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O.W.Mly Docks Manager's that it would have been impossible to load even had the occupants of the ambulances been alive. Again the ves el shifted to another
.0. 908, part of the Harbour. This also was done during 8. heavy raid.
CIM.C/3077/3.
In the new borth, impromptu gangways were rigged by the crew from planks, or any handy material which could be produced
BOOKS
from ship or store.
B.23/272.
2800
There again all hands assisted in carrying the stretchers, gas and carry was a. long one, and made more difficult by the large
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number of Troops that were passing along to embark on other vessels;
and by bombs and shrapnel which were still falling.
Dear Sir, While this was in progress the tide was falling and the daylight going. This was important, as the ship would have been in danger of grounding or hitting submerged wreckage close under her stern when leaving. On these grounds the S.T.O. decided it would be better for the ANDREW" to leave, and instructed the "STDAVID", by morse, where to berth, in order that she may embark the remainder of the wounded and sailvat daylight. By this time the enemy was on the outskirts of the town and was bombarding the quay with shore batteries, but owing to large fires, clouds of dense smoke, and the confusion of shipping on the Pier Heads, it was impossible to say if the message was properly received.
On her way out, when passing along the Grawelines sho Navigat on the homeward passage was both difficult, and dangerous, as there were no aids to navigation, and the risk of over-running the hundreds of small craft, heavily laden with Troops, and which carried ordights, was very great. out of the Channel to avoid gan fure. Later on, air craft (apparently French)
escorted During these fourteen days, very little rest was had by any of the crew - double look-outs were kept, work as stated was done in the French Ports, and while atusea it yas too dangerous to allow the men to use the forecastles; but all carried on with 8. good will.
The next morning she proceeded to the Downs, and the day after It is evident from the foregoing that the fficers and men of sour ST. ANDREW" were exposed to great danger, and it was only g
due to their untiring devotion to duty that thousands of wounded were hurriedly evacuated from France, who otherwise would have been left on the piers to die. sok or the usual aids to navigation and the fact that many vessels had been sunk in the fair-ways since her last leaving that Port. At 8.00/0100k that evening she entered Dünkirk, where Yours faithfully, morning.
Duting the whole (SGD.) J.D. REED. town, quays, etc.
were subjected to terrific bombardment by air and Land, and It became necessary, owing to the laok of for the reamen, Fireman, Stewards etc. to load the wounded themselves.
I hope to be able to report on the Item DAVID" in the course on of ca few daysing the wounded and placing they in the nots etc.
to wed
This work was exceedingly difficult, as the whole area
1g the was in a bad condition, and there was not even any gangways available nd for passing the stretcher cases on board, However, the Ingineers n of whole time of the embarkation.
constructed & wide and useful gangway, which was used during the scor the
W.J. THOMAS, ESQ., craft
CARDIFF.
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