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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
View the archive catalogue entry ↗

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 Dinghy. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

6 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 119–157 of this collection
Page ImageOCR textOCR tags
119 Page 119 Log in to enlarge

Page 79
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
H.M.Y. ANLAH:
Yacht Engineer F. Barter, T. 124.
Able Seaman W. F. Lunn, P/J.107117.
Conspicuous devotion to duty under fire for a prolonged period as crew of the launch, rescuing large numbers of troops.
Recommended for decoration.
H.M.Y. BOUNTY and
Boat-work under Commodore Stephenson.
E.R.A. A. Ferris, T.124.
This rating was alone in the twin-diesel engineroom and although on du ty day and night and sick with the fumes was, with the greatest difficulty, persuaded finally to leave his post and take a rest and fresh air, when a stoker was found to relieve him for a short time. By his strong sense of duty and cheerful demeanour set an excellent example to those around him.
Conspicuous under fire.
Recommended for decoration.
Signalman H. G. Hayes, C/JX. 140933.
Ordinary Signalman W. A. Denny, TP/X.1790.
Able Seaman E. Fenton. P/JX.145044.
Besides their work in BOUNTY, from p.m. 31st May when the La Panne beach and piers were being heavily shelled, volunteers were called for to take in a whaler to bring off a final contingent of soldiers.
These three young men came forward and returned to the beach again and again. They all were invariably to be found where work was difficult and dangerous.
Recommended for decoration.
H.M.Y.CARYANDA.
Acting Petty Officer H. H. Smith, P/JX. 125648.
Able Seaman T. W. Schofield, J.26827.
Volunteered to man a small boat under fire, continuously ferrying troops. Boat ultimately sank, when these ratings swam for a prolonged period supporting troops in the water, assisting them into boats.
Recommended for decoration.
H.M.Y. EILA II.
Yacht Engineer T. M. Weir, T.124.
Petty Officer C. S. Smith, P/J. 14350.
Able Seaman C. S. Marriott, P/SSX.237766.
Gave good example of coolness under fire and in boat work in the dinghy.
Recommended for mention.

120 Page 120 Log in to enlarge

Page 80
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
H.M.Y. LAHLOO:
Yacht Engineer D. Brewer, T.124.
Besides displaying conspicuous devotion to duty, was invaluable in sending and receiving signals under fire, and in assisting his Commanding Officer generally.
Recommended for mention.
H.M.Y. THELE.
Chief Petty Officer A. H. H. Gutsell, P/J,28475.
Conspicuous boat work and in effecting contact with
G.H.Q.
worked the dinghy under heavy fire.
Recommended for decoration.

138 Page 138 Log in to enlarge

Page 99
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Yacht BYSTANDER (Echo John Sounding Yacht) - Sub. Lieutenant Henry
Beresford Barge, R.N.V.R.
Page 98.
Operation "DYNAMO" not Recommendations of Personnel.
H.M.Y. CHRISTOBEL II - Lieutenant Herbert Edward Wigfull, R.N.V.R.
machine troops. fire. way over was subjected to bombing attack
This On the yacht did one trip to the beaches bringing back to surf was unable gunned. Only had a small dinghy continually and owing bombed and gun machine Remained for seven hours being and beach with to embark troops. Managed to do two empty trips and started to take off troops. Found whaler whole whaler and dinghy. Ship had to keep under to once time as it would have been impossible to start engines way they were stopped, owing to defects.
Recommendations.
OFFICER:
Lieutenant Herbert Edward Wigfull, R.N.V.R.
whilst off the beaches in face of difficult conditions
Showed great skill, determination and pertinacity due to engine defects, surf and continual bombing.
Recommended for mention.
RATING:
Ordinary Seaman John Phillip Charles Mead. LT/JX. 193106.
Showed great initiative and efficiency in his handling of boats and the cool and efficient manner in which he embarked troops under very difficult conditions due to surf and continual bombing.
Recommended as candidate for commission.

