TNA MT 40 66

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right, and begged them to keep their seats.
By 2.30 we were loaded and almost ready for sea, when the raiders
came back to pay us another visit - only three this time. Our troops
(about 2,500) were all lying down in saloons and staterooms, as they were
dead tired. There was a large number on deck, as everywhere below decks
was full up. We had also forty wounded on stretchers on the games deck.
After the raiders released all their bombs in this raid they machine-gunned
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the wounded on deck, one of whom was shot through the leg.
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One of the soldiers on the after well deck was using his Bren gun with
good effect. He had two pals one feeding his gun and the other sitting
JOB
high up on the port crane with a pair of field glasses, spotting the Jerry
planes. As soon as he saw one he shouted to the pal with the Bren gun,
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"Here's a blue pencil coming, Jock! Let him have it!", and Jock did in
good style. Jock had a shot at every plane that came over, and I understand
he severely damaged two. Our chief officer and our gunner had hits on
on
several Jerry planes with their Lewis guns.
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it
About 3 o'clock we left the breakwater, but owing to the wind we
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could not get the ship turned to the harbour entrance. We got the assistance
ond
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of a patrol ship to push our stern round, but she cut the degaussing wire
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aft, which went on fire. Our chief officer and second engineer soon got
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ck
it out. As soon as the electric current was switched off they sprayed the
fire with the extinguishers which we had handy.
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We got outside the harbour about a quarter of a mile, and waited for a
,
destroyer to escort us across channel, when we were bombed again. Our
escort was also bombed and disabled, with quite a number killed and wounded,
so we had to proceed alone.
I can hardly describe all the bombing, as we were attacked eight times
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e
in as many hours. About half way across the channel I saw two British
bombers and a Spitfire making for England. Between two and three miles
behind them came a German bomber. He was passing over a British trawler and
,
we expected him to swing over to us at any moment. He was about a mile on
our port side. The trawler fired one shot which blew the plane out of the
sky. The pilot baled out in his parachute. Our friend, the Bren gunner,
had his gun trained on him, wishing he was within range. He remarked to me
that the "blue pencil" Jerry would never reach the water alive, but the
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trawler picked him up.
We arrived at Dover about 11 o'clock, just in time for another raid,
3
but we got into harbour safely. I ordered my men to put on their life vests
at the first raid, and handed out all the life-belts I had to the soldiers.
About half way across the channel, when things were quieter, I made tea and
sandwiches for the wounded on deck and also for a number of the soldiers, and
it was very welcome, as some of the poor fellows were starving.
Well, Mr Purvis, before I close I must tell you that all the officers and
men behaved splendidly under most trying circumstances. I was at sea all the
or
last war, but never experienced anything like this. When the bombs exploded
the blast and concussion damaged a large number of wash-basins and mirrors;
cups were thrown everywhere.
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We landed the last of our wounded about 5 a.m. I then set up a table
in the dining-room and gave the officers a right good meal. We didn't go to
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bed. I got my men to clean up the ship in case we would be required again,
not knowing the extent of the damage to our ship. I went round my men and
.
asked them if they would go back with me; the answer was, "Sure, sure!".
Well, Mr Purvis, I hope you are well. I will be glad to hear from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Mathew Pandelus,
Chief Steward.