TNA MT 40 66

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neo 1973 HOTH
STO
CREAM
4.
224
As I had no definite orders I asked if I could assist them by taking
VITTS Bne
any more troops back, some having already come on board uninvited.
(By the time the 3rd boat was in the water the 1st boat was back
your
with troops from the beach.)
Then a signal was passed which we understood to be that
Destroyer D.16 would put his troops on our ship, then return for
more, and I could sail thereafter. D.16 stopped ahead of us and
then we received a signal to cancel previous orders and await
further orders. D.16 then dashed off for home. I then shifted
my anchorage a little further east, then I was told to stop, so
dropped anchor just south of No.6 buoy, leaving a channel between
our ship and the buoy.
About 3.45 p.m. an air raid was made over the ship and
when it had passed we found our vessel on fire aft in No.5 hold,
on deck and on the Gun Platform. No.5 Hatch beams had been cut
and twisted. The combings burst out and the hatches all dropped
below and were on fire. On the Port side there was a large hole
in the deck, the plates being pushed downwards at the after end of
the hatch abreast of the Tonnage opening, also another large hole
in the wooden sheathed deck further aft and the Crews quarters
were a mess of twisted beams and wreckage. On the Starboard side
of the deck about the same distance aft, there was another hole
where a bomb had penetrated the deck and burst, as the hatch comb-
ings/
ALL the Engineers aid excellent work at uneri
and we understanu the 4th Engineer Rivett) manned a Bren
Gun, by permission of the Chief Engineer, with effect on enemy
planes.
The Chief Steward E.w.Onions, 2nd Steward J.F.Brown and
Purser D.D.McMahon we understand aid heroic work in tending to
the wounded, there being no Doctor on board.
ALL the medical Supplies and other consumable stores
of our Catering Department were usea to give Medical Comfort to
the rescued.