Details

BIDEFORD(1)
1st 3loop Division
Lt.Cdr. J.H. Lewes, R.N.
29th May
1200
Sailed from Dover for Braye-Dunes
buoy. via the Downs and South Ruytingen
1645
Entered Dunkirk roads.
1700
Fired at a squadron of bombers. One
shot down. [During the next 3 hours
fire was opened at frequent intervals
on aircraft, but no further hits
were observed.]
1710
Attacked by a squadron of bombers.
4 bombs fell in a line on the port
side, 50 yards away. One casualty.
Machine gunned by a low flying
aircraft. No casualties.
1730
Arrived Braye - Dunes and hove-to.
[The ship remained hove-to for the
next 3 hours.
1750
The first boat loads of troops (mostly
French troops) came alongside.
"Confusion was evident. The boats
were dangerously overcrowded and
several swamped on the way off from
the shore. On arrival alongside the
men would all Jump on board and let
their boats drift off on the tide.
Paddles were lost overboard rendering
the boats useless. Bideford's.
M/B was lowered and ordered to collect
and tow inshore any empty boats.
The whaler was lowered and two
officers and a signalman were sent
in to endeavour to take charge on the
beach ..... this was next to impos-
sible. The men rushed the boats and
capsized them in shallow water, and
then left the boat without making
any attempt to right it and use it
again. There were only 2 motor
landing craft in the vicinity
[A.L.C's 16 and 17 (q.v.)] one A.L.C.
17] had one engine out of action;
the other was blown up subsequently
when lying alongside the ship."
1915ca
Dive bombing attack. 4 bombs fell 80
yards on port quarter.
2000ca
Machine gunned by a low flying A/C.
Several casualties.
2007
Dive bomb attack - 4 bombs dropped;
one landed 30 yards from the ship;
one hit the quarter deck and one
either hit or closely missed the
stern, detonating a depth charge.
Severe damage; about 40 ft. of the
stern blown away completely; a
further 40 ft. reduced to a tangled
mass of metal; the mainmast fell
0.5" m.g. platforms, wrecking both;
in 3 pieces on the searchlight and
severely shaken, a bulkhead dished
the bridge superstructure was
and several frames cracked. The
(1) Administered by Captain (D) Plymouth.
101

Details

160
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 39.
158
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Inshore Flotillas and Naval Shore Parties (continued).
A.L.C. 5 Report. East end of Bray beach 29th May.
"A slight surf, thrown up by the onshore wind,
made beaching awkward, and the use of an anchor was essential
Owing to bad seamanship, A.L.C. 5 lost her anchor and warp
at the first attempt at beaching, with the result that the
craft rode on much farther than was intended or desirable.
She was immediately rushed on all sides by a wild, undiscip-
lined mob of French soldiers, so many of whom got aboard
that the boat was grounded; and it was only by the use of
considerable amount of force that a sufficient number could
be got overboard, so that the craft could be got off the
beach.
Two very good anchors, one complete with a good
long warp, were found in a derelict motor boat and these
were used to replace the lost anchors before making a further
trip.
The second attempt to embark French troops shewed
that their undisciplined behaviour was likely to imperil
the safety of the craft, and it was decided to proceed
farther up the coast to La Panne where British troops were
found.
These troops were ferried from the beach to one or
other of the craft anchored offshore, at the rate of
approximately 3 trips per hour."
A.L.C. 16. Report. 29th May.
"A.L.C. 16 was the first boat to be hoisted out,
and proceeded straight inshore to the beach near Old Dunkir
where she e vacuated British troops. After making some sever
trips successfully, she was boarded by a mob of French
soldiers, who overwhelmed the boat to such an extent that
she became partially swamped, the starboard battery was
flooded and both engines failed.
Eventually sufficient French were evicted to enabl
A.L.C. 16 to be floated off, and the port engine started.
A.L.C. 17. Report. 29th May.
"A.L.C. 17 was the fourth boat to be hoisted out,
and followed A.L.C. 5 up the coast towards Bray. On
approaching the beach she was promptly boarded by a crowd
of French soldiers, who so overloaded the boat that she
grounded. On the falling tide she was soon left high and
dry, and remained stranded for some three hours.
In the meantime the Coxswain of A.L.C.17 procured
the assistance of some British troops, who with fixed
bayonets, drove off the French when these again attempted
to rush the boat as the tide rose."
Wednesday, 29th May.
"Sono difficulty experienced through persistent
attempts of large masses of French troops to intercept boa
and demand passage. Assisted by British troops succeeded
holding off French by means of rifle fire 50 yards further
along the beach."

