TNA MT 40 66

COPY.
64
EXTRACTS FROM LOG.
22nd May, 1940 to 6th June.
156
s.t. "PERSIA"
a May.
Left Gravesend 9-0 a.m towing barge "CELTIC" and Motor barge
AFFORD" for Dover, anchored Southend 11-0 a.m. for signal to proceed.
ve up at 2-15 p.m. Arrived at Dover Submarine Base 9-30 p.m., made ast at West Wall 9-45 p.m.
3rd May.
Underweigh at 10-30 a.m. Towed barge "CELTIC" to her unloading berth, then made fast at West Wall at 11-0 a.m., standing by.
24th May,
Underweigh at Noon. Went in Dock took in 19 tons 7 cwts. of coal, finished at 2-30 p.m. Made fast at Submarine base at 2-45 p.m.
Standing by.
25th May.
Underweigh at 5-15 p.m. with Tug "FOREMOST 87" towing
Destroyer "H.73" stern first for rtsmouth.
26th May,
Anchored at 6-20 p.m. abreast of Nab Tower, Port being closed.
Hove up at 7-30 p.m., anchored Destroyer off Ryde at 1° p.m., our services being finished. Anchoring Tug at 1°-15 p.m. for the night.
27th May.
Hove up at 6-30 a.m., steaming for Dover. Arriving 5-20 p.m.
made fast in Submarine Base 5-30 p.m. Standing by.
28th May.
Underweigh at 11-15 a.m. Shifting small craft, etc., until
4-50 p.m. Then made fast at South Wall at 5-0 p.m. Standing by.
29th May.
Underweigh at 9-0 a.m. Twwing Dumb barges "SARK" and
"SHETLAND" for Dunkirk. Tow parted abreast Goodwin Fork Buoy.
After some careful operations we got connected up again. Tow again parted and was connected up and we arrived and anchored 4 miles east of Dunkirk, at 5-0 a.m. on 30th May.
30th May.
Underweigh at 12-45 p.m. Received orders to tow barges to
East Pierhead Dunkirk. On arrival we received orders to anchor barges as close as it was prudent, and motor boat would pull them on the beach. Left Dunkirk 4-° p.m. with soldiers and equipment, anchoring in the Downs at Midnight.
31st May.
Hove up at 5-45 a.m. proceeded to Dover, made fast at Prince of Wales Pier at 7-0 a.m.
(Continued)

COPY.
EXTRACTS FROM LOG.
(2)
157
s.t. "PERSIA"
C May.
Underweigh at 7-15 a.m. Assisted French Destroyer off iralty Pier to sea, finished 8-0 a.m., made fast at Quay. Took in tons of coal and 15 tons of water. Underweigh at 10-30 p.m. with rges "GLENWAY" and "SARK" for Dunkirk.
st June.
Stern barge carried away at 2-10 a.m., connected up again
5-15 a.m. Arriving East Quay Dunkirk at 8-0 a.m. Air raid was on:
Received orders to tow barges 1 mile east of Pierhea and let them sail ashore. During these movements we had bombs droped all round us, and
I noticed one of our Destroyers hit, which proved to be the "IVANHOE".
I at once steamed full speed towards her, and found she had been hit.
I was told to get her in tow, and we had her in tow in a few minutes.
During the tow the concussions of the bombs and gunfire caused our towing hawser to carry away. Only a few minutes had elapsed when we had another hawser on board the Destroyer and were towing her towards
Dover. For over two hours we were being bombed and fired on by German
'planes, until our own 'planes came in sight and then the Enemy flew off. Towing by the shore batteries they fired about 15 rounds at us, but all missed their object. Abreast of the North Goodwin Light
Vessel we received orders from the Destroyer to tow on to Sheerness.
In the vicinity of the Oaze we were met by a Government Tug, and he made fast alongide and assisted us to tow same to Chatham Dockyard.
Another Tug came to assist us at Garrison Point. We finished with the Destroyer at 9-15 p.m., ran to Sheerness and made fast to a Buoy at 10-0 p.m.
2nd June.
Underweigh at 7-30 a.m. Went alongside Sheerness Dockyard, awaiting orders, etc. Left Sheerness at mid-day with oil tender for
Margate Roads and lifeboats for Ramsgate. We had a nasty Easterly breeze and could not proceed very fast. We made Margate 8-0 p.m. and
Ramagate 9-15 p.m. Then ran to Deal and anchored 10-0 p.m.
3rd June.
Underweigh at 6-0 a.m., making for Dover. Arriving alongside
Admiralty Pier at 7-0 a.m. Standing by.
4th June.
Lying alongside Quay. 'Standing by'.
5th June,
Left Dover at mid-day with small motor craft,a breast of
South Foreland, heavy swell, had to return to Dover with craft, made same fast to Quay. Reported this to "ing's Harbour Master. Awaiting orders. 3-45 p.m. received orders for Gravesend. Left Dover at
4-0 p.m., arriving at Gravesend 10-40 p.m.
(Signed) H. Aldrich.
Master of Tug "PERSIA".

