TNA ADM 199 788 A

Dynamo 312.
63
COPY.
Royal Naval Hospital,
57
Chatham.
To: Rear-Admiral Taylor, O.B.E..
13th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to forward the narrative of events whilst in command of m.v. "NEW PRINCE OF WALES"
Bray. until she was believed sunk at 1415 at the beaches near
A.M. Wednesday 29th May I was ordered to proceed to Sheerness to report to the Commodore at H.M.S. "WILDFIRE"
Arrived Sheerness about 1700 was ordered to proceed in m.v. "NEW PRINCE OF WALES" leading flotilla of seven light craft. Left camber at H.M.S. "WILDFIRE" proceeded to sea through boom. Two boats appeared to be in difficulties and did not leave the boom. I was met by escort yacht and formed astern of her.
Had to slow down to keep boats in company. First three boats astern kept good station, remaining one fell astern but owing to urgency of getting boats to destination flotilla did not decrease speed any further.
About 2200 yacht escort was challenged from shore.
She informed me an officer was required to go in to
Margate for orders, so proceeded myself in fast motor boat
"MARSAYRA". Established my identity and was told to push on to Ramsgate. While away one boat "QUEEN
BOADACEA" broke down, after some delay she was taken in tow by escort yacht. My port engine broke down, speed.
greatly reduced. One boat lost contact in darkness. I
went back to look for her off Longrose, search unsuccessful, rejoined escort. Fog came down at dawn and escort anchored with "NEW PRINCE OF WALES", "QUEEN BOADACEA"
and "MARSAYRA", off Ramsgate exact position uncertain.
After an hour fog cleared enough to show buoy ahead so proceeded with "MARSAYRA" in company escort yacht following with "QUEEN BOADACEA". Engines misfiring badly and stopped just outside Ramsgate, anchored and proceeded into harbour in "MARSAYRU". Reported to Naval Officer-in-
Charge Ramsgate received charts and orders to proceed to beaches between Bray and La Panne and to carry on ferrying troops from shore to ships until only enough fuel remained to return. Boats were towed in, repairs started on "NEW PRINCE OF WALES" immediately.
Engines ready for use at 1630 so proceeded to sea 30/5
at once by route 'X' for Dunkerque. Arrived off French coast 2230 (Thursday 30th). Port engine failed again shortly after turning parallel to coast. Dunkerque burning fiercely and heavy pall of smoke covered the channel to the borth. Endeavoured to find beach with boat hardly making eny way through the water. Attempts to locate troops were insuccessful and I was lost in smoke, saw green light buoy
ДРО established approximate position, immediately fterward voptboard engine failed, had to drop anchor.
E.R.A. reported ammount of fuel remaining and I
we could not return to Ramsgate even if we did no
I. пливет BO determined to carry on until fuel ran out. The
& atco LETUS efforts of E.R.A. hite and the stoker assisting commendable and before dawn both engines though firing badly the boat was making three

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correct lying to four off knots. place a beach and crowded Sighted many with soldiers small craft go and some destroyers was hailed to out and a few came in as I boats. could. Was soldiers waded went as near inshore thought this Some apparently go alongside small coastal rowing of soldiers aground. Went to her and steamer took hour we went while she opened fire. In got way on and I lay when off bombing raid started, destroyer About to go alongside to be transferred to destroyers. off a boatload drift in port then starboard engines broke down Returning her to beach alongside and disembarked soldiers. about half an while there enough in to be reached easily by pulling. go anchor.
close close to the shore before letting so let Was could assist in the engine room to volunteer.
engines in a bad condition so I asked any soldiers who filled up with military. E.R.A. reported boats;
Royal Artillerymen and Royal Engineers came forward Six to help
E.R.A. White. Sand was found in the carburettors and the distributors required resetting. One engine was ready in just over one and a half hours, so got under way and proceeded to a destroyer to discharge men aboard.
Next attempted to get alongside pier made of army lorries by dropping astern on anchor. Only one side of the pier was approachable, wind setting on shore difficult sea running, parted all my ropes in efforts to get alongside then found pier unusable where my boat could approach.
