TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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AGEST
Jest:
Stavez
in
E.S.
(2)
166
DEC
The Queen of England and Shamrock kept a fairly straight
course and keeping about 30 yards apart followed Destroyers, as they g(
rask
got out of sight we followed their smoke and then the place on the
That
horizon where the smoke was last seen in this way we continued,
one could not help feeling convinced by the numerous British
to
188
noc
Naval Craft which seemed to pop up from all directions that the
English Channel was still English.
FRO
I arroused Brown from a good sleep to point out what
appeared to be a periscope travelling in the opposite direction
about 300 yards on our port side, he soon bought my revolver which
was stowed forward and placed it in front of me as he said you
might want it. As darkness fell so did the temperature it was
darned cold. Many Vessels passed us in both directions some
uncomfortably close and of course not shewing any lights whatever
and more than once we were almost dashed against our fellow boats
by the huge wash from passing Vessels. The sea was calm but the
swell was unlike anything I had experienced before, and the trail
of light phosphorus green behind each boat was a pretty but
monotonous sight.
We seemed to be near the coast now about I6 miles West
of Dunkirk heavy machines were over head we could not tell to whom
they belonged, Artillery action on the land could be seen and
heard quite plainly. Ahead everything was blazing, oil and
petrol tanks were continually expboding near the coast the noise and
flames were beyond description, I was feeling a bit weary about the f
feet cramp through cold was agrivating me, it was about I6 hours
since we left Canvey.
Brown took the wheel while I had a sip from a lemonade
bottle, a metter of seconds when I noticed one OfH.M. Ships bearing
down on us.
Then came the crash, I could see the Queen of England
being sliced in two.
There was not time for words, in my effort to gain
control poor Brown was knocked to the deck, but I managed to open
the throttle and swing her round and so miss the same fate by
inches. We heard the cries of come on Canvey in the darkness and
by by bawling where are you, where are you, we located and grabbed
them into our boat as the remnants of their beautiful craft were
just disappearing. We came alongside the big dark ship an
officer' after making enquiries about the condition off the 3 men
dropped a rope ladder down and took them on board, we did'nt even
say Good night
La runna
Owing to the engines failing we had to leave with only a few troops
and WE proceeded back to Dunkirk W here we took five more loads off
the shore which we were now able to do owing to the rising tide.
Whilst these operations were being carried out we were being