TNA ADM 199 790

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J .6633,
c/o Messrs. J.S. White & Co.
Cowes, Isle of White,
20th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of
proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. 0.
1700/6/6/40.
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty's Ship "SURSUM_
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.M. Friday 24th May, 1940,
sailing for Portsmouth at 1600, arriving at 2130.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained in company with other Skoots
under the ordera of Lieutenant Commander Stuart in H.M.S
"FREDANJA" until P.M. 28th May, 1940, when ship was sailed for
Dunkirk from Dover at 1400 by order of Vice Admiral Dover, for
islbe
the evacuation of troops via North Goodwin and Middle Kirke.
On arrival off beaches at Dunkirk at approximately
2230, decided to enter harbour straight away having sighted
large number of soldiers on mole, but apparently no other ships
in the harbour, though a transport and other skoots were lying
off, and two ships just leaving. The western side of the harbour
was ablaze.
Having evacuated British troops, approximate number
three hundred and seventy, ship sailed for Dover at 0330; &
hospital ship and six or seven other skoots having entered and
secured to the mole were also embarking troops by this time.
Ship arrived off Dover 1130/29, no incidents of
30/5?
importance occurring on passage.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained at Dover, storing and provision-
ing until orders were received to sail again for Dunkirk at 2100.
Short routevia Calais was taken; ship proceeding
independently as visibility was decreasing and all skoots were
not ready.
On arrival off Western beaches of Dunkirk, a wreck
was sighted approximately half a mile to West of Harbour
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entrance in the approach channel, and cries of & man in the
water were heard, a boat was lowered, but the rescue work was
Priso)
left finally to a Sloop's whaler the Sloop itself being on her
return passage to England. "SURSUM-CORDA" proceeded and arrived
off beaches Eastern side of Dunkirk at 0430/30.
Many men were sighted waiting on the beach approximately
two or three miles east of the mole, and on closing H.M.S. "FITZROY"
lying approximately three quarters of a mile off the beach, was
asked to assist in ferrying troops from small craft to ITZROY"
and "VANQUISHER", three to four cables to Westward.
For approximately half an hour my Ship remained stopped
three cables from the beach embarking as many troops as possible.
This process I considered far tooslow as the number of
small boats employed in that area amounted only to four or five
and these appeared to be in danger of being swamped by excessive
loads, so decided to close the beach while the tide was flooding
and endeavour to embark troops over my bows.