Received and discharged more soldiers, also received signal that refuelling drifters were on their way to assist light craft.
E.R.A. reported only enough fuel remaining for ten minutes running, then went alongside destroyer where I
received one drum of petrol to carry on for a while.
Received signal for all ships to be ready to leave at a moments notice.
Both engines failed again as I was proceeding inshore
Dropped anchor in shallow water. Large air battle in progress about thirty planes involved. Very shortly after 1700 (time rather uncertain) the enemy opened fire with a gun ashore. After first shell landed in the sea
I ordered my crew to get below between the engines.
Second shell landed in the water alongside my ship about three yards off and burst. Able Seaman Todd, and Able
Seaman Holloway were instantly killed, Chief Petty Officer
Dawson received cuts on the face and neck, E.R.A. White was hit in the leg, I was hit in the nose, hip and foot.
Blinded by blood I was unable to see the extent of and asked for a report on the ship's condition and the damage. Ordered charts and secret papers to be the burned casualties incurred. Was told she was sinking slowly and my were really dead and he reported there was no doubt, they two A.B's killed. Told coxswain to make sure they had been killed outright.
The Stoker burned my papers and charts while the coxswain hailed for assistance, E.R.A. White remained by me and kept me informed as to what was happening.
assisted The into her, the remainder of the crew then abandoned motor coxswain shortly lowered the dinghy and I was launch ship (Coxswain, and were taken aboard casting the dinghy
E.R.A., Stoker). Pulled over to adrift, a during this period I could not see and did not see

289
DIARY OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AT DUNKIRK.
From. 31.5.40 3.6.40 incl.
31.5.40.
1230. In accordance from Southend, with Commander instead Boles' instructions, decided direct closed up. us to our destination. although we had no charts, other traffic bound keep to France
Signalled Decided that to the Bawley boats, and ordered them to at Ramsgate. constantly
Dunkirk these instructions of closing the Examination Vessel to proceed would lead
1410. Convoy of was 6 closed still up and passed Margate Roads where passing trawler ximately. us that Dunkirk open. Signalled convoy to steer course of S. 50° E. informed appro-
1820. Passing destroyers, etc.; subjected to severe air attack by approximately 25
avoid bombardment.
enemy aircraft. Kept 1/4 mile to starboard of main stream of traffic in attempt to
1840. Attacked by enemy aircraft. Our convoy of 6 and other ships in the neighbourhood subjected to attack by several Heinkels, bombs falling as near as fifteen yards to the ships - no damage however was sustained. In accordance with instructions they had received, skippers broke convoy formation and "starred".
1850. 3 or 4 Spitfires drove off enemy aircraft, 7 planes crashing into the sea.
Identity of crashing aircraft uncertain, though 5 at least were presumably German.
1915. Arrived Dunkirk Roads. Beach and shipping subjected to severe bombardment from shore batteries and aircraft.
1930. Attempted to beach boats, and take off men, but abandoned idea - too much ground swell, and semi-submerged trucks, army wagons and other equipment left, destroyed by the B.E.F. on beach, endangered the safety of ships.
2130. Ordered ships to proceed to outside of jetty, instructing them to fill up with soldiers and to ferry same to any larger ships unable to close harbour or beach.
Each ship was instructed to transport approximately 30 to 40 men (approximate total -
200) and they were transferred to H.V. Tilly and other ships cruising empty outside harbour entrance.
2240. Instructed ships to keep permanently closed up and to return to inside of harbour as swell made embarkation of troops from outside of jetty too difficult.
Contact between Bawley boats maintained by signal of one short flash every two minutes. Formation preserved.
2310. Mole and harbour severely shelled. Morale of the soldiers on all occasions
I was there, was superb, and though exhausted and under constant fire, their only thoughts were for the wounded among them, and of saving any equipment possible.
2350. Embarked approximately 200 men; transferred same to the trawler Sarah Hayes and various other craft returning to England not fully laden. Instructed convoy to continue ferry work but if separated from me to return to Ramsgate laden with soldiers.
1.6.40.
