TNA ADM 199 790

Dynam. 311.
27
I
FROM Commander in Command Mine Recovery Flotilla,
27
DATE
10th June, 1940
North Shields.
TO
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate copy r. Cape Hultern
REPORT OF OPERATION ON NIGHT OF
3/4 June, 1940
Sir,
I have the honour to report the operation of the 5 scoots under my command on the night of
3/4 June.
2.
On being refused permission to take the drifters of the 2nd M.R. Flotilla, I was offered command of the 5 Dutch Scoots, "PASCHOLL",
"HORNSRUG", "REIGER", "LENA" and "BORNRIF".
3.
There was little time to make any arrangements and comminication was difficult. I made some rough orders on a signal pad and sent them round by the motor boat which took me on board "PASCHOLL".
4.
Under way about 1600 for RV at N. G odwin.
"REIGER" had meanwhile run aground on the Quern on a falling tide and was out of it.
5.
Proceeded in company without incident, timing my speed to reachlio. 12, buoy Dunkerque at 2230.
6.
My orders were to use Western pier Nouvean avant Port and on rounding Western mole I headed into the avant Port. I was unable to find enough water anywhere in this area so I came astern and headed for
West pier of the main harbour, which I could seeagainst the burning town.
7. go alongside West side of West Pier. They got their
Meanwhile 2 of my ships passed me and tried to bows up to pier but had a job getting their stern to and "LENA" which was the outside ship of the two grounded just off the pier. I got alongside east side and
"HORNSRUG" came alongside me.
8. very glad to find Commander H.R. TroMp, who said he had
The Pier was full of French troops and I was appointed himself Piermaster.
He and I were unable to get a tug to pluck
"LENA" off and finally had to take the men off and leave her.
Lieut. Wise, R.N.V.R., and his Sub Lieut. were meanwhile 9. loading the ship with men and "HORNSRUG" destroyer was also loading vessel alongside each side astern of us. Cormander of across my decks. There was a escort complete control of the situation in spite and
Tromp had almost lost his voice, and without his help have been having judgment the loading of 5 ships at once would difficult.

Dynam 196.
108
107
June 7th, 1940.
Supplementary to a brief report given to the
Resident N.O. at Poole - From the 0.0. H.H.S.
"Pascholl".
The above ship returned from La Panne to
Sheerness on Sunday 2nd June. Her Captain immediately left her to return to his duties in Naval Control,
Ramagate. At 1830, on instructions from the Commodore's
Office, I reported to Admiral Taylor and without further notice, was told by him to take command of the above ship, and take her to Dunkirk. There being no routing orders available I was told instead to await the departure of H.N.S. "Reiger" and sail in company to
Ramsgate. "Reiger" was unable to sail until 1630
and Ramsgate was reached at 2300. To anchored and went ashore for instructions which were to our intense disappointment; we were to be off for the night and await further instructions. With the exception of two of the ship's company, all on board complained that they were reliefs for the original crew and asked to be relieved, having done one or maybe two trips across already. It proved impossible to do this for them until Tuesday morning, but after they had been allocated definite jobs and posts during the operations and had been given a little verbal encouragement they settled down, gave of their best and did their duty in traditional manner.
2. At 1430 Monday, 3rd June, I was advised that the
"Pascholl" would be salling as flagship with four other
Schults. At 1500 Commander Hammond, R.N. cnme on board with his navigator, Lieutenant de Mornay, H.M.
With great tact and understanding they assured me that they were largely passengers and in no way intended to interfere with, or supercede the Captain. by somewhat natural disappointment at the apparent loss, in spite of these assurances, of the opportunity of conducting the operations on my own initiative, was more than offset by company, guidance and encouragement they afforded to the two Officers of the ship.
5. We sailed at 1600 and promptly loat one of the five ships - "Reiger" which,, to Commander Hamond's lurid disgust, went on the putty (Quern Sand).
Overtaking a convoy of wierd, but gallant little French fishermen, we arrived in Dunkirk harbour at 3500
after a most tame passage. The town was blasing furiously and presented a trult memorable spectacle.
The harbour Was congested, sonté of the ships there being wrecked, and in cases already ablase. Difficult navigation was intensified by our not being able to find the Nouveau Avant Port (no proper plan of the harbour being available ), our perigrinations nearly putting us on the putty twice. In desperation we went alongaide the Packet boat quay of. the inner harbour, secured and got ladders aboard. Commander
Troup, waiting on the quay immediately asked our capacity, and I foolishly but optimistically replied
"Oh, between 500 and 1,000% Poilus in reasonable order commeneed to invade the ship and were embarked in an orderly fashion, each mon being disarmed before being allowed to descend into the hold. The work of embarkation was su ervised by the First Licutenant
(Sub Lieut. St. Aubin, R.N.V.R.) in & most creditable manner

