TNA ADM 199 788 A

Dynam. Hass.
31
B.
be,
H.M.S. MONA'S ISLE. A.B.V. Report or events covering $period y
26th MAY to 20th May. To Dunkirk and back.
-
###########
52
revant
2000+ 26th off Deal.
Warker are proceeded towards Dunkirk via route past Calais. fine and clear.
hient RNVR
sven MAY*
0115. off entrance to Dunkirk. signalled, no response. Being ignorant of conditions and harbour, attempted to enter slowly. Star engine failed owing to wire round propellor. Considered entrance might be fouled so
Dynam. 261.
56
H.M.S. MONA'S ISLE. A.B.V.
50
5th June 1940.
commodore. R.N.
Principal Sea Transport Hotel, Officer,
Warden Dover.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit, as requested, a seperate report of events in the two crossings of this ship to Dunkirk.
The behaviour of the entire ships company was exemplary under the most trying conditions, and it is difficult to pick out any special names.
I beg, however, to mention P.O. B.POPE. R.N.R. O.N. D.5672, whose coolness at the 12 pdr gun under heavy machine gun and cannon fire deserves special mention. After the crew had sustained casualties and were forced to take cover, this man exposed himself to fire to close the cordite boxes.
In doing this he was wounded and refused to cease carrying out his duties until the ship was safely berthed about six hours afterwards.
I have the honour, Sir,
To be
Your obedient servant,
T.C.K.Dosding
Comdr R.N.R.
Commanding Officer.

Dynam. #1235.
H.M.S. MONA'S ISLE. A.B.V. Report of events covering period
Sun, 26th May to 28th May. To Dunkirk and back.
B14/0/1120
58
52
26th May.
2000. anchored off Deal.
2116. proceeded towards Dunkirk via route past Calais. fine and clear.
27th May.
0115. off entrance to Dunkirk. signalled, no response. Being ignorant of conditions and harbour, attempted to enter slowly. Star engine failed owing to wire round propellor. Considered entrance might be fouled so backed out. Propellor cleared itself.
0130. Proceeded down channel to interrogate several French craft as to position inside harbour, pilots etc. No satisfaction.
0250. Signalled V.A.D. for instructions. HM.S. KING ORRY in similar position.
0321. Orders to enter at daylight.
0416. Entered and made contact with S.T.O. No tugs available, so swung ship and berthed at Quai Felix Faure, with all guns firing on enemy aircraft.
0530 Alongside. commenced embarking. about 1500 men, approx.
0704. Proceeded out of harbour.
BODD Off Gravelines, observed several British small craft and Hospital
0730
ship being shelled some distance ahead.
0750. Heavily shelled and straddled by several? guns, approx 12pdr, firing shrapnell. Several hits of sorts and casualities.
0805. Considered it worth the risk of turning to N.W, being at the moment ogf
Dunkirk A.W. buoy. Apparently got out of range.
0825. Six Messerschmitt appeared. Opened fire with 4" and 2 lewis guns. 12par boapp) Aircraft carried out about four attacks, from the sun, invisible to us.
from astern. "errific machine gun fire, a great deal of which missed ahead, but many direct hits with cannon, especially around after 12 pdr, whose crew under Sub Lt A.E. Neave R.N.R. stood up to it extremely well, but sustained casualties, including the sub lteutanant.
The packed troops on the open deck suffered badly; had the shooting been acurate the losses would have been very much greater.
0835. Aircraft apparently out of ammunition and sheered off.
D.G. gear: W/T set; 10" signal lamp; steering gear; out of action. speed maintained. Steered West to Outer Ruytingen Buoy No 7. by engines.
0900. Called H.M.S. WINDSOR. ( well to S.W. of us.) asked her to report our condition to V.A.D.
Steered W.N.W. approx.

