TNA MT 40 66

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82
11th June, 1940.
(Tuesday)
S.S. "YEWDALE"
126
Master's Report of Evacuation of Troops from Dunkirk.
Sunday 26th May, 1940.
Whilst at anchor in the Downs I received orders from N.C.S.O. to
proceed to Dunkirk.
At 4.0 a.m. we hove up and proceeded in company with m.v. "SEQUACITY"
and passed Calais about 2 miles off at 6.40 a.m. with "SE UACITY"
about a quarter of a mile ahead. Twenty minutes later heavy gunfire
was heard and shells began to burst allaround the steamer. We
immediately took avoiding action by zig-zagging to seaward. Although
this involved the risk of striking mines, it appeared to me to be
safer than continuing on our course. This heavy firing continued
for about 20 minutes and seemed to be concentrated upon this steamer.
When haze appeared over the land firing ceased, and ship was brought
back on her course. Not long after when the weather cleared shelling
was resumed in much greater intensity and was directed mostly on
"SEQUACITY" which was about a quarter of a mile on our starboard bow.
We saw this ship being struck amidships and in engineroom as she was
altering course away from fire. At 8.20 а.ш. while still under fire
we managed to pick up five men on a raft who said they were solders
who had left Calais in the dark. They informed me that they believed
that Dunkirk had been captured by Germans. I then got in touch with
Master of "SEQUACITY" whose ship I could see was very badly damaged.
We were at this time north of Dunkirk channel about 1a miles north of
our course. As it meant coming back to the range of German guns to
get into Dunkirk, we decided to return to Downs for further information.
We were then attacked by 8 or 9 enemy Messerschmitt planes who swept
our decks with bullets destroying our rafts and port lifeboat. I
immediately sent out an S.O.S. Shortly afterwards the enemy disappear-
ed when British planes came on the scene. On the way back to Downs
at 10.10 a.m. "SEQUACITY" began to sink so we stood by and took on
board her crew while a British plane covered us until every man was on
board and only left us after we had given the signal that all was well.
The "SEQUACITY" sank in about 10 minutes from the time she began to
list (in position 52.04.20 N. and 1.38.36 E approximately).
We arrived in Downs at 12.30 p.m. and anchored. We were then asked
to go back to Dunkirk but as we had neither food nor water we were
allowed to remain until these could be supplied.
On Tuesday 28th May, after stores had been put on board, we were
ordered to Le Panne with full details of what to expect and what we
were to carry. At 10.30 p.m. 28th May we left Downs in company
with m.v. "BEAL" and m.v. "BULLFINCH" and arrived at Le Panne, at
4.30 a.m. 29th May. We anchored to await orders but as we received
none I decided to move down the Channel to where a large number of
troops were gathering. When shifting we picked up two boats with
ten soldiers in them. We took the men on board leaving two men in
each boat to take them ashore again for more troops. We also put
our boat out which A. Flett, G.A. Sutherland and G.A. MacKenzie
(16 years old) manned. MacKenzie later took charge of one of the
other boats and directed the soldiers who were rowing, himself
steering the boat. W. Watterson (Mate) and J. Runcie (Second Engineer)
also took charge of the boats and made several trips to the beach.
The rest of crew including the Chief Engineer and Firemen were
employed in bringing the boats alongside with lines. Army Captain
Fred Williams kept count of the men and at 12.30 p.m. he reckoned
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