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The situation was unchanged during the night;a guard
being placed on board and making repeated attempts to signal
larger craft passing close to send assistance for bine wounded,
who were not in a fit state to be moved to the beach.
Lieutenant Brooks was despatched with two seamen on
a raft to commandeer small boats seen drifting down channel
approximately half & mile to seaward, but was caught by the
tide and eventually picked up by & destroyer and retained
onboard as a watchkeeper. This officer had been of the greatest
assistance during the operations.
At 0430 an ambulance was procured and three of the
wounded transfered to & field station, and at 0520, & motorboat
was at last successfully hailed and the remaining wounded were
embarked,
Shortly afterwards & whaler and motorboat from H.M.S.
"KINGFISHER" which was endeavouring to work from the beach
close to the ship came alongside and took off parties of twenty
to thirty. Use was made of "SURSUM-CORDA" in such & manner during
the remainder of the forenoon, parties of men embarking onboard
and being transferred to Whalers or Motorboats from the stern.
I had reported the situation to the Commanding Officer
H.M.S. "KINGFISHER" and asked him if he would take my men onboard,
as I had no further use for them.
At approximately 1230 I was informed that the mole
was to be used again and ships were alongside waiting and that
all British troops were to proceed there, but I continued
taking off stragglers where necessary. Orders were then received
from "KINGFISHER" that myself and crew were to repair onboard.
In reporting to the Commanding Officer, I was informed
he was returning straight to Ramsgate.
My crew were discharged to Ramsgate and ordered to
report to Naval Officer-in-Charge.
I returned myself in "KINGFISHER"to assist where
necessary.
Two members of my crew, Leading Seaman Whalley and Sto.
Hobbs, volunteered to return with me, but considered that they
should remain for some rest and if necessary would be required
for other craft later.
These two ratings were of very great assistance to me
during the operation and had no consideration for themselves
whatever.
"KINGFISHER" secured alongside the mole at approximately
1930, and I reported to the S.N.O. at Dunkirk informing him
of the grounding of "SURSUM-CORDA" and offering to assist where
required.
I was ordered to return to England again in the
"VANQUISHER" arriving in Dover approximately 0200 Saturday,
1st June.