TNA ADM 199 790

CON FIDENTIAL
Dynams 245.
014/0/1264
04
From: - The Commending Officer, H.M.S. "ORANJE"
Date:- 10th. Ju ne 1940
To:- The Vice-Admirel, Commending; Dover
(Copy to:- The Commender-in-Chief, The Nore.)
Report on Operation Dynamo.
The followin report is submitted in accordance with N. G. 448/40.
2. On Sunday May 26th "ORANJE" completed with Navel stores at Sheerness and proceeded to a buoy to await orders, remaining there all night at de hour's notice. About 200 tons of Army provisions had been Loaded at Deptford, but no instructions had been issued re their disembarkation.
3.
Monday May 27th.
1400 a letter was received containing orders to proceed to Dover with all despatch, the Commanding Officer reporting to the Vice-
Admiral, Commanding; Dover, on arrival. ORANJE had just slipped from the buoy when a lighter secured alongside with fu rther stores: these were embarked by 1430 and ORANJE
proceeded down river.
Before reaching Garrison Point, a Confidential Hand Message was received by motor boat with orders to proceed to
Southend for Route Instructions, and sail for Dunkirk.
As there was doubt as to which orders were the most recent,
ORANJE proceeded alongside North Wall, and confirmation was obtained from the Commodore in Charge that the instructions contained in the Hand Message were to be obeyed.
ORANJE sailed at 1500 an was met off the Nore Light Vessel by a tug which had been specially sent out from Southend, and, after Route Instructions had been obtained, proceeded for Dunkirk by way of the West Hinder and Kwinte Bank buoys.
No instruction S had yet been received regarding the object of the passage nor orders received about unloading the provisions.
4.
Tuesday May 28th. About 0100 when approximately two miles South of the West Hinder buoy, ORANJE sighted a merchant vessel approaching ahead and course was altered to starboard, the ships passing about two cabled apart. When abou t 10 degrees abaft the beam, this vessel opened fire on ORANJE
from - slown Skut Who we arpping ashin,
Pacific baily fashi than lush of
Vein and was I: belowed about the from skoot of this party 0 anin it the he White Pance.
Proceded at How spend have & trey hail, are Guld has Ideas Thanking.
straight for the beach were in awouns our
The citaltion are is him is Ret 9
Hue the them was a Perius

CONFIDENTIAL
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95
ORANJE'S R.O.D./1 dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
this vessel opened fire on ORANJE with rifles, 12 rounds being fired, 2being heard to hit the ship's side and ricochet off. ORANJE, being completely unarmed began to Zig-Zag, keeping as near as possible end on to the rising moom.
When this ship was well clear, a full examination of the surrounding water was made through binoculars: 8 torpedo boat was observed lying stopped sbout 2 cables to starboard, with 2 others approaching about half a mile on the cort quarter. It was not possible at the time to identify these to definitely, (they have since been identified from the
Illustrated London NewsX as German) but they were not British, and were assumed to be hostile when the one starboard side crossed ORANJE'S bows laying a smoke screen, and took station astern of the other two. No attack was made, nor were the boats seen again.
These incidents were reported the following day at Ramsgate.
5. At 0400 when in company with two other scoots and one merchant ship in the vicibity of Mittelkirke Bank buoy, the troopship QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL was observed approaching on opposite courses. When about è of a mile away she was attacked by a Heinkel dive-bomber which dropped 4 bomos,
(estimated 100 lbs.) roun her stern. She was observed to stop and settle by the stern, so ORANJE proceeded alongside to see if any immediate assistance could be given. Then just comin alongside, they shouted from the bridge to keep off as the bomber was diving again. One large bomb (estimated
500 lbs.) was dropped about 50 yards on ORANJE'S starboard bow as she was leaving the QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL, and 8 small amount of damage was don inside the ship due to shock. The attack was accompanied by a small amount of machine-gun fire.
As the larger merchant ship then went alongside, ORANJE
proceeded on her way to Dunkirk.
Two destroyers full of troops were met in the Zuydecoot Pass.
This, and the previous meeting with the Queen of the Channel was the first intimation of the evacuation of troops, end even then 1 was not to confirm it.
6. It was anticipated that on the Eastern 1
end of Dunkirk Channel, ORANJE would be met or given instruction re berthing. As no vessel was met, ORANJE proceaded alongdide a barrage vessel anchored off BRAY, which had been attempting to communicate.
At this time, pown - slum skut Who we aripping lud ashin, A
Pacific have Kshi than
Vein and was is:- belowed, about the Pause. from st this party 5 anin a the ha White of at How speed has in amount a heary an
Preceded for the beach were Mustery.
straight are Guld has Ideas hail, The as is him is Rt & luch or.
Here the Then was a Primo

