TNA ADM 199 788 A

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
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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.

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H.M.S MONA'S ISLE. A.B.V. Report of events covering period
Sat, 1st June to Sun 2nd June. To Dunkirk and back.
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1st June. Sat. Ship in Granville dock. "epaired and ready for service.
0909. Left Dock and proceeded to Dunkirk. by " X " route.
1305. Observed wreck of " Scotia " and another vessel, apparently on Dyck
Bank, with H.M.S. H. 15 alongside wreck taking off survivors.
Closed as requested by H. 15, in company with a great number of small craft proceeding to Dunkirk.
Lowered 3 boats, manned by various ratings of all departments, and picked up a few survivors. All other craft doing likewise. Took some survivors from other craft.
1422 When no more could be dona, proceeded towards Dunkirk. H.15 had left for Dover, crowded. Scotia was on fire aft and it was apparent that no more men were on the wreck itself, and very few alive in the water.
1448. Passed No 5 buoy. Heavily shelled and straddled by small calibre guns.
No hits after about 4 salvoes.
1505. Between Nos 11 and 13 bouys, was straddled by two salvoes from Dive bombers. Bombe were very close, deluging the entire ship with water, but apparently no damage, though ship was badly shaken.
1540. B erthed at inside berth, Eastern arm, Dunkirk. S.N.O wished me to go to Western arm, but tide being low there was insufficeent water.
1550. Com'ced to embark British troops, and numerous stretcher cases.
1730. Ship full and very congested with about 1500 men. Advised S.N.O I could not safely take more, being considerably worried about stability.
S.N.O strongly advised me to wait, under cover of the shore guns, until
2100. when it was high water and getting dark for the passage across.
This I agreed with; During this wait of nearly 4 hours, several dive bombing attacks were made by flights of aircraft on two wrecks outside the harbour, which seemed to indicate that they were anxious to get rid of their bombs on anything which did not fire back. as an intense fire was maintained on them from our 8 Lewis guns and several Bren guns which the soldiers had rigged up in various places and worked for us.
Several flights of aircraft passed overhead, apparently bombers, but whilst the R.A.F. were about there was peace.
This long wait was trying to all concerned.

H.M.S. MONA'S ISLE. ( Report Confinued.)
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A British Spitfire crashed outside the Harbour; the pilot rescued and put on board us where his coolness and help in identifying the aircraft was most useful.
Both ships and shore batteries opened fire on R.A.F. machines more than once when recognition was difficult.
2100. Proceeded; a sunken trawler just inside the entrance made approach to the wharf difficult which must have been much more so after dark for the ships which came in after us.
The enemy were apparently shelling the dock entrance from some distance whilst we lay there, but nothing came close to us.
2300 Passed North Goodwin L.V. The darkness was not deep enough to prevent ships seeing each other at some distance, or to pick up the wreck of the Scotia were she lay practically in the channel down to the No 5 buoy.
I consider the navigation of all the numerous small craft to have been of the highest order, all things considered.
June 2nd Sun. 0150. Reported arrival off Dover entrance to V.A.D.
0300. Berthed at Admiralty Pier and Com'ced discharging.
Ship was then found to be making water in No 2 hold; stokehold. is The main steam pipes joints were leaking in three places, and fracture was suspected. The
L.P. turbine rings collapsed; the base of a bilge pump suspected fracture.
The maintaining of a fairly good speed and working in the engine room on the passage back, with the escape of steam due to these defects was very creditable work.
On this occasion as before the behaviour of the ships company was most praiseworthy; ppp the conduct and courage of all ranks of the military was all of the very highest order and an inspiration to all connected with them theoughout these grievous times.
J.C.K.Drodung
Comdr R.N.R.

NAVAL OFFICER IN GIVE
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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.

) 2 (
548
DYNAMO OPERATION - DISTRIBUTION OF LEWIS GUNS
JANE HANNAH
SUN VIII
NARCISSA
ROSE
ACE
BETTY
CLACTON LIFE-
WINSTON
RACIA
MATILDA
BOAT
MERMAID
ADMIRALS BARGE LURNILYNE
MISS MING
MADAME SANGENE
HALCYONE
ELIZABETH OREEN
LETITIA
M.B. 1711
PIGEON
M.B. 37270
HAIG.
M.B. 74
WORF
4. Other smaller craft were also fitted with guns when these became available duo to the vessels proviously fitted being no longer required or unable to continue the operation. In addition magazines were refilled and spare ammunition was supplied as it became necessary.
5. A number of Lewis guns were transferred from ship to ship by the various officers when they changed their commands, and of these we have no record.
6. Four Q.0's for overhauling, and twelve ratings were sent from Chatham and they assisted in the above work.
LEWIS GUNNERS. /
7. All the 23 Lewis gunners sent from London were embarked for the operation, together with those from
Ramagate, most of them making several crossings, and all showed groat keenness in performing their duties.
8. All have returned to Ramsgate with the exception of
Cyril Head
)
J.S. Parker
)
Tug "SUN IV" (sent to Dover)
R. Jewitt
)
Tug "SUN XV" (sent to London)
Loslie Reed )
C.DRichards.
Lieutenant, R.N.V.R.
For D.E.M.S. Staff officer,
Ramsgate.