TNA ADM 199 788 A

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Subject.. Personnel. Recommendations for Services in Action.
From
The Commanding Officer. H.M.S. BIDEFORD.
Date
June 6th. 1940. No
To
The Vice Admiral Commanding. Dover.
Sir,
I have the honour to forward the following report on the conduct of my officers and ships company during the period May 29th - May 31st. 1940.
2. The general behaviour of the personnel was excellent. There was a feeling of great satisfaction throughout the ship when the orders td proceed to Dunkirk were recieved,
3. The behaviour of the men under fire was exemplary.
There were no signs of panic or fear; orders were passed and recieved clearly, and were executed rapidly and correctly. All did their duty calmly and efficiently.
4. Great credit for the general organisation of the ship to meet emergencies is due to the late Lieutenant PAUL
ALISTAIR STEWART R.N., the Executive officer and Gunnery officer of the ship.
5. No acts of exceptional gallantry were observed, but I wish to bring to your special notice the two following cases of very great devotion to duty:-
I. Surgeon Lieutenant JOHN JORDAN. MB. B.Ch. R.N.
This officer by his conduct, zeal and unswerving devotion to duty throughout the period May 29th - May 31st.
was an outstanding example to us all. His Sick Berth Attendant seriously wounded; with limited resources, he competed with some fifty casualties, many horribly mutilated or dangerously wounded. He performed several major operations; he organised his limited resources to their utmost,; throughout the period
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he attended his patients continuously, and at all times displayed great ability, patience and understanding. No effort was too much for him, no call was left unanswered; he was completely selfless. He upheld the traditions of the Royal Navy and of his profession in a most worthy manner. It is considered that he WO
would be the very worthy recipient of a decoration in recognition of his services.
GEORGE
II. No.7354480. Private/WILLIAM CROWDER.
6th. Field Ambulance. 'B' Company.
This man wasembarked from Bray Beach for passage to
England. After the ship was struck by bombs he volunteered immediately to assist the Surgeon in tending the wounded, About an hour later H.M. Kellett came alongside to take off all troops embarked, because this was considered most advisable. Crowder promptly said he would remain in H.M.S. Bidefoed and continue tending the wounded. He did this knowing full well thatH. M.S.
Bideford was very severly damaged and aground; that at that time it was considered highly improbable the ship would reach
England

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would reach England;
yet in he was prepared to give up his chance of getting away order to tend his wounded comrades. He remained in of the greatest possible help to our Surgeon. Crowder
H.M.S. Bideford after H.M.S. Kellett had proceeded, and was carried out his voluntary duties for all but forty eight hours continuously, in a most efficient manner. I consider this man showed a great sense of duty and displayed great personal courage in his decision to remain onboard. I wish decoration. to recommend him as being worthy of consideration for a
6. The following men of this ship are recommended for their services. They are placed in order of merit.
I.S.P.O. Charles William Donnelly. D/K.59925.
A/Ck. Albert Victor HOCKING. D/MX.58549.
When the ship was bombed everyone aft was killed or badly wounded, except these two men. S.P.O.
Donnelly's duty was "in charge of the after fire and repair party". Hocking formed one of the "First Aid Party".
The fire main aft wasblown away, and fire brue out in the cabin flat immediately above the after magazine.
These two men working entirely on their own, ran hoses aft from the first sound connection, and succeeded in getting the fire under sontrol, and hoses down the after magazine hatch to flood the magazine, (the magazine flooding arrangements were destroyed) and partly flooded it before assistance came, I consider their very prompt and efficient action probably saved the ship, and I consider them both worthy of consideration for the Distinguished Service Medal.
II. Iconsider the following three men worthy of being
"mentioned in despatches" for the services set forth against their names.
(a) Signalman Charles Raymond CRAIG.D/JX.141848.
He was landed with Lieutenant Davey, when that officer landed to organise the embarkation on the beach. Craig joined one of the embarkation posts, took charge of the signalling apparatus and got into communication with several ships. When the station was destroyed by bombing, Craig improvised a signal lamp out of the head light of a lorry, and used this till the battery ran down. He remained ashore all night and was eventually sent off by the embarkation officer.
On arrival at Dover he volunteered immediately to go over to
Dunkirk Pier, where signalmen were required, and spent another night there.
(b) P.O.Tel. Frederick PERRY. D/JX. 127240.
After the main mast and all aerials were destroyed this man succeeded in rigging a jury aerial and getting through an importatnt signal to the Vice Admiral, Dover.
(c) AB. Leslie Kenneth FOSTER. D/J.108109.
This man was quartermaster throughout the time the ship was in Dunkeerke Rade. He performed his duties in a most efficient manner. After the stern was blown off and there was

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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).

