TNA ADM 334 83

ommanding Officer of H.M.Y "Christabel" II.
ne 2nd 1940.
Extended Defence Officer,
Admiralty House, Sheerness.
arrative of Events from first signal to arriving at Sheerness.
Sir,
I beg to submit the following report:-
On receipt of your signal passed to me by H.M.Y. "Calatea," I proceeded to Outer Bar Buoy and met H.M.Y. "Calatea, "Amalree," and "Glala," I was handed your letter by "Glala," instructing me to take these yachts to the
North Goodwin light vessel, there to close the examination vessel for further instructions. We proceeded in line ahead led by "Xaleta," as Sub-
Lieut, Dunning knew the channel, owing to non-appearance of examination vessel I decided to anchor my ships for the night, at 04.00 I ordegered my engines to be started and to go and see if I could find the examination vessel, as it was now dawn, at 05.00 my engineman reported a defect, I
gave orders for remainder of yachts to close examination vessel at 06.00
and proceed according to instructions they received.
We ven eventually got one engine running, and I decided to proceed to
Ramsgate for repairs, which I reported to the examination vessel. Just before arriving at Ramsgate at I0.00 my engineman reported that he had the Port engine running, I anchored off Ramsgate pier and immediately proceeded ashore in ship's dinghy for my routing instructions. These I was given without any delay, and at I0.15 we were under way for Dunkirk.
When in position approximately 5I-I2' N. 2-28'E, we were attacked by a
Junkers 87 and machine gunned, his burst of fire fell all round the ship,
I gave orders to my gun layer not to open fire on him until he was well within range, as I did not think he would be able to see our Lewis gun at his height, immediately we opened fire he sheered off.
f
V
I anchored off the Casino at Dunkirk at 15.30, as I saw a lot of troops
1
waiting to be embarked, I went off in the ship's dinghy to see how I could the get some of these troops on board, there was too much surf running to land,
I was also informed that these troops were French and would crowd the boat no so much, that she would be swamped, I learnt that a prty of about & 50
We
British troops would arrive at about 17.00 at that part of the beach, I
returned to the ship and decided to cruise about to see if I could find a
The boat of some description to embark these men, I went as far as La Panne and was there spoken by a sloop who asked me to take his boat and try and on ier get troops off to him from that part of the beach, we were being continually shelled and bombed, at about this time a salvo of bombs fell across
I s]
our stern, the last bomb falling about 30ft away, the only effect was to infa drag our stern down a few feet in the water. We opened fire on this aerowhic plane which was a heavy bomber type Sornier I7. We registered a direct hit with our Lewis gun and his starboard engine burst into flames, and he crashed into the sea, as other ships were also firing I cannot claim this
S.V.
aeroplane definitely.
to get more manner in which he engaged the a machine gun and ammunition on board.
outside ready to sail at 2.30 p.m. Orders came to on masts all and putting on quay and fixing machine gun deck -
make fast in company with other yachts. Three other towed across harbour at 4 p.m. to the Tug "SUN XV" to proceed be swell. to ease the strain of the tow ropes. running at half-speed astern of us, under way 6.35 p.m. Engines yachts were told The tow ropes of two of the yachts broke and Slight at 11.30 to proceed on under own power. Arrived off they past the p.m. and cast off from Tug. Proceeded into Dunkir Dunkin
Could alongside the quay and proceeded to take troops on board.
Mole, and up the Canal for about 2 miles. Moored find no Englishmen so took on board 40 Frenchmen.

of
STREET
DEPARTMENT
Linex gone
OACI
THE
HOUSEY
190
3
SUIT
is sald
Streets
STATES
2.
ate
Jindua had promised to embark the British troops at Dunkirk I steamed back at
TO
sible speed hoping to find a boat to bring them off, we were fortute you finding a whaler adrift which we managed to pick up with our dinghy
2018
of immediately zsent these two boats ashore, and started to embark troops
THERE
DIS
YOUR
move sad t approximately 17.50 this was very difficult as the beach is very flat and there was a surf running, and as soon as a few men got into the whaler,
Todays
STATE
TS
WD
STOUB
&
she grounded, two of my crew with the assistance of some of the troops, by wading up to their armpits managed to get her afloat in deep enough water ox
THE
DEW
THON
To
ASSTD
to float with I6 mem and two of my crew on board and also four men and two of my crew in the dinghy, the la whaler was got alongside after a great struggle as there were only three oars in it, as soon as these men were got
Bluer on board I sent the whaler and dinghy ashore for another load, the dinghy of arrived back with I Officer and four soldiers, getting her off the beach
TOP
earl she capsized in the surf, but fortunately she was righted, as these men in they were being got on board we were heavily bombed, so I stood out to sea to wait for a lull, one bomber sighted us and followed us out bombing us, but
107
DEOGBOST
THE
they fell very wide of the mark, aa soon as I deemed it advisable I steamed
THE
back to the beach, I saw the whaler heading out to us, they had a great difficulty in getting off and could only bring nine men off, as it was now
BIAGU FUE STEPORT KORE SIGNATURE
STUD
21.15 and the bombing had restarted I thought it advisable to get under way.
I had been afraid to stop engines all day as I knew it would be almost impossible to re-start as our air compressor engine had given out, one engine actually stopped, but was got going again after a short while. I had the whaler cast adrift as I knew it would drift ashore and some more men would
7
be able to get off to the ships that were waiting to take th m off, my only regret was being unable to embark the remaining I4 men from this party.
standary
STA8
USIVE
I got under way at 21,45 with my own dinghy in tow as I did not want to
Y
waste time getting her hoisted, as soon as were clear of the bombing out-
2
in side Dunkirk roads I stopped the ship and hoisted the dinghy which was by now almost full of water.
I
When in position approximately 5I-15 N. I-55'E at 23.00 a bomber flew very low over us. I did not open fire as I did not want to give away our position, soon after this, I reduced speed so as not to close the North Goodwin light vessel much before dawn. I did not wish to anchor as my windlass would not work, also I had to keep the engines running, at 04.30 I got away from the North Goodwin light vessel and proceeded yr the Nore and closed
V.B.IO to report to Sheerness, just about this time mya engineman reported the-oil that he would have to stop the Starboard engine as it had water in the oil and he was afraid it would seize up, also that the Port engine was not running too well.
We tied up in Sheerness at 08.25.
The whole of my crew behaved in an exemplary manner, they were continually on duty during the whole period, gave over their accomodation to the soldiers, and fitted them out in dry clothes and did what they could for them.
I should like to mention specially O.S. John Philip Charles Mead, for his unfailing help during the whole time and the cool and efficient may in which he emabr- ambarked the troops.
S.V.G.L. Cyril George Dunley for the cool manner in which he engaged the to a machine get and more gun putting and ammunition on quay and on fixing board. Orders machine came gun to proceed on deck towed -
masts all ready harbour to sail at at 4 2.30 p.m. p.m. to yachts. the Tug "SUN Three XV" other to be yachts outside across fast in company astern of with us, other under strain way of 6.35 the p.m. tow ropes. Engines and Slight running they make at swell. half-speed The tow to ease ropes on the of under two of own the power. yachts Proceeded Arrived broke into off Dunkir Dunkiy were at 11.30 told the p.m. Mole, to proceed and and cast up the off proceeded Canal from Tug. for to about take troops 2 miles. on board. Moored past alongside Could find the no Englishmen quay and so took on board 40 Frenchmen.