TNA ADM 199 790

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"

Dyrrang Diginal sent
D.Afs.W. --401
H.M.S. "CAPE ARGONA" howler.
379
5th June. 1940.
Report of Operations on Q.Z.X. 60 Patrol.
?9th.1530.
Cast off with from Parkeston Quay and proceeded to sea in company St. Achilleus and Sphene.
2350.
between Arrived on Patrol ground and commenced patrolling
T.Buoy, West Hinder Buoy and Kwint Buoy.
30th.
0025.
Whilst steaming line ahead speed 8 knots "St.Achilleus"
leading "Sphene" centre and "Cape Argona" in the rear observed track of torpedo approaching from Port side and going between "St. Achilleus" and "Sphene".
"Sphene" altered course to Port and brought Lewis Guns into action. All ships separated and rang Full Speed.
Still no sign of M.T.B. or Submarine.
0040.
Torpedo track passed ahead of "Cape Argona" from Port.
Altered course hard Port but still no sign of enemy craft.
0125.
Observed smoke screen close to our Starboard Bow, altered to Port brought smoke screen astern, distinctly heard powerful motor engines behind screen and surmised enemy M.T.B. was approaching through it so dropped
D/C. M.T.B. Engines had ceased after D/C explosion, no vessel visible. Proceeded zig-zagging on course for T Buoy and observed black shape of M.T.B. crossing rapidly across our bow from Starboard to Port, when she appeared on our Port Bow opened fire with all
Lewis Guns, couldn't get Pom Pom to bear as she was too close. Firing was returned but no damage done.
M.T.B's engines were heard to miss-fire, stop, then
'on' again. We hung around, no further sign of enemy craft, so carried on to Westward of Patrol.
0430.
Joined company with "St. Achilleus" and "Sphene" again.
The whole patrol ground was littered with wreckage and either whole or partly destroyed boats, no sign of survivors or dead.
Carried on Patrol, no contacts made, plenty of air activity both German and British planes passing continuously overhead, no attacks made.
y 31st.
Received instructions from F.O.I.C. Dover to patrol under further notice near South Falls Bucy. "Sphene"
dropped out of group and joined with "Arotic Pioneer".
0615.
nothing to report during day, but towards midnight,
Instructions received to carry on original patrol, there seemed to be great activity.
de ne 1st.0040.
Investigated "St. Achilleus" so carried on with be going contact, found to be non submarine, patrol, lost track of increased, explosions seemed to all on activity M.T.B. tracks were observed between over S the place, had very could make nothing definite of that all around us, anxious time. Zig-zagged all and T buoys, around us, thought I observed this pinned searchlights us in being played & T. Buoys, would from enemy was happening across QZX60 at S Buoy not cross searchlight area track. between Several S. star shells were dropped

(2)
above aircraft, us at working one moment in conjunction but by with M.T.B's two right
3:22
we actually evidently observed. escaped torpedoing. twisting No surface and turning rapidly was
Daylight was welcomed by craft all.
400.
was Keep rather calling worried "St. Achilleus" by R/T and "W/T no event of about her as we had arranged answer at S. Buoy. losing each other during the night to rendezvous in the
.000.
Came to to conclusion "Arctic that "St. Achilleus" had gone, been group mainly all because of W/T watches, our operator had already gone Pioneer" and asked permission to join reported her on night and couldn't carry on indefinitely.
315.
Whilst heading from T.Buoy towards Dunkirk in answer to S.S. "Pragg's" S.O.S., received signal from Arctic
Pioneer that M.T.B. was approaching, we cleared for action challenged her five times, no distinguishing mark or ensign was shown, also she approached us zig-zagging. Fire was opened with four inch, Pom Pom and Lewis guns, all three ships heading straight for her firing; one four inch from "Arctic Pioneer" struck her superstructure and she then stopped and layto. On approach a white ensign was observed being waved. Fire ceased and boats were lowered.
We went alongside M.T.B. took survivors and casualties off.
Report of action has been given to F.O.I.C. Harwich also with report for Commanding Officer of M.T.B. Casualties
1 killed and five wounded. Transferred all to H.M.S.
"Saltash" who also took charge of M.T.B.
175
2100.
Received instructions to take charge of Group consisting of "Sphene" and"Lord Melchett" and patrol between S.Buoy and West Hinder.
e 2. 0509. Contacted "Lord Melchett" she joined us, proceeded
Eastward.
0711.
Stopped and Picked up 12 Refugees from small boat, boat not worth keeping so cast it adrift and proceeded.
0729.
Signalled by aircraft (Hudson) piloted by Pilot Officer
Elworthy of Detling and asked to follow him. He repeatedly circled around us and eventually said carry on as you are going and you'll meet and open boat full of people.
0740.
Met small boat, took refugees onboard, made boat fast astern and proceeded on patrol.
0955.
Attacked by enemy dive bombers first one dived and machine gunned us, the second one dropped bombs, not both rame out on us. They dived to within a hundred exhausted, feet, of sun, could be heard distinctly but seen until almost fire was maintained until ammunition dropped continual continuously. 15 bombs were Bombs ship zig-zagged during the course of three attacks. thought altogether 20 feet of ship both sides and setting one fire fell within fell in bulwarks forward, also blew base to be incendiary unprimed D/Cs and deck and bulwarks and to two spare bar one arm supported, port by explosion but D.G.
of mast away Engines were stopped done to gear dismantled. believed considerable numerous damage minor carried on ship again, badly strained, deck besides hose.
engine defects. and Fire was put out by