TNA MT 40 66

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S. Y. "KILLARNEY"
40
Anchored in the Downs, one fine day in May, we
received orders to proceed to Dunkirk to assist in the
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evacuation of the B.E.F. We were given alternative routes,
one for daylight and one for night time. As we left at night,
we took the darkness route, which took us round past Calais
and then along the coastline eastward.
Owing to misty weather, and all navigational aids
being obliterated, we were compelled to anchor off Gravelines
till daylight. This we did without trouble. With the break of
day, we hove up and proceeded to Dunkirk. The sky was
absolutely black with the smoke from burning oil dumps and
tanks, which had been set on fire by the military to prevent
their being of any use to the enemy. Arriving off Dunkirk
Breakwater, we had to lay off for some hours, while other vessels
were filling up with troops. During this time, we were keeping
a look-out for the "LOCHGARRY" one of our Company's ships, which
was also on the same mission.
We saw a steamer much resembling her come up astern
of us, using the daylight route. Whilst we were watching her,
trying to ascertain who she was, there was a terrific explosion, and
the centre part of her disappeared in a cloud of smoke. When the
smoke cleared away, her stern portion from the mainmast aft had
vanished, and in about two minutes the forward part heeled over
and sank. So passed the "MONA'S QUEEN" as a result of a magnetic
mine.
About an hour after this, we went alongside the
Breakwater, and immediately commenced embarking troops of all
regiments, and including several stretcher cases. Some of these
cases had been carried by their chums for four days and four
nights. Whilst embarking the troops, we had extreme difficulty
in preventing what appeared to be the whole canine population
of France and Belgium from taking a passage with us. These
animals had attached themselves to the Tommies, as their own
people had fled, and it was rather pitiful to see them trying to
get aboard after their new friends. Hundreds were shot on the
quay to prevent their starving to death.
Whilst we were alongside, we witnessed an attack
on a ship just outside, by German aircraft. Bombs fell all
round her, but none registered a hit. Eventually our fighter
planes drove them off.
On completion of loading troops we returned by
the same route as we had taken to come in, and on passing
Gravelines again the fun started. Sailing quietly along, the tired
and weary troops stretched out all over the ship, snatching their
for the Ministry) maged
by
G.S.N.
Lowed
ing the
GS and
our
Newman of
entrance enemy
bombs. A call for assisted
an escort
the British of Mission two destroyers had previously would be waiting hour when for the me aircraft off the
consisting port. This attack lasted for half an
returned to Ostend.