137
nov STATE OV WE SEX
4 July 1940-
Mr dear Vaughan.
Here are some more papers about Dunkark. I dont suppose
There is anything new TO you in
Them. but we Eant very well deal with them in dependently of your V.A. In afraid they are a Git lare anyway but as we shall inevitably take some time considering V.A. Dovers recommendared if there are any comments on these papers They are sure co reach us in zime.
were Garly goz rid q the deferred Birchday honours in
Time To deal wich your formidable
Cost After that as one of my Excellent gasts remarked, there is The Invasion!
My Gest wishes your Ever
Diok

246
From:- Lt. D. Van Gessel, R.N.V.R.
Date:- 5th June, 1940.
To:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
1st June. Was told to go to assistance of "Ivanhoe" and
"Queen of Thanet". We contacted with tug
?
"Java" who had survivors on board from the
"Queen of Thanet". We set out and found
"Ivanhoe" seriously bombed. The captain asked us to get medical help, etc. etc., which we did.
We helped with more serious wounded, but they were in such a condition that removal seemed unwise. In consultation with Captain of
"Ivanhoe" we decided to take off the survivors
(mostly soldiers) and took them ashore.
On next journey we took into Margate an M.T.B.
with one survivor out of 8. The boat was badly damaged, but was docked alongside Pier.
On these journeys was accompanied by Lt. Dancy.
31st May. Was out in tug "Doria" trying to find lifeboats reported floating near the Goodwins, when off
Deal an M.T.B. bound for Convoy duties caught fire. After helping crew we took S.0.7 into
Dover submarine basin. Commander of S.0.7
is reporting matter.
N.B. Survivors of "Ivanhoe" were landed at
Margate. We only left "Ivanhoe" when nothing more could be done and she proceeded in tow to Chatham.
(v stancy (ree of Thavel assercause didnov nov
Over

NAVAL OFFICER IN GIVE
<60
ad
278
256
From:- Act. Sub. Lieut. J.M. Chappell, R.N.
Date:- 7th June, 1940.
To:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
29th May.
30th May.
2200 Left Portsmouth in H.M.S. Nelson's picket boat.
a.m. Sighted submarine and warned a French convoy.
Port engine bearings ran out.
1730 Arrived Ramsgate on one engine.
2330 Left for Dunkirk, machine-gunned from the air two miles out of Ramsgate.
31st May.
Dawn Arrived Dunkirk Roads. Funnel carried away by shell-fire. Making water slightly; loaded with troops and left.
1400 Arrived Ramsgate.
1st June.
0830 Left for Dunkirk. Making water rapidly. Beached the boat; found bottom damaged by enemy fire.
Took command M.Y. Santosy and left for Dunkirk.
On return journey filled up with petrol; found too late that one can contained water. Proceeded on port engine only; towed by trawler. Trawler ran on to wreck East of N. Goodwin L/V and turned over on top of "Santosy". Cabin smashed; civilian volunteer Barrington severely injured.
Arrived Ramsgate on one engine. Discharged
Barrington to Deal Hospital; sent crew ashore for rest.
3rd June.
1600 Engines repaired. Left for Dunkirk with civilian volunteer J.W.S. Gilbert as engineer. Towed by tug Sun IV. Tow parted off Dunkirk; proceeded under own power. Starboard engines failed again.
Sea rising. Hailed Sun IV and on her commander's orders abandoned Santosy and boarded Sun VI with my crew.
REPORT: New gas used by enemy. Shells and bombs bursting near gave off white cloud which hung suspended in air. From burns on bodies in water gathered it to be of acid nature.

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

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.
1/6

372
346
soon as the fighters left, they seemed to know the exact moment in which to approach.
(3)
Lack of satisfactory communication arrangements was most noticeable. There were no portable wireless sets ashore with the beach parties nor were any field telephones supplied by the naval parties. Wednesday, The only method of communicating messages to ships embarking from the beaches was by a written message sent off in a boat. end BO far The 0.8 that most may direction,
Marrative
29th New
I action et 2000 from Dover in ESK, who had on boand 12 small beene persies. These were distributed at the beaches into any craft svailable end
Consedore Hallott VEHICLES jut E drifter to take ensige off shore at Bray est dissolore Stephanon off In Purpose:
30th May
At 0200, 30th which VOIDE off La Parme and heard the general situation from Geptrin
Almahie idain Cantro OF few ships, drifters and other orer's ere the
Locarding slowly with the few bosts available.
alrowd bauches black with troops, a number l beats may t'est bests, principally whalers, and some mater-boat is is visue were, aducation were low and the soa was oalm, but oven S
there vas assign must
It beneze immediately obvieus to time that any Iurge enharketion from the beached OR more inshore boats and crews. The ozens were the expenting WE E could not spare nen from A/A Guns and Americant and I
signaTied to this effect.
During the Porenoon I went into Dunkisk in HERE to 000 the S.N.O.
Was I Tenant VISA may with the C. in D. are La Panns, but nono the less I W.).8
sole to gir lasto the piature. Pinking that the harbour ovaila be used X
Furned No that enharkention States "smkirk was the only practical plan if nombers involved SA substrjuent efforts were directed to the 42. Visa ON 10 expiry signals.
10
At the same Use the benefits Your Se be taxing No the Fulless expecity of
N the boats and the problem X Eart to deal to control the available so as to Balance Mass viro
Control ind not easy? it ESS selfor in see income the beach, mil touch with bankirk involved a close agreement