0140. Re-entered harbour; jetty crammed with British soldiers but no ships whatever alongside. Started loading troops, sending back to shore two German prisoners attempting to get to England, leaving them in charge of a Lance Corporal.
0200 - 0250. Jetty shelled, bombed and machine-gunned by enemy - very few casualties.
0300. Proceeded to Ramsgate fully laden with soldiers of 1st Division including the
Colonel in Charge of the Worcesters and Officers of the Camerons, accompanied by
Bawley boat Resolute. Arrived at Ramsgate 0930 approximately on 1.6.40.
CONDITION OF BAWLEY BOATS AT RAMSGATE.
DEFENDER.
Stem damaged. Returned with approximately 60 men.
RELIANCE.
Damaged side. Returned with 80 men.
LETITIA.
Undamaged. Returned towing Renown until latter was blown up.
(Troops transferred to trawler who took Bawleys in tow).
ENDEAVOUR.
Steering gear out of order; towed back by Sarah Hayes.
RESOLUTE.
Engine trouble. Returned with approximately 40 men.
RENOWN.
Mined and sunk off Dunkirk - all hands lost. (understand the 30
or 40 soldiers aboard were fortunately transferred to a trawler before mining occurred).

Дуламо 186.
328
301
Admiralty House,
Sheerness.
June 6th, 1940.
REPORT GIVEN VERBALLY TO LIEUT. COMDR. D.E. HOLLAND-MARTIN, R.N.
A.B. S. Palmer D/JX 148052.
He was put in charge of the "Naid Errant", a 7 ton motor yacht of about 30ft., which started from Sheerness.
She sailed for Dunkirk early on Friday, May 31st as one of a convoy of 7 motor boats which included the "White
Heather". Before reaching the beaches close to Dunkirk he helped to rescue the survivors of a French Destroyer. He picked up about 20, which he transferred to a French tug, and then proceeded to the beaches. On arrival the French soldiers swarmed over his boat preventing him going astern so that he drifted ashore. He left the "Naid Errant" and swam off with his crew to a Minesweeper, whose name he did not know. Shortly afterwards thellatter went aground, but, as the tide rose, both the Minesweeper and the "Naid Errant" floated off. Palmer asked permission to swim back to his boat, but this being refused, he shouted to some soldiers on the beach to bring her alongside. This they managed to do and Palmer jumped on board, cast off from the Minesweeper, and set course for home. He was the only naval rating, in a small boat without a chart, with one serjeant and 8 other soldiers, who he thinks were from the Middlesex regiment. The sergeant he said was all right - "he had some rum in his bottle!". Palmer admits to know nothing about the engines which had already given the stoker trouble on the way over. Off Dunkirk they broke down, and so he broke up the yacht's cabin door and made the soldiers start to paddle. Luckily one of the engines started up and at about 2200 he left the vicinity of Dunkirk seering W.N.W.
For a brief period one of the soldiers relieved him on the wheel. The soldier was willing but/new nothing of steering a course and, as Palmer found him making to the Eastward, he took over again himself and remained on the wheel througout the night. At about 0600 on Saturday, June 1st he picked up the coast somewhere off Dover and followed it up to
Ramsgate arriving there about 1100.
On Sunday, June 2nd, without orders, he sailed again with a crew of one other A.B., but as the "Naid Errant"
was too slow he was ordered back by the captain of the
"Usanco" after getting two or three miles out from Ramsgate.
A.B. Palmer stated that he passed for Leading
Seaman in May 1927, but presumably cannot have been recommended. He says that he has three Good Conduct badges and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was drafted for operation Dynamo from R.N.B. Devonport, where he has recently been employed on the Plymouth City Patrol.
1025/2

Dynams
Dipramo 323.
329
302
Kingmead,
Riding Mill,
Northumberland.
Friday 7th June, 1940.
Sir, g
I have the honour to submit the following account of my movements from Tuesday 28th May until Wednesday 5th June.
On my arrival at Sheerness I found a convoy of sixteen motor boats being prepared to assist in the evacuation of Flanders.
I took charge of a small boat "LIEBESTRAUM" and we proceeded for Dover towing whalers, at about 1730 on Tuesday.
