TNA ADM 199 788 A

220
SECRET
1740/28 May
MLSSAGE
IN.
219
FROM: N.O. 1/c Barrow. DATE: 28.5.40
RECD: 1835
NAVAL CYPHER (c) (by T/P)
ADDRESSED: Admiralty.
X
Your 1137 28th May 12 Belgian Trawlers sailed from Fleetwood for Dartmouth a.m. today
Tuesday pricr to receipt of signal.
1740/28
(Advance copy sent Ops, U.W.R. 9 O.I.C.)
1st Lord
1st S.L.
+ All Belgian ships to be detained
V.C.N.S.
A.C.N.S. (T)
but not treated as enemies.
A.C.N.S. (F)
A.C.N.S. (H)
Parl.Sec.
Nav.Sec.
C.S.O. to 1st S.L.
Ops. (4)
O.D. (3)
O.I.C. (2)
D.S.D.9.
D.N.I. (4)
M. (6)
D. of P. (2)
F.N.L.O.
I.P. (3)
D.T.D. (3)
D.T.D. Basement
A.C.R.
A.G.R.M.
D.S.V.P.
Care. Stephenson
File X
1736
1734
ADDITIONAL 1937 CIRCULATION BY PA
PAS(S)

3
258
SECRET
MESSAGE
N.
IN
0530A/23rd August
From H.M.S. GURKHA
Date. 23.8.41.
Recd.0627
Naval Cypher (A) by W/T)
Addressed:- F.O.C. North Atlantic, repeated Admiralty
C.in C. Western Approaches, N.O.I.C. Liverpool.
IMMEDIATE
H.M.S. ZINNIA sunk. Some survivors.
0530A/23
Advance Copy 1st Lord
O.I.C.
A.C.N.S.(H)
D. of P.
N.A. 1st S.L.
D.P.D.
Ops.
1st Lord
O.D.
1st S.L.
2nd. S.L.
I.P.(3)
3rd. S.L.
W.D.
4th S.L.
D.P.D.
v.c.n.s.
Salvage Dept.
A.C.N.S. (H)
D.T.M.
A.C.N.S. (F)
D.D.T.M.
A.C.N.S. (T) (2)
D.M.S.
Parl. Sec.
D.M.S. Base
Nav. Sec.
P. Bath
N.A. 1st S.L.
D. of P. (3)
Ops. (4)
O.D. (5)
D.N.I. (4)
C.W. (2)
M.(3)
N.
O.I.C. (3)
M36
D.A/S.W.
Hydrog.
D.T.D(2)
D.S.D.(2)
Miss

1
258
SECRET
MESSAGE
N.
IN
0530A/23rd August
From H.M.S. GURKHA
Date.23.8.41.
Recd.0627
Naval Cypher (A) by W/T)
Addressed:- F.O.C. North Atlantic, repeated Admiralty
C.in C. Western Approaches, N.O.I.C. Liverpool.
IMMEDIATE
H.M.S. ZINNIA sunk. Some survivors.
0530A/23
Advance Copy 1st Lord
O.I.C.
A.C.N.S.(H)
D. of P.
N.A. 1st S.L.
D.P.D.
Ops.
1st Lord
O.D.
1st S.L.
2nd. S.L.
I.P.(3)
3rd. S.L.
W.D.
4th S.L.
D.P.D.
v.c.n.s.
Salvage Dept.
A.C.N.S. (H)
D.T.M.
A.C.N.S. (F) F
D.D.T.M.
A.C.N.S. (T) (2)
D.M.S.
Parl. Sec.
D.M.S. Base
Nav. Sec.
P. Bath
N.A. 1st S.L.
D. of P. (3)
Ops. (4)
O.D. (5)
D.N.I.(4)
C.W. 2)
N. (3)
N.
O.I.C. (3)
M36
D.A/S.W.
Hydrog.
D.T.D(2)
D.S.D.(2)
Miss