CONFIDENTIAL
97
96
ORANJE's dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
communicate.
At this time a Blenheim bomber -1th British markings, flew overhead. towards the beach where st dropped all number of small bombs and was fired at with mechine runs and rifles. It was then presumed that the beach was held by German troops, but it was later ascertained that the Germans had obtained and were using a number of aircraft with British markings.
Alongside the Barrage vessel we were informed by el number of soldiers wearin British and French uniforms that the B.E.F.
was being evacuated, and that they had been told to find their own way back to England as best they could, all their officers having already left them. They also stated that they had nothing to eat and asked us to provide them with bread.
I informedthem that I was proceeding to Dunkirk, but would consider pickin them on the return journey. ORANJE then proceeded on her way.
7. On approaching Dunkirk ORANJE met snother scoot coming away who informed us that we were too small to be of use alongside, nor could we land stores there, and should return home. ORANJE turned about, recovered 5 soldiers from the barrage vessel after insuring that they were genuine, supplied the remaining Frenchmen with bread, and sailed for in hom_e. A number of rafts, boats and lifebuoys were observed on the way home, all of which were investigated, but no survivors were found nor were any names found on any of the
ORANJE wreckage. arrived off the North Goodwin Light Vessel at 1500 and was ordered to Ramsgate, proceeding alongside about 1630. The majority of the bomb dam_age was made good, and ORANJE sailed at 1930. with orders to disembark provisions at Le Panne, about 10 miles east of Dunkirk.
8. Wednesday 29th May. ORANJE arrived off Le Panne at 0430 and picked up one man off a raft in an exhausted sond condition. An attempt was then made to beach the ship after streaming a kedge anchor, but the kedge would not hold, and so the bower anchor was let go and the ship allowed to swing round with the tide. In view of the fact that the ship was drawing eight feet of water and that the beach shelves very gradually it was not possible to get closer in than è of 8
mile.
I then proceeded ashore personmally to interview the military 9. authorities and returned on board at 0730 to move the ship to a more convenient place. An arrangement had been made for one working party to come on board to unload the holds, ano ther to muster on the beach to unload the boats, and as many large boats as pos ible would be commandeered.
It was now.
- slum Skut who We arbbiny lud ashin, of pan Pacific beauty Kasi then hor and of: belowed, about he the Pause.
steat Vein was this party 5 anim at the White of at Here spend have in ausurs & trey our
Proceded the beach Ildius were directed C/C for Guild was But &
hail In nituition we is line is Cuch or.
Here Me Guamanding offer a Inimo