Page 2.
cutter.
I
my For the Owing rest of to later the the day borrowed until my a whaler last trip and I 2 carried hands from only IMPULSIVE. British 3A36 troops.
were unguarded water than and five below feet, ground the swell hull, and we the fact that SWALLOW's propellors less inshore at some speed, check and it considered it unsafe to go shoot (50 fathoms were in towards turned of grassline the beach, bent and the on to it was nearing allow therefore, the the end cutter to of its run into to tow bows to seaward and the boat 30 fathoms was backed of 3" into rope), shore. the cutter's clambered megaphone how to the water and
Crowds over of the rushed into had by been embarked, I went cutter. and when I I instructed them inboard. of subsequently stopping while the hangers-on cutter out were of pulled reach the remainder; ahead so as to take thought enough cases occasion the when were the very weak and very helpless; was easier, for but in all on one
With men the British troops the loading were of the loaded, were blown in broadside on and to the the whaler, and which in the fully parted, both the cutter instance, case soldiers cutter, the combined efforts of the four Naval beach, ratings and it was only with great difficulty that we re-established it and hoisted a them, using SWALLOW's dinghy. The tow parted again and the line in to were unable to refloat her, so that I was obliged to send in the dinghy.
Each time after loading, I proceeded alongside IMPULSIVE, whicl had a jumping ladder rigged. In order to avoid waste of time in shortening in my eighty-fathom towline, I passed the end of it to
IMPULSIVE and requested her to haul the boats alongside, which was done by part of the ship's company doubling along her deck. After the first trip, I borrowed IMPULSIVE's whaler and two more hands, and made a number of trips from shore to ship towing both boats. There were at this time very few boats working between the shore and the ships, but there were some boats full of troops broached to on the beach and unable to get off. One motor boat belonging to a destroyer, one whaler and a small motor yacht were the only boats working on two or three miles of beach, and in view of the target presented to enemy aircraft by destroyers and other ships waiting to embark troops, I requested
IMPULSIVE to transmit a signal from me to Admiralty, repeated V.A. Dover, requesting more sutters and power boats to speed up the embarkation.
There was some shelling on the beaches, and a good deal of A/A fire from the ships as German aircraft appeared overhead at frequent intervals.
At about midday, IMPULSIVE hoisted two black shapes, and when
I next came alongside she reported that she had struck some wreckage and damaged her port propellor (this happened, I think, while she was taking avoiding action during an attack by aircraft).
As IMPULSIVE had to proceed for docking, I returned her whaler and the borrowed ratings who had manned my cutter, and proceeded to work with WINCHELSEA. Up to this time IMPULSIVE had taken some
400 soldiers, nearly all British. Before she left, I obtained from her
50 gallons of fuel for my boat.
I should like to mention here the ready co-operation of the
Captain, everything possible was done to assist me both by the handling the the First Lieutenant and many others of H.M.S. IMPULSIVE; of petrol, lending a whaler and hands to help in working my cutter short ship to provide a lee, by hauling the long tow line, and by providing and also by providing food for me and my boat's crew during the periods when we were alongside.
I later received much assistance and co-operation from H.M.S.
HINCHELSEA who lent me a signalman and ratings for my cutter and gave
De all her available petrol.