139 Page 139 Log in to enlarge

Page 99
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Yacht BYSTANDER (Echo John Sounding Yacht) - Sub. Lieutenant Henry
Beresford Barge, R.N.V.R. V.
Recommendations.
RATING:
Able Seaman (Cook) J. H. Elton, LT/JX.180250 (R.N. Patrol Service)
off the Dunkirk, KING this ship proceeded to remove 0200/30/5 the
Employed as Cook in this yacht. At when dinghy, with ORRY, then sinking in the fairway. The crew of ft.
effect Elton and one other as crew, launched 8 to attempted a weak to swim to the yacht, but they were personnel in a rescue. Most of the KING ORRY's dived was obvious many would drown. Elton done that it state owing to the arduous service they had such of the into the water and assisted and supported thereupon hour swimmers as he could find for more than half as many loads whilst the dinghy, rowed by the other rating, an water Elton put many men on to life-rafts and towed the of men, returned to the BYSTANDER. Whilst in with by on swimming. The last men he brought back to the yacht them a life-raft, were towed by Elton in the water as a tow-rope with one hand on the raft and one hand acting on the dinghy - a remarkable feat of endurance. He was responsible for rescuing about 25 Officers and men. In supplied hot tea and food to all the 97 men on board addition to the above, Elton, in his capacity as Cook, within half an hour of leaving the scene of the wreck, the cooking utensils, etc, normally sufficing for 7.
He provided dry clothes and blankets and generally tended the rescued, many of whom were suffering from shock. This rating was unsparing in his efforts and acted with great gallantry without regard to his own safety.
Recommended for decoration.
Motor Boat CONSTANT NYMPH: - Chargehand B.A. Smith, Little Ship Club,
(Owner of Motor Boat).
Recommendation.
Chargehand B. A. Smith, Little Ship Club.
Chargehand Smith proceeded with a crew of 2 Naval
Stokers who had never been to sea, in tow p.m. 30th May for the beaches. Took in a whaler and cutter, and during the night ferried off about 800 men to 2 skoots the JUTLAND and LAUDANIA, who were thus filled up.
CONSTANT NYMPH then collected a number of odd boats trying to row off to ships filled with soldiers, and collected them and towed them to offshore vessels.
During thiss time fairly continuous bombing and shelling were encountered. Chargehand Smith remarks that being deaf and with a lot to do prevented him noticing these annoyances. Continued work until all fuel was exhausted, and the boat was sent to a supply drifter for repair and refuelling, Chargehand Smith being ordered back to Margate This civilian showed great

152 Page 152 Log in to enlarge

Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Page 113,
Tug LADY BRASSEY (continued).
under good work bombing in Dunkirk from enemy Harbour aircraft, itself. also doing very
Recommendation,
T.J. Hopwood, Master.
th
Used great skill and seamanship whilet in he nd
Harbour, craft. and also in his duties on salvaging various Dunkir
Recommended for mention.
d
Tug ST. OLAVE. - Skipper Henry Forester. W.9.3348, Master.
operation DYNAMO.
This tug was used for salvage work throughout the
Recommendation.
Skipper Henry Forester, W.S.3348, Master.
Through his seamanship and initiative was able to assist very materially in the salvage of craft which had been damaged by gunfire and bombing from the air.
Recommended for mention.
Tug JAVA:
This tug was employed off the beaches.
Recommendation.
Harry Griffith, Merchant Seaman.
As member of the crew landed on the beach in a small dinghy and ferried troops backwards and forwards continuously for 8 hours during heavy bombing attacks.
Recommended for decoration.

157 Page 157 Log in to enlarge

Page 119
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Dutch Skoot H.M.S. AMAZONE - Lieutenant Commander Laurence
French Packet S.S. NEWHAVEN.
Henry Phillips, R.N.
Recommendations.
OFFICER.
Lieutenant Commander Laurence Henry Phillips, R.N.
Commanding Officer of H.M.S. AMAZONE.
Completed 3 trips to Dunkirk beaches in AMAZONE
and 2 in Personnel Vessel the French Packet NEWHAVEN, in which he was embarked as moral stiffener to the
French Master, trouble having been experienced in getting the civilian manned personnel vessels to enter Dunkirk harbour.
In AMAZONE this officer displayed marked initiative and determination under air attack and artillery fire and succeeded in lifting a large number of troops from the beaches. Whilst on board NEWHAVEN that vessel completed 2 trips satisfactorily. When in Dunkirk harbour with no troops in sight on the pier, went ashore and personally conducted a French Colonel and
1,000 of his troops on board.
Recommended for mention.
RATING.
Ordinary Seaman Vincent Wakeham, P/JX.194588, Newfoundland
Rating.
Showed exceptional coolness and good seamanship in handling various abandoned motor boats and the
AMAZONE'S dinghy in the surf. Great persistence and resource. An outstanding rating, whose conduct under fire amounted to gallantry.
Recommended for decoration.
Dutch Skoot H.M.S. BRANDARIS)
W.D. Launch MARLBOROUGH
W.D. Launch WOLF
~~~
Commander Charles Euman, R.N. (Ret.)
Personnel Vessel AUTOCARRIER - Master, C.M. Masters.
Recommendations.
OFFICER.
Commander Charles Euman, R.N. (Ret.). Commanding Officer of
BRENDARIS, MARLBOROUGH, WOLF.
Carried out 3 trips in the BRANDARIS, 5 in the
MARLBOROUGH and WOLF as Commanding Officer, and one round trip in the personnel vessel AUTOCARRIER as moral stiffener to the Master and crew.
/In