TNA ADM 199 790

(copy)
Dynam 124 100.
220
- 235
H.M.S. "VERNON".
PORTSMOUTH.
h
6th June, 1940.
ACTING LIEUT. Gollo nas, R.N.V.R.
CAPTAIN, H.M.S. "VERNON".
I have the honour to submit the following rt of the movements of Hello Drifters "BEN & LUCY" and
IDENTA" from Wednesday May 29th to Tuesday, June 4th.
In accordance with orders received from hander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, I sailed from "VERITON"
th Pier at 2400 on Wednesday, 29th May aboard "BRIT & LUCY",
INTA" in company, bound for Ramsgate.
The passage was uneventful, the visibility very
At 1405 on Thursday, 30th May, we passed Dover iving at anchor off Ramsgate Harbour at 1645. I reported
Naval Officer in Charge and was told to stand by for orders, ch were not given until the following day.
At 1350 on Friday 3kst May, I received orders proceed to Dunkirk taking four pulling boats in tow,
ORIENTA" in company also towing small craft). We proceeded route 15 We Our speed was adjusted to the remainder of the ege 'Armada' which was necessarily slow. At 2000 # were st to the North of the West entrance to Dunkirk channel when large force of enemy bombers attacked us from the Hast flying high altitude; they were engaged by our fighters and driven are, t not before a large mumber of bombs had been dropped among the a H.M.D. "FAIRBRESZ" which Iwas informed was sunk. During this ruck, namely, H.M.D. "LORD HOOD" (this vessel was towed back)
sembled shipping. I was able to observe that two vessels were tack I engaged one dive bomber with our two machine guns, the ither of two units was damaged and we proceeded into the channel struction of this machine was completed by one of our fighters.
preaching the shore to a depth of three fathoms. I ordered with both riving are my the bay to the East of Dunkirk harbour at 2100, structions to return to their parent ships if possible.
V vessels to slip their boats and sent the boats in shore ept enemy my ship moving and instructed "DORISITTA"
he commenced shelling the beach and the bay, to return I
It was now dark, and when the boats were therefore inshore ndependently as soon as she was loaded.
then hailed by HaM.D. "FEASABLE", disabled Lt. Turner
J N.V.R. a shell, who I requested replied that I would do so as soon as filled
I was a tow as his engines had been I had with troops.
As my four boats were returning I observed that one was destroyed by a shell.
While officers who ordered my boats a motor to boat which embarking the troops I vas hailed by return a power to boat the containing control the harbour. I instructed boats to the name alongaide me, At this stage contact directed. was broken beach closes to also with troops, to tow with these "DORISMTA"
position and I presumed indicated. that she had proceeded as previously

25a
241
ST. CLEARS 428
LADY BRASSEY
130
DANLAYERS.
FOREMOST 87
ST. OLAF
GULZAR
GREY MIST
M.T.B's, M.A.S.B's.
SARGASSO
D.C.M.B. & W.D.M.I.
+39
COMFORT
NAUTILUS
M.T.B. 107 447
STARLIGHT RAYS
M.T.B. 68 405
THOMSONS
M.T.B. 67,
M.T.B. 16,
ECHO SOUNDING YACHTS.
M.T.B. 1020 459
CONIDAW
M.A.S.B. 10/474
D.C.M.B., 484
CHICO
M.A.S.B. 61468
RAMSGATE
M.L.
100 x476
M.A.S.M. No. 7x479
MOTOR BOATS.
W.D.M.L's 8V487 8 491
SMALL CRAFT UNDER CONTROL OF
DOVER M/S COMMAND.
193
CONTRABAND CONTROL BASE
VEYMOUTH.
LL. TRAWLERS.
M.B. FORTY TWO
THOMAS BARTLETT
LIGHTER Y.C.72
INVERFORTH
X
M.B. TWO RIVERS
LORD INCHCAPE
M.L. MERMAIDEN
OUR BAIRNS
LORD GREY
REPORTS OF SMALL CRAFT RECEIVED
CLYTHNESS
FROM, CAPTAIN, H.M.S. EXCELLENT,
RELONZO
PORTSMOUTH.
RESTRIVO
H.M.S. ST. FAGAN
OROPESA TRAWLERS.
D/C MOTOR BOATS.
H.M.S.EXCELLENT'S A.A. MOTOR BOAT
BOTANIC
HOPPER GALLION'S REACH
FYLDEA
MARETTA
VESSELS OWNED BY LONDON &
ARLEY
ROCHESTER TRADING CO. LTD.
POLLY JOHNSON
1493.
BROCK
THYRA
CALVI
PUDGE
JOHN CATTLING
CABBY
SEINE
"M" DRIFTERS
DETAILED FROM
YARMOUTH.
FEASIBLE
SWIFT WING
REED
JOHN AND NORAH
GENIUS
ALCMARIA
LORD HOOD
LORD BARHAM
OVERFALLS
JEANNIE MACINTOSH
GULA
REWGA
x
TARANSAY