285
About six miles outside Sheerness we broke down and were picked up by the Trawler "ASAMA" who towed us to Deal and then back to
Ramsgate where we arrived on Wednesday morning.
23/5
At Ramsgate I reported on the state of my boat and was appointed to the Dutch eel boat "JOHANNA" which had a diesel engine and was capable of about 6 knots. The crew consisted of a Leading
Hand and four ratings and three Dutchmen, who owned the boat and could not speak English. We set out in convoy that night with a
Motor boat under the Command of a Lieutenant Commander and other eel boat commanded by Sub-Lieutenant T.K. Edge-Partington R.N.
Finding the second eel boat only capable of 4 knots the motor boat left her behind and soon after left me. I had no charts so after casting around for a bit I secured alongside a ship, the name of which I did not find out, near the North Goodwin and stayed there for the night. Sub. Lt. Edge-Partington in the 'Chanticler' with great determination took his boat across, navigating by an extremely faulty compass and managed to bring troops back to Dover.
The next morning, Thursday, I returned to Ramsgate and 30/5
succeeded in joining up with the Dutch Schoot "Jutland" who towed me that evening. We had an uneventful crossing and anchored across about two miles east of Dunkirk at 2330. The Cutter and
Whaler went ashore. The Whaler returned to report that the cutter
I volunteered to the Captain of the Schoot to go was and see aground. what I could do but before we had got back the Petty Officer had succeeded in floating the boat.
this time the beach was swarming wi th shore French because soldiers of
I could not get of the water. I summoned heros" my and "Courage mes French
By my boats within 100 yards of the limited store of the shallowness and with cries of "En Avant mes water. My efforts were enfants" I I had to go and fetch them for miles and I leap to my aid tried to tempt them into the myself. My first unavailing and took so me into the only deep of patch the hole I waded into the water neck. Struggling out in rush and ashore. I
went in up to my to my waist the French came it threateningly. on a This was
Seeing me only up revolver and brandish get to the boats only compelled them to draw down my a bit but when crew they and I had to lift them a on few were quietened strong enough to trips get and in so brought my off about 200 in all, each time board. I had to go We did into six the water time and to get go. them. I only At had 0230 ten the Frenchmen Captain on of the
Schoot reckoned it was it was a bit choppy and all had to go below.
They board all the suffered "JOHANNA" from as sea sickness I on the sent way back. back boat on the our "LIEBESTRAUM" return Sheerness to Ramsgate and in I arrived the was Motor at boat 2230 "THARKS" to on Friday. Sheerness in On in 31/5
my old 1500 I left boats all of which reached charge Saturday of at a convoy of 12 motor Ramsgate.
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probable that to as Motor boats would not and
On Sunday the small Ramsgate was buzzing with rumours it seemed 2/6
volunteered "Marlborough". go Lewis Gunner in the War department go out so I Speed boat civilian who had only had River "THARK" a man by the name of very highly This coxswain At this of juncture the I would like to recommend the man and back experience succeeded Ambler.
go over again saved. on night and it was sunk but I believe that the boat the to Dunkirk Mohday with no ficer in the boat. intaking He took the boa t crew was from the We treasury four Leading Stokers and two Sergeants of the
The "MARLBOROUGH" had a crew of four Subs, two solicitors
R.A.F. "HAIG" put to sea on Sunday night in company with our sister 2/6
a jetty and off about 40 "poilus". One of our solicitors ship the took and had a quiet voyage acress. We went alongside spoke French which assisted the operation œnsiderably. While we were alongside there was slight enemy air activity and much against the wishes of the rest of the crew who said I was merely attracting attention, I succeeded in firing several hundred rounds into the mishap. air, unfortunately with no success. We returned to Ramsgate without
Treasury and so we signed on an army officer who had been invalided
The next day, Monday, our solicitors had to return to the 3/6
and a retired colonel who had a reputation for being a crack shot with a Lewis.
