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E.R.O. 6986
COPY.
9, Berkeley Street,
eJI
DOUGLAS: ISLE OF MAN.
R. W. Cannell, Esq.
June
for
Havre.
Arrived
a
Cape
General Manager, pood
I.O. M. Steam Packet Co.Ltd.
10.1
DOUGLAS.
they
them.
12-30
bomber
,Tis
Dear Sir, four French
they hit they
one
You asked me to write a short account of our experiences
in the "LADY OF MANN" of the evacuation of the various ports.
the of the
Friday, 31st. May.
by
world
We arrived at Dunkirk about 11-30 a.m. and had
to wait outside the pier heads for orders to enter which we got
to
303
about 1-30 p.m. All the time we were waiting there were continuous
COM
waves of German planes coming over 40 at a time. The anti-aircraft
barrage from all the ships about and our fighter planes going up
and intercepting them, kept them from being able to drop any bombs
close to the shipping. About 1-30 p.m. we got a berth at the pier
and commenced embarking French casualties from the French hospital.
We took 1500 casualties on board, of which 300 were strethher cases,
also 500 other French troops and 1000 British. All the time we
were at the Pier the German planes were coming over, their bombs
were dropping the other side of the Pier about 40 yards from us.
Shells were dropping alongside us, and we had seven holes made in
the starboard bow close to the water line, also three lifeboats
holed by flying shrapnel from the shells. Several soldiers
marching down were killed about thirty yards ahead of us on the
wharf from the shell fire. All the time from entering Dunkirk for
over five hours we were under bomb and shell attack. We sailed
about 5 p.m. for Folkestone, berthing there at midnight and
disembarking all the troops, leaving at 4-30 a.m. for Dover,
arriving about 6 a.m. where the casualties were disembarked.
they
came
Several
Saturday, 1st. June. to move the
the Left Dover Saturday evening for Dunkirk,
arrived off the port about 11 m. and got orders from two
destroyers to wait orders and as no orders came by 3 a.m. Sunday
morning left for Dover obeying strict instructions from the
Admiralty.
Sunday, 2nd. June. PALLICE.
Left Dover 8-30 p.m., arrived off Dunkirk Pier
heads at 11-45 p.m., instructed by Admiral in charge to wait off
Pier heads, as there was no room inside, stood by within hailing
distance until 2 a.m. when Admiral ordered me to leave for Dover,
as time would not allow to go inside the Harbour, we only had a few
French soldiers that came off in boats.
Monday, 3rd. June.
Left Dover 6-30 p.m. arrived at Dunkirk 10 p.m.
10-15 p.m. went inside the Piers. Could not get a berth or anyone
to take ropes, kept manoeuvring inside the Harbour until 12-30 a.m.
4th. June, when we got made fast. Embarked about 2000 troops and
had to leave at 1-45 a.m. as water was ebbing. I was afraid ship
would ground. Had intermittent dense fog in the passage back
arriving at Dover about 6 a.m. and disembarked troops. 8 p.m. left
Dover for Plymouth arriving in Plymouth on the 5th. June. Left
Plymouth Friday evening 7th. June, arrived Southampton 8th. June.
1.
P.T.O