TNA ADM 199 790

3. (astailed account).
29
5/40 Sailed Amazone, Poole to Portsmouth D.Y.
5/40 a.m. 'wiped' ship in Block; stored with 14 days provisions and various instruments and navigational books.
p.m. Swung ship for compass adjustment and anchored near outer
Spit Buby. Sailed at dark in company to Newhaven.
5/40 0005 sighted submarine, surfaced, 1'm E of Owers Lt.V.. Reported to Examination Vessel on arrival with instructions to pass on message. Anchored outside harbour on orders received, having no opportunity to provide sand-bags, Lewis gun, etc.
Salled at dark for Dover in company, led by Foxglove.
5/40
Arrived at Dover a.m.
Sailed p.m., for Operation Dynamo, in company, and proceeded by long route.
Amazone led the skyts, but the compass was found to be reading about 70 low, due to Gerricks' being topped ready for the exercise, and her position was lost by the time this was rectified. I beached the ship about m/a mile west of Bray, bows in, and with a kedge astern.
Lieut. Audley, R.N.V.R. landed in our two small boats and led down troops from the sand-dunes. By 0300 the boats' crews were exhausted and the boats were being capsized by the sea which had increased with the westerly wind. It was obvious that no more could be taken off in our own boats from the beach. I approached a sloop which was not anxious to take our troops. A large steamer at anchor outside informed me that she was on her way in, and there was too much sea for putting Amazone alongside her. I decided not to go in to the eastern jetty at such a late hour with troops on board and returned, without incident, by the long route to Dover.
Disembarked about 100 officers and men (British) at Admiralty Pier.
Lieut. Audley's leg had been injured when hoisting in our boats4
and he was placed on the sick list.. Sub. Lieut. Clarabut, R.N. was detailed from Montrose as First Lieutenant. I embarked essential stores and large quantities of water, also a Lewis gun and as few sand-bags.
Nei ther the Naval Shore Signal Station nor the Pier Master was urs.
able to inform Mr. Clarabut of the ship's whereabouts and it was
0th.
not possible to leave until 0230 after I had found him myself. This wasted five hours.
0230 Sailed in company with Pacific but lost touch soon afterwards. Made landfall to Eastwards of Dunkirk about 0930. Having been informed that there was no danger from mines I had taken a short out in shallow water. This, and the fact that the compass was still 'low', caused us to mistake Gravilines for Dunkirk! I steamed up and down the coast and examined the harbour from about 1 mile out and found no sign of life. Having no W/T, and having had no orders since 2100 the day before, I steamed W.N.W to seek information. Picked up drifter and
Anchored about 300ˣ from shore in 10 ft. water and embarked about proceeded to Bray Beach.
400 officers and other ranks, sending in water drums by empty boats.
340691 L.A. C. Harker returned inshore several times, until exhausted, with a large collapsible boat, taking water drums each time. He took charge of the troops in his boat most efficiently and set a very fine example. Later, while the ship was being dive-bombed, he took charge of the troops on deck and directed rifle-fire very cooly during each attack in spite of fairly accurate machine-gun fire.
.915
Proceeded. Fredanja informed me he was taking route Y so, presuming there were special orders, sailed/company. in
2010
Attacked by German bomber off Middlekirke. Three bombs dropped close to Fredanja - avoided delay-action effect.
013
3 more bombs dropped close to Fredanja.
Lef.

