TNA ADM 199 788 A

SECRET.
20
From Director of Trade Division.
To Consular Shipping Advisers Amsterdam
"
"
"
Rotterdam
"
"
"
Antwerp
(Copy to Naval Attache Hague)
QUESTIONNA.IRE to accompany N.C. 3/2/69.
(Note very early replies, even if incomplete, are of the first importance. Accurate information, if obtainable, should follow in a supplementary report).
1. Small coasters known to be laid up.
(a) In what localities are any laid up?
(b) In what numbers?
(c) In what state of readiness for sea as regards stores, fuel, crews, quick access to the sea?
2.
Small coasters.
Do these craft carry anchor equipment with which they can moor themselves head-and-stern? (Those which may come to Poole or Milford Haven will be required to stow very closely and stern moorings will be essential.)
3. Fishing Vessels.
What number and description are likely to take part in an evacuation?
From what ports do they work? Where are any laid up?
4. Shipping.
What number and description is likely to be found in Flushing?
In Terneusen? In Ghent?
Considering Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Flushing, Terneusen,
Ghent:-
Do you agree with the estimate offered in Admiralty Memorandum
NL/TD 61/40 paragraph 3 as to the maximum number of refugees which could safely be embarked, on the assumptions there made?
How long would be required to clear each port of Shipping?
Is any emergency line of communication prepared at Ymuiden,
Flushing, and Hook of Holland?
Is there any possibility, during an emergency evacuation of observers at these three places checking and reporting the numbers of ships which pass out?

33
SECRET.
Any further communication should be addressed to:-
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
London, S.W.1.
quoting "N.L/T.D.2014/40"
ADMIRALTY, S.W.1.
on the outside of the envelope as well as in
22nd March, 1940.
the text.
Commander in Chief, The Nore.
Commander in Chief, Portsmouth.
Commander in Chief, Western Approaches.
Commander in Chief, Rosyth.
Vice Admiral, Dover.
Commander in Chief, Home Fleet.
Flag Officer in Charge, Glasgow.
Flag Officer in Charge, Greenock.
Flag Officer in Charge, Belfast.
Flag Officer in Charge, Cardiff.
Naval Officer in Charge, Avonmouth.
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
Flag Officer in Charge, Portland (copy for Naval Control
Service Officer, Weymouth)
Flag Officer in Charge, Milford Haven.
Flag Officer in Charge, Liverpool.
Rear Admiral Holland.
Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell.
I am to forward herewith a copy of two memoranda of instructions ("X" and "Y" of T.D. 2014/40) as to the evacuation of shipping from Dutch and Belgian ports and the reception of refugees in the United Kingdom in the event of an emergency.
Except where specially indicated instructions in this matter supersede those in Admiralty letter N.L/T.D.61/40
of 26th January, 1940.
BY COMMAND OF THEIR LORDSHIPS,
CB.Coxwell co.
ED
S & R E HALL
B
*
CEN

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