CONFIDENTIAL
Bruldness
Binlq
1255
FROM. THE COMMANDING OFFICER H.M. SCHOOT "REIGER".
116
DATE. 10th JUNE,1940.
TO. THE VICE ADMIRAL, DOVER.
Copy to. The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
Narrative of Events During the Period 26th,May - 4th June 1940.
Submitted.
Following narrative events during the period 26th May-
4th June 1940. It is regretted that as no log was kept during this period times quoted are approximate.
26th May.
Commissioned at Tibbury landing stage.
P.M. Wiped and proceeded to Southend.
2200 Anchored off Southend pier.
I regret to report that while awaiting pilot of Gravesend
Pier I under-estimated the strength of the tide and drifted over a small rowing boat moored off the pier.
27th May.
0600 Proceeded to Sheerness. A.M. stored and swung for compases.
This was unsatisfactory and a further swing was carried out at P.M. The steering compass was given up as hopeless, but the standard compass deviations were brought down to 10 East and 10 West.
These deviations however did not remain constant and I frequently had deviations of 30 West and 25 East. Throughout the operations I could not rely on the compass, my method of setting the course being to con the ship on the next ahead or a passing ship at sea, and in pilotage waters from buoy to buoy.
2000 Sailed from Sheerness, routed at Southend for Dunkirk
2300 Anchored off Nore Lt. Ves.
28th May.
0330 Weighed and proceeded
1100 Off North Goodwin Lt. Ves. passed four schoots returning empty, one of which hailed me and informed me that Bunkirk was in
German hands, and that they had been sent to the Downs for orders. I
turned and followed to the Downs.
(Several schoots were).
Dynami

28th May. (continued).
- 123
- 117
Several schoots were anchored in the Downs when we arrived and
I was ordered to anchor as convenient, as my anchor had to be weighed by hand and it was a lengthy process, I decided to proceed alongside
"Vrede", After consultation with the Commanding Officer "Vrede", we decided to weigh and to proceed to Dankirk in the hope of gleaning further information on the way, "Vrede" reducing speed to keep me company.
Off the North Goodwin Lt. Vess. we encountered a schoot returing full, who said that they were asking for us on the beaches East of Dunkirk. This was the first definate information that we were required to evacuate troops that we had received. "Vrede", and
"Reiger" then proceeded independently towards Dunkirk.
2300 Arrived off Zuyderoote buoy, sighted one Cruiser at anchor( afterwards identified as the "Calcutta") I closed the
"Calcutta", and asked where I could embark troops. "Calcutta"
ordered me to steer 140° to where her boats were operating. Contacted "Calcutta's" boats on the beach, and they brought off about
70 cot cases.
I cannot speak toohighly of the work done by "Calcutta's"
boats during this operation. There was a fresh breeze and choppy sea running with a considerable tide, but they continued throughout the night without let up. During this operation "Reiger's" starboard anchor chain parted and ship grounded without damage.
0300 Proceeded alongside "Calcutta". Transferred all cot cases from upper deck to "Calcutta" and proceeded with remainder.
29th May.
Arrived at Sheerness.
30th May.
0400 Sailed for Dunkirk, anchored off East Cant buoy owing to for, 0930 weighed and proceeded.
During the passage from North Goodwin to Dunkirk roads we were subjected to periodical machine gun fire from aircraft, none of which hit the ship, no plane coming below 4000 ft.
2000 Entered Dunkirk harbour, proceeded alongside quay emabrked 250 (approx) B.E.F.
While in Dunkirk the harbour was being subjected to fire from an enemy battery of about 6 in. calibore
2100 Sailed from Dunkirk.
( 31st May 1100 Arrived
Sheerness).

