TNA ADM 199 790

From:- Resident Naval Officer, Poole,
Dynam 241.
To:- F.O.I.C. Portland.
22
Copy to Staff Officer Operations, Portmouth.
REPORTS RECEIVED FROM COMMANDING OFFICERS OF REQUISTITIONED
DUTCH COASTERS, WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO"
"SAN ANTONIO"
B
people. On first trip 270 people were taken off Dunkirk Breakwater and on Second trip 330
On second trip a dive bombing attack was made on the vossel from ahead by & Junkers
89 plane and two bombs just missed astern. The first of these was a delay action bomb. The ship experienced heavy bombardment by 5.9 inch shells whilst embarking the second time.
A
"HEBE" ( Report as written by commanding Officer)
The Dútch Coastal vessel "Hebe" was takon over by a Naval Crew on Friday 24th. May 1940
H.M.S. Hebe was commissioned on Saturday 25th. May 1940, Commanding Officer, Lieut.
A. H. Rowlandson R.N., First Licut. Lieut P.A.B.Powell R.N., and a crew of LP.O.
1 E.R.A. 2 Stokers 1 A.B. and 4. Ordinary Seaman.
The first O eration carried out was on Monday 27th. May when TO sailed in
Company with the rest of the group with orders to evacuate troops from the Beach between Dunkirk and La Panne or from Dunicirk.
Hebe arrived off Dunicirk at about 0030 and I approached the beach twice but found no troops and no opposition. I turned West along the beach towards
Dunkirk, entered and went alongside the east fetty in shore, I loaded with troops all that remained there, and returned to Dover on completion with about 150 on board. No opposition was encountered.
The only casuality was a slight wound in the foot of the commanding officer H.M.S. Hebe from a bullet accidentally fired by a British Soldier on board.
The second operation began on Tednesday 29th. leaving Dover at 20.00. I
went to Dunkirk by the Calais route and although constantly searched by searchlights no batteries opened fire on the Calais coast.
Off Dunkirk I came up to H.N.S. Sursun Corda lowering a boat near the wreckage of a vessel apparently mined. One voice was heard and a mineaveeper arrived and sent over a boat I continued my course.
I passed close to the entrance to Dunkirk, the jetties and piers were deserted so I continued eastward and went ashore near & large body of British troops
I lowered the only boat and carly left and began embarking these troops. This proved to be very slow so I approached the beach and bows to the shore enabled men to wade out and climb on board. About 300 were taken on board and forried out to a destroyer.
I repeated this operation and took operation and took over another 300
to 350 men to the minesweeper Fitaroy. The Captain let me have two large type life saving nets to put over the bows which assisted embarking troops after I returned to shore.
No other large ships were lying off Dunkirk. H.M.S. Friso was embarizing troops and H.M.S. Sursum Corda was aground close in shore. I attempted to tow her
Yoff but failed and was driven onto a small Bank close to her and remained aground until 18.30
At 18.00 Geramn Artillery began shelling the sand dunes and beach, although shapnel fell over us and wounded men aboard Sursum Corda we got afloat without difficulty and oaded about 250 troops and went down towards La Panne to ass them to a destroyer there.
I remaine a there resouing men from the water embarking men from boats and pontoons the majority of these were passed to & destroyer and were suffering from exposure.
At 23. I found no more men to embark and returned to Dover without further incident with about 250 people on board.
The ship was without ater and fuel and I arrived at Dover at about 11.00
on Friday 31st. May. Wa or and provisions were embarked and I was sent to Remsgate
In company with H.M.S. Fiso whose compass WILB useless owing to banbing attack.
On Sunday June 2nd. 1940 while under way to the fuellingJetty In
Ransgate Harbour I was ordered alongside the Pior to enbark 249 Cerman prisoners to take them to
The Dover. hold filled and about a dosen wounded were left lying on deck. the The
"uard consiste of 36 was frenc security Police and 6 cadets of the O.T.C. under
Command of a 2nd. Licut,

