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CONFIDENTIAL
95
ORANJE'S R.O.D./1 dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
this vessel opened fire
on ORANJE with rifles, 12 rounds being fired, 2being heard
to hit the ship's side and ricochet off. ORANJE, being
completely unarmed began to Zig-Zag, keeping as near as
possible end on to the rising moom.
When this ship was well clear, a full examination of the
surrounding water was made through binoculars: 8 torpedo
boat was observed lying stopped about 2 cables to starboard,
with 2 others approaching about half a mile on the port
quarter. It was not possible at the time to identify these to
definitely, (they have since been identified from the
Illustrated London NewsX as German) but they were not British,
and were assumed to be hostile when the one starboard side
crossed ORANJE'S bows laying a smoke screen, and took station
astern of the other two. No attack was made, nor were the
boats seen again.
These incidents were reported the following day at Ramsgate.
5. At 0400 when in company with two other scoots and
one merchant ship in the vicibity of Mittelkirke Bank buoy,
the troopship QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL was observed approaching
on opposite courses. When about è of a mile away she was
attacked by a Heinkel dive-bomber which dropped 4 bomos,
(estimated 100 lbs.) roun her stern. She was observed to
stop and settle by the stern, so ORANJE proceeded alongside to
see if any immediate assistance could be given. Then just
comin alongside, they shouted from the bridge to keep off
as the bomber was diving again. One Large bomb (estimated
500 lbs.) was dropped about 50 yards on ORANJE'S starboard
bow as she was leaving the QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL, and 8 small
amount of damage was don inside the ship due to shock. The
attack was accompanied by a small amount of machine-gun fire.
As the larger merchant ship then went alongside, ORANJE
proceeded on her way to Dunkirk.
Two destroyers full of troops were met in the Zuydecoot Pass.
This, and the previous meeting with the Queen of the Channel
was the first intimation of the evacuation of troops, end
even then 1 was not to confirm it.
6. It was anticipated that on the Eastern *
end of Dunkirk Channel, ORANJE would be met or given instruc-
tion re berthing. As no vessel was met, ORANJE proceaded
alongdide a barrage vessel anchored off BRAY, which had been
attempting to communicate.
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