Unfortunately the following page is too blurry to read clearly enough to transcribe.
At 10.15 a.m. the “Panther” left the s.s. “Richard Montgomery” proceeded to Stangate Creek and towed the barge “Instow” to the “Yantlet” lying at anchor off the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”.
At 5.50 p.m. stevedores and craft left the s.s. “Richard Montgomery” (Fresh easterly wind and rough sea). The “Panther” towed the “Capella””, loaded, to Stangate Creek and the “Gondis” towed the “Teak” to Sheerness arriving at 6.20 p.m.
Cargo discharged:-
From No. 4 hold to “Teak” 140 – 1000-lb. Bombs.
From No. 5 hold to “Capella” 433 – 500-lb. Bombs.
The “Panther” towed the “Teak” to Stangate Creek (loaded).
On Tuesday the 19th September at 7.0 a.m. the s.v. “Yantlet” towed the “Y.C.83” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery” to pump the fore end of the vessel if the hatch coamings came clear.
At 8.15 a.m. two games left Sheerness on the “Gondis” after who had towed the “Capella”, loaded, loaded, to Stangate Creek, and the “Panther” towed barge “Pelton” from stagnate Creek to port side of the s.s. “Richard Montgomery” and towed the “Instow” to starboard side.
On arrival discharge was resumed from Nos. 4 and 5 holds, steam being supplied by the “Gondis”. The “Panther” towed the “Y.C.83” from the s.v. “Yantlet” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”, and loose water and oil were pumped from cargo in No.4 hold over high water.
At 4.30 p.m. work ceased. The s.v. “Yantlet” towed the “Y.C.83” and the “Gondis” towed the “Instow” and the “Panther” towed the “Pelton” to Sheerness arriving at 5.0 p.m.
At high water the s.s. “Richard Montgomery’s” stern stands sharply out of the water. Her propeller and skeg are showing and work in holds is difficult.
Cargo discharged:-
From No. 4 hold to “Instow” 138 – 1000-lb. Bombs.
From No. 5 hold to “Pelton” 307 – 500-lb. Bombs.
The forward hatch coaming showed 4-ins. above water at low water today, and the pumping operation was postponed until the higher spring tides beginning on the 1st October.
On Wednesday the 20th September at 8.15 a.m. two gangs left Sheerness on the “Gondis” which towed the “Instow” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”, the “Panther” towing the “Pelton” and s.v. “Yantlet” towing “Y.C.83”.
On arrival discharge was resumed from Nos. 4 and 5 holds and oll and water were pumped from No. 4 hold.
At 10.0 a.m. the “Panther” left the s.s. “Richard Montgomery” and proceeded to coal hulk “C.109” in Medway and bunkered, returning to the vessel at 1.0 p.m. when the s.v. “Yantlet” left for Gravesend.
At 6.30 p.m. stevedores left on the “Gondis” which towed the “Instow” to Sheerness. The “Panther” towed the “Pelton” to Sheerness and later towed the “Instow” (loaded” to Stangate Creek.
At 7.10 p.m. the stevedores landed at Sheerness.
Cargo discharged:-
From No. 4 hold to “Instow” 16 – 1000-lb. Bombs.
From No. 5 hold to “Pelton” 399 – 500-lb. Bombs.
On Thursday 21st September owing to dense fog two gangs were delayed and left Sheerness at 10. A.m. on the “Gondis” which towed the “Pelton” and the “Y.C.83” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”, and the “Panther” towed the “Didcot”. On arrival discharge was resumed in Nos. 4 and 5 holds, steam being supplied by the “Gondis”.
Oil and water were pumped from No. 4 hold during high water. At 6.30 p.m. stevedores and craft left the ship, the “Gondis” towing the “Pelton” and the “Y.C.83” and “Panther” towing the “Didcot” to Sheerness, arriving at 7.15 p.m.
Cargo discharged:-
From No. 4 hold to “Didcot” 119 – 1000-lb. Bombs
From No. 5 hold to “Pelton” 2 – 500-lb. Bombs, and 3327 fin assembly parts, completing discharge of No. 5 hold except for about 200 fin assembly parts stowed in the fore end of the ‘tween decks.
The “Panther” towed the “Pelton” to Stangate Creek (loaded) and the “Panther” was dispersed with.
On Friday the 22nd September owing to fog one gang was delayed from leaving Sheerness until 9.0 a.m., the “Gondis” towed “Y.C.83” and the “Didcot” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”.
On arrival discharge was resumed from No. 4 hold, steam being supplied by the “Gondis”.
Oil and water were pumped from No. 4 hold.
At 6.15 p.m. discharging ceased for the day and at 6.30 p.m. the “Gondis” towed the “Didcot” and “Y.C.83” to Sheerness, arriving at 7.10 p.m.
Cargo discharged:-
From No. 4 hold to “Didcot” 120 – 1000-lb. Bombs.
On Saturday 23rd September at 8.10 a.m. the “Gondis” left Sheerness with one gang towing the “Didcot” and “Y.C.83” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”.
On arrival discharge was resumed from No. 4 hold and oil and water pumped out.
At 11.25 a.m. stevedores left the vessel on the “Gondis” which towed the “Didcot” and the Y.C.83” to Sheerness.
Cargo discharged:-
From No. 4 hold to “Didcot” 67 – 1000-lb. Bombs.
The “Gondis” towed the “Didcot” to Stangate Creek (loaded).
On Sunday 24th September during strong wind and sea, one gang left Sheerness on the “Gondis” which towed the “Queenbury”, and the “Y.C.83” to the s.s. “Richard Montgoemry”. Discharging was resumed from No. 4 hold, on arrival and 175 – 1000-lb. bombs placed in the “Queenbury”. Oil and water were pumped from No. 4 hold.
At 3.50 p.m. discharging ceased. The “Gondis” towed the “Queenbury” and the “Y.C.83” to Sheerness arriving at 4.30 p.m.
On Monday the 25th September at *.15 a.m. one gang left Sheerness on the “Gondis” which towed the “Queenbury” and the “Y.C.83” to the s.s. “Richard Montgomery”.
Discharge from No. 4 hold was resumed on arrival and water and oil pumped out as discharge progressed. At 5.50 p.m. discharge of No. 4 hold was completed and stevedores left the ship returning to Sheerness on “Gondis” which towed the “Queenbury” and the “Y.C.83” to Sheerness, arriving at 6.20 p.m. The “Gondis” towed the barge “Queenbury” to Standage Creek and was dispensed with.
The total amount of cargo discharged to date is 3,175 tons, today’s discharge from No.4 hold being 124 – 1000-lb. Bombs.
J. W. Edwards
Assistant Mooring & Wreck Raising Officer.
12th October 1944.
