TNA ADM 199 790

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Dyuams 143
372
H.M.D. "RENASCENT"
6th June, 1940.
349
Sirs,
action in getting troops off in the Evacuation of Dunkirk.
I have the honour to put before you a report of our
We sailed on orders on Thursday evening May 30th at
8.45 p.m. and proceeded to Ramsgate. Arrived at Ramsgate in
the early morning 5.0 a.m. and received orders to go to Dunkirk
and take off soldiers.
We arrived at Dunkirk and hailed a destroyer, asking
him where they were getting the troops from. He asked us what
water we were drawing and I replied about 11 feet. He then told
us to proceed 8 miles to the Eastward and get troops off the beach.
We proceeded on our way and as soon as we got there, hailed
some small boats and told them to bring us some men.
We were waiting for them when we had an air raid.
There were about 80 planes over and they were dropping bombs
for about three quarters of an hour. We then had orders from
a destroyer to go back to the Westward. We then went to the
Westward as ordered, with wave after wave of enemy aircraft
continually coming over and trying to get some of us. During all
this they started shelling from ashore.
While on our way back, we were hailed by an Eagle
paddle steamer and told to put our troops on board him. When we
did that, we were told to take the Commodore from him to another
paddle boat - about a mile back to the East - which we did. We
then came to the West again and it was a rising tide, so I ran
my ship up on the beach and started to get troops in the boat
by any means I could. We had one hundred and eighty when we
were floating again, so I came away with them - leaving at
approximately 8. 30.
We were subjected to one more air raid while coming
out. It lasted for about twenty minutes. We arrived in
Ramsgate 8 A.M. Saturday 1st June with first load, put them
ashore and laid off at anchor.
Set sail for Dunkirk 5.40 Saturday p.m. Nothing to
report until we got into Dunkirk Roads. We were following a
large steam yacht when there was a terrible explosion and the
yacht disappeared - he had been mined. The time Was 11 Della and
I ordered full speed and the boat's crew to stand by. The
visibility was very poor and the smoke from ashore was hanging
on the water, but we got as near as we could.
I could hear men shouting in the water, 30 70 put the
boat away and picked up four survivors. I waited for a bit to
see if we could get any more of them, but we could not.
I then proceeded on my way and went into Dunkirk would harbour
where took on board eighty British. The French men
not we I started back for Ramsgate at 2 a.m. them Sunday ashore June
2nd. come, arrived so in Ramsgate about 7 a.m. I put to return
and went We off and laid at anchor until we had orders
back to Sheerness.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) R.E. HANNAPORD
Skipper R.N.R.