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TNA / ADM 199 790

TNA ADM 199 790

TNA ADM 199 790
Collection details

TNA ADM 199 790

Admiralty records concerning Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, dating from 1940.

Holding archive
TNA
Collection reference
ADM 199 790
View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/790. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing only pages tagged with the vessel name Duchess. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

5 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 723–1,117 of this collection
Page ImageOCR textOCR tags
723 Page 723 Log in to enlarge
OCR table 1 from document page 723
GUNBOATS. 257 H.M. DRIFTERS.
LOCUST 258 [X] DORIENTA 339
MOSQUITO BEN & LUCY 2339
263 KINDRED STAR 344
CORVETTES. THRIFTY 344
SHELDRAKE 263 FLARE BURNING DRIFTERS. 319
KINGFISHER 265
GUILLEMOT 270 [X] EILEEN EMMA
FORECAST
THAMES LOCAL DEFENCE [X] 273 GERVAIS RENTOUL
FLOTILLA. [X] GIRL GLADYS
[X] GIRL PAMELA
ROYAL EAGLE 282 [X] GOLDEN GIFT
GOLDEN EAGLE /291 GOLDEN SUNBEAM 351
CRESTED EAGLE 293 LORD HOWARD
LORD HOUSE
PORTSMOUTH INNER 299 MIDAS
PATROL. [X] NETSUKIS
PAXTON
[X] ANKH ,305 BOY ROY
315 SHIPMATES
BOUNTY UT PROSIM
[X] CARYANDA 303 THE BOYS
LAHLOO TORBAY II.
THELE 301. YORKSHIRE LASS
SERIOLA 308, 306 [X] YOUNG NUN
EILA II. MUN
AHOLA V304 SHEERNESS REPORTS
NONETA 321
323 HARWICH FORCE. RENASCENT MONARDA
PADDLE M/S. ARONIA STRATHELLIOT
WAVERLEY ALOUETTE 2. & men.
[ ] [X] ORIOLE Recommendations for officers special
[X] DUCHESS OF FIFE List of officers deserving
MARMION mention.
M/S TRAWLERS. Movements of officers.
LORD MELCHETT 1329 330 "A/S" & "LL" TRAWLERS.
STELLA RIGEL [X] LORD INCHCAPE
OUR BAIRNS
DRIFTERS. OLVINA
[ ] MARE 331 CAPE ARGONA
SARAH HIDE TWEENWAYS TUGS
UNICITY SUN IV. J
[X] [ ] JACKEVE 106 0.11
THREE KINGS 0.9
[ ] [X] RIG J FORMIDABLE
[X] STRIVE
ST .CLEARS/
Ahola Ankh Aronia Bounty Boy Roy Caryanda Crested Eagle Dorienta Duchess Duchess of Fife Eila II Eileen Eileen Emma Forecast Formidable Gervais Rentoul Girl Gladys Girl Pamela Golden Eagle Golden Gift Golden Sunbeam Guillemot Jackeve Kindred Star Lahloo Lord Howard Lord Inchcape Lord Melchett Mare Midas Monarda Mosquito Netsukis Noneta Olvina Our Bairns Paxton Renascent Rig Royal Eagle Sarah Hide Seriola Sheldrake Shipmates Stella Rigel Strathelliot Strive Sun Sun IV Sunbeam Thames The Boys Thele Three Kings Thrifty Torbay II Tweenways Yorkshire Lass Kings May Young
750 Page 750 Log in to enlarge

2.
271
During the the afternoon of the lst.June four coal 260 barges were brought down river by a tug and secured alongside.They were later towed to RAMSGATE by H.M.Tug "SPRITE".
On lst.June "QUEEN OF THANET" came alongside for fuel and water at 0820 and "WESTWARD HO" at 0845. Lieutenant SARGENT and temporary crew of HORST returned to the ship at 0900 and the original grew of HORST were discharged to shore. "WESTWARD HO" cast off at 1040
and "QUEEN OF THANET" at 1100. As GUILLEMOT'S oil fuel was running low an oil fuel lighter was asked for from SHEERNESS. "GOLDEN EAGLE" came alongside for oil fuel and water at 1145 and cast off at 1420. During the afternoon 40 rounds of 4inch H.E. ammunition were supplied to
H.M.S. "KINGFISHER".
On 2nd.June oil lighter PHERO secured at 0805 and
GUILLEMOT oiled from her. She remained alongside all day and supplied oil fuel to various ships. H.M.S. "KINGFISHER" oiled from PHERO at
1215 and cast off at 1530, when "QUEEN OF THANET" came alongside for fuel and water. At 1600 H.M.S.ORIOLE, a coal burning paddle steamer, came alongside for water and requested the loan of some stokers to assist in trimming her bunkers. Six stokers from GUILLEMOT volunteered but it was decided that only two could be spared, and lots were drawn and stokers S. HIORNS and C.SAWYER were sent. At 1700 "DUCHESS OF FIFE"
secured alongside "QUEEN OF THANET" and at 2020 "ORIOLE", "DUCHESS OF
FIFE", and "QUEEN OF THANET" cast off and proceeded. At 2135 oiler
PHERO cast off and anchored astern.
On 3rd.June orders were received to proceed to DUNKIRK
in company with KINGFISHER escorting LADY OF MAN and AUTO CARRIER
across, then to embark troops from DUNKIRK Pier and return to MARGATE.
At 1630 beef and bread for 250 men were embarked. Lieutenant
R.C. NORWOOD R.N. and Sub Lieutenant T. BONHAM R.N. came on board at 1800. These Officers had obtained permission of N.O.I.C. MARGATE
to accompany us as they had both had previous experience of DUNKIRK
and its approaches. They both proved of great assistance, Sub Lieutenant
BONHAM'S acurate navigation being particularly valuable.
Duchess Duchess of Fife Golden Eagle Guillemot Horst Queen Sprite Westward Westward Ho Bonham Day Sargent Sawyer
805 Page 805 Log in to enlarge