Dyram 100
339
From Actual A. 317
RNVR.
To. Captain H.M.S. Veriou
H.M.S. "VERNON",
Binfel uss
Portsmouth.
5th June 1940.
H.M.S. "VERNON,"
311
PORTSMOUTH.
8th June, 1940.
Report of Movements of "DORIENTA" and
"BEN LUCY".
unit the following ifters *HEN & LUCY" and
136/49.
a to Tuesday, June 4th.
VICE ADMIRAL,
OVER.
rs received from
(Copy to:- The Commander-in-Chief, sailed from "VERNON"
Portsmouth).
29th May aboard *300 &
nd for Remogate.
ful, the visibility Tory
Submitted with reference to
May we passed Dover onfidential Portsmouth General Order 1700
arbour at 1645. I
ge and was told to stand en until the following è
Maelon
May I received orders pulling boats in tow,
: small craft). No
CAPTAIN.
peed was adjusted to the
Loh was necessarily slow.
1 of the West entrance to
VICE AD MIRAL 1940
10 of enemy bombers at high altitude; they driven off, but not
*
ad been dropped mong the
DOVER
to observe that two
.D. "LORD HOOD" (this
"FAIRBREEZE" which I
this attack I angaged one guns, the destruction one of our fighters, ged and No proceeded into to the East of Dunkirk harbour at 2100, approaching the shore to a depth of three fathoms. I ordered both my vessels to ship their boats nshiment the boats in shore with instructions to return
S
sparent ships if possible.
11 when eat was now dark, and when the heats were inshore the beach emmenced shelling the beach and the bay, I
08 and instruant my ship moving and instructed "DORTENTA"
soon SA she allependently as soon SA she N&S loaded.
14 by H.M.D. wytons then bailed by H.M.D. "PEASABLE", It. Turner
& sow B.S. his anginwequested & sow as his angines had been replied
.D. shell, I replied that I would do so as soon troops.
4. "Pited with troops.
four returning 10JUN
recev four boats were returning I observed that une was

Dynam. 124
339
From Acting Ar.
To. Captain H.M.S. Veriou
RNSR.
H.M.S. "VERNON",
Portsmouth.
6th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of the movements of H.M.Drifters "BIDIV & LUCY" and
"DORIENTA" from Wednesday, May 29th to Tuesday, June 4th.
In accordance with orders received from
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, I sailed from "VERNON"
North Pier at 2400 on Wednesday, 29th May aboard "EIGN &
LUCY", "DORIENTA" in company, bound for Ramsgate.
The passage was uneventful, the visibility very bad. At 1405 on Thursday, 30th May we passed Dover arriving at anchor off Ramsgate Harbour at 1645. I
reported to Naval Officer in Charge and was told to stand by day. for orders, which were not given until the following
Friday, 3180.
At 1350 on May I received orders to proceed to Dunkirk taking four pulling boats in tow,
("DORIENTA" in company also towing small craft). We proceeded by route 15 W. Our speed was adjusted to the remainder of the large Armada' which was necessarily slow.
At 2000 we were just to the North of the West entrance to
Dunkirk channel when a large force of enemy bombers attacked us from the East flying at high altitude; they were engaged by our fighters and driven off, but not before a large number of bombs had been dropped among the assembled shipping. I was able to observe that two vessels were struck, namely, H.M.D. "LORD HOOD" (this vessel was towed back) and H.M.D. "FAIRBREEZE" which I
was informed was sunk. During this attack I engaged one dive bomber with our two machine gune, the destruction of this machine was completed by one of our fighters.
Neither of my two units was damaged and we proceeded into the channel arriving off the bay to the East of Dunkirk harbour at 2100, approaching the shore to a depth of three fathoms. I ordered both my vessels to sRip their boats and sent the boats in shore with instructions to return to their parent ships if possible.
It was now dark, and when the boats were inshore the enemy commenced shelling the beach and the bay, 1
therefore kept my ship moving and instructed "DORIENTA"
to return independently as soon as she was loaded.
I was then hailed by H.M.D. "FEASABLE", It.Turner
R.N.V.R. who requested & tow as his engines had been disabled by & shell, I replied that I would do so as soon as I had filled with troops.
As my four boats were returning I observed that one was

PLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE
17JUN1940
HARWYOH
H.M.S. "Watchful"
547
Great Yarmouth.
8th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the report of proceedings of the employed on Operation "Dynamo".
"M" Drifters attached to Yarmouth Base (H.M.S. "Watchful") whilst
30.5.40. 2345.
Flotilla sailed Yarmouth for Ramsgate,
31.5.40. 1500.
Arrived Ramsgate and received orders to proceed to
Dunkirk forthwith to assist in evacuation of troops.
31.5.40. 1515.
Flotilla sailed for Dunkirk.
1900.
On approaching Dunkirk Roads, Flotilla vas subjected to intense bombing attack by about sixty onemy bombers.
Consequently, I gave the order to "scatter".
Drifter "Lord Hood" was severaly damaged by & "near riss*,
Three casualties, one seaman being killed outright, and two wounded. I took "Feasible" alongside "Lord Hood* and removed the C.Bs, the Ship's Company having been picked up by
"Alcmaria".
After ascertaining that nothing further could be done and nobody left on board, I ordered flotilla to take up formation again and proceeded into Dunicirk. bombers had in the meantime been driven off by British Pighters Sub ships coming under heavy gunfire from shore batteries.
2000.
Secured alongside North Pier, Dunkirk with twelve ships and proceeded to embark troops.
2030.
Orders were received from a Commander R.N. ashore to discontinue embarkation and proceed out of harbour to piok up troops from North Beaches.
Five ships, being already filled with troops, were ordered back to Ramagate,
The remaining ships followed me out of harbour to the Beaches,
From then onwards, ships worked independently, returning to Ramagate then full and back to Beaches for more, This continued throughout the night and the bllowing day and night of lat/2nd June when all drifters were ordered by the Naval Officer in Charge, Ramagate to leave Dunkirk by 0300, 2nd June, empty or full. Plotilla anchored in Ramsgate Roads awaiting further instructions.
4.6.40.
0600.
"Alcmaria" with "Genius" in tow and "Swift Wing* with
"Feasible" in tow, under the command of Sub. Ideutenant 5. N. Mann,
R.N.V.R., were ordered to proceed to Yarmouth.
They arrived
Yarmouth, 5th June.
5.6.40.
1300.
I received orders to proceed with remaining ships to
Yarmouth, arriving Yarmouth, 6th June,
The following ships took part in the Operation:
M/S Drifter Motilla.
Skipper.
J. Finlay.
"Feasible".
G. Prosdick.
"Swift Wing".
#
G. Hatton.
"Reed".
"John and Norah".
#
J. Sims.
J. Green.
"Genius".
A. Offord.
"Alcmaria".
J. W. Lawn.
"Lord Hood".
1.

BLS
548
"Lord Barham".
Skipper.
"Overfalls".
C. Masterman.
If
"Jeannie MacIntosh".
D. Miller.
If
"Gula".
J. Nicholson.
If
"Rewga".
A. #, West,
#
"Taransay".
J. Macauley.
#
G. S. Peak.
Lieut. A. H. Turner in "Feasible" - Group Officer.
Sub. Lieut. L. W. Mann in "Genius" Unit Officer.
Casualities and damage received during the Operation 1-
"Lord Hood".
Damaged by "near miss" bomb. Engines disabled.
"Feasible".
Near miss - shell. Engines disabled.
"Genius".
Explosion under stern - unknown. Engines disabled,
All ships received a certain amount of superficial damage due to splinters and concussion which in several instances put the degmasing circuits out of action.
Remarks.
I cannot pay too high a tribute to all the Officers and ships companies concerned. During the course of the operation, the personnal were on continuous duty for more than 36 hours during which time 70 were being exposed to constant attack by enemy bombers, shore batteries, mohine guns and enemy M.T.B's. flying the White Ensign.
Navigation, especially at night, was extremely hazardous is no charts of the locallity were available at such short notice, and 1 consider a splendid example of team work, commonsense and initiative was displayed by the Skippers in bringing all ships back to Ramagate din conclusion.
It is very hard to pick out any individual for special mention where all did so well.
I regret to have to report the undermentioned casualties which occurred in "Lord Hood".
Killed:-
J. P. Reed, Seaman. Official No.JX.173103.
Severely
J. R. Purland, AB/ST.
#
wounded:-
D/J. 32592.
Wounded:-
L. Wills, Sea. cook.
#:
- imoun. H.O.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant, a
LIEUTENANT, R.N.V.R.
The Naval Officer in Charge,
H.M.S. "Watchful",
Great Yarmouth.
a