TNA ADM 199 790

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BORT FROM SUB.LIEUT.T.E.GODMAN, R.N.V.R. ON EVACUATION OF
-317
NKIRK ON FRIDAY, MAY 31st. AND SATURDAY, JUNE 1st.
N
1 times approximate.
296 12
29.
Transferred to "SERIOLA" as assistant officer to Lieut.
D.A. Dawson, R.N.V.R. A report on the actions taken by
"SERIOLA" is being submitted by the C.O., Lieut, Dawson,
up to 1600 31st. May, when I was transferred to "NONETA"
at the request of Sub. Lieut. Potter Irwin, R.N.V.R.,
C.0.of "NONETA". The latter boat had been damaged by
a bomb, one soldier being killed and the Petty Officer
of "NONETA" badly wounded.
A report on "NONETA's" return journey to Ramsgate is
being submitted by the C.O.
31 2200. Arrived Ramsgate, landed soldiers and wounded
Petty Officer for medical attention and berthed ship.
e
1 0530. Reported to naval authorities on East Pier and
received orders to take command of steam naval pinnace
and carry out similar operations at La Panne and Bray
to those undertaken on "SERIOLA" the previous day.
The crew consisted of P.O. Morrison, one engineer, one
stoker and two The pinnace was provosioned,
fuelled for six hours' steaming at six knots and one
chart provided with the route to be followed plotted
on it.
0600. Cast off.
0830. The firebox fan broke down and it was no longer
possible to keep a sufficient head of steam to maintain
full speed. The engineer of a passing trawler effected
a temporary repair, gave us three further sacks of coal
to replenish our supply and took the boat in tow.
1030. The tow rope having parted for the third time,
the trawler signalled us to request to be taken in tow
by another trawler a short distance behind. This was
done and consequently our fuel reserves were maintained
for the work to be carried out at Dunkirk.
1200. Slipped the tow line outside the harbour which
the trawler entered, and proceeded towards La Panne in the
wake of a trawler which had several small craft in tow
and which started embarkation operations from the beach near
the harbour.
Bombers had been active from about 1100 but no direct hits
had been observed. Now, many enemy dive bombers appeared
and attacked a sloop off the harbour entrance which had
opened rapid A.A. fire but, after three or four salvos
of bombs had been dropped, the sloop half submerged and ceased
fire. Owing to the number of available craft already on that
vicinity to take off survivors, we proceeded on our course.
(Continued).