TNA ADM 234 360

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 143.

THE FINAL NIGHT, 3RD-4TH JUNE
CHAP. XII
The Locust also, after embarking troops ferried out to her from 2300, came
alongside the East Pier at 0225, and when she sailed ten minutes later had on
board 196 troops.
Mining of the Emile Deschamps
The personnel vessel King George V which left the East Pier about 0300 with
817 troops, ran into thick fog off the English coast. About 0615, near the
Elbow Buoy 21/2 miles east of the North Foreland, she passed a "small French
naval vessel." Suddenly there was a heavy explosion astern of her, and
within a minute the vessel had sunk.
The small French ship was the Fleet Auxiliary Emile Deschamps which had
sailed from Dunkirk for England at about 2100 on 3rd June, crowded with
troops and refugees. About 0558 the minesweeper Albury, 5 cables ahead of
her, gave her a course for the North Goodwin Light Vessel, which the French
ship had missed. A quarter of an hour later the Emile Deschamps struck the
magnetic mine which sank her.
Several vessels were near and hastened to rescue the survivors. The fire-
float Massey Shaw, on passage from Ramsgate to London, was only 200 yards
away at the time and picked up 40, reported to be all sailors, which she trans-
ferred to the Albury. The King George V lowered four boats and picked up
67. The minesweeper Kellett, called up by signal from the Albury, rescued
some very badly injured people as did also H.M.S. Nelson's motor boat, whose
log contains the apparently, but no doubt unintentionally, casual entry
' 2400. L/Sea. Eggington lost overboard with candle-lantern." Fog came
down again as the rescue operations were completed. Among the survivors
landed at Margate were 7 French women and a boy.
Blocking Operation repeated night 3rd-4th June
Owing to the failure of the blocking operation of the previous night to close
the port, the Admiralty, during the forenoon of the 3rd June, ordered it to be
repeated on this night with Admiral Abrial's concurrence. Captain E. Danger-
field, R.N. was again in charge. The ships employed were as follows :-
destroyer :
Shikari;
coastal craft: M. A./S. B. 10,
M.T.B. 107
blockships
Gourko, 1975 tons, built 1911,
Moyle, 1761 tons, built 1907,
Pacifico, 687 tons, built 1905.
The force sailed from the Downs at 2030 on the 3rd by Route Z, M.T.B. 107
being in tow of the Shikari, and anchored at 0130 on the 4th between No. 14 W
and 16 W buoys, near the entrance to Dunkirk harbour.
At 0230 Captain Dangerfield, who had transferred to M. A/S. B. 10 ordered
the ships to weigh and the Shikari proceeded to lead them to the entrance.
The Gourko's anchor was barely aweigh when a violent explosion occurred aft,
caused, it is reported, by a magnetic mine, although the ship was degaussed
and had been wiped in Chatham Dockyard as recently as the 31st May. The
Gourko began to sink rapidly and was ordered to be abandoned. She sank
stern first in 3 minutes. M. A/S. B. 10 took off 9 survivors and transferred
them to the Shikari. M.T.B. 107 rescued 7 others, some of them from the
water. One of the crew was missing, and 8 were wounded.
Meanwhile, the other two blockships carried on with the operation. The
119