TNA MT 40 66

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About 1.00 p.m. I was ordered to shift alongside the S.S.
ROEBUCK" to avoid taking the ground, as I was drawing more than 14
'eet of water. Destroyers, Trawlers and Hospital Ships were arriving
continuously, and the embarkation of the troops and wounded proceeded
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without interruption, notwithstanding the efforts of the German Bombers
TO
who were continually coming over the port and dropping their bombs.
Lewis Gunner Mellis was continually in action with his Gun and soon had
some willing assistants from amongst the troops, who collected ammuni-
tion from the other troops and kep the Lewis Gun trays full. About
3.00 p.m. I berthed alongside again and on being asked by the Pier
Commander when I would be ready to sail, replied "I have come for a
full load of troops so why sail before I am full up it only means more
ships will be required".
The Commander informed me that he had to dispatch the
Destroyers as quickly as possible, and that I could assist the embarka-
tion by taking troops whenever a jam occurred on the Pier, so I carried
on accordingly. About this time, the Germans were particularly active,
and shore A.A. Guns, Destroyers and ships were hitting back with every-
thing they had. Occasionally a few shells whined overhead and fell into
the Harbour, but did no material damage. Numerous air battles were in
progress and several machines came down, some of the Pilots baling out.
At 6.00 p.m. the Pier was crowded with French Troops, most of
them keen to board the Destroyers in the hope they would be landed in
French Ports. Observing a lot of them coming on board, having a feed
and going ashore again, I had a conference with a British Army Captain
and a French Major, and decided that if the French Troops would not
embark that the ship should sail. I estimated that I had 500 Troops
on board, about 70 of them French, and the French still refusing to
embark I reluctantly cast off and steamed out of the Harbour.
The homeward roûte was a wonderful sight, hundreds of small
craft of every description were seen making towards Dunkirk. Meanwhile
the German Bombers were busy, large flights of them appearing and
dropping their loads all over the place. I organised a party of ten
sildiers on the Forecastle Head with orders to fire at any aircraft
coming within ranage. Gunner Mellis was putting in some great work
with his gun, and it was afterwards reported to me by an Army Officer
that he had registered hits on three enemy 'planes, two of which came
down; in fact, the Officer hearing of his excellent shooting went to
stand by him with his glasses and observed him shoot down an enemy
fighter plane. The Pilot baling out was eventually picked up by a
tug about half a mile astern of us. At this time there were more
than seventy enemy planes overhead dropping their bombs all around us
like hailstones, but our luck held good and we escaped undamaged, but
I feel sure that some of the small boats being towed towards Dunkirk
were either hit by the bombs or swamped with the huge columns of water
caused by the explosions.
At Dusk the North Goodwin Lt. V. was sighted and navigating
the vessel through the Downs in the dark I dropped anchor off Deal at
11.30 p.m. to await daylight to proceed to Dover. Most of the troops