TNA ADM 199 790

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CONFIDENTIAL.
Dyram 95.
263
From.
The Commanding Officer. Sheldrake.
248
Date
2nd June. 1940.
Reference.
RDA/0/37.
To
The Flag Officer in Charge. Harwich.
Subject
Meritorious Service Awards.
1.
Operations in which Sheldrake has been involved during the
evacuation from Dunkirk has enabled certain officers and men to distinguish
themselves in H.M. Ship under my command. The circumstances are outlined
below so that the necessary action may be taken by you should you concur.
2.
Sheldrake was ordered by C-in-C. Nore. to proceed to the KWINTE BUOY
and destroy the Asdic Apparatus of one of our destroyers wrecked in the vicinity
3.
On arrival 'Wakeful' was found to be lying completely capsized
with her stern resting on the bottom and only the forefoot visible, which
appeared from oil marks on the waterline to be semi buoyant. A Boat under
the command of my First Lieutènant, Lieutenant HUGH WILLIAM MACKENZIE ROSE, R.N.
was sent over and placed a berthing wire running from the bull ring round
the keel, to the bull ring the other side. It was intended to hang depth
charges on this 'necklace' and countèrmine them with other depth charges,
using Bickfords fuze.
4.
For the second trip with two depth charges, it was necessary
to tow the whaler to the wreck on the end of a grass and to pump out oil
fuel from Sheldrake to counteract the effects of ground swell and strong
tide, which made operations difficult, particularly on the weather side.
Good seamanship and stout hearts succeeded in placing one charge on either
bow in the required spot without damage to the boat. Throughout the
operation all were acutely aware that we were only 10 miles from Dunkirk
with aircraft of both sides passing the ship at intervals, and that at bomb
in the vicinity of a boat would have countermined the depth charges that
they were placing.
5.
On the whalers return to the ship for the demolition charges,
C-in-C. Nore's signal "Cancel my 1044 area now mined" was received. It
confirmed our own fears that we had been working in a mined area. It
seemed a pity to leave the job half done and it was decided to sink the
wreck by gunfire using D.A. fuze asnear the required area as possible, and
if the ship sunk before the charges placed had been exploded, to fire them with
a countermining pattern of depth charges. She sank inside ten mintes, and
using the escaping bubbles from the punctured stem as an aiming mark, a
pattern was dropped, of which the centre charge produced a plune that told
us that the desired effect had been achieved. The only damage to Sheldrake
was a few light fittings on the Stokers Messdeck caused by the capstan engine
'whipping' on the light deck above.
6. Acting Petty Officer Albert Edward Jackson, Official No. 0/JX/125587
In addition to Lieutenant Rose I wish particularly to mention
my Chief Boatswains Mate, whose energy din the whaler was largely responsible
that the depth charges were placed.
7. for those concerned was the resoue of the survivors of H.M.Trawler
The second incident which I submit should receive. recognition
ST. ACHTLLEUS, which had been mined. After a night spent dodging M.T.B.
torpedoes with H.M.S. Widgeon, aircraft closed and informed me stress that survivors the
in the waters bearing 340 degrees I wish particularly to the
were efficiency of this flight of three aircraft in leadin me to continued scene. to
After passing the signal most expeditiously, two aircraft the ship
circle over the area while one of their number flew past
indicating