TNA MT 40 66

tothe
COPY.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
benefits
Chief Docks Manager's Department,
Marine Section,
Weymouth.
of
B.S.28488.
5th June, 1940.
184
AA
Dear Sir,
"In
30%
BUS
S.S. "Roebuck".
ong
I confirm my telephone message of to-day informing you this vessel arrived and b erked at Weymouth at 12-40 p.m.
The vessel left here for Dover on May 29th and on arrival at that port was instructed to proceed to La Panne, a small Belgian seaside resort nine miles east of Dunkirk.
the When approaching Dunkirk following the Channel in accordance with instructions, the "Roebuck" was struck in the
0705/31
stern by a destroyer. The damage is fortunately slight, a few plates being dented, a frame forced, the belting torn and one of the deck leads snapped.
was
La Panne arrangements were being made to take troops from the open beach when an urgent order was received to proceed at once to Dunkirk.
On arrival off Dunkirk it was not possible to enter at once as the "St. Julien" and another vessel were occupying the available berths. When the "St. Julien" came out the
"Roebuck" went alongside and loaded 45 cot cases, 70 wounded and about 385 troops making total of 500, nd conveyed these safely to Dover.
The Authorities at Dover would not permit the vessel to make another trip as the Master was given to understand he was the only vessel engaged in the evacuati on work that had not been degaussed.
Having regard to the fact that the whole of the crew knew before departure from Weymouth the work on which they were about to be engaged and the extra danger which they would run that as the vessel had not been demagnetised, I report with pride the whole of the crew were only too pleased to under take the work, and they appear to have done remarkably well.
at are known asking if in view of the fact that magnetic mines
Portland I have to-day been in touch with the Degaussing Officer bet to be in the vicinity of Weymouth the vessel could now dealt with, and the Officer states that Portland is be already dealt overloaded th work and the S.S. "Roebuck" could not wed
Ministry of Shipping.
with unless a priority order is received from the g
and an o
Channel sail for Guernsey to take up their regular sailings on the
The Crew of the "Roebuck" are being rested and will esco ff the
Islands traffic tomorrow night.
rcra
Yours faithfully,
(sgd) D.G. HOPPINS.
W.J. Thomas Esq.,
CARDIFF.