We went out at 1930 and picked Admiral Taylor up half way across the channel from the Motor Boat "MERMAIDEN". When we got to
Dunkirk we went inside the harbour and quite a long way up the canal and secured. The Admiral went ashore accompanied by two of our crew armed to the teeth. The test of us occupied our time looting and trying to start up derelict cars. Sub. Lt. Poole found a very nice motor cycle and rode it round the docks.
We went off onceto bring boats to the point of embarkation and then secured again. Shortly afterwards machine gunning started quite near and a shell landed in a warehouse about
150 yards away. Fortunately our job was done so we were able to leave. On our way down the canal we came on a blockage of shipping, and going too near the shore went aground on some rubble knocked into the water by a shell. We had the badluck to lose both our screws and our rudder. Three French tugs refused to tow us off but fortunately a Motor A/S Vessel who took us out to the main harbour where we secured to the Motor Yacht "GULZA" who towed us back to Dover.
4/6
We returned to Ramsgate on Tuesday morning by lorry to find
Schoot "PATRIA" which broke down on the way and we were towed in by the operation had been cancelled. I returned to Sheerness inthe a Drifter.
The times in the above are only approximate.
I have the honour to be,
A
Sir,
17 JUN 1940
*
Your obedient servant at E
(SD.) A. CAREW HUNT.
Sub. Lieutenant, Royal Navy.
Vice-Admiral, Dover.
Copy to: Commander-in-Chief, The Nore

333
306
RATINGS.
CHARLES HENRY CANNING
P.O.
PJX 128237
DONALD WOMACK
STOKER
PJX 80757
BERNARD CHARLES KINGHAM
A.B. PJX 152715
The above ratings were part of a Royal Naval Division who were stranded on the beach at Dunkirk when serving as an embarkation party. They found a small motor boat, which they repaired. They then took on board twenty-three soldiers and crossed the channel to Margate without chart or compass.
On the way over the boat broke down twice, but the three ratings managed to repair it, and arrived safely in Margate with their load.
HARRY GRIFFITH
DECKHAND H. M. TUG "JAVA"
This man, a merchant seaman, member of crew of H.M. Tug
"JAVA" landed on the beach in a small boat. He ferried backwards and forwards continuously to the Tug under heavy bombing attacks, for eight hours, rescuing many soldiers during the day.
LDG. SEAMAN DUTCH SCHOOT "PATRIA"
J. HAGGAR.
For conspicuous whereby the Schoot On subsequent get service and gallantry "PATRIA" in was working able to an inexperienced crew over 1000 troops. beach, he able occasions, to off Braye making beach direct with contact with (W/D the CMB) large bodies was of troops embark through in "PATRIA" In "HAIG" and Haggar "HAIG", went time, to contacted Malon Les with Bains troops, and went and ashore in safety. in a loads small each boat of in 60 day men Haggar and put also them worked on board a machine "TANKERTON gun
TOWERS" took to such three and effect other that trawlers. he was able to keep dive bombers at an ineffectual height.

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16.
At about 1200 Commander Ken and I motored into
29/5
Dunkirk to report progress as embarkation on our beach was then impossible. On our return our lorry was heavily machine gunned and hit. At this period a heavy bombing attack took place on the Fleet and beaches.
17.
On return to our headquarters (a lorry) we decided to make contact with General H.Q. but unfortunately our car broke down and we had to walk back 5 miles.
18.
During the night another naval embarkation party arrived on the beach to the eastward which reduced the limits of our beach.
30/5
19.
Early on Thursday morning 30th I proceeded to e
Brigade H.Q. and offered the suggestion that piers be built by running lorries out to sea. This was quickly done and was successful.
20.
I then drove Colonel Whitten and Colonel Mackenzie into Dunkirk to see Captain Tennant and then drove them back to Brigade H.Q.
21.
During the afternoon and dogwatches the French poured into our beaches but no boats arrived within 1½ miles of our H.Q.
22.
During the last dog the Germans directed mos t accurate artillery fire on our beach. This fire continued throughout the night and our lorry was hit. The beach was completely evacuated by allied soldiers.
23.
We had however taken up quarters in a water-boat that was ashore at low water. No boats had now been in for
16 hours on our beach.
24.
During the night the weather became bad once more -
and a heavy surf was running.
At/