TNA Unclassified 1

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five bombs falling all roud us - within 50 to 70 yards at one time
During our three hours there we were bombed continuously,
without doing any material damage. The crew behaved with great
and we set course for Sheerness, anchoring at 0005 June 1st off the
coolness and determination throughout. Anchor was weighed at 0720 1920/31
North Goodwins L.V. and proceeding at 0300, arriving at Sheerness
at 0830. The troops were landed and I proceeded ashore to report.
At 1223, acting under orders received, we slipped from
Sheerness to escort a secong convoy of motor boats to Ramsgate. At
1240 we picked up and took in tow motor launch "Empress" and a naval
launch. The rest of the convoy proceeded via Gore Channel, but as we ZX
could not follow by this route, I ordered course to be set via the
Princes Channel keeping the convoy in sight to starboard. We hove to
off Margate and when the convoy came up, proceeded to Ramsgate where
we arrived without incident at 1650. The motor boats went inside and
we anchored outside. I went ashore in the launch to report to the
N.O.I.C. I suggested to him that we might be allowed to tow the
"Empress" and the launch over to Dunkerque where they could ferry for
us and after loading both the trawler and themselves, we could tow
them home. He agreeing; we sailed at 1805.
We had no trouble with the tow on this occasion, but on
approaching Dunkerque we were endeavouring to pick up a buoy, which,
( so we had been told at Ramsgate) should have been lit, but which,
we afterwards found to be extinguished when we went ashore.
It was necessary to slip the tow in order to go astern and
the "Empress" drifted ashore, although she had previously reported that
one of her engines was running. We do not know what eventually
happened to her. As we were succeeding in drawing the trawler from the
shore, we blew a certain prearranged signal on our siren to call the
"Empress", but only succeeded in attracting thereby the attentions of
a searchlight ashore which endeavoured to pick us up. After about ten
minutes it was extinguished. I ordered the launch which had been
assisting in getting us away to go to the assistance of the "Empress"
and later in Dunkerque harbour, the launch reported that he was going to
assist on the beaches. Whether she had rescued thatthe crew of the
"Empress" or not, I cannot say.
We eventually reached Dunkerque at 2310 where we went along-
side the inner jetty. The tide was very low and we had great difficulty
in getting the men aboard and at 0115 on June 2nd the Skipper reported
that owing to the increase in draught due to the number og men aboard,
we were in dagger of settling on the mud. Consequently at 0130 we
slipped and stood out of the harbour. During our two and a half hours
there we were shelled incessantly - shells striking the cranes and
buildings around the harbour, but no casualties or damage were sustained.
Outside the harbour there was only one buoy lit and we made a
little too much across the channel before turning down it, sothat owing
to our draught we went aground again fortunately getting away again
about 0215.
At 0340 we sighted a floating mine about 20 yards on our
starboard beam and reported this to an escort vessel aster, asking her to
report it as our R/T was out of order.
It was impossible to assess the number of troops aboard, but
it was certainly in excess of three hundred and possibly three hundred
and fifty - all French and including a General Nicolle and his staff.
We arrived off Ramsgate at 0745 where the soldiers were landed.
I went ashore for orders and was ordered to return to Sheerness where
we eventually arrived at 1330 coming to anchor on the West Shore.
I then came ashore and reported.