TNA MT 40 66

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11/6/40.
S. S. "YEWDALE"
127
Master's Report of Evacuation of Troops from Dunkirk (contd)
we had 500 men on board. As we were at that time being assisted by
several Motor Launches and other small boats, counting become almost
impossible, Another Officer who also assisted a great deal counted
20 men boarding in 5 minutes. This we maintained until 2.30 p.m. when
I decided that we were too tightly packed to hold any more.
The soldiers numbering about 1000 were put into the cargo hold of
vessel and in addition every available space on the deck (which being
a. self-trimming vessel was very limited) was covered with men. Every
room and space on the ship including the engineroom and stokehold was
packed with men.
2.35 p.m. we hove up and closed a Destroyer for advice and we were
told that we could travel in company with her.
There had been a few Air Raids during the day but no bombs had
dropped, at least not close to us. At 4.0 p.m. several German planes
were seen overhead, and bombs dropped close to this ship. We then
hove up and proceeded on our passage to Downs with m.v. "BEAL" about
1 mile ahead and a Destroyer about 1 mile astern. At 4.50 p.m.
several enemy planes appeared overhead and began dive-bombing; several
bombs fell very close. This continued of and on for about three-
quarters of an hour with one final attack shortly before 6.0 p.m.
During the third attack shrapnel struck the steamer and five men were
killed and 78 wounded (two I believe died later). Our Mate, W.
Watterson, was struck in the leg and seriously injured.
About six soldiers who apparently thought the ship to be sinking
jumped overboard. These men possibly were picked up by the Destroyer
astern. It would have been dangerous, to all those on board for us
to turn back for them. In the next raid a Dive-Bomber was hit by
our guns and appeared out of control, it lost height and as it passed
close over the ship our gun kept firing and each tracer bullet was
seen to enter the plane until it got out of range. Several soldiers
ctually saw it striking the water about half a mile on our port bow.
At 6.0 p.m. the Raiders were driven off, we believe by our own planes.
During these Raids our compass had been smashed and we had to depend
entirely on other ships and on a small field compass which could only
give us an approximate direction when used on top of wheelhouse.
At 9.30 p.m. as we were approaching the Coast I signalled the Destroyer
to report that I had wounded men on board. I also kept calling UD
other ships when entering Downs where we eventually arrived at 11.10
p.m. one mile off Deal Pier. After continuing calling up by flashing
(wireless was smashed) until 11.40 p.m. we gave up and awaited dawn.
We then attracted attention by firing our Lewis guns and a Naval ship
got in touch with the Coastguard and at 6.0 a.m. a lifeboat with a
Doctor on board arrived, and we were then ordered to Ramsgate where
we arrived and disembarked all troops by 9.30 p.m. and then proceeded
for temporary repairs to Sheerness.