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TNA / ADM 116 4649

TNA ADM 116 4649

TNA ADM 116 4649
Collection details

TNA ADM 116 4649

Operation Dynamo reports and recommendations for awards, volume 2 (1940–1942), documenting service during the Dunkirk evacuation and the cases submitted for official recognition.

Holding archive
TNA
Collection reference
ADM 116 4649
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Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 116/4649. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing only pages tagged with the vessel name Broke. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

4 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 111–142 of this collection
Page ImageOCR textOCR tags
111 Page 111 Log in to enlarge

Page 71
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
H.M.S. BIDEFORD (Continued).
Displayed great personal courage in his decision to remain on board.
Recommended for decoration.
Stoker Petty Officer Charles William Donnelly, D/K.5995.
Acting Cook Albert Victor Hocking, D/MX.58549.
When the ship was bombed everyone aft was killed or badly wounded except these two men. Stoker Petty
Officer Donnelly's duty was "in charge of the after fire and repair party". Hocking formed one of the
First Aid Party. The fire main aft was blown away and fire broke out in the cabin flat immediately above the after magazine. These two men, working entirely on their own initiative, ran hoses aft from the first connection and succeeded in getting the fire under control and hoses down the after magazine hatch to flood the magazine (the magazine flooding arrangements were destroyed) and partly flooded it before assistance came. Their prompt and efficient action probably saved the ship.
Recommended for decoration.
Signalman Charles Raymond Craig, D/JX.141848.
Landed with an officer to organise embarkation on the beach, then joined one of the embarkation posts, took charge of the signalling apparatus and got into communication with several ships. When the station was destroyed by bombing, Craig improvised a signal lamp out of the headlight of a lorry and used this until the battery ran down. He remained ashore all night and was eventually sent back by the embarkation officer. On arrival at Dover he volunteered to go over to Dunkirk pier, where signalmen were required, and spent another night there.
Recommended for mention.

140 Page 140 Log in to enlarge

Page 100.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
CONSTANT NYMPH (continued).
performed courage and disregard of danger, and undoubtedly gallant and meritorious service.
Recommended for decoration.
otor Boat LADY CABLE: - Acting Sub. -Lieutenant G. A., Cadell. R.N.
Recommendations.
(Retired).
FFICERS:
Acting Sub. Lieutenant G. A. Cadell, R.N.
troops from Dunkirk Inner Harbour off to tugs
On the night of June 2nd ferried about 200 French
WISHART. 24 Finally, when all ships were leaving, and embarked any British remained. Then encountered a series see of
French soldiers, having searched the Quay to if mishaps with his engines, and on the voyage home himself at one time or another falling overboard.
attempted to salve W. D. craft HAIG, all his crew and
Finally broke down at mid-day on the 3rd, close to the
Coast, and was in grave peril of falling into hands
Southwest of Dunkirk. LADY CABLE drifted helplessly enemy about the Channel for many hours before being rescued.
Sub. Lieutenant Cadell, suffering from a weak heart, underwent considerable physical strain, and there is no coolness and effic) ency.
doubt that he and his crew displayed remarkable courage,
Recommended for mention.
Cadet Rating G. R. Price.
Acted as first lieutenant to Sub. -Lieutenant Cadell, whom he ably assisted. He had previously been in command of the Motor Boat SKYLARK.
Recommended for early promotion,
Motor Yacht MASAYRU: - Skipper G. D. Olivier.
Recommendations.
OFFICER:
Skipper G. D. Olivier.
With a civilian crew of 3 and one Leading Seaman,
R. N. sailed from Sheerness 0400/31 in convoy. On arriving off the beaches spent more than 48 hours on ferrying work, and in salving craft; and in towing off ships aground. Underwent the common experience of being stormed by French troops and having to repel these boarders in order to save his ship. When isolated, attacked by 4 Messerschmitts with machine-guns for about half an hour, and at other times was under sporadio gunfire. Ferried off a total of about 400 French troops.
This civilian displayed a complete disregard of danger and showed a high order of seamanship.
Recommended for decoration.