Details

CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 39.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
Inshore Flotillas and Naval Shore Parties (continued).
A.L.C. 5 Report. East end of Bray beach 29th May.
"A slight surf, thrown up by the onshore wind,
made beaching awkward, and the use of an anchor was essential.
Owing to bad seamanship, A.L.C. 5 lost her anchor and warp
at the first attempt at beaching, with the result that the
craft rode on much farther than was intended or desirable.
She was inmediately rushed on all sides by a wild, undiscip-
lined mob of French soldiers, so many of whom got aboard
that the boat was grounded; and it was only by the use of
considerable amount of force that a sufficient number could
be got overboard, so that the craft could be got off the
beach.
Two very good anchors, one complete with a good
long warp, were found in a derelict motor boat and these
were used to replace the lost anchors before making a further
trip.
The second attempt to embark French troops shewed
that their undisciplined behaviour was likely to imperil
the safety of the craft, and it was decided to proceed
farther found. up the coast to La Panne where British troops were
These troops were ferried from the beach to one or
other of the craft anchored offshore, at the rate of
approximately 3 trips per hour."
A.L.C. 16. Report. 29th May.
and proceeded straight inshore to the beach near Old Dunkirk
"A.L.C. 16 was the first boat to be hoisted out,
where she evacuated British troops. After making some seven
soldiers, who overwhelmed the boat to such an extent that
trips successfully, she was boarded by a mob of French
flooded and both engines failed.
she became partially swamped, the starboard battery was
A.L.C. 16 to be floated off, and the port engine started."
Eventually sufficient French were evicted to enable
A.L.C. 17. Report. 29th May.
and followed A.L.C. 5 up the coast towards Bray. On
"A.L.C. 17 was the fourth boat to be hoisted out,
of approaching the beach she was promptly boarded by crowd
grounded. On the falling tide she was soon left
French soldiers, who so overloaded the boat that a she
dry, the and remained In the meantime stranded the for Coxswain some three of A.L.C.17 hours. high procured and
bayonets, to drove off the French when these again attempted
assistance of some British troops, who with fixed
rush the boat as the tide rose."
Wednesday, 29th May.
attempts of Large masses of French troops to intercept boats
"Soat difficulty experienced through persistent
holding off French by means of rifle fire 50 yards further
and demand passage. Assisted by British troops succeeded in
along the beach."
June 1st/

Details

Page 3.
OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
PORTSMOUTH A/P YACHTS
AHOLA
CARYANDA
NONETA
ANLAH
EILA II
SERIOLA
ANKH
LAHLOO
THELE
BOUNTY
MASAYRU
MISCELLANEOUS H.M. SHIPS (small craft)
A.L.C. 5
GREY MIST (Dan-laying
A.L.C. 15
Vessel)
-
A.L.C. 16
# GRIVE (F.A.A. Yacht)
A.L.C. 17
KINDRED STAR (Drifter)
ALOUETTE II
# KING ORRY (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
# AMULREE (Harbour Defence
LLANTHONY (Examination
Patrol Craft)
Service Vessel)
ARONIA (Yacht)
LORMONT (Armed Boarding
BEN AND LUCY (Drifter)
Vessel)
BLUEBIRD (M.B.)
MONARDA (Drifter)
BYSTANDER
MONA'S ISLE (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
CALETA (Harbour Defence
ST. OLAVES (Rescue Tug)
Patrol Craft)
TARRET (A/S Yacht)
CHRYSTOBEL II (Harbour
THRIFTY (Drifter)
Defence Patrol Craft )
V. 4 ("Vernon' s" pinnace)
"DOLPHIN'S" MOTOR-BOAT
VELIA (Armed Trawler)
EVELYN ROSE Trawler)
VERNON I
"EXCELLENT'S" A/A MOTOR-BOAT
VIVIANA (A/S Trawler)
GAVA (Trawler)
Ambleve.
Escaut.
transferred
GLALA (Harbour Defence Patrol
Meuse.
from
Craft)
Sambre.
Semoise.
page 9.
yser.
DUTCH SKOOTS (Commissioned with Naval Crews)
ABEL TASMAN
DOGGERSBANK
PACIFIC
PASCHOLL
AEGIR
FREDANJA
PATRIA
ALICE
FRISCO
PRINCESS JULIANA
AMAZONE
GORECHT
REIGER
ANTJE
HEBE
RIKA
ATLANTIC
HILDA
RUJA
BART
HONDSRUG
BORNRIF
HORST (Abandoned)
SAN ANTONIO
SURSUM CORDA
BRANDARIS
JAVA
TILLY
CARIBIA
JUTLAND
TINY
DELTA
KAAPFALGA
TUNG
DEMOK I
LENA
TWENTE
DENEB
ORANJE
VREDE
DESPATCH II
ORANGE YREESWIJH
ZEUS
(Continued)
# Sunk