CONFIDENTIAL
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98
97
ORANJE'S R.O.D./1 dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
commandeered.
It was now about an hour after high water and ORANJE proceeded/
as close inshore as possible, anchored, and then beached stern first, drawings of the ship showing that this would not damage the screw or rudder. A line, consisting of two 120
fathom lengths of 2" manila, was then run inshore and hauled as tau a.s possible and ORANJE's dinghy was run along this, as no other boats were then availabbe; the disembarkation of provisions was then started about 5 packages at as time.
10. Two large boats were obtained about noon, and at
1700 the Royal Engineers provided 6 bridge building pontoons.
with this number of boats available It was possible to disembark the provisions with reasonable celerity.
Intermittent Air Raids took place throughout the day, but although a number of bom bs fell close to the ship, no damage was done nor were there any casuals
By midnight when about 150 tons had been disembarked and were still on the beach, it was decided between the embarkation officer and mygelf that it would be better to stop disembark ing provisions and embark troops, sailing as soon as the tide rose sufficiently to float the ship.
11. Thursday May 30th. ORANJE weighed at 0415 with over
500 troops on board and proceeded for the Downs via the
Kwinte Bank and West Hinder buoys. On sporoaching the Kwinte
Bank buoy 8 wreck was observed about half 8 mile westward of the buoy, which gave the appearance of being the bows of destroyer protruding about 20 feet out of the water.
On arrival in The Downes ORANJE was ordered by the examination steamer to proceed to Margate where we went alongside the pier at 1720 and disembarked troops. 1 A.B. was discharged sick.
ORANJE completed with fuel, water, and provisions, embarked two Lewis guns and ammunition, took two boats in tow, and sailed for Dunkirk again at 2230. Owing to too short a tow,
ORANJE having no more hawsers on board, the boats broke adrift in the vicinity of the Elbow buoy, and as they could not be immediately located they were abandoned. There were no crews on board.
12. Friday 31st Mey. ORANJE arrived off No. West buoy, Dunkirk Channel at dawn and proceeded towards Le Panne.
There was considerable air activity along the coast but.
ORANJE was unmolested. Off Dunkirk Harbour ORANJE was closed by a destroyer believed to be EXPRESS, and told to close destroyer H 11 (BASILISK) and work under his orders: ORANJE
anchored off Le Panne in the same position as the previous day. As ORANJE had no boats, embarkation was very slow until
BASILISK
pan - slum Skud Who are aripping ashin, and Pacitic benif Kishi than with A
Vein are & 1 belowed about the has
Proceded at the spend has White & they skoot of this party 0 amin it the ha Pance.
hail, are Guild was Ideas straight for the beach were is awouns an
Il within was is line is Ret 9 Auch n.
Here the Ipen was a

99
CONFIDENTIAL.
98
ORANJE'S R.O.D./1 dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
impact,
4
slow until
BASILISK seiled, leaving behind her boats, which did fine work on ou behalf. When about 120 men had been embarked the Germans began shelling the ships, using an observation balloon for spotting. As all ships got under way, ORANJE
followed with BASILISK'S boats in tow and proceeded to anchor off Bray. At this time BASILISK returned and removed her boats, and ORANJE was ordered to collect what troops we could, and if none, to return to Margate with what we already had. As there were no spare boats at Bray ORANJE
tried several beaches in the vicinity of Rosendael and
Malo-les-Bains, but as only French troops were there who did not appear desirous of coming off, and there were no boats,
ORANJE proceeded alongside the seaward side of Dunkirk eastern arm. Here we were informed that there were 6 large ships alongside empty, but no troops in the vicinity, so we were told to return home.
ORANJE arrived off Margate at 2300 and anchored.
13. At 0300 ORANJE was called alongside to disembark troops and the P.O. T.C. and E.R.A. were discharged sick.
At 0800, having completed with fresh provisions, and with 4
boats in tow, ORANJE sailed for Dunkirk. It was discovered that there was a rope round the screw which reduced the speed to 6 knots; this had evidently paen there since towing BASIKI
BASILISK's boats the previous day,
At 1200 the wrecks of the Scotta and another troopship were sighted, but as there was already a large number of ships
On arrival off Dunkirk Channel, we were informed by another picking up survivors, ORANJE did not stop.
scoot that the beach evacuation was completed, and that there were already sufficient ships in Dunkirk Harbour, and our boats were not required. As the origin of this message appeared very doubtful, ORANJE remained in the vicinity to try and get definite information from some warship leaving
Dunkirk.
= 14. From 1445 to 1515 a number of Air Attacks were made on ships and boats, and as all ships turned homeward, ORANJE
did likewise. Three dive-bombers, believed to be Messerschmidt attacked ORANJE during this period, two of them coming out of the middle of a squadron of Spitfires. Fire was opened with
Lewis Guns and rifles, and one machine was observed leaving with a thin trail of smoke behind: it is believed that this machine was hit but not badly damaged. Each machine dropped
5 bo mbs, one large one (estimated 5001bs) which exploded on impact, pan Pacific being fashi them and a slum Skut Who we aripping luid ashin of and of: belowed about ha the Pame. hour stent their was this picks 5 evin has it the White of at the shud is ausure & trey our
Proceded for Fac beach were
Cr Culd was Ideas hail, In within are 5 line is Rrt 9 auch r.
Here Me Emmand Your was a frims

