombed the and
Meanwhile the having enemy been made made the last at 1415-1500 of his three major air of
the other two bombers escorted by fighters
small went on craft². to bomb Dunkirk, and
likely to up the 'rough treatment", Captain Howson decided un-
also through stand the stern to further glands. Being opinion that the would be
received some damage of making
The yacht Ankh, which from a Captain near miss Howson and started was using as his headquarters,
some to Rear-Admiral seaward, failing light Captain Howson was then
return 2 to Dover, 3 miles ordering to in yacht the Amulree to keep company. Being to
to signal to closed the Wake-Walker in the Keith. The yachts Eilla unable II
Caryandra the latter that Ankh the former reported that she was short of fuel and
in she was damaged and short of lubricating oil, so they returned and
company with the Ankh to Dover.
reduced to of the Vivacious from the beach) found that her tiller wire by
It tow was the at boats about this time, 2000, that the yacht Glagla (which was standing
shelling R.N. in which had been going on continuously, became intense. A Captain and
to a single strand. Her Commanding Officer said, The bombing was
ordered yacht No. 1 of the Solent Patrol [i.e. Captain Howson in the Ankh],
us to make for the open sea, and all the smaller craft followed him out.
It was in the above circumstances that a number of power boats started
withdrawal Walker to Dover, and that at 0611 on the 1st June Rear-Admiral Wake- a
boats had found it necessary to report to V.A. Dover that all craft used for towing
left during the night, and to urge that they be sent back³.
Ankh, was rammed and sunk by the Vimy in the vicinity of the Gull. Her crew
At about 0145 on the 1st June the yacht Amulree, which was escorting the
were R.N., picked up. The Commodore-in-Charge, Sheerness, Captain H. R. Marrack,
she this vessel [the Amulree] was diverted from the valuable work regret which
that D.S.C., in a report to V.A., Dover, says that it was a matter for
seemingly rammed minor administrative duty which indirectly resulted in carry her being
was performing in towing out pontoons from the very beaches, to out a
The and sunk by a British destroyer in the Downs".
Ankh arrived at Dover at 0815 on the 1st June.
Casualties to towing craft
Commodore Of the motor boats lost this day, 2 lost action. The M/B
machine ferried troops to the Worcester were off by enemy eventually
bourne gunned, holed and abandoned. Her Malo. She was East-
shore Queen. The M/B New Prince of Wales crew was embarked in the a shell M/B from a
crew of the crew were wounded. killed, The vessel and S/Lt. was abandoned P. H. E. and the
R.N. and battery. 2 Two able-seamen were damaged by Bennett,
embarked in the M/B Triton.
I 2 R.A.F. Narrative, p.336.
3 4 Captain Appendix Howson's H.26. Report (R.O.IV, p.119).
R.O.III, p.551.
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