TNA ADM 199 790

529
500
From:- Capt. E. Schacht, R.A.S.C.
7
Date:- 4th June, 1940.
To:-
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
may
Rayment
Cadet R.A.S.C.
Feathers
If
If
Inthurm
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1.
12
2nd Lt. Harman
R.A.S.C.
2nd Lt. Parker
If
Cadet
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2.
Horner
Savory
Cadet
R.A.S.C.
Cowell
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3.
Gray
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Mcfarlane
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5.
These two officers and twelve cadets noted as gunners to various ships sailing from this port.
No. 2 crew are reported to have brought down one enemy plane.
(agit) B.C.E. SCHACHT.
Capt.
R.A.S.C.
4/6/40
noyas navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.
X

Yes Yes
Blue
530
FROM:- Captain Wharton.
DATE:-
4th June 1940.
TO:-
The Naval Officer in Charge, Ramogate.
SUB. LIEUT. LAWRIE, R.N.V.R.
This Officer showed great enterprise and Keenness on 3rd June when in response to an urgent call from Dover
12
I was asked to send an additional tug to Dunkirk. The remainder of the Flotilla had sailed some hours beforehand, and as time was of importance I asked the first Officer I
saw, which was the above named, if he could navigate a vessel. He explained that he was not a navigator at all but felt quite sure that he would get the tug to Dunkirk.
He succeeded in doing this, which is confirmed by Admiral
Taylor. Further he brought his ship safely home, having completed his mission.
I consider his action should receive some recognition.
5.76 huta
CAPTAIN, R.N.
noyal NAVY.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

Discover 19% - 502 531
7
REPORT OF "MALDON ANNIE IV" - S/L Lawrie R.N.V.R.
insia
Ship last seen drifting on to the beaches at
Dunkirk, unseaworthy and engines out of order.
Was towed over by "Strathellict" from 8 position
12
in Mid Channel. S/L Lawrie remained at Dunkirk (Grow came back on trawler).
awyai navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

9.
ms:
Navalteer, Hove.
Dynamo 369.
R- 503 532
H.M.S. 1432
one No.: Hove 6286.
(Naval KING ALFRED,"
HOVE 3
No. 21/1358
20th June, 19 40
incia
The Vice Admiral,
DOVER.
Dunkirk Evacuation: Proby Temp. Sub. Lt. T. Laurie,R.N.V.R
with your telephone message 1745/15.
The enclosed report is forwarded in accordance
542
12
with N.O.I.C. Brightlingsea.
This Officer has now been discharged for duty
CAPTAIN
VICE ADMIRAL
24 JUN 1940
*
DOVER
Vynamo noyal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

H.M.S. "KING ALFRED"
533
12th June, 1940
Report: DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
By:
Proby. Temp. Sub. Lieut. T. Laurie, R.N.V.R.
7
beaches. the next five days was briefly as follows:-
May, to take My time table for river craft to Dunkirk to embark troops from 29th the
I was light sent draught to Sheerness with about 12 others on Wednesday,
Thursday, 30th May. Left Sheerness on "Maldon Annie* bound for
Ramsgate and Dunkirk.
Friday, 31st May. Reached Dunkirk in tow with engine broken down cutter. and vessel derelict. Embarked men from the beach in & naval
12
Saturday, 1st June. In Ramsgate on harbour duties.
Sunday, 2nd June. To Dunicirk in motor boat "Wind of the Morning".
Monday, 3rd June. To Dunkirk in charge of tug "Dromodary".
I regret to report that "Maldon Annie", the small Thames pleasure boat of which I was in charge had to be abandoned.at Dunkirk. The magneto of her engine broke down before we reached Ramsgate and she vas then towed by the convoying trawler "Strathelliott". "Mation Annie" was only built for river work and she was not strong enough for the sea. The tow rope pulled all the bollards and cleats out of her, one after another, (the fastenings wro & bit nailsicktoo), and eventually it was only possible to tow with & strop right round the boat. At the same time the pumps choked and could bot be freed, as her bilge was full of rubbish, and she made water faster than - could sail.
By the time we reached Dunkirk after a slow crossing, she was derelict and had to be left on the beach.
I transferred to a large diesel-engined barge and carried about
120 French troops to her in a Naval cutter. We left for Ranagate with & full load about midnight.
I reported the next morning, (Saturday) to the Port Captain. That day the only work available was landing troops from transports and carrying orders to ships, but on Sunday I was able to get another motor boat, called
"Wind of the Morning".
We left in the late afternoon with a number of other notor boats;
enemy aircraft were about all the way across, and when we were 10 miles from
Dunkirk their fighters circled over us for some time in the dark. To vent.
dead slow so that the phosphorescence in our wake should not show us up and after a time the enemy attacked the next boat ahead which replied with machine gun fire. After two unsuccessful attacks the enemy went off and we went on our way. Before reaching Dunkirk however, we were stopped by & British
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