16v
329
307
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
324
Dynams NT. F
303
me
FROM:- The Flag Officer in Charge, Harwich.
TO:-
The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
DATE:- 5th June, 1940.
No. 199/40.
Harwich M/S Force engaged on the Evacuation of Dunkirk.
The following particulars of the M/S Force engaged on the evacuation of Dunkirk are submitted for information:-
Name of Ship.
Name of Commanding
Name of Group or
Officer.
Unit Officer.
Paddle M/S.
"WAVERLEY"
Lieut. S.F. Harmer-
Elliott, R.N.V.R.
ORIOLE"
Lieut. E.L. Davies,
R.N.V.R.
DUCHESS OF FIFE"
Lieut. J.N. Anderson,
R.N.V.R.
MARMION"
Lieut. H.O. Gaffney,
R.N.V.R.
M/S Trawlers
S
Skipper R.C.Taylor, R.N.R.
Lieut. W.H. Ward,
"LORD MELCHETT
R.N.V.R.
Skipper L.P.Keable R.N.R.
Sub.Lieut. J.N.
STELLA RIGEL"
Vykeham, R.N.V.R.
Drifters
Commander J.W.D.Powell 10
"MARE"
Skipper A.H.W.
Pendle R.N.R.
D.S.O., R.N.R.
SARAH HIDE"
Skipper H.A. Meen,
Lieut..I.Cruickshanic,
R.N.V.R.
R.N.R.
"NERRWAYS"
Skipper E. R.N.R. Fawcett,
P.T.O.
Duchess Duchess of Fife Lord Melchett Mare Sarah Hide Stella Rigel Anderson Davies Elliott Fawcett Gaffney Keable May Pendle Powell Ward West
810 Page 810 Log in to enlarge

16v
329
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
307
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
305
me
REPORTS ON OPERATION "DYNAMO"
Schedule of Enclosures to letter No. 207/40 dated
9th June, 1940, from Flag Officer in Charge, Harwich,
No.
Ship
Remarks
1.
"WAVERLEY"
Enclosed in letter from Captain M/S,
(S.O. 12th M/S
Harwich.
Flotilla)
2.
"ORIOLE"
Enclosed in letter from Captain M/S,
Harwich.
Attached:- Separate letter of recommendations.
Letter from C.O. "Oriole"
requesting transfer from R.N.V.R. to R.N.R.
Letter in support from
Captain M/S, Harwich.
3.
"DUCHESS OF FIFE"
Attached:-
Separate letter of recommendations.
4.
"LORD MELCHETT"
"STELLA RIGEL"
}
Enclosed in letter from Captain M/S,
Harwich.
5.
"MARE"
"SARAH HIDE"
Letter written by Commander J.D.W.
"STRIVE"
Powell, R.N.R., H.M.S. "BADGER"
"THREE KINGS"
(Group Officer in Command)
"TWEENWAYS"
Attached:- List of recommendations,
"UNICITY"
"RIG"
)
"JACKEVE"
)
Duchess Duchess of Fife Jackeve Lord Melchett Mare Rig Sarah Hide Stella Rigel Strive Three Kings Tweenways Kings May Powell West
1117 Page 1117 Log in to enlarge

I William Watson am Master of the auxiliary barge "PUDGE".
We were requisitioned on the 29th May whilst lying outside the
581
6
Millwall Dock, towed to Tilbury, given three days rations, and then to Southend. The "OCEAN COCK" towed us to Ramsgate and subsequently to Dover with the barges "DORIS" "ENA" and "TOLSBURY".
We arrived at Dover at about 2.30 on the 30th May. We lay alongside the Prince of Wales Pier for the rest of that day and were told we should probably load in the morning.
On May 31st at about 8.30 a Naval Officer called the Captains ashore and asked for Volunteers to go over to Dunkirk and said that nodody could be forced to go but he would be very grateful for any volunteers and preferred the auxiliary barges.
There were about 17 barges lying at Dover and all volunteered.
Six barges were selected, three auxiliaries and three sailing barges,
"PUDGE" "LADY ROSEBERRY" "DORIS" "H.A.C." "DUCHESS" and "THYRA".
The three auxiliary barges "THYRA" "LADY ROSEBERRY" AND "PUDGE"
each proceeded forthwith out of the harbour with the other three
+1
barges in tow and were picked up by a big tug. The tug which picked us up was the "ST. FABIAN" and the "PUDGE" was on the hook with the
"DORIS" next and the "LADY ROSEBERRY" third.
The tug which had just arrived from the South Coast gave us & big
7" wire which was made fast round the mast case, under the windlass and through the fairlead in the bowboard, and we arrived under the shore close to Dunkirk during the hours of darkness that night (I
am not sure of the time).
We had some trouble in locating the inshore channel as the Captain of the tug did not seem to know the locality and apprently had no chart. By the time of daybreak on Saturday, we were about
Doris Duchess Ena Fabian H.A.C. Prince Prince of Wales Pudge Thyra Barge Day Dover Hook May Prince Tilbury Wales Watson