TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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S.T. "DUKE"
VETO
Sirs,
We left Dagenham at 10.30 a.m., May 31st, arriving at
Gravesend at 11.10 a.m. where we picked up as Pilot. We then
proceeded to Southend, arriving there at 12.30 p.m.
Acting on orders from the Admiralty, we put two hands aboard
the Sailing Barge "Ashingdon" and took her in tow, and proceeded
to Ramsgate Harbour, arriving off the Harbour about 6.40 p.m.
Acting upon instructions received from the authorities, we left
the S.B. "Ashi ngdon" at anchor in the downs below the Harbour, and
took the tug into the Harbour about 8 p.m. to await further orders.
On Saturday morning, 1st June, we had orders to stand by at
daylight, and received further orders to take stores, water and
armoury together with some amunition, aboard, and stand by to tow
the Ferry Boat ishbourne' to Dunkirk. We had four Naval ratings
put aboard and at 9.20 a.m., together with the S.T. "Princess",
we took the F.B. "Fishbourne" in tow. After towing for about 70
minutes, we put our rope into the S.T. "Princess" and then went
ahead of the S.T. Princess with our two ropes in her head. About
11.20 a.m., owing to the starboard rope of the S.T. Princess"
breaking, we were forced to slip our rope to enable them to get
another rope aboard the Ferry Boat; the S.T. Princess" then came
alongside and took our place.
After steaming for about 12 hours, we were ordered up alongside
the Ferry Boat where the Commander gave us orders to turn back and
find the Steam Tug "Sun III" and four Sailing Barges, and also keep
in contact with him. We sighted the Steam Tug and Sailing Barges
off our starboard bow, and went over and took the S.B. "Haste-Away"
ying
from S.T. "Sun III" and left him with the other three. Owing to
bad visability and the difficulty in keeping the Sailing Barges in
tow, we lost contact with our other gugs and the Ferry Boat. After
the S.B. "Ada Mary" had broken adrift twice from the "Sun III", I
decided to keep her in my tow, proceeding to our destination with
two barges each.
Firemen
At. about 2.40 p.m., when approximately 2 miles north of
Dunkirk (according to the reckoning of the Master of the S.T. "Sun III)
we found a violent air raid in progress, with bombing off our star-
board side, during which our own fighting aircraft split up the
enemy craft. At the same time we sighted a life boat adrift with
about 40 English soldiers aboard and one Naval rating. We picked up
20 soldiers and left the rest aboard the S.T. "Sun III". Things were
looking very bad, and upon the advice of an officer in charge of the
soldiers, and owing to the fact that we did not know the exact
whereabouts of our destination - having lost contact with our
Commander who was abroad the Ferry Boat, we steamed about for an
hour and then followed the S.T. "Sun III". About 4.20 p.m. we
sighted amother life boat which turned out to be from the destroyer
"Basilisk" which had been sunk in an air raid off Dunkirk Harbour.
There were 12 survivors aboard - 11 sailors and 1 midshipmany whom
rated
we took abroad. Their boat was then put astern of sailing craft.
r our
ed
We again proceeded on our course, and at 5.5 p.m. two British
aircraft circled round us and signalled us to set our course for
South. This we did, and the +Sun III" followed. After steaming
for a
for about 70 minutes, and with the help of the aircraft, we sighted
ke a
two life boats, and leaving the larger of the two to the S.T. "Sun III'
in the
we took from the other 11 Spaniards and 1 Canadian soldier.
ter
eing/