TNA ADM 199 790

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Dynam. 124
339
From Acting Ar.
To. Captain H.M.S. Veriou
RNSR.
H.M.S. "VERNON",
Portsmouth.
6th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following
report of the movements of H.M.Drifters "BIDIV & LUCY" and
"DORIENTA" from Wednesday, May 29th to Tuesday, June 4th.
In accordance with orders received from
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, I sailed from "VERNON"
North Pier at 2400 on Wednesday, 29th May aboard "EIGN &
LUCY", "DORIENTA" in company, bound for Ramsgate.
The passage was uneventful, the visibility very
bad. At 1405 on Thursday, 30th May we passed Dover
arriving at anchor off Ramsgate Harbour at 1645. I
reported to Naval Officer in Charge and was told to stand
by day. for orders, which were not given until the following
Friday, 3180.
At 1350 on May I received orders
to proceed to Dunkirk taking four pulling boats in tow,
("DORIENTA" in company also towing small craft). We
proceeded by route 15 W. Our speed was adjusted to the
remainder of the large Armada' which was necessarily slow.
At 2000 we were just to the North of the West entrance to
Dunkirk channel when a large force of enemy bombers
attacked us from the East flying at high altitude; they
were engaged by our fighters and driven off, but not
before a large number of bombs had been dropped among the
assembled shipping. I was able to observe that two
vessels were struck, namely, H.M.D. "LORD HOOD" (this
vessel was towed back) and H.M.D. "FAIRBREEZE" which I
was informed was sunk. During this attack I engaged one
dive bomber with our two machine gune, the destruction
of this machine was completed by one of our fighters.
Neither of my two units was damaged and we proceeded into
the channel arriving off the bay to the East of Dunkirk
harbour at 2100, approaching the shore to a depth of three
fathoms. I ordered both my vessels to sRip their boats
and sent the boats in shore with instructions to return
to their parent ships if possible.
It was now dark, and when the boats were inshore
the enemy commenced shelling the beach and the bay, 1
therefore kept my ship moving and instructed "DORIENTA"
to return independently as soon as she was loaded.
I was then hailed by H.M.D. "FEASABLE", It.Turner
R.N.V.R. who requested & tow as his engines had been
disabled by & shell, I replied that I would do so as soon
as I had filled with troops.
As my four boats were returning I observed that
one was