Details

510
486
120 selim 01
Appendix "A".
Part II.
A.L.C.3.
A.L.C. 3 was stowed in No. 8 hold in
Clan Macalister, and was hoisted out at approx-
imately noon. She worked the beach near Old
Dunkirk embarking British troops until the evening,
then as there were no vessels left in the vicinity,
set off for Dover with about twenty soldiers aboard,
Shortly after passing Dunkirk she fell in with
A.L.C. 8 and 15, and in company with them arrived
at Dover at dawn, on Thursday May 30th.
2.
On the evening of Thursday, May 30th, the
left Dover in company with A.L.C. 8 and 15, for
Dunkirk beaches arriving there at dawn, Friday,
May 31st.
She evacuated troops, (French and British),
until approximately 2230 hrs, when both engines
gave out due to sand in the cooling systems, A.L.C.S
was then taken in to# by 2 small merchant vessel
who towed her to Ramrgate, where she arrived about
0500 hrs on Saturday June 1st.
Two civilians volunteered to assist in
attending to the engines, and eventually succeeded in
repairing them satisfactorily. Ash.C. 3 then
preceeded to Dover, and arrived there about 1130 hrs
on Saturday 1st June. On reporting at Dover they
were told to hold themselves in readiness to return
to Dunkirk, but later were ordered to proceed in company
with A.L.C. 17 to their base in Hayling Island,
A.L.C. 3 reported at Hayling Island at 1300 hrs on

Details

516
492
A.L.C. 17 joined A,L,C. 5 off La Panne
on this day, but as she was having constant trouble
with her steering gear she returned to Dover where
repairs were effected, She was the only A.I.C. sighted
by A.L.C. 5 since leaving the CLAN MACALISTER,
4.
I (Commander Cassidi), YRS informed
that large numbers of British troops were awaiting
embarkation near Old Dunkirk and that there was 1
shortage of boats there. Accordingly A.L.C. 5 moved
towards this town p.m. "hursday 30th ay.
5.
Being once more in the vicinity of
the CLAN MACALISTER I took the opportunity to board
her.
She had been abandoned after having
been bombed aft, and although externally she appeared
very little damaged, she was burning internally,
apparently as far forward as the engine room. the
ship was burning so Ciercely that the hot deck burn$
the soles of my rubber boots completely any as I
tried to approach AobaCo 4 and 18, which were still
lying in their original stowage on the after deck,
Both A.L.C. appeared to have escaped
damage from bombs, but No. 4 had a few holes burned
in her, and presumably the bottoms of both sere likely
to have suffered from the heat,
The weather conditions were not a
6. deal easier there being little surf to hamper sare
good the embarkation of to troops, and large numbers
taken off until after dark.

Details

525
APPENDIX "A" PART II
501
A.L.C. 17.
b
A.L.C. 17 was the fourth boat to be hoisted out,
and followed A.L.C. 5 up the coast towards Braye. On
approaching the beach she mas promptly boarded by a crowd
of French soldiers, who so overload d the boat that she grounded.
On the falling tide she was soon left high and dry, and
remained stranded for some three hours.
In the meantime the Coxswain of A.L.C. 17 procured the
assistance of some British troops, who with fixed bayonets,
drove off the French when these again attempted to rush the
boat as the tide rose. These British troops, together with
a few French, were taken off to a British destroyer shere the
British only were disembarked. H A.4.C. 17 was ordered to
take the French to a nearby reasel, on the my she ma heavily
bombed and machine gurned from the air.
As a result of this attack, the boat became partially
flooded, so much 30 that the engines stopped. A.L.C. 17
then managed to get alongside a tug, where they baled out
their boat, and got the engines running again. She continued
embarking British troops from the vicinity of La Panne for the
remainder of the day, but towards evening had to casse
operations due to a defect in the port rudder; this 183
eventually rectified alongaide, and with the assistance of,
H.M.S. Shikari.
A.L.C. 17 continued working all night, but finally
her engines were stopped by sand in the circulating mater systems.
On Thursday morning May 30th., ahe was taken in tow : a drifter
and towed to Dover, arriving there about 2200. Engines were
repaired, and on Friday A.L.C. 17 - towed over to Dunicirk by
a tug. A few trips only were carried out, embarking British
troops from the viainity of Old Dubkirk, when sand stopped one

Details

526
502
engine, and A.L.C. 17 was again taken in for by the tug
which had brought her over previously.
Arriving in Dover during the afternoon of
Saturday June lat. she as ordered to ambark crews of A.L.C's
15 and 8, and in company with D.L.C. 3, make for har base
in Hayling Island. She reported here at 1300 on Monday
June 3rd.
add
of
-
cllating
VI
Department
NS
sentying
OF of TOTO Add
astima 1350 between
STO Seggate bites adv NO 30