314
290
I have since tropps been to informed drifter that Letitia and Renown, laden,
Renown pieces.
of tow was a blown to and were themselves towed returning to Ramsgate. fully
TOTAL number of of tropps Cockle transported by Bawley boats was 600.
Description a Bawley - 40' long, 12' beam, 2'6" over draft, Diesel engines
(All the following times are approimate)
Arriving at Ramsgate (1.6.40.) I decided that Bawley boats were not fit for further service, and so ordered them to porceed to Southend. Obtained permission to commandeer any craft available in Ramsgate harbour and to return to Dunkirk when ready.
1400. Commandeered tug Contess but crew deliberately put tug aground and made every possible obstruction to impede the sailing of same.
1700. Although tug Contess was afloat, engineer refused to put the ship: to sea, as he claimed his filters would be blocked by sand. Crew of Tug Fossa, with Skipper, volunteered to come instead, Commandeered tug Fossa and Motor boat Therune, which
I manned with one Petty Officer, and two Sea Scouts. (Unfortunately I lost track of their names and addresses after I was sunk)
0000. Arrived at Dunkirk and decided that harbour was too congested with larger craft to justify taking tug Fossa inside harbour. Proceeded with Motor-boats with intention of filling up same and transferring soldiers to tug Fossa, whose instructions were to lay off Dunkirk until contacted. Coming alongside the jetty, overheard
Naval Officer on Mole cry "Isn't there anyone here who can deal with these Frenchmen?"
2.6.40. 0035. Offered my services as Liaison Officer. Left Therune in charge of Petty
Officer with orders to continue loading tug Fossa until at least 300 men had been embarked, and then to return laden to Ramsgate if they could not find me.
Understand Fossa later went aground, but may have been re-floated.
0030 Mrs 0310. Due to fair knowledge of the French language Iwas able to render a embarkation of troops on the jetty. The speed of the embarkation was greatly and slowed the certain amount of assistance to Commander Cluston, Officer in Charge of the due to the lack of understanding between the French Officers and men, and up French believed that certain ships had been reserved for them,
English. The were on no account to be broken. As a result, serious could congestion not was found round one contacting the various officers in charge of the regiments, and in getting was, that their units gangway, while other ships at the end of the Pier I get however, the men aboard. able to By assist to a certain extent in clearing up the point,
0310. the French Understanding troops on that the move. the destroyer Winchelsea was the last ship to be leaving
Dunkirk I returned to Dover with her.
0800. Reported to H.M.S. Lynx and was ordered and submitted to contact chart Commander with
Goodenugh (on 2.6.40) at Castle. Reported to Commander Dunkirk, Goodenugh 31.5.40 and 1.6.40, with marked with rough details of state of of wrecks, affairs troops at on dunes, and from times Admiral of bombardments Ramsey to etc, approximate as positions nights. Obtained permission assisting in return noted to during Dunkirk these as Liaison two Officer with the object of again the embarkation of French troops. RAF Motor boats with RAF complement, Dunkirk plus
1500. signalmen As an and advance two French party Officers, in two 3 Naval Officers, returned to under
Commander 1855. Attacked Cluston's by 4 command. enemy aircraft, bambed as a and result finally of the sunk, bombing. foundering Enemy immediately. aircraft to
No seemed casualties, to be using however, delayed were action sustained bombs with an effect on side ship similar that of charge on a submarine.
My right a leg depth slightly in damaged water by by explosion. enemy aircraft (do not boat think to porceed any casualties to Dunkirk were by and enemy not to bombs pick and up machine survivors, gun as fire he if the remaining RAF boat attempted to us up.
1900. sustained) Machine Commander gunned Cluston shouted feared to remaining that we RAF would be detroyed in the pick water

4438
Ten minutes more and the first convoy is ready for the sea - manned, victualled and fuelled - equipped in fact with all but arms. Only later, when the full peril of their task was realised and returning troops had filled the depots with sandfouled small arms, were weapons available for the crews'
protection. The first convoys sailed gaily into the inferno of Dunkirk beaches without so much as a pistol between them.
Still the boats arrived and still the officers and men flowed into the port; "T.124's" now for the most part. Sturdy fishermen, lightermen and merchant seamen. Now, too, came in increasing numbers the civilian volunteers who played so fine a part in the operation.
In the very first flotilla to leave was one black motor launch, the "Advance", manned entirely by three bearded civilian yachtsmen. This boat and its crew stayed with the writer in convoy through the whole of the first journey across, and after the first murderous machine gun attack from the air three cheerful bearded grinning faces appeared above the fore cabin roof and three pairs of hands were clasped and shaken overhead as a signal that allwas well; only the "Jolly Roger" was lacking to complete that picture.
These men wore no uniform, were born on no ship's books but took the graver risks which attend civilians engaged in military operations as undisturbed as they would take a choppy sea on a week-end cruise.
The journey across, perhaps, afforded the individual his best opportunity of assessing the magnitude of the operation in which he was playing his part. Beautiful yachting weather
(half the small craft could never have made the crossing otherwise), hardly a chop on the water; thewhole vista bathed in summer sunshine; and, across the expanse of sea, an endless stream of laden ships.
From horizon ahead to horizon astern, spanning the whole scene from coast to coast, unloading their human freight and hastily returning for more; an endless
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