TNA ADM 199 790

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CON FIDENTIAL
Dynams 245.
014/0/1264
04
From: - The Commending Officer, H.M.S. "ORANJE"
Date:- 10th. Ju ne 1940
To:- The Vice-Admirel, Commending; Dover
(Copy to:- The Commender-in-Chief, The Nore.)
Report on Operation Dynamo.
The followin report is submitted in accordance
with N. G. 448/40.
2. On Sunday May 26th "ORANJE" completed with Navel
stores at Sheerness and proceeded to a buoy to await orders,
remaining there all night at de hour's notice. About 200 tons
of Army provisions had been Loaded at Deptford, but no
instructions had been issued re their disembarkation.
3.
Monday May 27th.
1400 a letter was
received containing orders to proceed to Dover with all
despatch, the Commanding Officer reporting to the Vice-
Admiral, Commanding; Dover, on arrival. ORANJE had just
slipped from the buoy when a lighter secured alongside with
fu rther stores: these were embarked by 1430 and ORANJE
proceeded down river.
Before reaching Garrison Point, a Confidential Hand Message
was received by motor boat with orders to proceed to
Southend for Route Instructions, and sail for Dunkirk.
As there was doubt as to which orders were the most recent,
ORANJE proceeded alongside North Wall, and confirmation was
obtained from the Commodore in Charge that the instructions
contained in the Hand Message were to be obeyed.
ORANJE sailed at 1500 an was met off the Nore Light Vessel
by a tug which had been specially sent out from Southend,
and, after Route Instructions had been obtained, proceeded
for Dunkirk by way of the West Hinder and Kwinte Bank buoys.
No instruction S had yet been received regarding the object
of the passage nor orders received about unloading the
provisions.
4.
Tuesday May 28th. About 0100 when approximately
two miles South of the West Hinder buoy, ORANJE sighted a
merchant vessel approaching ahead and course was altered to
starboard, the ships passing about two cabled apart. When
abou t 10 degrees abaft the beam, this vessel opened fire
on ORANJE
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