2.
in
18
Three no damage. bombs dropped between Fredanja and Amazone (Amazone 1 target) 30 -
-2030 Attacked soldiers by machine-gun. wounded - Replied with Lewis-gun and rifle-fire.
Four one seriously.
30 Proceeded in company with Fredanja whose engine-bolts were factured and compass damaged.
ay
Entered Ramsgate and disembarked troops. Took on board grass-rope,
Aldis lamp, and provisions, also a party of officer cadets, under
2nd. Lt. Harman, and three Bren guns.
15 Proceeded.
sect
20? Attacked by dive bombers.
40
A German bomber, already damaged by destroyers' fire, flew past low (port side), we engaged her and she fell in sea 200' astern.
50
Parachutists astern, out of range.
30
Anchored inshore, 2' E of Dunkirk harbour, where it appeared grass-rope would be very useful as the only boats were large ones and seemed to be aground. Sent rope in to Lifeboat and hauled off in own winch. All further attempts were spoilt by grass'
beingfouled by motorboats, and by City of London which came across rope several times, and finally collided with Amazone before getting clear.
15
S/L Clarabut took dinghy inshore to explain procedure with grass-rope.
Returned loaded and reported no hope of further use. He was dead beat after the pull and after struggling with the French preventing them sinking his craft.
45
Shifted berth to 3' E of Dunkirk Pier. I commandeered large motorboat from Hopper 103 and sent it inshore with dinghy to ferry men from beach to motorboat. 2nd.Lieut.Harman and French "Guard" went in M.3.
Ordinary Seaman Wakeham (Ports.Div.- Newfoundland Rating) on this and other occasions handled his boat extremely well under trying conditions and showed great persistence and resource.
045 Motorboat returned with load and went back to beach. During this behind the dunes. Shells were landing on the beach and all ships time a high level bombing attack was made on shore, bombs landing were leaving.
200 Attempted to take off French troops from motor-lighter but his engines were worked the wrong way by the crew and my astern clutch were failed, so abandoned the attempt. The motor-boat and dinghy not very overdue.
300. The was heard answering our hails. A dim light was shown The to dinghy it and was promptly answered by a hail of bullets. abandon the motor-boat, dinghy came and also our own dinghy after a shell had guide alongside with our men. They had had to exploded close to them. The motor-boat was aground.
315 Straddled by shell-fire - slipped dinghy and proceeded by 'short-cut'
and later by route X.
015 Parachute flare dropped to starboard.
123
"
"
II
" port.
336 Sighted N. Goodwin Lt.
500
On Saturday 1st, secured on Ramsgate Pier and disembarked troops.
gn

Bru/0/307 Dynoms 377
B1c
I
561
bject: REPORT ON E.M. HORNE,
H.M.S. Fredanja
MX. 62572, ENGINE ROOM
ARTIFICER 4TH CLASS.
at Poole.
om: THE COMMODORE, ROYAL NAVAL
BARRACKS, CHATHAM.
55
}
Commanding officer.
H.M.C Doggwsbank.
report that on our
4 ⁵ June.
ved in the approachesto isked another ship, which
Commoclove R.N. Bawachio whether we were required
Chathern.
* needed there we
I beg to submit the ent alongside the Eastern llowing velort on E.M. Horne
X 62572 E.R.A. 4: Class who sail not later than 0330
10 lun in plavge of the Sugm.
t that time we remaine on depav/ment of this ship ad about 400 soldiers uning the time she has feen 3
eng is that they were ommissioned 00 one of H.M. ships.
of the pier before us,
He tooks ovu the enquies two m
4 on the jetty at
Le Autch engineer who shoh. no glish & has lean complately was sighted shortly after lue returned by smpetint with them from the tart. Besides his duties in alongside adminity PL
Garge of the machinery he bus
28th
May 285-298 about tons of stores Deary and fresh water were put Dunkiik, onboard and
20 on May2915 we again Sailed for S.
proceeding at 0800 by Route N in company with H.M jaba'.
anchored as close to the beach as possible about immediately lowered our two skiffs howev the one mile we to the Eastward of the Eastern arm toland at mo
1400 and embark troops 2t was soon found, stoles that the embarkation was getting ahead of the discharge 6
and

BI4/0/307
561
ramo 377
Blu/o/
1472
- 557
Subject: REPORT ON E.M. HORNE,
MX. 62572, ENGINE ROOM
ARTIFICER 4TH CLASS.
T.S. Fredanja at Poole.
From: THE COMMODORE, ROYAL NAVAL
BARRACKS, CHATHAM.
Date: 12th June, 1940. No. H/40.
To:
VICE-ADMIRAL, DOVER.
(Copy to:- Commander-in-Chief,
The Nore.)
were
Forwarded in accordance act that on our with Nore General Order 448.
in the approachesto
Horne's full names are:-
a another ship, which
Eric Matthew.
ether we were required as
Rumen needed there we
ADMIRAL
alongside the Eastern
14 JUN 1940
*
*
DOVER
M
R not later than 0330
COMMODORE.
hat time we remained about 400 soldiers quano is that they were filling larger shipsat the own the pier before us, and also the troops were only arriving on the jetty at irregular intervals.
a German avicraft was sighted shortly after we had sailed but did not attack. lue returned by
Route'Y' 'Y' to Dover where we secured alongside adminaty Pui
PORT
to disembark at about 1415 on May 28th
625
0
TIFI
During the night of May 28ᵗʰ-29ᵗʰ about tor. 6.
ARTIEEP
tons of stores and fresh water were put onboard and
MX. 6.
00800 on May 2915 we again Sailed for Dunkiik,
ARTI
800
MX.
my by Raute Z in company with H.M. S. 'Jaba'.
I
ART1
MX. 6.2
we anchored as close to the beach as possible
ART ARTIFI
mile to the Eastward of the Eastern arm at
14/01,
- 557
immediately lowered our two skiffs toland the isk troops. It was soon found, however, gation was getting ahead of the discharge of

