TNA ADM 199 790

582
552
Report of Operation "DYNAMO" from 30th May to 5th June 1940.
30.5.1940. 2pm. Left Sheerness in charge of Motor Hoat "Forty Two"
and a convoy of nine craft bound for Ramsgate for orders. After about
2* nours steaming the leader of the second convoy, Lt.3eal on Dogra
"white Heather" requested me to take charge or nis convoy or nine craft as White Heather" had broken down and was under GOW. Thereafter proceeded with the full convoy of 18 craft and arrived OIL Mamagate about midnight. Proceeded ashore for orders and received same, which were to carry on as soon as possible to Dunkirk beaches for the purpose of ferrying troops to the larger ships at anchor. At 2am on the jlst
May left Ramsgate escorted by H.M.Trawler towing those craft wnion were unable to proceed under their own power. After about 2 nours steaming the trawler requested me to carry on with the convoy as the
E.
craft ne nau in tow were causing him some trouble with their tow ropes.
I carried on with 14 crait and arrived or the Dunkirk beach at about
9am. Throughout the day British and French troops were ferrisa to the various large vessels at anchor. Sometime during the night the engines on "Forty Two" were giving trouble and as 1 nad the opportunity of a tow back to Ramsgate where 1 might expect repairs 60 De executed and as few ships seemed to be left in our immediate vicinty for the transferrence or troops I decided to return. Arrived off Ramagate early on the 1st June and the engine was overhauled that day and made 115
IOr further service. ne left again for Dunktrk in the early evening and on arrival off Dunkirk troops were again ferried for some time.
unfortunately in manoeuvering close to the anor the crait either stuck a submerged object or grounded and in the subsequent movements 01
engines and nelm the rudder was lost. 1 eventually managed to reach up alongside at tug, transferred the troops 1 had on Doard and onen proceeded to 118 a jury rudder; consisting or a ladder Aasned to &
rail stantion art and with of locker door lashed at une Dottom; the flag start acting as a tiller. This proved rairly effective and we carried on ferrying troops until the tug had sufficient and 40 left in tow or the tug. when about 15 miles off Ramagate the GOW rope parted and we completed this latter part or the voyage under our own power

er contd.
and steering and was with tola jury the rmudder. craft would Berthed in Ramsgate naroo morning that with be repaired,8,8 soon
I again left in the evening a War Dept Motor Boat arri
Dunkirk late evening and troops were again transfe the larger ships. When this operation was completed at sb
2am a return was made to Ramsgate. On Tuesday the 4th Jun ordered to return to sheerness, out a few minutes before the Petty Officer on the Mermaiden" advised me he was nel having an officer to navigate the vessel back to weymout myseli to Commander ----- R.N. for this Job and was told we left at 8pm that night and arrived and pertned at wey the next day wednesday 5th June 1940.
Lee

or
83
contd.
morning and steering and was with tola jury the rmudder. craft would Berthed in Ramsgate hardour left that evening with be repaired 8.B soon as
I Dunkirk again late in the evening and a War Dept Motor Boat arrivi
When this troops were again transfer the larger ships. operation was completed at sho
2am a return was made to Ramsgate. On Tuesday the 4th June ordered to return to Sheerness, out a few minutes before 0
the Petty Officer on the" Mermaiden" advised me he was neld having an officer to navigate the vessel back to weymouth, myself to Commander ----- R.N. for this Job and was told 1
we left at 8pm that night and arrived and berthed at weym the next day wednesday 5th June 1940.
LeaR

or contd.
and steering and was with told jury the rmudder. craft Berthed in Ramsgate har morning left that would be repaired.8.8 8001
I again evening with a War Dept Motor Boat ar
Dunkirk late in the when evening and troops were again trans the larger ships. this operation was completed at
2am 8. return was made to Ramsgate. On Tuesday the 4th J
ordered to return to Sheerness, out a few minutes befor the Petty Officer on the Mermaiden" advised me he was n having an officer to navigate the vessel back to weymou myseli to Commander ----- R.N. for this Job and was tol we left at 8pm that night and arrived and perthed at we the next day wednesday 5th June 1940.
Lic

$ 16
5
contd.
morning and steering and was with tola jury the rmudder. craft would Berthed in Ramsgate
I again left that evening with be repaired 8.8 harbour soon
Dunkirk late in the evening a War Dept Motor Boat 3.8 %
the larger ships. When and troops were again transferre arrivina
2am 8. return was made this operation was completed at ordered to to Ramsgate. On Tuesday the 4th June shortly the return to Sheerness, out a few minutes before
Petty Officer on the" 'Mermaiden" advised me he was held due having an officer to navigate the vessel back to weymouth. up myself to Commander ----- R.N. for this Job and was told to we left at 8pm that night and arrived and berthed at weymouth the next day wednesday 5th June 1940.
LuR.

