TNA Unclassified 1

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 402.

EPORT OF SUB. LIEUT. T.E. GODMAN, R.N.V.R. (Contd).
2.
318
297
her objectives were to have bombed been and sunk. a trawler a few miles and astern
12
also thought Enemy bombers artillery
ntinued their operations at Dutch intervals coaster throughout the the White day.
st West of La Panne was a flying from Ensign
three motor boats in attendance embarking soldiers
th beach. As previous experience had already shown, the to craft
llect e the troops owing to the shallowness of the water boats and had the
e craft in use were unable to get closeenough in shore
with the result that two of the motor and
On the other hand, the coaster's two
to do so and soon were left high life dry
endered he but, under the above conditions, nothing a could few
oats ship. Enquiries were made if any assistance further
had been and were successfully ferrying could the be troops to
done. There were a number of deserted Thames the Barges, beach. A of
hich from one of these was taken and rowed ashore of French
e were afloat but the rest of which were on while the
innace arrived on the beach since yesterday and at on e a
inghy lay off in deep water. A great number point soldiers were
inloading rider a rode up and enquired for what purpose all on this barges had
ad barge which had a cargo of foodstuffs. Here, the rench
despatch brought. He was told that we had no information had been
been After several trips in the dinghy the pinnace who were at
point. with about 15 men, all the British soldiers made if
filled that part of the beach. Enquiries were be obtained the
that time on to be evacuated but no information could be left to
French whether were this was to be done or if they were circumstances, to
as to the evacuation of the B.E.F. Under these at the
cover French soldiers were taken on board. The trawler the view of
no end of the beach was then closed with but it
Eastern the soldiers and of collecting more, not wish was
found that The pinnace took a kedge anchor out assistance to
transferring she had gone aground and therefore did seawards to
help the ship it was endeavoured to find another closed to to
take any more. pull herself off and, as no further ship
could be rendered, A floating Thames Barge was view of taking see
if any auxiliary it appeared that they were all sailing with barges the
transfer the soldiers. engine had been installed, with a only.
her A over, but "MARSAYRU", was then sighted drifting in working
motor boat, This was closed, found to be
tide and unoccupied. One A.B. and soldier were taken of as the crew,
order the and started up. tow and the P.O. left in charge
pinnace dinghy with taken orders in to lay off until the motor boat returned.
(Continued).