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

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

442
Half a dozen Thames river launches resembling nothing so much as the upper decks of elongated motor-buses with their rows of slatted seats, but given a tang of the waterside by rows of white-painted lifebuoys slung around the upper rails.
The very names of these latter craft are redolent of the quiet of Richmond, Teddington and Hampton Court; "Skylark",
"Elizabeth" and "Queen Boadicea". A strange flotilla indeed to be taking an active part in what has been described as "the greatest naval epic in history".
The crews and their officers too were as miscellaneous an assembly as the craft they manned. First arrived a trickle of R.N.V.R. Sub-Lieutenants direct from training school, taken from their class-rooms often in the midst of a lecture on the
"practical pilotage" they were soon to put to such good account.
Many of these were entering a naval dock-yard for the first time in their lives, yet they clambered over the little ships, bawled for their requirements in food, fuel and water and set to work to prepare for the task in hand, as if to the manner born.
Next came another thin trickle - this time junior Royal
Navy officers who but a short time before were midshipmen on war vessels of various types; little more than schoolboys, yet each possessed of that indescribable sangfroid and cheerful discipline which is the hall-mark of the British naval officer whatever his age or rank.
Lastly - and only a matter of minutes before the time of departure - came the crews; Royal Fleet Reserve men this first batch - tough, stout-hearted and disciplined. No time to pick or choose; stoker ratings first, to man the little engines -
one man to each boat; then the seamen - "Swarm over those boats men and wherever you find an officer aboard ask him if he needs a crew! Three men to the larger boats and two each to the smaller".
2

470
49.4
Margate
THURSDAY, 30TH MAY, 1940.
0530.
"GOLDEN EAGLE".
500.
0620.
"ROYAL EAGLE".
808.
X
0700.
"ALBURY".
445.
0915.
"LYDD".
200.
1020.
"KELLETT".
550.
1130.
"ROYAL SOVEREIGN".
1200.
1320.
"ROSS".
300.
1350.
"PATRIA".
1200.
1430.
"PRINC.ELIZABETH".
460.
1565.
"AEGIS".
355.
1640.
"MEDWAY QUEEN".
450.
1750.
"ORANGE".
500.
1800.
"LEDA".
537.
T
"DELEA".
203.
1820.
"DOGGERS BANK".
308.
2100.
8016.
Total.

4715
FRIDAY, 31ST MAY, 1940.
0005.
"HORST".
800.
0535.
"LEDA".
380.
X
0705.
502
"ROYAL SOVEREIGN".
1100.
+
3 Refugees.
0835.
"HOPPER. V24".
400.
0915.
"K.G.V.".
500.
1015.
"WOLVES".
50.
1100.
"ADVENTURESS".
85.
1320.
"STELLA DURADO".
22.
1320.
"PRINC. ELIZABETH".
374.
1445..
"KING FISHER".
91.
1450.
"LIFEBOAT".
17.
1450.
"SCOTTISH OP".
525.
gendalk
1655.
"DUNDALL".
450.
"ALBURY".
130.
1700.
1730.
"LYDD".
450.
1815.
"AEGIR".
350.
1845.
"TWENTE".
350.
"ANTJE".
300.
1850.
"DOGGERS BANK".
400.
1855.
"BRIGHTON QUEEN".
160.
1900.
"PLINLIMMON".
900.
2100.
Total.
7834.

