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11.
Three
German
bombers
1830 yards from about astern. 8000 British feet. fighters Ten carried bombs were out a dropped level bombing falling attack 385 at
hour 250 later as three transports Passed. appeared about a quarter about of an
be shown of the night. The This boat remained with us asked the
12. the At way 2030 into the motor Dunkirk. lifeboat E.M.M.D. hailed us and to
remainder killed by Lieutenant R.N.V.R. in command for
by at Ramsgate.
unfortunately Commander Tyler on arrival shrapnel during the night. This was was reported
troops in the Commander Tyler disregarded this and were went no
13. left At in 2100 Dunkirk. a small motor boat informed us that there
into the harbour motor lifeboat with Lieutenant Fletcher.
14. At 2130 the tug was hailed by a motor torpedo boat and
orders were received to use the boats to fill up minesweepers which
were to arrive later.
15. At 2145 the motor lifeboat and one boat were sent in shore.
The tug then towed the remaining boat as near in shore as possible.
This boat then pulled for , shore. The tug was then anchored about
three quarters of a mile from the Eastern breakwater.
16. The pulling boat returned with the news that there were no
soldiers ashore at 2230, and said that she had not seen the other
boats.
17. 2300 - 0100/2 June, 1940, fairly heavy firing over and short,
chiefly shrapnel, All hands kept under cover, until the motor
lifeboat returned at 0130. The tug then weighed and proceeded to
Ramsgate.
18. At 0140 an M.T.B. again hailed us and weewere sent back to
fill up with soldiers, and anchored in position again at 0215.
After waiting till 0330 for the boats the tug weighed and went
further in shore to pick them up, but ran aground about a quarter of
a mile off shore. The flooding tide and the use of engines astern
together with physical jerks by the soldiers refloated her. Boats
meanwhile had been secured. We then proceeded to Ramsgate with
142 soldiers on board and in the motor lifeboat, which we towed.
19. At 0415 we ran aground for the second time one mile west
haze gave us a peaceful passage home arriving at Ramsgate at 07451
of the breakwater, but managed to get off after ten minutes. A slight
20. Commander Tyler left us A.M. and we were told the tug would
not be required that night, but at 2000/2 June, 1940, we were ordered
the Hospital Paris. At 0100 we eventually located her and the
to weigh and proceeded to a position near position wire to salvage
We lay with a got secured, but unfortunately her first
tug Sun XV Ship Commander R.N.R., onboard, attempted to tow her.
wire parted. off until About she had two minutes later a German machine Lewis dived down
both the gunned us. the guns getting in bursts. We were leave
and machine We engaged the aircraft with then guns;
ordered ratings on R.N.R., in the tug Sun XV to after ship he
had by the Commander thought of the situation. The hospital by the stern. was
Both about the five fathoms and I considered that if we be were very slow work to
in asked us what we of water and was very heavily down to get her back
safely we Tugmaster would require an escort. I It think would that she was already tow
her as she was a twin screw ship.
aground. but it was hard to tell.
The tug arrived back at Ramsgate
0645/3 June, 1940.
21. At 130 we