W.A.S. HORNE LDG. Si
R.F.R. B.1672
M.L. MERMAIDE
JUNE 13th 1940.
c/o HOTER E.)
WEYNOU
DUTY PERFORMED By M.L. "MERMAIDEN" Doks
AT EVACUATION OF DUNKIRK.
Lept Heyminth of 6.30P.M.St procession to.) we
& / & Maid RNR
555
am
Wed 29/5/40, went to Sharmes, There 30/5/40, of was put kswain of a small open moha boat named Two Revers:
ith Ldg Sho Williams of Devenport RNB. Christian name 998 to as to (Christian name & off be not known) and molored known) to drive the molor, and Sea horris RNRof Lowshoff
Lobs % Dunkish to help evacuate she Goldiers from the ch, arriving at Dunkish early hows of Frid morning beach East of Dunkirk piers a Heamship of decided mg sharted to bring of Proops b HMS.Winchelsea. See on prom am work amships the under surf falls the which which be was were of presty her hanging as heavy 4 from gave of some logh her davits shelter one of is the heligged as a boat rope made fast lo the S/s sterm ach has get our boat out clear of he Gurf, bout
6
/
chelsea in she morning when going in from the we out which If think was owing to the shock of for load of Folders our engine k
code around, we carried on in is the beach of explosion of the bombs which were dropping a
raded up with goldiers hauled out our boat be other
4 boat cope regged to the Oftern of the steamship who gnabed to motor lannch which gave us her sofe who d howed us to the Winchelsea and continued lo low going alonglide of Winchelsea with the last load to and fro, all the daywill lake in the evening
6
eart ordered us she Crew of the: Two Rivers abound m
Gless and could only drift about we Pharmeses were brought and with the molor broke down and baking we were ach h Dover and then went on to ready ady to sahe another boat across if needed

$ 10
r
83
contd.
morning and steering and was with tola jury the rmudder. craft Berthed in Ramsgate naro
I again left that evening with would be repaired,8,B soon
Dunkirk late in the a War Dept Motor Boat the larger ships. evening and troops were again transf arr
2am 8. return When this operation was completed at 8
ordered was made to Ramsgate. On Tuesday the 4th JU
to return to sheemess, out a few minutes before the Petty Officer on the Mermaiden" advised me he was ne having an officer to navigate the vessel back to weymout myself we lei
587
the ne
The crew behaved extrement well in d duty carry ing on all she while under continual air bombardment T machine fire from shore bathery firing across H
to she finish and being web through the noh stopping or having anything to eat f all she croldiers had to be dragged a had to wodde out in the surf up for at himes to get to our boar. and with their equipment on were helpless in she was
G.B Thomass Sea P.O.R.N.R

601
566
led for Hun kish at 0 300 on heay 31ˢᵗ
8
th borough", their T slower process independently "Laty to me pany with Q "No. meen's 101" Channel to & ordered Hoppers anse of specds.
jallions Reach and Queenischamel assured at the each 31ˢᵗ. to the East of Hem kisk Newbour at about osio may
Twin to the effing like we could only take an board gallions Reach eventually managed to get about few tooops moring the forenoon and early efternoon.
official attached to the army.
one Belgian soldies and me French potal
123 French and British troops, including at The Hoppers sailed independently from Huntrith discretion various times rusing the evening at the
Hun of the Skippers tsailed from wy time kirk 3,st in и fallion's Reach at 2230 m twas set considerably H my coutse in takin
Owing to enemy air attack during the night
Ramsjalie until about 0700 on time 11 in avoiding action and tid not assure at whence twas ordered to margate to disembark troops.
MUSLINE - m just clear general the suit, throw a proper line to the pulling boats of then tow them out to the ships. One boat, heavily it and laden in full equipment capsised just as with men us. most of the men sank like stones treatment. but we was reaching to recover one who reviewed after some sunken the anchor and vain efferts by other boats, strong
While doing obstacle and rendered useless. the managed this our screws became foul In of spite suit of and ebbing tide soon drove as aground.