TNA MT 40 66

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6, School Terrace,
School Road,
also by salvos from shore batteries. Shells were flying all around
us, the first salvo went over us, the second, astern of us. I
thought the next salvo would hit us, but fortunately it dropped
PO
short, right under our stern. The ship was riddled with shrapnel,
as bever
mostly all on the boat and promenade decks. Then we were attacked
from the air. A Junker bomber made a power dive towards us and
my
dropped five bombs, but he was off the mark too, I should say about
150 feet from us. All this while we were still being shelled,
although we were getting out of range. The Junker that bombed us
was shot down and crashed into the water just ahead of us (no
state
survivors). Then another Junker attacked us, but before he reached
us he was brought down in flames. Then the tension eased a little.
von
from the Owing to the bombardment, I could see that the nerves of
and some to of my men were badly shaken. I did not feel too well myself,
but I mustered the crew and told them that Dunkirk was being bombed
and wasxon fire. On being asked if they would volunteer to go in
they did so to a man and I am glad to say we took off as many as
the "MONA'S QUEEN" could carry. Coming back from Dunkirk, I made
a route for myself and am glad to say we arrived safely at Dover
and in the early hours of Monday morning. Our degaussing wires were
damaged and it was necessary to have them made good; there was
and also some machinery defect which was repaired. Captain Holkham
ouldrrived to relieve me about 10-30 p.m. on the 27th. and I left
vessthe "MONA'S QUEEN on the morning of Tuesday, the 28th. May. On
me the 29th. she was sunk by enemy action while entering Dunkirk.
and as my and
I consulted with the Chief Engineer and If
we could do the trip, there and back, hoard,
and he told D6 that providing we Yours respectfully,
speed we might just be able to manage. 1 Chief
and Second Officers and we decided (signed) R. DUGGAN.
We arrived off Dunkitk at about 1.00 pom., but we were delayed from
entering the Port to avoid a heavy bombing raid Master. then in
progress. When this WS.8 over, we berthed on the of the
East jetty and commenced to embark troops and stratcher esces
and continued to do SO throughout the siternoon, the embariation
being slowed up considerably by continuous heavy bombing attacks,
We had between six and asses hundred troops on board when the
enemy dive boinbers scored a direct bit on "TENELLA's promenade
deck, doing considerable damage, at about 5.00 p.m. They also
scored a hit on the jetty causing it to split in two, parts of
the concrete being blown through the sip's side below the water
line and into the engine room which immediately began to flood
with water. Another bomb fall between the ship and the jetty, Use
force of the explosion blowing out the oil cooler from the ship's
side and completely wrecking almost every pipe and pump in the
angine room, rendering the engines useless.
I inspected the damage in company with the Chief and Second
Officer - the ship was listing badly 5a fortunately inclining
howards the jetty and WAS rapidly making water.
Our examination of the damage proved that the ship was doomed
and the only course open was to disembark all troops and abandon
ship, I instructed the 0.0. troops to this affect.
As the jetty abroant of gangways had been blown away, the only
method of diestbhrkation with to climb over the rails on the
forecastle head which fortunately YRS level with the jetty.
The enemy WLB particularly active 9.5 this time and Liase
his boarding any held DD the disemberking of the
troops, but owine to the skilful handling of by Chief and Become
/Officers, all troops and stretcher cases were safely