TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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"ADVANCE"
Preliminary.
2.
follows:- C.P. Dick, Charge Hand; E.H. Piercy, Engineer-Deckhand;
K.C. McGuffie, Cook-Deckhand.
We drew Provisions, (But nothing with which to cook, eat, or
even open them: see above), Water, Steel Helmets, Oilskins, Sea-
boots and Petrol.
We also took advantage of a slight pause to clean out the filters
and carburettors, as the boat had been standing at Teddington for
nearly three months.
28 May. 1600 hrs. Fuel, Stores etc. on board. Picked up a whaler,
and left Sheerness with orders to stand off until a convoy was made
up and then proceed to Dover.
00/
1630 hrs. Eight other boats (with whalers) formed up and
proceeded. 'Advance' number two in line. 'Advance', so far as
could be seen, the only boat with no Naval Officers or ratings
on board.
Nothing of note, other than the difficulty of keeping station
owing to widely varying powers and speeds of different boats, bad
towing of empty and unsteered whalers, behind launches in some cases
little larger than their tows, and the unfamiliarity of most other
crews with their craft.
2230 hrs. N.Foreland abeam. Cloudy dark night, but good
visibility. Leader showing stern light, but otherwise all blacked
out.
1259 hrs. Between Ramsgate and Deal. Leader's stern light
failed. After this had some difficulty in following; some other
boats failed to do so.
(Note) 'Advance' had own charts, but no compass.
29 May. 0300 hrs. Leader, 'Advance' and River passenger launch arrived
in Dover Outer Harbour, and made fast alongside a Destroyer moored
to buoys. After making fast we were rammed by Leader, apparently
owing to defective astern clutches. (Later found two frames cracked
on port side.)
0330 hrs. Instructed to move into Submarine Basin, where we
refueled, and rested (a little). And those who had the wherewithall
breakfasted.
0600 hrs. An Officer came along the jetty, and at last told
us what we were wanted to do. - That it would be dangerous but was
very important, and that we should have ample support from the
R.A.F. - We were also given the opportunity of going ashore,
in their pockets was
The
medical 120 men, attention. whom they transferred to a richer
on
cue
or
a that day's day, rest. so they Daylight returned prevented to England, them reaching and Dunkirk
and but were bombing, unable to Following remove any this troops they again went were to allowed Dunkirk
to England. there were none on the beach, as, owing so they to shelling returned