H.M.S. _Warwick_ had continued throughout the operation to patrol in a central position, namely, near the Mole lighthouse. She had come under a heavy fire and altogether experienced a couple of hectic hours. Soon after one o'clock she had moved towards _Vindictive_ and suddenly came upon the latter leaving the Mole. _Vindictive's_ smoke screen made it impossible to keep touch, so the Vice-Admiral decided to search for _Iris_ and _Daffodil_ in case they should require assistance. Shortly after this M.L. 282 was met and transferred her blockship survivors to _Warwick_, who was also informed that _Iris_ and _Daffodil_ had left the Mole. _Warwick_ then escorted some motor launches out of the danger zone, and, after rallying several other craft at a prearranged rendezvous, she steered for Dover and overtook _Vindictive_ as mentioned above.
Admiral Keyes ordered _Moorsom_ to lead _Vindictive_ to Dover, to which place _Warwick_ proceeded at { 244} high speed to land her wounded and to arrange for the arrival of the casualties from the remaining vessels.
The weather being misty, we did not sight Dover until within a mile or so. Our reception was wonderful, the result of the operation being already known at Dover. I think everybody cheered himself hoarse that morning. Presently we were ordered to proceed alongside the railway jetty. Within me there was some feeling of satisfaction at having berthed the ship at Zeebrugge, a place which I had never seen, in face of certain difficulties additional to the tide. Any feeling of pride, however, was quickly dispelled when, in accordance with the routine of the port, on my ship being ordered to proceed alongside Dover jetty in broad daylight, with no opposition from the enemy, and with every convenience in the way of hawsers and bollards, _a pilot was sent on board to handle her_!
On arrival alongside the wounded were disembarked into a Red Cross train, which immediately took them off to hospital. Those who had laid down their lives were then carried ashore; this, indeed, was a sad parting. Finally we moved out to a buoy to make room for other vessels.
After our arrival at Dover it was discovered that a large block of concrete was jambed between a fender and a ledge on the port side of the ship. Apparently a German shell fired from one of the heavy land batteries had struck the upper part of the outer wall and had torn away this block, which fell into the position mentioned. This concrete block, weighing nearly half a ton, was hoisted on board. A few pieces were taken as souvenirs. The main portion was { 245} presented to the Imperial War Museum and formed rather a unique piece of evidence, not only of the fact that _Vindictive_ lay alongside the Mole, but of the exact position at which the Mole was stormed. The illustration facing page 74 shows the damaged portion of the wall from which this block of concrete was torn.