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REPORT OF 'BOUNTY' (Contd).
of Petty throughout operations.
I should Officer like to T.Jones draw special attention to the magnificent work 295
2
The following officers, Lieut.D.A.Dawson, Sub.Lieuts. Godman
and Potter-Irwin ships accompanied and me and reported to Ramsgate,
volunteering services on the following day if required.
Our names were accordingly entered on the Volunteer's List.
June 2. Having reported to Ramsgate, we were informed
that only fast and shallow draft vessels were required. During
course of day, found M.T.B.101. lying idle and requested use
of same, but were informed that the vessel was R.A.F. property
and we were unable to obtain permission to use her.
Received instructions to stand by and later to return
to own Base.
Throughout twenty seven hours spent at Dunkirk and
adjacent beaches, were under continuous bombardment from the
air and shelling from the land.
308
REPORT OF INNER PATROL YACHT "SERIOLA"
COmmanding Officer, Lieut. D.A.Dawson, R.N.V.R.
- 287
29. 1800. Left Hamble in formation for Dover, my division
consisting of "SERIOLA", "EILA II", "AHOLA" & "NONETA".
30. 0930. Arrived Dover, and seet into submarine basin, S.O.I.P
and myself went to report to S.N.O. Dover and received
final orders for our departure.
2200. Left Dover.
31 0500. Arrived off Bray, leading my division, when we received
signal to commence embarking troops from beach to
destroyers lying farther out. This lasted until about 1000,
when I received a signal from a destroyer to proceed to
La Panne and carry on with the same routine there.
1200. Suggestion made to run a grass rope from "SERIOLA" to
the shore, which would enable the troops to pull themselves
out by the aid of this warp in boats etc. Sub.Lt.Godman,
r.n.v.r left "SERIOLA" in a whaler with a Lt., R.N.V.R. off
H.M.S. "Hebe2 to operate the shore end. Unfortunately, a
lorry was driven into the sea and turned over, fouling the
line, so this idea had to be abandoned. With great difficulty
we were able to get Sub. Lt. Godman aboard again as the whaler
which took him off, left the shore without him, with a full
load of troops. A severe bombardment was going on at the
time and, consequently, most small craft had withdrawn to
seawards but in spite of a big sea running at the time, we
managed to lower our dinghy and got him aboard in an
exhausted condition. We then prodeeded to continue disembarking
troops.
1500. Received signals from H.M.S.Keith to go and collect
two whalers and crews foroperations off La Panne during the
1530. evening. Received signal from C.O. "NONETA" to say that she had
a dead man on board and her P.O. badly wounded. Closed her
and the C.O. suggested that he should take Sub.Lt. Godman
with him. This I agreed to and advised him to return to
Ramsgate as the "NONETA" was holed above the water line.
1630. Collected two whalers and crews and set off for La
Panne. Beached the whalers and their respective crews.
1800. Received signal from "BOUNTY" which was flying the
flag of Commodore Stephenson WMMXXXXX ordering us to close.
The Commodore told me and my crew that the houes 2100 on that
day to 0400 the following morning were to be considered the
"Zero Hour" and eh hoped we would do our utmost to get as
many men off as possible. We then returned to La Panne and
continued transporting troops throughout the night.
(Continued).