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GROWN 193331 WITH
men to discharge it so we got troops on board and were sent back to Dover.
Then the following day we returned to Boulogne with all these high explosives
on board, and I may say we had a very bad time. The enemy came over us in
relays dropping bombs all round us. We took on board a number of nurses and
other ratings, and got out of it not before time. If we had got bombed with
this cargo on board no one would have been left to tell the tale. However,
we arrived back in Dover, but the bombing did not end there. We had other
two hours' excitement, then all was quiet. We got shifted over to the
Admiralty Pier in the forenoon and got our cargo discharged, and I may say we
were all very well pleased to see the last of it.
On the 29th May 1940 we started the Dunkirk evacuations, and continued
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with it until it fell into the enemies' hands. We had a lot of attacks from
the air. They met us outside Dover and kept at us until we arrived at
Dunkirk. Then on our return journey from Dunkirk to Dover they kept us busy
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wondering what was going to happen. However, we were very successful and
managed to take all our troops back safely.
I may state that things got very hot over at Dunkirk. Every day we went
with
there the bombing got very severe, also they were shelling us from the shore
batteries and it became quite common to see an aerial battle with bombs dropping
aws
all round and every ship in the Harbour firing with all their guns. The
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enemy was also shelling the Harbour and they had a very good range of it for
they were dropping them very close for any of us to feel comfortable. I may
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say we got our troops on board and got out of it as quick as possible.
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On the 4th of June we were proceeding to Margate. The fog was very thick
at times, which made us go at reduced speed. About 5.0 a.m. we sighted a
French Destroyer striking a magnetic mine. She almost sank immediately. She
was taking refugees across. There were quite a number of women and children
on board. We turned back and put our lifeboats out and went to their
assistance. I am sure we picked up about one hundred of them; it was a
pitiful sight to see so many people shouting for help and nothing more could be
done. It was terrible to see the number we rescued. There was not a single
one of them but had wounds of some sort. As for the serious cases it was
terrible to see them lying all over the saloon and main deck, and we could do
nothing for them. However, we made them as comfortable as possible and made
for Margate after we saw there were no more survivors about. We arrived in
Margate and got doctors and first-aid men on board and had them dressed and
removed to hospital. Seven of them died after coming on board.
On the 5th June 1940 we arrived in Dover from Margate and received orders
to proceed to Southampton. We got coal and stores on board and sailed at
1.15 p.m. for Southampton. All went well during the trip round and we
anchored off Nettley at 10.15 p.m. We lifted anchor on the 6th of June and
proceeded into Southampton Docks. We lay there under steam awaiting orders
until the 9th June, when we received orders to proceed to Greenock. The enemy
bombers did not leave us alone there, for they came over us on two occasions,
but they did not do much damage or stay very long.
We left Southampton at 1.42 p.m. for Greenock, and arrived in Greenock at
11.7 p.m., Custom House Quay, after a very good passage. I am very pleased to
say there was nothing to report on the passage round.
I am very pleased to say that all the engine staff deserve all credit in the
manner they carried out their respective duties during the anxious and hard
time during the Dunkirk evacuation, etc.
(Signed) W. MacGregor.
Chief Engineer.
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