Details

Details

Page 3.
r OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
PORTSMOUTH A/P YACHTS
AHOLA
CARYANDA
NONETA
ANLAH
EILA II
SERIOLA
ANKH
LAHLOO
THELE
BOUNTY
MASAYRU
MISCELLANEOUS H.M. SHIPS (small craft)
A.L.C. 5
GREY MIST (Dan-laying
A.L.C. 15
Vessel)
A.L.C. 16
# GRIVE (F.A.A. Yacht)
A.L.C. 17
KINDRED STAR (Drifter)
ALOUETTE II
#
KING ORRY (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
# AMULREE (Harbour Defence
LLANTHONY (Examination
Patrol Craft)
Service Vessel)
ARONIA (Yacht)
LORMONT (Armed Boarding
BEN AND LUCY (Drifter)
Vessel)
BLUEBIRD (M.B.)
MONARDA (Drifter)
BYSTANDER
MONA'S ISLE (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
CALETA (Harbour Defence
ST. OLAVES (Rescue Tug)
Patrol Craft)
TARRET (A/S Yacht)
CHRYSTOBEL II (Harbour
THRIFTY (Drifter)
Defence Patrol Craft )
v. 4 ("Vernon's pinnace)
"DOLPHIN'S" MOTOR-BOAT
VELIA (Armed Trawler)
EVELYN ROSE (Trawler)
VERNON I
"EXCELLENT'S" A/A MOTOR-BOAT
VIVIANA (A/S Trawler)
GAVA (Trawler)
GLALA (Harbour Defence Patrol
Craft)
DUTCH SKOOTS (Commissioned with Naval Crews)
ABEL TASMAN
DOGGERSBANK
PACIFIC
AEGIR
FREDANJA
PASCHOLL
ALICE
FRISCO
PATRIA
AMAZONE
GORECHT
PRINCESS JULIANA
ANTJE
HEBE
REIGER
ATLANTIC
HILDA
RIKA
BART
HONDSRUG
RUJA
BORNRIF
HORST (Abandoned)
SAN ANTONIO
BRANDARIS
JAVA
SURSUM CORDA
CARIBIA
JUTLAND
TILLY
DELTA
KAAPFALGA
TINY
DEMOK I
LENA
TUNG
DENEB
ORANJE
TWENTE
DESPATCH II
ORANGE YREESWIJH
VREDE
ZEUS
Sunk
(Continued)

Details

Page 3.
LIST OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY 4TH JUNE, 1940
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
PORTSMOUTH A/P YACHTS
AHOLA
CARYANDA
NONETA
ANLAH
EILA II
SERIOLA
ANKH
LAHLOO
THELE
BOUNTY
MASAYRU
MISCELLANEOUS H.M. SHIPS (small craft)
A.L.C. 5
GREY MIST (Dan-laying
A.L.C. 15
Vessel)
A.L.C. 16
# GRIVE (F.A.A. Yacht)
A.L.C. 17
KINDRED STAR (Drifter)
ALOUETTE II
#
KING ORRY (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
# AMULREE (Harbour Defence
LLANTHONY (Examination
Patrol Craft)
Service Vessel)
ARONIA (Yacht)
LORMONT (Armed Boarding
BEN AND LUCY (Drifter)
Vessel)
BLUEBIRD (M.B.)
MONARDA (Drifter)
BYSTANDER
MONA'S ISLE (Armed Boarding
(Echo Sounding Yacht)
Vessel)
CALETA (Harbour Defence
ST. OLAVES (Rescue Tug)
Patrol Craft)
TARRET (A/S Yacht)
CHRYSTOBEL II (Harbour
THRIFTY (Drifter)
Defence Patrol Craft)
V. 4 ("Vernon's" pinnace)
"DOLPHIN'S" MOTOR-BOAT
VELIA (Armed Trawler)
EVELYN ROSE (Trawler)
VERNON I
"EXCELLENT'S' A/A MOTOR-BOAT
VIVIANA (A/S Trawler)
GAVA (Trawler)
GLALA (Harbour Defence Patrol
Craft)
DUTCH SKOOTS (Commissioned with Naval Crews)
ABEL TASMAN
DOGGERSBANK
PACIFIC
AEGIR
FREDANJA
PASCHOLL
ALICE
FRISCO
PATRIA
AMAZONE
GORECHT
PRINCESS JULIANA
ANTJE
HEBE
REIGER
ATLANTIC
HILDA
RIKA
BART
HONDSRUG
RUJA
BORNRIF
HORST (Abandoned)
SAN ANTONIO
BRANDARIS
JAVA
SURSUM CORDA
CARIBIA
JUTLAND
TILLY
DELTA
KAAPFALGA
TINY
DEMOK I
LENA
TUNG
DENEB
ORANJE
TWENTE
DESPATCH II
ORANGE YREESWIJH
VREDE
ZEUS
#
Sunk
(Continued)