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over inshore a hundred yards out to sea. A long rolling surf flows most of the time and even the shallow draught motorboats could not approach closely with any degree of safety.
Open boats of all kinds from naval cutters and whalers to seaside dinghies were towed over from England by the motorboats themselves and by other craft. Some of these pulling boats were manned by odd naval ratings, others by the soldiers themselves.
One of the principal difficulties was to avoid fouling the motor-boats' screws with painters and odd lines attached to these pulling boats. It is amazing how much sea-room a soldier can take up with a couple of fathoms of rope! Carley floats and inflated motor inner tubes also played their part in carrying men from the beach to the motor boats, which in turn took aboard those on these more precarious perches and towed the loaded pulling boats to larger craft lying off in waiting, picking up their own or any other empty boats and towing them back inshore for further loads.
As petrol ran short each motor boat would pick up such men as it could carry and set off back to England for more petrol, then out again for further service.
During Wednesday, May 29th, the Mole at Dunkirk was apparently rendered temporarily useless so that most, if not all of the troops had to be taken from the beaches. During this day, too, and for at least a part of the following day, air attack continued almost unabatedly from dawn to dusk;
dive-bombing for the larger ships and machine-gunning for the smaller.
Later in the week, although the R.A.F. were present in greater numbers to relieve the pressure from the air, shelling added to the difficulties and men were being hit in the pulling boats as they carried on their work.
By the week-end evacuation from Dunkirk harbour was in full swing again and the beaches were often almost deserted.
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The as they slower motor boats still removed stragglers and odd parties with were encountered whilst the faster types co-operated larger ships inside the harbour, even when the enemy had reached the inner part of the harbour itself.
Those who lost their little commands returned to England as best they could, some aboard other small motor craft, others aboard larger ships lending a hand with the wounded or snatching a few hours sleep aboard before reporting for further duty.
Many officers spent sixty hours or more at a stretch before gaining a much needed sleep.
The total number of such small motor craft engaged in the operation cannot at present be assessed. It is doubtful if the exact figure can ever be computed since many who took a part did so with their own boats manned by their own relatives or friends; did their best, shared the dangers and discomforts and, when no further work remained to be done, stole quietly away unrecognised and unrewarded.
The numbers, too, of soldiers taken off the beaches by these motor boats can never be more than estimated. Lieut.
Read's report of 600 men ferried to transports and 420 brought direct to England in one 35' motor launch gives some idea of the usefulness of this "miniature armada".
of

Report on DYNAMO OPERATION in Merrie England. Base.
ployment of ratings
5225
On commencement consisted of of 45 the operation the base personnel were working on berthing duties for all ships and Margate ratings. party employed These were divided ratings, up mostly between pensioners Ramsggte and working some H.O. and week, harbour, during the day operation. and night and not leaving the entering pier for the the
During the Lowestoft fol lowing three days drafts were sent from Devonport,
Bortsmouth, and Chatham, amounting to about 950 men.
These were mostly without bedding or clean clothes and WEEE
accomodated on the floors of the ball room and buildings adjacen t Merrie England. They were mostly Hostility Ratings with little or no training. Any rating with training or any volunteers were detailed for the various ships and motor boats going to Dunkirk.
the remainder being used for base duties, sandbags, carting of ladders, anchors, rope, etc to the ships.
Merrie England.
The base was used as a clearing station for wounded from the
Army and Navy, the supplying of clothing for all survivors and the feeding of them, this duty being carried out by the Womens
Volunteer Service to whom the highest praise is due.
Routine duties commenced generally about 0300 and continued to
Clothing 2400. was supplied by the people of Ramsgate, in answer to a broadcast appeal, and the reply to the appeal was overwhelming.
&
AFGIR