472 H9P
Margete
SATURDAY, 1ST JUNE, 1940.
0005.
"QUEEN OF THANET".
850.
0130.
"KINGFISHER".
157.
0400.
"ORANJE".
100.
0500.
"GOLDEN EAGLE".
1250.
0415.
"MOTOR BOAT".
23.
0510.
"SALTASH".
400.
0600.
"WESTWARD HO".
720.
x
900
0610.
"ROYAL EAGLE".
1250.
0630.
"ROYAL SOVEREIGN".
47.
0830.
"LADY SOUTHBORO".
350.
0950.
"PRINCESS ELIZABETH".
510.
0950.
"GALLEONS REACH"
123.
*
1
Alien Postal worker French.
J
1045.
"QUEENS CHANNEL".
52.
1145.
"WHIPPINGHAM".
2500.
1215.
"DUNDALK".
280.
"FOREMOST".
200.
1345.
1420.
"ORIEL".
470. + 1. Pathe Gazette
Man.
"AEGIR".
130.
1650.
1450.
"VINCIA".
108.
1600.
"KINGFISHER".
210. + 2 Belgian Airman, supposed to have escaped from Germans.
"QUEEN OF THANET".
1500.
1650.
"K.G.V."
700.
1740.
x
243
1740.
"HALCYON".
58.
"SALTASH".
350.
1830.
"WESTWARD HO".
918. + 1 Alien under arrest
2030.
2100.
"ANTJE".
150.
"RAPID I".
25.
2100.
"HOPPER 24".
580.
2215.
TOTAL.
14011.

475
499
TUESDAY, 4TH JUNE, 1940.
0600.
"ROYAL SOVEREIGN".
1350.
0720.
"GUILLEMOT.
460.
0830.
"KELLETT".
30.
+
3 French Women.
0840.
"ALBRY".
400.
+
1 French Woman.
0840.
L2. (Trawler).
85.
AD389. (Trawler)? AD385
60.
+
4 Belgian Refugees.
0845.
"LEDA".
500.
1035.
x
65.
+
3 750 Women, 1 French
1132.
"K.G.V."
Boy.
1310.
"ORIEL".
50.
1425.
"QUEEN OF THANET".
150.
3150

476
500
Margate
Total.
"SANDOWN".
201.
"GRACIE FIELDS".
281.
"ROSS".
:
683.
383. 300.
"LEDA".
2218.
301. 500. 537. 380. 500.
"PANGBOURNE".
400.
"KELLETT".
1052.
472. 550. 30.
"ROYAL SOVEREIGN".
6370.
1173. 1200. 1100. 47. 1500. 1350.
"ALBURY".
1136.
161. 445. 130. 400.
"PATRIA".
1400.
200. 1200.
"CARIBIA".
300.
"DEUS".
200.
"HORST".
1150.
350. 800.
"ROYAL DAFFODIL".
3203.
1703. 1500.
"K.G.V."
3578.
853. 500. 700. 1460. 65.
"GOLDEN EAGLE".
1750.
500. 1250.
"ROYAL EAGLE".
2058.
808. 1250.
"LYDD".
850.
200. 450. 200.
"PRINC. ELIZABETH".
1344.
460. 374. 510.
"AEGIS".
835.
355. 350. 130.
"MEDWAY QUEEN".
450.
"ORANJE".
600.
500. 100.
"DELLA".
203.
"DOGGERS BANK".
708.
308. 400.
"HOPPER V24".
980.
400. 580.
"WOLVES".
50.
"ADVENTURESS".
85.
"STELLA DURADO".
22.
"KING FISHER".
458.
91. 157. 210.
"LIFEBOAT".
17.
"SCOTTISH OP".
525.
33107.
TOTAL.

477 501
Total.
Carried Forward. 33107.
"DUNDALL".
730.
450. 280.
"TWENTE".
350.
"ANTJE".
450.
300. 150.
"BRIGHTON QUEEN".
160.
"LADY SOUTHBORO".
350.
"GALLEONS REACH".
123.
PLIMIMMON
"PHINLIMON".
900.
"QUEEN OF THANET". 2500.
850. 1500. 150.
5000
MOTOR BOAT.
23.
"SALTASH".
750.
"WESTWARD HO".
1686.
720.
918.
48.
3372
"VINCIA".
108.
"HALCYON".
58.
"QUEENS CHANNEL".
52.
"WHIPPINGHAM".
2500.
"FOREMOST".
200.
"ORIEL".
2020.
470.
750.
750.
50.
4040
"RAPID I".
25.
"OFFENIA".
50.
"TANGELLE MARIE".
25.
"GUILLEMOT".
460.
L2 TRAWLER.
85.
AD.389 TRAWLER.
60.
46722.
TOTAL.