TNA ADM 199 788 A

Collection details

TNA ADM 199 788 A

Admiralty records of Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, part A, dating from 1940.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: ADM 199 788 A

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/788 A. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
20	Log in to enlarge	Dynamo Duplicate 16 17 14 was seen and an attempt was made to sink it by rifle fire but this was impracticable owing to the unsteadiness of the boat. The approximate position of the mine was later reported. 7. At 1115 the boat arrived off La Panne, and, being short of petrol, closed H. M.S. Hebe but was unable to obtain any from her. As there were no other ships carrying petrol off La Panne, it was thought desirable to return to Bray in order to have a reasonably safe margin of petrol before conveying troops. On arrival at Bray, "Excellent's" boat signalled that she had struck a submerged object and required assistance. As I had been told by a destroyer that the depth of water in that position was 3 feet and had also been told by the Senior Officer at Bray to be extremely careful not to get into shallow water, it was not considered advisable owing to the state of the sea to risk the loss of a second boat. Another shallower draughted boat did, in fact try to assist but ran aground. 8. 20 gallons of petrol were obtained at Bray and the boat proceeded back to La Panne. Before reaching there, however, all ships weighed and left under shell fire from shore batteries from the town which was shortly afterwards OCC- upied by the enemy. In consequence the motor boat returned to Bray. 9. Enquiries were made at destroyers and other vessels present as to whether "Dolphin's" boat could be of any assistance, but again, owing to the shallowness of the water and state of the sea it was not possible to go alongside the improvised pier from which all troops were being embarked (no troops were at this time wading out to boats), nor was there a demand for a boat for towing purposes. 10. as to the usefulness of this boat under the circumstances, After consultation with the senior officer present it was decided to obtain a tow back to Dover to refuel, and there it was hoped that another tow could be obtained back to Dunkirk, where, it was believed, the boat could be more usefully employed. A tow was obtained from H.M.S.Sargossa at 1415	Boat Dolphin Excellent's Hebe Dover Senior

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 20.

Dynamo Duplicate
16
17 14
was seen and an attempt was made to sink it by rifle fire
but this was impracticable owing to the unsteadiness of
the boat. The approximate position of the mine was later
reported.
7.
At 1115 the boat arrived off La Panne, and, being
short of petrol, closed H. M.S. Hebe but was unable to obtain
any from her. As there were no other ships carrying petrol
off La Panne, it was thought desirable to return to Bray in
order to have a reasonably safe margin of petrol before
conveying troops. On arrival at Bray, "Excellent's" boat
signalled that she had struck a submerged object and req-
uired assistance. As I had been told by a destroyer that
the depth of water in that position was 3 feet and had also
been told by the Senior Officer at Bray to be extremely
careful not to get into shallow water, it was not considered
advisable owing to the state of the sea to risk the loss of
a second boat. Another shallower draughted boat did, in fact
try to assist but ran aground.
8.
20 gallons of petrol were obtained at Bray and the
boat proceeded back to La Panne. Before reaching there, how-
ever, all ships weighed and left under shell fire from shore
batteries from the town which was shortly afterwards OCC-
upied by the enemy. In consequence the motor boat returned
to Bray.
9.
Enquiries were made at destroyers and other vessels
present as to whether "Dolphin's" boat could be of any ass-
istance, but again , owing to the shallowness of the water
and state of the sea it was not possible to go alongside the
improvised pier from which all troops were being embarked
(no troops were at this time wading out to boats), nor was
there a demand for a boat for towing purposes.
10. as to the usefulness of this boat under the circumstances,
After consultation with the senior officer present
it was decided to obtain a tow back to Dover to refuel, and
there it was hoped that another tow could be obtained back
to Dunkirk, where, it was believed , the boat could be more
usefully employed. A tow was obtained from H.M.S.Sargossa
at 1415