535
From:- Sub.Lieut. R.A.Forbes. R.N.V.R.
505
To
:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
G.V. Peterson, a civilian, who volunteered and was signed on at
I submit my report as requested. I recommend my Engineer
Shaerness. He obeyed orders explicitly and behaved very well
F
during operations off Dunkirk, even when, with a load of excited
French soldiers a bomb fell close enough to blow off half my
Knight, Christian, Clarke and Laurie who were particularly anchor. I would also recommend Sub.Lieut.R.N.V.R. Bates, Bellamy, energetic. Sub.Lieut. Clarke swam to the beach himself with a
12
de line, to get some soldiers off.
ALFI
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

536
506
9.6.40.
The Admiralty,
Whitehall, S.W.1.
To. N.O. i/c Ramsgate.
From. Captn. Wharton. S.V.P.
Vinsin
Operation "DYNAMO".
Report on Officers.
evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk, the work of the
Whilst working under your command during the following officer. was SO outstanding, that I wish to draw their names to your special attention. Though I had do
512
opportunity boats of seeing their work at Dunkirk itself, my duties in turning round, and all which that involved, gave me a clear indication of the storling merits of these officers.
Lt. Cmdr. J. I. Miller, D.S.O., R.N.B.,, This officer was indefatigable in his efforts to get his boats ready to return to operations. The minimum of time was required by him for rest, the maximum time humanly possible being spent at Dunkirk, his first consideration being to get ready to return. His cheerful bearing and keenness infused all with whom he came in contact and 1
consider his example is worthy of consideration.
I have no doubt that his conduct on the
Dunkirk side was in keeping with that of the Base end.
Lt. Van Hemel. Royal Dutch Navy. This remarkable officer
He appeared to flourish on hard work with little 02" no sleep.
had his own motor boat which he brought from fortsmouth and remained at Dunkirk four days working off the beaches, and on Thursday 30th May. He left Ramsgate at dawn on 31st May, at Dunkirk ferrying troops. de found fuel and food
On over there and so avoided delay in returning to the Base.
and his return he got his boat ready, had five hours sleep, minimum his duration thereafter. I was greatly impressed were by returned to Dunkirk. His stays in Ramsgate of the inspiring and the work done by him of very great value.
manner and bearing and consider that his example was
Contd., suo.Lleutenant noyal savy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

538
Good
522
Maulesden,
NAVAL OFFICER
BRECHIN.
508
eth
*
D
Angue.
DEPARTMENT RAWS DEPARTMENT
ORANGE
6th. June 1940.
*
by Vincia
Sir,
4 at
I have the honour to enclose the reort which
Commander Duffet instructed me to send to you.
I have the honour to be
517
Sir,
512
Your Obedient Servant,
X Sublieut. RN.
ITE
R.W.D.Don
R
already OSE
ief agret
G. A. Gabbett- Mulhallen.
Sub.Lieutenant Royal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

REPORT
539
522
ON THE OPPERATIONS OF THE MOTOR LAUNCHES "YSER" AND
"MALBOROUGH DURING THE EVAQUATION OF THE BRITISH &
509
7
FRENCH FORCES.
Yug Vincia
The Hopper no.95, which I had been ordered to take h
round to Ramsgate, anchored early last Wednesday evening, and Commander Duffet gave me the Belgian ferry boat "Yser".
We started in 8 convoy of eighteen other small motor craft at about 0100 on Thursday. Shortly after daylight
512
the escorting drifter had to turn back with two of the small
512
boats, and with our much greater speed we soon left the remainder of the launches well astern.
VI940
Owing to the fact that the "Yser" was not fitted with a compass we deviated from our course, making a landfall
8 few miles to the westward of the town. We arrived off the beaches at about 0900, and ran aground in our attempts to approach close enough to the sands for the men to wade out to us. There was no anchor in the boat, but we salvaged two of the plowshare type from other abandoned boats, and laid them out at low tide in order to kedge her off.
During the afternoon and dog-watches we were able to be of some use by acting as a liason link between the boats and the officers of the embarking troops. The Frenchmen were very reluctant to wade in deeper than their waists, and
Petty Officer Clarke (Chatham Division) spent approximately five hours, with water up to his neck, helping the soldiers ief into the small boats.
agret
I should like to take this oppotunity to recommend
Petty Officer Clarke for his cheerfulness, vigour, and valuable advice offered on this occasion and later in the WD boat
"Malborough". I understand that Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten mentioned Petty Officer Clarke in his despatches following the torpedoing and bombing of HMS "Kelly".
Our efforts to refloat the "yser" were without success, and having waited for high tide we took passage home
G. Gabbett- Mulhallen.
Sub.Lieutenant Royal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

