TNA MT 40 66

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33
m.v. "QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL"
203
This vessel was requisitioned for Government Service as a troop
and
carrying transport on 8th January, 1940, when lying in the river
Fal.
She proceeded to Dover, where she arrived on 15th January and
fitted out for the Service. Fitting out was completed on the 20th
February, compasses adjusted on the 21st, and the first passage
made on the 23rd February to Boulogne with 492 troops returning
from leave. Five Lewis Guns and Sixteen R.A. Gunners were
attached to the ship for defensive purposes.
The vessel continued in this service fairly regularly during
March and April, one voyage being made each day, and carried on an
average about 500 troops per passage, and about 13,000 in all.
After leave for troops was stopped, about lstMay, the vessel ran
with mails, King's Messenger and troop details until 18th May.
The Irish Guards were carried to Boulogne for final defence of
that port, and wounded and R.A.M.C. details brought back to Dover
on the 22nd May.
On the 19th May a special voyage was commenced to Dunkirk for
refugees, but the ship was stopped off Gravelines and eventually
returned to Dover without proceeding to Dunkirk.
On 23rd May, the vessel proceeded to the Downs anchorage,
returning to Dover on the 24th and anchoring in the Cuter Harbour
until the morning of the 27th. The vessel's Lewis guns were in
action against enemy aircraft on the nights of the 23rd and 26th.
On the morning of the 27th May at 5,00a.m. orders were
received to stand by to proceed to Dunkirk, vessel victualled
and watered and proceeded at 2.00p.m. Arrival at Dunkirk was
about 3.00p.m., making fast to Eastern breakwater, about 50
troops were taken on board, after which the ship was ordered to
anchor off the beach and send boats ashore for troops. Four
boats were sent away and made several trips bringing off about
200 troops.
Fresh orders were then received to return to the Eastern
Breakwater and complete. Poats were hoisted inboard, except one
which could not be traced in the dark. Vessel re-secured to
breakwater, the balance of men were taken on board, making a total of
about 920, and at 2.55a .m. on the 28th proceeded on the return
voyage.
During the whole of the time in Dunkirk Air Raids were in
progress, bombs being dropped through thick smoke indiscriminately
and several wrecks on the banks being also machine-gunned.
For tunately none fell close to the ship.
After sailing, at about 4.15a .m., half-an-hour before sunrise,
an aeroplane was observed approaching on the starboard bow about
2,000 feet up, distinguishing marks not being decipherable, this
plane circled and dived when on the port beam. Lewis gun fire was
then opened from the ship, but 3 or 4 bombs had then been released
which straddled the ship a little abaft the mainmast. The slight
delay action of these bombs caused an upward explosion which broke
the vessel's back, the starboard propellor shaft and rudder, the
stern dipping into the water. The wireless aerial had also carried
away and No.5. boat was blown across the deck.
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