141 Page 141 Log in to enlarge

Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Page 101.
RATING:
Engineer C. Coggins.
yacht being running fouled the whole time, in spite of motor
This civilian kept the engines of this required. frequently and the continuous propeller boats to He also put the engines of several running other assisted rights when they broke down. He the Skipper throughout the operations. ably
Recommended for mention.
30 ft. Motor Yacht MAID ERRANT. - Able Seaman S. Palmer, D/JX.
148052.
Recommendations.
Able Seaman S. Palmer. 148052.
Sailed from Sheerness on Friday, 31st May, in convoy for Dunkirk. En route rescued survivors of a French destroyer, then prodeeded to the beaches.
There he was swamped by French soldiers swarming over his boat, which drifted ashore. Later the boat refloated and he took one V.C.O. and 8 British soldiers; he had no crew except one Stoker, who had great difficulty with the engine. Off Dunkirk, on the way home, the engine broke down, so he broke up the yacht's wood fittings and made the 8 soldiers paddle the boat. Later, the engine restarted after on 18 hour voyage. Next day, without orders, he sailed with a crew of one other Able Seaman, but was turned back as his craft was too slow to take part in the night evacuation ordered for that evening.
Able Seaman Palmer states that he passed for
Leading Seaman in May, 1927. He states he possesses the L. S. & G. C. Medal.
Recommended for immediate advancement.
Drifter OCEAN BREEZE, War Department Launch HAIG and Skoot
PASCHOLL.
(Lieutenant Victor Alexander Christian Henry George de Mauny,
R.N.Retired.
Recommendations,
Lieutenant Victor Alexander C.H.G. de Mauny. R.N.
Between noon on the 30th May and 0815 4th June was continuously engaged under way on evacuation duties without any intermission. Commanded in succession OCEAN BREEZE, HAIG and then as Navigator of a group of skoots in PASCHOLL. Brought back more than 300 troops from Dunkirk beach in surf conditions on two separate occasions. Was notably

142 Page 142 Log in to enlarge

Page 102.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
more same successful than other small craft working in the areas. On the 31st May, when he was 8 hours the off
Displayed great devotion to duty under fire, and marked coast, subjected to continuous air attack.
Senior Officers on more than one occasion.
initiative; and was favourably reported upon by the
Recommended for mention.
Motor Boat PRINCESS LILLY. - Sub. Lieutenant K.E.A. Bayley, R.N.V.R.
Recommendations.
Sub.Lieutenant K.E.A. Bayley. R.N.V.R.
Left Sheerness with 19 other small boats, escorted by a trawler as guide, as most of the boats had no compass. Half way across the trawler left them. Succeeded in making Dunkirk after giving assistance and many tows to motor-boats which broke down. Spent nearly 30 hours ferrying troops from
Dunkirk and La Panne beaches, displaying considerable ingenuity in working small boats in conjunction with his own craft on a lee shore, under fire from bombing, machine-gunning and German artillery. Had a crew of two civilians and one Naval rating aged 19÷. Displayed determination and leadership of a high order.
Recommended for mention.
Motor Boat TRITON: - Lieutenant Robert Hunter Irving, R.N.R.
Recommendation.
Lieutenant Robert Hunter Irving, R.N.R.
Took over a flotilla of launches from Sheerness to Ramsgate to Bray beach in the darkness with no navigating instruments. From 0500/30 to 1830/31 worked without help ferrying off troops and co-ordinating the activities of other power boats in the vicinity. His boat acted as flagship of Commodore Stephenson in control of embarkation, who, together with other senior officers, comments most favourably on this officer's conduct. Under almost continuous air bombardment and artillery fire in capsized and swamped boats he was inderatigable in his efforts.
Directly responsible for the successful embarkation of hundreds of troops. Set an excellent example of devotion to duty and gallant conduct, and performed a remarkable feat of endurance.
Recommended for decoration.