Admiralty records concerning Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, dating from 1940.
Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/790. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
1 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.
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Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 1068.
582 552 Report of Operation "DYNAMO" from 30th May to 5th June 1940. 30.5.1940. 2pm. Left Sheerness in charge of Motor Hoat "Forty Two" and a convoy of nine craft bound for Ramsgate for orders. After about 2* nours steaming the leader of the second convoy, Lt.3eal on Dogra "white Heather" requested me to take charge or nis convoy or nine craft as White Heather" had broken down and was under GOW. Thereafter proceeded with the full convoy of 18 craft and arrived OIL Mamagate about midnight. Proceeded ashore for orders and received same, which were to carry on as soon as possible to Dunkirk beaches for the purpose of ferrying troops to the larger ships at anchor. At 2am on the jlst May left Ramsgate escorted by H.M.Trawler towing those craft wnion were unable to proceed under their own power. After about 2 nours steaming the trawler requested me to carry on with the convoy as the E. craft ne nau in tow were causing him some trouble with their tow ropes. I carried on with 14 crait and arrived or the Dunkirk beach at about 9am. Throughout the day British and French troops were ferrisa to the various large vessels at anchor. Sometime during the night the engines on "Forty Two" were giving trouble and as 1 nad the opportunity of a tow back to Ramsgate where 1 might expect repairs 60 De executed and as few ships seemed to be left in our immediate vicinty for the transferrence or troops I decided to return. Arrived off Ramagate early on the 1st June and the engine was overhauled that day and made 115 IOr further service. ne left again for Dunktrk in the early evening and on arrival off Dunkirk troops were again ferried for some time. unfortunately in manoeuvering close to the anor the crait either stuck a submerged object or grounded and in the subsequent movements 01 engines and nelm the rudder was lost. 1 eventually managed to reach up alongside at tug, transferred the troops 1 had on Doard and onen proceeded to 118 a jury rudder; consisting or a ladder Aasned to & rail stantion art and with of locker door lashed at une Dottom; the flag start acting as a tiller. This proved rairly effective and we carried on ferrying troops until the tug had sufficient and 40 left in tow or the tug. when about 15 miles off Ramagate the GOW rope parted and we completed this latter part or the voyage under our own power