124
1st May.
1300 Arrived Sheerness.
*
118
st. June.
1100 Sailed from Sheerness to Dunkirk
During the passage from V buoy to W buoy, we were attacked by three ememy bombers who dropped two patterns of three bombs from a height of about 6000 ft, the nearest of these fell about 100 yards from the starboard quarter but did no damage, they also fired machine guns without success.
2130 Arrived Dunkirk, On entering harbour I saw two Channel
Steamers alongside the jetty, one half full the other empty, and no other troops in sight. I turned with the intention of proceeding to the beaches, when I sighted a large party of French soldiers near the small jetty in Nouveau Avant Port. I proceeded alongside and loaded about 330 French artillery.
2215 Sailed from Dunkirk.
Whilst in Dunkirk similar conditions to the previous visit were experienced. The German Battery appeared to be situated want to the southern of No 12 bucy.
On passage through the Roads we encountered a W/D launch which had broked down and took her in tow. Off No 12 bucy I was hailed by an M.T.B. who was overloaded and appeared to have engine trouble, I took on board nine of HS him passengers and took her in tow
2nd June.
0600 Off North Goodwin Lt. Ves. cast off M.T.B. and W/D launch,
M.T.B. towing W/D launch to Ramagate. Proceeded to Sheerness,
0930 Arrived Sheerness.
1600 Sailed for Ramsgate.
2300 Anchored off Ramsgate breakwater.
3rd June.
1560 Weighed and proceeded to North Goodwin
1530 Grounded in Que prn Bank
1830 Refloated, unable to start engines owing to defect in clutch.
2000 Dredged clear of Queern Bank. Anchored.
On receiving orders from"Pascall" to proceed to North Goodwin
I set a course from Que Jrn buoy with F'buoy on the starboard bow. The buoy I actually put on the starboard bow was E buoy, both these buoys are black and white checkered.
This grounding and consequent engine movements probably caused the clutch to seize active thus preventing "Reiger" from taking part in the
(final effort)

"VREDE"
Page 8.
150
144
From
8. On-closing the Naval Control Service cutter off Southend
Route Instructions and Sailing Orders were received to arrive off Marte les Bains, 5 miles East of Dunkirk, not before 2300.
As there was time in hand "Vrede" was anchored in the Downs in company with several other commandeered schoots at 1830.
9. I was informed by the Commanding Officer of "REIGER" that the
N.C.S. trawler off the North Goodwin Light Vessel had told him to turn back, the trawler having been told by another schoot that Dunkirk was in enemy hands. The B.B.C. news bulletin gave no guidance, nor could I get any information from other ships present, so I eventually sailed with "Reiger" at 1400
with the idea of complying with sailing orders if the situation permitted.
IO. Owing to the darkness and to the failure of several light buoys "Vrede" took the ground at the inshore end of the
ZUYDECOOTE PASS. Attempts to refloat her proving abortive it was decided to wait for the flood tide.
II. During this time many ships were seen entering and leaving within two cables of where "Vrede" lay aground and at 0030 &
large merchant ship was seen to encounter two ships leaving.
This first ship blew three short blasts and went astern. Shortly afterwards there was a dull explosion, without any flame,and when the resultant water and spray subsided nothing could be seen of the ship. As it was impossible to assist from where
"Vrede" lay aground, and as other vessels were in the vicinity, no action was taken.
I2. At 0400 "Vrede" was refloated by the tide and allowed to drift to a safe anchorage where the air bottles might be recharged. While at anchor an unidentified destroyer approached and hailed an order to proceed inshore to the beach as soon as possible and embark troops.
I3. At 0500 "Vrede" was anchored as close inshore as the shelving nature of the beach permitted. Both dinghies were lowered and sent to cooperate with several motor launches which proved to be
Margate pleasure boats manned by their Margate crews. These men were absolutely tireless and cheerful under the most trying conditions, receiving troops from the dinghies and ferrying them to the ships. In thes manner some I50 officers tiredbut cheerful officers and men were embarked, including a Belgian major with whom we had some difficulty owing to the impossibility of drying his corsets. The motor launches were withdrawn had by been wrecked and it was impossible to get nearer to the beach other authority at about 0930 and as one of the dinghies than about 3/4 mile I decided the operation could best be served by embarking troops from Dunkirk, whence many other ships were proceeding.
I4. I alongside the eastern breakwater. Approximately entered Dunkirk harbour at I030 Wednesday 29th. May and 500
secured full capacity, were embarked during which operation obtained troops, several minor our bombing attacks took place, none of which hits nearer than the central pier.
I5. As only