TNA ADM 199 790

Dynoms 190.
204
191
REPORT ON WORK DONE ON DUNKIRK BEACH BY "CONSTANT NYMPH" 30/31 MAY, 1940.
CHARGE HAND. - B.A. Smith., Little Ship Club (Owner of motor boat).
CREW.
-
STOKERS ALLEN AND MIXIKUE from Sheerness.
We left Ramsgate about 3.30 Pollo on 30th May, 1940, in tow of
H.M.S. "Jutland" (A Dutch boat taken over by Navy) after lying outside the
Harbour from 9.30 a.m., during which time we had done a little ferrying work between ships.
We were towed with a whaler and cutter on same tow.
Arrived at our station some miles east of Dunkirk Harbour about
9.30 p.m. and towed whaler and cutter to beach as soon as "JUTLAND" had
30/5
anchored slight mist.
At first we could only find Frenchmen on the beach and took off several boat loads, then a British officer waded and swam to "CONSTANT NYMPH"
while running slowly up and down the beach line in about 3 feet 5 inches waiting for the boats to be filled and keeping a look out for British troops,
In spite of darkness and slight mist, the fires on shore and fine night made bodies of men show up against the sand.
On hearing from British officer that thousands of our men. were a little nearer Dunkirk, we worked further up and got mainly British for some time; not many wounded.
One nice fire which was a leading mark was blown out by another bomb later on in the night, but we were fairly well at home by then and it caused no delay.
Having filled "JUTLAND", the motor-boat with whaler and outter turned over to "LAUDANIA",a similar ship, and filled that. "JUTLAND" left
31/5
about 3 a.m.
I am informed by Captain of "LAUDANIA" that these ships hold about
450 men each, making a total of 900 men taken off.
About 8 a.m. "LAUDANIA" was full and the cutter was aground under a stranded lighter and her crew could not get her off, Captain of "LAUDANIA"
told me to get the crew if I could not get the outter, and this was done.
Certain odd boats were found on the beach by troops of both nations, any found trying to row to ships in our area were collected and towed to ship, mk and efforts made to use them again if serviceable. These efforts were usually hampered by Frenchmen not tying up to the ship when boarding and letting the boat drift.
Bombing in the district seemed fairly continuous, some explosions shook the boat a good bit, but nothing seemed very near.
Anti-aircraft fire seemed to come from the beach in many cases, tracer bullets from that line were often to be seen.
There was some heavy shelling, apparently directed by planes dropping Very lights over the ships, one crump was either very near or very big as the boat trembled as if she had grounded.
Being deaf and having a lot to de prevented my noticing the bombing much but my crew seemed to think it was increasing with daylights
About 8 a.m. on Friday, 31st May, 1940, having used all fuel and got rope in the propeller, I was ordered to turn over the motor boat and whaler to a Drifter believed to have fuel and mechanics, and go aboard
"LAUDANIA" which left at once with all orews and arrived Margate about 5 p.m.
Both Allen and Medkle, the two young Stoker ratings who were my crew, worked steadily and efficiently throughout the ten hours or so of working on the beach and were always on the look-out for swimmers or odd craft to be picked up.
These lads had hover been to sea and were only enlisted in January
1940, they informed me.
(sa) B.A. Smith.
6th June, 1940,

Dynama 173.
389
366
Admiralty House,
C-in-C Nore.
Sheerness.
with "Dynamo".
List of Officers deserving special mention in connection
1
H.M.S. "wildfire". The work of providing the stores of all kinds required by the boats sent from Sheerness and accommodating a constant flow of Officers, men and volunteers placed a heavy strain on the establishment resources. In addition I observed the admirable work done in receiving the British and French troops landed at Sheerness. From Captain Coleridge downwards all did their best, but Commander V.P. Freeman and Paymester
Captain E.C.Annaheim deserve special mention.
2.
Sheerness Dockyard. The tug Clears" towed 20
cutters with half crews over to the beaches for 22 hours under considerable bombing. The Master Penny and the helmsman Arthur Chawnce A.B. deserve special mention.
All departments of the yard put out their best efforts; the heavier work fell on the Naval Store Department.
Mr.A.Paterson.
The Chief Constructor, Mr.S.R.Tickner, designed and built a large number of rafts, not too big to he manhandled.
3.
Stoker Petty Officer T. Test, Off.No.C/HX 87588.
This Petty Officer sent as boat's crew, was taken out to assist in getting boats ready for sea. lie showed great energy, driving power and resource in dealing with many difficulties that arose. He accompanied one to
Ramsgate on Sunday 2nd.June in hopes of a trip to the beaches, but took on a boat whose engines were giving trouble and was unable to get there.
4.
Officers in charge of boats. The following Officers showed particular energy in getting the boats away. Their work on the beaches did not come under my personal observation, but I draw attention to their names in case they have not been mentioned by Officers on the spot:-
Sub. Lieut. Dann, R.N.V.R., took the lead in getting away the first group 01 boats on Vednesday 29th. May and conducted them to Dover. Having had his first boat swamped, returned to Sheerness and got away another group.
Lieut. Irving. R.N.R., got away the second group of boats and led them to the beaches in M.V. "Triton".
This Officer WAS a volunteer from the Schuit "Princess
Juliana which was broken down. He is believed to have done very good work on the beaches.
initiative The and resource in getting their boats away,
Acting Sub. Lieutenants R.N., as a whole showed but it would be difficult to discriminate.
yacht "Constant Nymph" which he finally lost after bringing
Smith, a volunteer who brought his own off some 900 troops.
eficers came under my observation during 5. The following the noght 2nd.-3rd, and of Motor 3rd.-4th.
1 sailed on to
R.N.B., in charge 2nd.-3rd. I
Yacht struck by the he had taken acqueint of was much navigational details, the instruction volunteer himself with and his boat. He had a 1 should with him, like to have with me again on a similar job.
his Bren Mr.Devine, Gunners, and they were a fine couple who