Dynamn 377
Blulo/
14/2
23. -
June 2 6th
H.M.S. Fredanja at Poole.
Su, have the honow to report that on our first visit to Dunkiik we arrived in the approachesto the harbour at about 2330 and asked another ship, which had been to look at the beaches, whether we were required there. Hearing that we were not needed there we proceeded into the harbour and went alongside the Eastein
Arm at about 0015.
we had orders to sail not later than 0330
but as we were not full of troops at that time we remained alongside until 0415 when we had about 400 soldiers onboard. The reason we were So long is that they were filling larger shipsat the outer end of the per before us, and also the troops were only arriving on the jetty at irregular intervals a german avicraft was sighted shortly after we had sailed but did not attack. lue returned by
Route 'Y' to Dover where we secured alongside adminity Pui to disembark at about 1415on May 28ᵗʰ.
During the night of May 285-296 about
20 tons of stores and fresh water were put onbrard and at 0800 on May2915 we again Sailed for Dunkiik, proceeding by Route Z in company with H.M. S. 'Jaba'.
we anchored as close to the beach as possible about one mile to the Eastward of the Eastern arm at
1400 and immediately lowered our two skiffs toland the namo stoles and embark troops 2t was soon found, havever, that the embarkation was getting ahead of the discharge of

Dynamic 376
8/4/0/139
126
J.6633, c/o Messrs. J.S. White & Co.
Cowes, Isle of White,
20th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. 0.
1700/6/6/40.
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty's Ship "SURSUM_
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.M. Friday 24th May, 1940, sailing for Portsmouth at 1600, arriving at 2130.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained in company with other Skoots under the ordera of Lieutenant Commander Stuart in H.M.S
"FREDANJA" until P.M. 28th May, 1940, when ship was sailed for
Dunkirk from Dover at 1400 by order of Vice Admiral Dover, for islbe the evacuation of troops via North Goodwin and Middle Kirke.
On arrival off beaches at Dunkirk at approximately
2230, decided to enter harbour straight away having sighted large number of soldiers on mole, but apparently no other ships in the harbour, though a transport and other skoots were lying off, and two ships just leaving. The western side of the harbour was ablaze.
Having evacuated British troops, approximate number three hundred and seventy, ship sailed for Dover at 0330; &
hospital ship and six or seven other skoots having entered and secured to the mole were also embarking troops by this time.
Ship arrived off Dover 1130/29, no incidents of
30/5?
importance occurring on passage.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained at Dover, storing and provisioning until orders were received to sail again for Dunkirk at 2100.
Short routevia Calais was taken; ship proceeding independently as visibility was decreasing and all skoots were not ready.
On arrival off Western beaches of Dunkirk, a wreck was sighted approximately half a mile to West of Harbour
31/5
entrance in the approach channel, and cries of & man in the water were heard, a boat was lowered, but the rescue work was
Priso)
left finally to a Sloop's whaler the Sloop itself being on her return passage to England. "SURSUM-CORDA" proceeded and arrived off beaches Eastern side of Dunkirk at 0430/30.
Many men were sighted waiting on the beach approximately two or three miles east of the mole, and on closing H.M.S. "FITZROY"
lying approximately three quarters of a mile off the beach, was asked to assist in ferrying troops from small craft to ITZROY"
and "VANQUISHER", three to four cables to Westward.
For approximately half an hour my Ship remained stopped three cables from the beach embarking as many troops as possible.
This process I considered far tooslow as the number of small boats employed in that area amounted only to four or five and these appeared to be in danger of being swamped by excessive loads, so decided to close the beach while the tide was flooding and endeavour to embark troops over my bows.