TNA ADM 199 788 A

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 76.

Controller
434 461
Small Vessels Pool.
8th June 1940.
Dunkirk, work of the I desire In following connection to bring the your with recent notice operations the excellent at
capacity in S.V.P. this emergency. found itself forced to act in an operational
Hutchins, case was one particular officer taking boats over,
outstanding their services to fill the emergency of and civilians who offered an
1. Among the many officers
allowed to Department, and asked had a
from a certain M.C., Grenadier Guards. This officer Lieut.Col.R.L. day off
Ramsgate, where he was given charge of a motor boat. Wharton, On the way
proceed with my Deputy, Captain my permission E.F. to be to
useless. Continuing under one engine, on arrival off Dunkirk
over the boat hit submerged wreckage which rendered one engine
he found a steamer ashore with her boats at the davits. He
went to a destroyer, asked for the loan of four hands, and with
these men he lowered the boats, which he used to evacuate
soldiers from the beach to the destroyer. I understand some
700 men were thus evacuated. He returned to London in time
to go on duty the following morning.
2. Captain E.F. Wharton, R.N. This officer under
Ner
S.N.O., Ramsgate acted as Pier Master for four days at Ramsgate.
Upon him the detailed organisation of "ferrying" with the
smaller boats from Ramsgate devolved. Captain Phillimore,
S.N.O., Ramsgate made a special report by telephone on the very
valuable services rendered by this officer, and has been asked
to report it officially in due course.
3. Paymaster Lieutenant Commander H. Garrett, R.N.V.R.
my Secretary. He showed immense capacity for tireless work,
and was practically on the telephone for hours, using his own
initiative throughout three nights consecutively. He was
responsible for obtaining yachtsmen from the clubs in the late
evening, putting them in Admiralty cars and sending them down to
Ramsgate and Sheerness; arranging special forms, which he
signed himself, for petrol from garages to bring down over 100
boats from the Upper Thames - again on his own initiative. In
various other ways he displayed a grasp of the urgency of the
situation, which is deserving of much praise. His readiness
to accept responsibility was most praiseworthy. He has of also
been some 2,500 offers of motor boats received in
responsible for the large additional organisation here
collecting with Statute No. 718 of May 10th 1940. His methodical of
accordance of these boats by areas allowed the great majority. in service
those indexing boats requisitioned by S.V.P. officers being
within a few hours.
Lionel Preston
Admiral.
Director Small Vessels Pool.