TNA Unclassified 1

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3. (astailed account).
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5/40 Sailed Amazone, Poole to Portsmouth D.Y.
5/40 a.m. 'wiped' ship in Blook; stored with 14 days provisions and
various instruments and navigational books.
p.m. Swung ship for compass adjustment and anchored near outer
Spit Buby. Sailed at dark in company to Newhaven.
5/40 0005 sighted submarine, surfaced, I'm E of Owers Lt. Reported
to Examination Vessel on arrival with instructions to pass on
message. Anchored outside harbour on orders received, having no
opportunity to provide sand-bags, Lewis gun, etc.
Salled at dark for Dover in company, led by Foxglove.
5/40
Arrived at Dover a.m.
Sailed p.m., for Operation Dynamo, in company, and proceeded by
long route.
Amazone led the skyts, but the compass was found to be reading
about 70 low, due to Cerricks' being topped ready for the exercise,
and her position was lost by the time this was rectified. I beached
the ship about m/a mile west of Bray, bows in, and with a kedge astern.
Lieut. Audley, R.N.V.R. landed in our two small boats and led down
troops from the sand-dunes. By 0300 the boats' crews were exhausted
and the boats were being capsized by the sea which had increased
with the westerly wind. It was obvious that no more could be taken
off in our own boats from the beach. I approached a sloop which
was not anxious to take our troops. A large steamer at anchor
outside informed me that she was on her way in, and there was too
much sea for putting Amazone alongside her. I decided not to go in
to the eastern jetty at such a late hour with troops on board and
returned, without incident, by the long route to Dover.
Disembarked about 100 officers and men (British) at Admiralty Pier.
Lieut. Audley's leg had been injured when hoisting in our boaths
and he was placed on the sick list.. Sub.Lieut.Clarabut, R.N. was
detailed from Montrose as First Lieutenant. I embarked essential
stores and large quantities of water, also a Lewis gun and as few
sand-bags.
Neither the Naval Shore Signal Station nor the Pier Master was
urs.
able to inform Mr. Clarabut of the ship's whereabouts and it was
0th.
not possible to leave until 0230 after I had found him myself. This
wasted five hours.
0230 Sailed in company with Pacific but lost touch soon afterwards. Made
landfall to Eastwards of Dunkirk about 0930. Having been informed
that there was no danger from mines I had taken a short out in shallow
water. This, and the fact that the compass was still 'low', caused
us to mistake Gravilines for Dunkirk! I steamed up and down the
coast and examined the harbour from about 1 mile out and found no sign
of life. Having no W/T, and having had no orders since 2100 the day
before, I steamed W.N.W to seek information. Picked up drifter and
proceeded to Bray Beach.
Anchored about 300ˣ from shore in 10 ft. water and embarked about
400 officers and other ranks, sending in water drums by empty boats.
340691 L.A. C. Harker returned inshore several times, until exhausted,
with a large collapsible boat, taking water drums each time. He took
charge of the troops in his boat most efficiently and set a very
fine example. Later, while the ship was being dive-bombed, he took
charge of the troops on deck and directed rifle-fire very cooly during
each attack in spite of fairly accurate machine-gun fire.
.915 Proceeded. Fredanja informed me he was taking route Y so,
presuming there were special orders, saild/company.
in
010
Attacked by German bomber off Middlekirke. Three bombs dropped
close to Fredanja - avoided delay-action effect.
013
3 more bombs dropped close to Fredanja.
Lef.