TNA ADM 199 790

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COMMANDENCE SNAAPSON,
8th, MINESWEEPING FLOTILLA,
THE FLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE,
4th, June. 1940.
HARWICH.
Copy 45 Vice adminal
sove
Sir,
re; Evacuation of troops from Dunkirk.
I have the honour to present my report of the part taken by
Dunkirk. H.M.S. "Snaefell" in connection with the evacuation of troops from
1. 30/5/40. Departure from Harwich 1345 under the orders of the
Senior Officer M/S 8 ,H.M.S. "Olen Gower". It was decided at 1800
that, having encountered fog, the three ships of the Flotillashuold
proceed independently and take such action as was found necessary
on arrival at our destination.
2. 2102. Arrived off Dunkirk. It was apparent that the enemy was
taking steps to prevent the accomplishment of the effort being made
to rescue our comrades of the Army. Repeated bombing attacks were
made on us by many aircraft.
3. 2120. "Snaefell" in action. Our gunnery was excellent and
although bombs were dropped ahead and astern of the ship no
damage was sustained, despite the fact that I was unable to nanoe-
uvre the ship owing to the many wrecks in the narrow channel.
4. 2140. Enemy aircraft again made a bombing attack. "Snaefell"
promptly replied, and aided by the gunfire of other H.M. vessels
in the vicinity, the enemy was driven off.
5. 2200. The tode now being 2 hours ebb, I decided that any effort
to beach my ship was too hazardous, accordingly ship was anchored
in 4 fathoms off La Panne, 8 miles east of Dunkirk.
6. Ships lifeboats were immediately lowered and manned by eager
volunteers from the ship's company for embarkation of the troops
now seen on the beaches, and aided by several small sraft, tired
and wet soldiers of all ranks were ferried in safety to the ship.
7. Throughout this operation the enemy was firing along the whole
stretch of beach, Several soldiers were found wounded but their
courage never wavered and, although their disabilities in many cases
hampered the efforts being made to resoue them, all were safely br-
ought on board.
8. The Wardroom was converted into a stok bay and here first aid
was efficiently rendered by Sick Berth Attendant V.S. Griffin of
H.M.S. "Glen Gower" whose services were made available to me by
the Senior Officer.
9. Problems were now encountered. The continuous stream of Officers
and men arriving with their aquipment, wet and tired, all deair-
ous of shedding their garments and to find a place to rest their
weary bodies, was overcome by the skeleton crew on board, first by
providing them from shipa stores with hot food and clothing and
turning the engine room and boiler room and stokehold into a
drying room.