Details

On the following day, Thursday, May 30th, the "St.
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Helier" again left for Dunkirk, accompanied by two French
troopships, the "st.Helier" being the leading ship, and
halfway across was subjected to a fierce attack by three
planes. Nino bombs fell on the port bow about twenty yards
off the vessel, four bombs right ahead were even closer and
many fell on the starboard side. One of the planes was shot
down by anti-aircraft fire from the "St.Helier" Over 2,000
troops were embarked and the vessel turned to Dover at 7-0 a.m.
Friday, May 31st, arrived at Dunkirk again and loaded 30/5
1,600 French troops. On coming out the H.N.S. "Sharpshooter",
a mine layer, went across the "St.Helier's" bows and there was
a collision. At the request of the Captain of the "sharpshooter"
the St.Helier" did not withdraw but steamed into her at half
speed on one engine for forty minutes to ease the pressure on
the bulkheads. It was now quite dark and enemy planes came
over dropping flares to locate the ships. A tue came to attend
to the H.II.S. "Sharpshooter" Enemy planes were continually
around the ships and in the confusion the "Princess Eleanora"
struck the St.Helier" on the starboard bow. After ascertaining
this vessel required no assistance the voyage was just proceeding
when the Helier" ran over a wreck, but fortunately without
doing any underwater damage. The troops were landed at Dover.
On Saturday, June 1st, arrived at Dunkirk 3-30 p.m.,
1/6
16 planes being overhead dropping bombs. The Master of the
'St.Helier" was asked if he would wait and load stretcher
cases, to which he agreed and at 6-0 p.m. the vessel shifted
and while moving was shelled from the beach, two shells striking
the docking bridge and slightly wounding the second mate, but
it did not interfere with his duties. The "st.Helier" lay along-
side the quay in all for seven hours, the Harbour being fiercely
bombarded the whole time from planes and shore batteries. The
vessel embarked 40 stretcher cases and filled up with troops,
and left the berth at 10-15 p.m. being shelled from coast
batteries for thirty minutes before getting out of range. The
shells all went over the ship, most of them dropping within
thirty yards. Flames from fires on the shore lit up the sea
so that the ship was plainly visible.
OARDIFF.
After landing the troops on the Sunday morning the 2/6
Naval Authorities informed the Master that they considered he
had done enough and stated they were prepared to put a Naval
Commander in charge. Captain Pitman refused relief. A Naval
Commander and ten ratings were put on board to assist in case
the ship was required to take off troops from beaches. The
vessel, however, again proceeded to Dunkirk and loaded a full
complement of troops. The vessel had now become very difficult
to manoeuvre and it was afterwards found that the fore peak was
full of water, evidently arising from the collision damage
followed by underwater explosions, though this was not
discovered until the vessel had returned to Folkestone as it
ed
was too dangerous to allow any of the crew forward. The fore
peak was pumped out at Folkestone. The vessel was shelled
while she was alongside the quay at Dunkirk but fortunately
of
the aim was poor and all the she Is fell just short.
cor
the
Though other ships came to Dunkirk after this and took
aft
French troops, the S.S. "st.Helier" on this occasion loaded
the last of the B.E.F. numbering over 2,000. These British
troops were landed on Monday morning and the Helier" stood