"At this stage, owing to the numbers on board, all personnel could not be accommodated on the decks and the alleyways and cabins on the promenade deck had to be used as well. Many troops were now on the deck below, standing there in complete darkness, however, their behavior was exemplary, the soldiers were standing silently on parade. The port side boats were ordered away and the men filed into them in an orderly manner. A destroyer, the HMS Defender, came up along the starboard side. It was about this time that four of the ship's crew, aft on the port side came up on to the deck and commenced to throw liferafts overboard shouting 'every man for himself!' "About twenty soldiers broke the ranks and jumped. This action considerably hampered HMS Hero, which could not get alongside as the destroyer had to pick up these individuals. On the starboard side, the ships were falling and rising some eight to twelve feet and the men had to swing down ropes and jump for the destroyer's deck. On obtaining a full complement, this destroyer pulled away from the stricken ship and was immediately replaced by HMS Hereward. "It was at this time that the ship's officers informed me that the hip might sink at any time. However, the men were filing up from the lower decks in good order and, when the destroyer pulled away, the last soldiers to jump were the antiaircraft gunners who had been instructed to remain with their guns in case the enemy aircraft should return to interfere with the transhipment.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THECOSTA RICA
"HMS Hero then came back alongside and took off about 20 military personnel and the ship's officers. "At this stage, the ship had settled and listed so much that this party simply stepped off the lower bridge of the stricken liner on to the forecastle of the destroyer. The ship then listed still farther and caught the destroyer for a few seconds. The latter had to cast off mooring lines to get away. Some 10 or 15 minutes later, the 'Costa Rica's' boilers burst and she disappeared from our view. The transhipment of all personnel was completed at 1550 hours, occupying just 45 minutes. "It was later to prove very unfortunate that the troops had lost most of their arms and personal equipment. It was lost owing to (a) the impossibility of allowing anyone to go below after the ship was hit, and, (b) the necessity for the maintenance of AA protection during the period of transhipment. Many weapons were thrown on to the destroyers' decks, and, (c) the failure of the lighting system below the promenade deck, and, (d) the men having a long jump or having to swing down on the ropes. ''Generally, the conduct of the troops was equal to the highest of military traditions and the work of the Navy cannot be too highly commended. Before leaving the Costa Rica, I personally visited the two decks which I found to be deserted and I am of the opinion that all personnel were transhipped.''
The Battle For Crete After disembarking at Suda Bay at 1815 hours on April27, the battalion marched to a point some five kilometres east of the jetty where they settled down for the night. One blanket and rations were made available about midnight. At 1600 hours on April 28, the unit was ordered forward, around the bay, and moved