TNA MT 40 66

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E.R.O. 6986
- 2 -
HAVRE.
110
Left Southampton 4-30 p.m. 8th. June for Havre. Arrived off
Cape "La Havre" about 10 p.m. and anchored, nothing unusual happened
*XIS
until 11 a.m. 9th. June. We were now about fifteen ships at anchor,
when three German dive bomber planes came over, they attacked two
AIM
French ships and just missed them. 12-30 p.m. six dive bomber
9dd
planes came and attacked us and four other ships. Three French
ni
which they hit and set on fire and an English ship which they also
hit, the bomb just missed us by 20 ft. We were now called inside
the boom defence at 2 p.m. Six more planes came over and attacked
tism Juods
a. French battleship and us, a salvo of bombs fell between the
battleship add the "VIKING", missing them by about fifty feet and
29VSW
another missed us by about 20 feet. 3-30 p.m. another attack was
TIBD
made on us, by the bombs missing us by about 20 ft. Bombers came
over several times afterwards but did not attack us. At midnight
bas
I was ordered into the port, a drizzling rain at the time,
2/3
visibility poor, no pilot or light buoys, but we got in without any
mishap. When getting to the Pier there was another air raid and I
had to stand off till it was over as everyone had taken shelter, no
one left to take our ropes. 1-45 a.m. Monday 3rd. June, we made
fast at the pier, troops came dribbling on board till 6 a.m. We
had about 2000 British troops on board. We sailed for Cherbourg
arriving about 10 a.m. and disembarked the troops and waited orders.
Later got orders to embark the same troops and we sailed with them
at 6 p.m. for Southampton, arriving inside the boom defence about
11 p.m.
BREST.
Saturday, 8th. June.
4 a.m. Left Southampton for Brest, arriving
about 4 p.m. Went into Dock at 6 p.m. and commenced embarking troops
as they came along. Several air raids during the evening. At
midnight was told not to move the ship under any consideration as
the Harbour and Channels outside had been mined.
Sunday. All day troops kept coming on board. We sailed at
5 p.m. Sunday with not less than about 4000 soldiers and arrived at
Plymouth about 4 a.m. Monday 10th. June and disembarked.
LA PALLICE.
Midnight, Monday 10th. June.
Left Plymouth for La Pallice, arrived and
anchored off La Pallice about 7 p.m. on Tuesday 11th. June, awaiting
orders. 3 p.m. Thursday 13th. June, destroyer "МАСКАҮ" came along-
side and put a few refugees on board us and told us to standby to go
into Port as he had heard rumours there were some Russians Poles
making their way to the coast. The "MACKAY" left us at 4-15 p.m.
4-30 p.m. two German bombers came out of a dense smoke bank at us and
opened fire with their machine guns. One passed on each side of us,
dropping bombs which burst not more than 15 ft. from the ship. The
vibration was terrific. One man was hit by shrapnel and put in
hospital on arrival at Plymouth. We were now ordered to heave up
anchor and proceed to Plymouth. After getting under way, we found
our compasses to have about 14°E deviation on Westerly courses and
14° W deviation on Easterly courses and very irregular. We were
escorted by the destroyer to Plymouth where we arrived about 6 p.m.
on Friday 14th. June.
(signed) Thos. C. Woods.
Master.
1.
P.T.O