TNA ADM 116 4649

Page 92.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
H.M.S. GRIVE - Captain. the Hon. Lionel Oliver Lambart, D.S.O., R.N.
Sub. -Lieutanant - the John Kenneth Barton Miles, R.N.V.R. (Retired). -
only surviving officer.
2359/29 she embarked sailed for Dunkirk 1400/30, where for 21/2 Dover
GRIVE and left Portsmouth 1530/29th May, arrived arriving back troops at from the East beach with her own hours
GRIVE left Dover a.m. 31st with just under 300 boats, troops.
harbour air at 2000/31 and embarked 400 troops during a
Dover again at 1400/31, entered Dunkirk her troops and although having only 5 rounds of ammunition severe raid. GRIVE arrived back at Dover 0100/1, very landed left per gun, sailed again at 0300/1.
Reaching Dunkirk 0800/1 GRIVE went alongside the harbour and took off a group of troops during heavy bombing. Leaving pier bomb, and was on fire, and took off all her troops and
GRIVE went alongside HAVANT, which had been hit by a
Dover 1300/1 with 700 on board.
wounded, together with IVANHOE's survivors. GRIVE arrived
R.N.R. (an officer of over 60) ashore, as he had done
At this stage Captain Lambart put Lieutenant C.E. West, magnificent work handling the ship "and had earned a rest".
Captain Lambart himself, who was 67, would not rest; he assembled his crew, informed them he intended to start off again immediately. The crew were equally determined and, having 1600/1. provisioned and ammunitioned, the ship sailed at
When approaching Dunkirk about 2230 GRIVE apparently was mined and was blown to pieces.
This account is taken from the narrative of Sub. -Lieut.
Miles, the only officer saved.
Recommendations.
OFFICERS:
Captain, the Hon. Lionel John Olive Lambart, D.S.O., R.N. (Retired)
For gallantry and exceptional endurance and devotion to duty.
Recommended for posthumous decoration.
Sub. -Lieutenant John Kenneth Barton Miles, R.N.V.R.
For gallantry in action.
Recommended for decoration.

77) Wt. 26777/4432 50M 10/38 S.E.R. Ltd. Gp. 671.
Register No.
Minute Sheet No.
M.V.O., D.S.C., harder still, especially as some Officers
The case is of Captain Llewellyn Vaughan Morgan, C.B.E., have already been decorated for "Dynamo" Staff work at Dover;
the correct appointment for his services being C.B.E., which he already is. Officers were added to the Staff at Dover for the conduct of this operation and Captain Morgan as Chief
Staff Officer had to weld together these additional Officers with the Naval Staff. This he succeeded in doing, so that they became a team, working perfectly together without pause by day and night throughout ten days. His energy, tact and leadership were essential to success.
The Committee have no doubt therefore that he has earned a further decoration. As his services were not in action, he cannot be immediately appointed a C.B. or D.S.O.; he could, however, be made a C.B. in the New Year's Honours List, and it is submitted that Vice-Admiral, Dover should be informed of the difficulties and invited to include Captain Morgan's name in his next half yearly recommendations. It might then be hoped that a C.B. at the New Year would be available for him. In the meantime it is submitted that he be awarded a
Mention in Despatches
The third difficult case is that of Captain The
Honourable Lionel Oliver Lambart, D.S.O., Royal Navy, (Retired),
Captain Lambart was in command of H.M.S. GRIVE when between
1400/30 May and 1300/1 June she made three round journeys between Dover and Dunkirk, bringing home 1,400 Troops and wounded Sailors from the Beaches (in her own boats), Harbour and Pier and HAVANT, who was on fire. She entered the Harbour during a very severe air raid and was heavily bombed at the
Pier. On his third return to Dover, Captain Lambart put
Lieutenant West, an Officer of over sixty, ashore as he had handled his ship so well and "had earned a rest. " He himself was sixty-seven but would not rest. He told whomere his crew/that Equally he would cross again at once; so, as soon as they had taken in stores, they sailed a fourth time. She was near the further shore when she was blown to bits and Captain Lambart lost his life. The Committee had no doubt that for Captain Lambart's gallantry a Posthumous Mention in Despatches would be a poor
S
award. But after scrupulous debate they reluctantly agreed that this was not quite a case for the Victoria Cross, the only posthumous decoration that might be correct. Captain Lambart's courage, spirit and devotion to duty were exemplary; but, though he would doubtless gladly have done so, he was not knowingly incurring a risk of almost certain death. The Committee however are anxious that some signal honour should be paid to the memory of so gallant an Officer, and they therefore submit that, as in the case of Captain Kennedy of "RAWALPINDI", a special letter should be written to his widow. The draft of such a letter is attached. It is, then, submitted that Captain Lambart be awarded a
Mention in Despatches (Posthumous)
and that a letter of appreciation should be sent to his widow.
It is understood that V.A. Dover wared not propose a V.C. in This case.
The Committee, while satisfied that the names on List B
were put forward by Vice-Admiral Dover for very good reasons, regret that they do not feel justified in submitting that these
Officers and Men should be Mentioned in Despatches, and they have somewhat reduced the number of Mentions in List A; their sole motive is the avoidance of what might appear to be an excessive number of awards for this Operation.
For/

of the Admiralty C.W. (Honours to & Awards Committee) expression of their warm appreciation of the arduous and-vital
19th August 1940.
services undertaken in this War, at his own request, by your late husband, Captain the Honourable Lionel
Sir,
Oliver Lambart, D.S.O., Royal Navy; and more especial
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the of of the undaunted gallantry
Admiralty to acquaint you for the information of the
H.M.S.
GRIVE, in
Army Council that in connection with the Dunkirk or thought of self, he
Evacuation to the the name under of fire from the Beaches,
Private George William Crowthers HAVANT,
Hart6th Field Ambulance B.Co.
of fourteen 7354480 hundred of his countrymen.
was recommended to the Admiralty for the award of the am,
Distinguished Service Medal. Your obedient Servant,
My Lords while concurring in the recommendation feel that the award of the Military Medal would be more appropriate and would be glad if the Army Council would.
take the necessary action.
I am, Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
EP Secretary of State,
War Office,
S.W.1.

NTIAL
S
DRAFT OF PROPOSED LETTER TO MRS. LAMBART,
TO BE SIGNED BY THE
SECRETARY.
to by
Madam,
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to invite you to accept an expression on of their warm appreciation of the arduous and vital services under taken in this War, at his own request, by your late husband, Captain the Honourable Lionel er
Oliver Lambart, D.S.O., Royal Navy; and more especially of the undaunted gallantry with which, in command of
H.M.S. GRIVE, in his sixty-eighth year, without respite or thought of self, he gave his last days and nights
1, to the rescue under fire from the Beaches, Pier and
Harbour of Dunkirk and from H.M.S. HAVANT, then ablaze, it of fourteen hundred of his countrymen.
an
I am, Madam,
7
that
Your obedient Servant, fully
S of it of
Ships and Men for awards chat be taken out d should at
CADONE. an