TNA ADM 334 83

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and the propeller and rudder of the motor yacht astern of us. As
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Che vessel astern was entirely unmanageable, she was abandoned,
and the crew went aboard the tug (in fact, as I subsequently
heard, one of her crew was left aboard asleep, and woke up to
DATE
find himself in a deserted and helpless motor yacht in the
middle of the North Sea. Fortunately, he managed to attract
the attention of a passing vessel, and was taken off) As one
of our propellers was still running, though somewhat jerkily,
it was hoped that we would still be able to handle her. The
convoy then continued. By now Dunkirk was distinguishable in
the distance by the immense grey cloud hanging over the sky
to its South; as we came nearer, the cloud turned a dense
black. The firing, which we had heard faintly in Ramsgate,
increased all the time in intensity. My own troubles, however,
were of a more intimate character, for the towing motion was most
disturbing, and I could regognise all the symptoms, that I knew
so well of old, of approaching sea-sickness. The occasional
need for action inatting away the tow-line saved my face.
Dusk had fallen before we approached the harbour, marked
only by one green flashing buoy. The tow was now broken and the
various vessels went off as intructed. When, how ever, we started
up, the propeller, which had al ready been working very irregularly
stopped completely, and it was obvious that we should not be able
to use the vessel at all. Meanwhile, one of our towing lines had
chafed through, and the other was beginning to chafe, so the tug
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passed us two very heavy warps, and an old piece of cavas for
parcelling them. As soon as the warps were passed, the tug
a machine gun and ammunition on
masts and putting on quay and fixing machine gun
all ready to sail at 2.30 p.m. Orders came to proceed
outside harbour at 4 p.m. to the Tug "SUN XV" to be towed
across in company with other yachts. Three other yachts
make fast astern of us, under way 6.35 p.m. Engines running
at half-speed to ease the strain of the tow ropes. Slight
swell. The tow ropes of two of the yachts broke and they
were told to proceed on under own power. Arrived off Dunkin
at 11.30 p.m. and cast off from Tug. Proceeded into Dunkir
past the Mole, and up the Canal for about 2 miles. Moored
alongside the quay and proceeded to take troops on board.
Could find no Englishmen so took on board 40 Frenchmen.