3.
541
proceded we struck one of the very
511
522
wreckage, doing so lost the use of both our rudders. For several anscious minutes we visualised ourselves fighting 8 little rearguard action of our own, but after several vain calls on the charity of France, we were rescued by an MTB, which passed our tow to a large motor yacht when we reached the outer herbour.
Yug Vinain
Except for the fact that a stray enemy aircraft dropped two flares near us, our journey to Dover was uneventful, to and after placing the "Malborough" in the charge of the King's
Harbour Master, we returned to Ramsgate by lorry.
I would like to dra your attention to the excellent coxing and seamanship displayed by Sublicutenant Pool, who had no previous experience of bosts of the "Malborough's"
512
type, yet who manoevered her under exceedingly difficult and exiting conditions in confined waters strewn with debris, much of which, though harmless to the other launches, meant certain destruction to the vunerable underwater fittings of the
N1940
hydroplane. His task was made particularly difficult by the fact that these boats have a minimum speed of eight knots under power.
-o0o-
Sublieut. RN.
ief agret
G. A. Gabbett- Mulhallen.
Sub.Lieutenant Royal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.
522

Statement from S.Y. Vincea: (Re, Dankish
522
C. B.O.
Sir,
7
6n Imday the 31" M May, we the s. Jug Vincia left Ramagati in taw of three skiffs for & which at
2.45 2.45pm. pm.
542
Good
NAVAL
OFFICER
512
Yer
*
SE
Ashton Lodge,
STATE
TE
Petitor Road,
TORQUAY.
% June. 1940.
On on
Fridge
Sir, from
I have the honour to submit the following brief report of By operations off Dunkirk, and which I regret
I was unable to forward sooner.
On
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
G. A. Gabbett- Mulkallen.
Sub. Lieutenant Royal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

560
10
in wrong order
530
transports - large and all- y 1 were in the vicinity, not within a mile.
y were moat persistent in ur attempt to sink "Fervent"
ras equally persistent to in them off. Frentually by flew off without scoring direct hit The engines board was broken.
aken up and much glass the Fervent were badly
I
and a inside piece of shrapmel my hour or so pocket. later I was Half all ain attached Heinkels This time by our them high and ewis gun. about 20 to the bombs method were dropped.
he his occasion was of hombing to on irst first attack different "On the
Leinkels accesion the five monely Lovered above
3rd June tow.
inner harbour.
staff but could find none; loaded and French troops. Furthest end of harbour now in German hands.
Returned Ramsgate.
Completed 5 journeys in all.

563
8/
533
Ramsgate in H. m. S. Fervent with a whaler in tow and proceeded myself there were three civilians
Dunkink beacher. apart from via in "V'v"W" busys to on board.
I gun picked and up an army Lewis when about to have Ramagate ammunition. have feed pans and
Some 8 miles off Dunkisk I
was -and 5 Heinke heavily attacked by
140 H.E. dropped between 120 ervent:
they havering flying above very 7 low the Lewis bombs and time fine which one round at would only fun but it I aimed spring was the tension wrong gas regulating -or indicated hamber that a the by Lewis gun incorrect on the I was instruments, 5rd June tow. inner k admift, -gat as the J thesping had and wortually no took harbour.
staff but could find none; IDams in German hands.
and French troops. Furthest end of harbour now
Returned Ramsgate.
Completed 5 journeys in all.

564
I
4
534
tension correct. I then hegan firing as rapidly as posible at 5 Heinkels Several small puffs of black smoke hits were observed day. by where tracer bullets had coming from the fuselage struck. the Heinkels then hombing climbed higher but continued extremely had difficult because it
Firing the Lewis gun was to no imounting and I had the fire from shoulder falling by splash immense in the volumes boat increased of water difficulty was my salvas and explasions from the
8 to of bombs. There of the
Each 10 bonds in each were whithing It salvo noise. made a salvo. weind out 5 Heinkels seems picked strange why the
THE for their target the when Fervent so
CODE
inner harbour.
staff but could find none;
and French troops. Purtheat end of harbour now in German hands.
Returned Ramsgate.
Completed 5 journeys in all.

1
566
536
12
Lewis gun to its greatestuse d drive the 8 Heinkels off.
l quickly and readily ahayed s to alterations of course and l instructions I -gave him he Fervent from almost seed. Co e-operation saved entain destruction inkaldie of 4 Kent Place,
The cotswains name is Douglas
Lansy ate.
Lt-Cmdr. R.N.R.
6 th June 1940
11, malpas avenue,
Birkenked
Prenton
3rd June, tow.
inner harbour. Ordered su /
staff but could find none; loaded with English in German hands.
and French troops. Purthest end of harbour now
Returned Ramsgate.
Completed 5 journeys in all.