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
45	Log in to enlarge	From:- Douglas Kirkaldie, Coxswain "Fervent". Date:- 7th June, 1940. To:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate. 1st June. Requested by Lt. Commdr. Clements to make ready for passage to Dunkirk; took in stores and arms and left Ramsgate. (One deckhand did not come with us). Lt. Commdr. Clements found our Lewis gun defective and unable to fire more than one round at a time. He gave constant attention for over 4 hrs to this gun and at the same time gave instructions to our young engineer and deckhand in the use of the service rifles, of which they knew nothing. On approaching French coast and at a distance of about 4 miles saw a large vessel bombed and sunk; we made towards it. Saw a number of planes flying about above the vessel; they altered course towards us and Lt. Commdr. Clements identified them as enemy planes and got the Lewis gun ready and handed rifles to my two crew. Planes heavily bombed us dropping salvos all around. Lt. Commdr. Clements with great coolness kept up a constant fire at the attackers so that they did not dive too closely. By very good fortune I was able to judge distance and manoeuvre "Fervent" through the bomb showers. I feel attacks only ceased through accurate aim of Lt. Commdr Clements. Vessel was now so severely shaken that our speed had fallen to abt 8 knots and the engines were choking and all joints leaking oil. We therefore felt it prudent to return and altered course for Ramsgate. On return journey we were again bombed by 3 large Junker planes and again we were lucky to steer clear, Lt Commdr. Clements keeping up a constant and accurate fire and I feel sure hit one plane at least as it temporarily lost position in its formation. This attack was witnessed by Lt. I feel that I must pay tribute to Lt. Commdr. Clements Commdr. Ramus. for his enthusiasm in repairing the defective gun needed and and for his coolness in fighting off the having it ready for use when it was so vitally constant attacks. I also feel sure that from the	Fervent Clements Douglas Kirkaldie Lewis Miles Young

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 45.

From:- Douglas Kirkaldie, Coxswain "Fervent".
Date:- 7th June, 1940.
To:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
1st June. Requested by Lt. Commdr. Clements to make ready for
passage to Dunkirk; took in stores and arms and
left Ramsgate. (One deckhand did not come with
us).
Lt. Commdr. Clements found our Lewis gun defective
and unable to fire more than one round at a time.
He gave constant attention for over 4 hrs to this
gun and at the same time gave instructions to our
young engineer and deckhand in the use of the
service rifles, of which they knew nothing.
On approaching French coast and at a distance of about
4 miles saw a large vessel bombed and sunk; we made
towards it. Saw a number of planes flying about
above the vessel; they altered course towards us
and Lt. Commdr. Clements identified them as enemy
planes and got the Lewis gun ready and handed
rifles to my two crew. Planes heavily bombed us
dropping salvos all around.
Lt. Commdr. Clements with great coolness kept up a
constant fire at the attackers so that they did
not dive too closely. By very good fortune I was
able to judge distance and manoeuvre "Fervent"
through the bomb showers. I feel attacks only
ceased through accurate aim of Lt. Commdr Clements.
Vessel was now so severely shaken that our speed had
fallen to abt 8 knots and the engines were choking
and all joints leaking oil. We therefore felt it
prudent to return and altered course for Ramsgate.
On return journey we were again bombed by 3 large
Junker planes and again we were lucky to steer clear,
Lt Commdr. Clements keeping up a constant and
accurate fire and I feel sure hit one plane at
least as it temporarily lost position in its
formation. This attack was witnessed by Lt.
I feel that I must pay tribute to Lt. Commdr. Clements
Commdr. Ramus.
for his enthusiasm in repairing the defective gun
needed and and for his coolness in fighting off the
having it ready for use when it was so vitally
constant attacks. I also feel sure that from the