CONFIDENTIAL
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99
ORANJE'S R.O.D./1 dated 10th June 1940 (cont)
which exploded on impact, and 4 smaller bombs (estimated 1001bs) with 5 or 10
about 25 yards away smashed the glass in the after end of the seconds delay action. All bombs missed astern, but one falling wheelhouse. All boats scattered during the attacks and there were no casual Ities.
All boats except one returned to Margate under their own power, this on e ORANJE took in tow again and arrived at X
Margate at 2200 and anchored for the night.
15. Sunday June 2nd. ORANJE was ordered to revert to
2 hours notice at noon.
16. Monday June 3rd. At 1000 an attempt was made to start the auxiliary motor, to pump up pressure for starting the main engine, but owing to a choked fuel pipe, and valve trouble, it was not possible to start before 2100. This left
ORANJE out of action the whole day.
17. Tuesday June 4th. ORANJE remained at snchor off Margate, sailing at 1800 for Southend in company with two other scoots. ORANJE anchored off Southend at 2200.
HS. Crispin.
CE ADMIRA
Lieutenant. Royal Navy.
13 JUN 1940
*
Temporary Adress:- Combe Ridge,
*
0
Chiddingfold,
DOVER
E
Surrey.
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stert of at Has speed wave in ausure & trey us
View was this party a evin has at the White
Proceded the beach are for will was Ideas Rrt 9
hail In nituition was is line is Auch or.
Hue Mr If was a frims

2.
corted Lieut. by J.C. "Stathelliot" Clark,R.N.V.R. - Went over in "Rapid 1" 369
/ from and ferried troops, who were
French, the beaches on Friday, May 31.
turday at about 0400 he was towing the "Skipjacks On scued sailors from the wreck of a sunken destroyer.
aler with 3 Sub Lieut. Ruck in charge, when they a was following her when she was hit by a bomb. he transferred the ratings and troops to the "Mosquito"
lped rescue the survivors including Sub Lieut. Flint, o had been wounded and finally left at 1330 being wed part of the way to Margate by the "Anje b Lieut. T.R. Rumbold, R.N.V.R. - in the motor barge iking" from Burnham on Crouch he went to le Panne on e 30th and ferried all the forenoon. He returned to msgate and sailed again at noon on the 1st for Bray, riving just after dark. He burnt out his clutches and ached the "Viking" but managed to kedge off and was wed to Dover.
b Lieut. P. Snow, R.N. - In the "Reda" he reached the aches on Wednesday, May 29th and ferried B.E.F. till
30. He went again on the Friday and ferried Frenchmen.
Sunday, June 2nd, he went over in the "Advance" to nkirk, when he sighted the "Biboli" on the beach.
b Lieut. R.A. Forbes - Reached the beaches on Friday y 31st in "Mary Spearing II" after rrying he turned to Ramsgate. He sighted the "Gavine"ashore.
t. W.G.M. Christian, R.N.V.R. - was in "Mary Spearing I"
t she was beached although she was sighted later being wed by a tug. He sighted "Margerita" floating but serted.
ipper G.W. Halladay, R.N.R. - Went over to Dunkirk
1 Sunday June 2nd, in "Meander".
1b Lieut. R.H. Wallace, R.N.V.R. - Towed over to the eaches in an "Orient" line motor life boat on Sunday ine 2nd. The engine failed and the boat was beached and bandoned. He saw hardly any soldiers. He started alling in a pulling life boat but was taken in tow by rawler "Alcmaria", to which he now transferred. The
OW parted during the night and life boat was left rifting.
ab Lieut. J.K. Blackmore, R.N.V.R. - In the "Lurlyne", hich had a bad engine and so he never got over.
ab Lieut. C.E.S. Beale - In K.A. Dover's barge which as finally left in Dunkirk.
r. S. beaches Burns at 0130 on Monday June 3rd. He picked
(From Southend) - Tokk over "Kayell" arriving n the of the "Block Arrow" which was ashore. and fishing He erried P the crew French troops to a French destroyer mack. "Kayell" in now beached at Ramsgate.
ub Lieut. over by "Oranje Vreeswijk" with They boats were
T.H. Rodgers, R.N.V.R. - In "Gay Crusader" other e was towed "Silvery Breeze" and "Silver Foam". reached beaches ombed ut was and towed tow back was in company with O.I.C. and neluding cut off. He never "Pioneer"
Barl"