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EXTRACTS FROM LOG.
161
t.FOREMOST 87"
Sunday, 26th May.
Arrived at Portsmouth towing "O.R.P. BUZA" stern first at
10 p.m. Slight Fog.
Monday, 27th May.
Coaling and storing in Portsmouth Harbour.
Tuesday, 28th May.
Left Portsmouth Harbour 6-0 a,m. Steamed towards Dover
Harbour, arriving and making fast 6-0 p.m.
Wednesday, 29th May.
Lying Submarine Dock Dover Harbour. At 3-30 p.m. Ordered to assist m.v. "RUYA" from berth to berth. Tooke hold of vessel at
4-0 p.m., finishing 4-15 p.m. At 4-20 p.m. took hold of S.S. "KING ORRY"
and assisted from Eastern Arm Dover Harbour to Sea, eastern Entrance
Dover, finishing at 4-50 p.m.
Thursday, 30th May.
At 8-0 a.m. received orders to proceed from Dover Harbour to Dunkirk. On nearing Dunkirk Harbour heavy bombing and shelling in progress. Went inside Harbour and received instructions to take barges
"SARK" and "SHETLAND", which were at anchor off St. Malo beach, in tow and to beach same on the shore 100 yards apart on St. Malo shore,.
Dunkirk, - Heavy aerial bombing and ground gunfire going on while doing this job, shrapnel splinters hitting deck very hard. Finished this and steamed inside Harbour again. Things getting worse but everybody happy. Troopship "PRAGUE" unable to get away from Eastern Arm Dunkirk
Hatbour, loaded with troops, so took same in tow and towed out clear to
Dunkirk Roads. Told to stand by and assist in any way. One or two little jobs leading Destroyers to berths in the dark rendered - heavy shelling and air raids still in progress. At 12 midnight told to return to Dover.
Friday, 31st May.
Returned from Dunkirk arrived Dover at 6-0 a.m. At 2-0 p.m.
received orders to take two sailing barges in tow to Dunkirk. Took hold of same at 2-45 p.m. and towed to Dunkirk. Orders received were t beach them at St. Malo Beach. This was accomplished under heavy bombing and shelling. The beach was one mass of troops. Time of beaching barges was 11-0 p.m. The sky was lit up with fires caused through bombing and shelling. Returned to Dunkirk Harbour, told to keep clear of heavy barrage which was prevailing and to stand by outside Harbour. Still steaming outside Harbour at midnight.
Saturday, 1st June.
At Dunkirk standing by. Assisting in anything and everything possible. At 2-0 a.m. received orders to return at once to
Dover. Arriving at Dover at 7-30 a.m.
Sunday, 2nd June.
Lying at Dover Harbour. At 3-30 p.m. received orders to take lifeboats R.N.L.B. "CECIL and "LILLIAN PHILPOTT" and "R.N.L.B.
THOMAS KIRK WRIGHT" in tow to Dunkirk Towed same to given position then did job of work with Hospital ship "PARIS" survivors who had been bombed and machine-gunned by Enemy aircraft.
(Continued)