B.
24
29th. May. 00.00 off Dunkirk have great difficulty in finding out where to P 00.15.-
touched bottom 1.0 a.m. approx. entered Dunkirk and secured alongside Pier. Shore arrangements very bad only one shore ladder available. Troops commence to board.
24
1.30 "San Antonio" came alongside. Troops cross our deck to feed San Antonio. 3.0
approx. San Antonio cast off. I endeavour to speed up loading. Note as much as 15
minutes go by at times without any troops boarding at other times the single ladder is quite inadequate to deal with the numbers. No effort was made by the Military to use the outside of the Pier 4.0 0 a.m. Wind freshening we have received approx 220 troops cast off and proceeded in Company for Downs. Near by ships open fire at enemy aircraft
During passage three hunting destroyers drop at least five depth charges Our troops have rifles ready to engage aircraft. Run ha been issued to those troops who are very fatigued and wet also to ships crew. 2.0 Arrive off Downs ordered to proceed Ramsgate.2.
Pilot boarded took us to Margate discharged troops, received stores fresh water and two ladders. I rece ve 50 feet rope from another ships 8.0 p.m. Proceed in company with Carabia for Braye. Hands employed in rigging TS and cleaning ship
30th. May 5. a.m. anchored off Braye (falling tide) and enced receiving troops shifted ship 5 times as tide fell. Under continuous enemy gunfire from the shore. 9.0 a.m.
we have received approx 430 troops and all available space is full (the shore arrangements fo loading is under naval charge and most efficient. Also;adders were most useful.
Weighed anchor and proceeded for Downs altering course as required to aviod enemy gunfire until out of range. Issued run to fatigued troops and all crew.
Troops stand by to engage enemy aircraft 5.0 P.m. entered Ramsgate discharged troops received stores and fresh water. I wrote a note to.C in C Dover drawing his attention to the mutinous conduct of
Borrowed two naval ratings from shore as night watchmen. Proceeded outside Harbour to anchor. Hands clean ship All hands to sleep
Watchmen keep look out.
31st. May 5.0 p.m. ordered to proceed Portsmouth
1st. June, Secured Kings stairs
2nd. June 12.00 ordered to proceed Poole 5.0 P.m. stopped off Yarmouth.
4th. June 6.30 p.m. Secured alongside at Poole.
This ships engines are fairly good but all other appointments are very bad
Signed S.Hoggan, Lt. Comdr. R.N.R.
"ATLANTIC"
I beg to submit the following report on this ships activities during the evacuation from Dunkirk
Friday 29th. left Dover 9.30 a.m. 12. to waiting off N. Goodwin L. Vessel for orders 3.30 proceeded 3.0 a.m. 30th. arrived La. Panne commence embarking troops in ships lifeboat. Anchored as near shore as possible. Ship aground at Low water embarkation slow at first in ships boats very hard work for the small crew later expedited by Naval Commander S.N.O. who detailed motor launch and whaler to ship embarked approx. 300 men. Sailed about 11. a.m. Beach and Channel being shelled by Shore Batteries.
Arrived Ramsgate 23.00 30th. May arrived Dunkirk 05.00 31st. June about 1 mile east of Dunkirk close in shore passed ashore to haul out boats, sea choppy and boats getting swamped lost ships boats 10.00 was to out to deeper water, engines fail to start. Embarked approx. 100 troops. Waited off beach for 24 hours but unable to embark troops owing to being unable to obtain a motor launch to attend on ship and no boats being available. Beaches and Channel being jected to shelling and air bombardment all day and night. Two or three bombs fell close alongside.
05.00 1st rescued crew and passengers of Drifter which had struck sunken wreck [o?]
during operation, boat full close alongside striking at ketch which completely dissappeared.
13.00 Ist. Arrived Ramsgate.
Note. The small amount of troops embarked on 2nd. trip was due to scarcity of motor launche ato attend various ships, when I did eventually get one and sent it in shore the soldiers would not wade out to the boat during dark hours.
L.E. Fordham It. Condr. R.N.R.
"KAAP FALGA"
B.
Kaap Falga (Lieut. G.E.B. ST.G Beale) in Command) loaded 300 tons Army Provisions left Southampton 21.00 26/5/40 and beached off La Panne according to orders 0800
26/5/40 in Company with "Alice" and Able Tasman. At 12.00 Kaap Falga and Alice were ordered to refloat as soon as possible and proceed to Bray beaches, 4 miles away.
8 hours later Kaap Falga floated of with the tide.
In the meantime Lieut. Beale had been wounded ashore (during air attacks on Ships)
whilst contacting the Military, Lieut. Slater (Captain of Alice) who was with him was killed. Lieut. Beale was reported to have been taken to the Military Hospital with a. paralised leg.
Alice was put out of action and ballast tanks flooded to make her rest on bottom (Max, Depth H.W. about 14. feet).

First Lieut. then abandoned Alice and took his crew and Major De Haviland (wounded)
25
and 4. soldiers to Kaap Falga where 1st. Lieut. Alice took command. Major De.
Havilland of G.H.Q came on board with instructions for Kaap Falga to go to sea
25
and try and intercept a destroyer so that he could report by m/t to the War Office the seriousness of the situation. No. Destroyer would stop so Kaap Falga returned to the Downs and reported arrival. Then to Dover where stores were cleared by 09.00
1st. Kaap Falga's engines were badly coked up and in attempting to return to
Dunkirk at 22.00 1st. they overheated to such an extent that the Ship could not make suffient speed to reach Dunkirk by 03.00 2nd. the latest hour that ships had been ordered to stay off Dunkirk.
Due to the possibility of this defect Kaap Falga was not used on the night of June 2nd.
the last night of the evacuation.
Sailed for Poole 14.30/3 arrived 12.00/5
PACIFIC
A
Lieut. Comdr..Skrine R.N. Lieut. Triscott R.N.R.
Sat.25th. May Crews for Dutch Skoots proceeded from ortsmouth to Poole where they arrived about noon and were detached for these vessels.
Pacific proceeded at 14.00 leaving discharged dutch crew at Brownses Island. Was ordered to anchor at Yarmouth for the night.
Sun. 26th. May. Weighed at 0.430 and proceeded for Portsmouth Harbour at 09.3.0
Being Senior officer of the Party I went ashore and arranged for stores and swinging etc. No sailing orders were obtainable until about 19.00 when we were ordered to complete swinging as soon as possible and sail at once for Newhaven. Accordingly sailed at dark with Amazone Atlantic Zeus & Pascholl in company (wega and San Antonio)
has broken down)
Monday 27th. May. Arrived off Newhaven at 04.00 and was ordered to anchor outside
Lay at anchor all day awaiting orders. At dark received orders to sail for downs in company with a party of skoots that had previously arruved Newhaven. Weighed and
Proceeded
Tues. 28th. May Arrived Dover about 08.00 and berthed alongside 09.00. Went ashore and having ascertained the possible nature of the operation made arrangements for sandbags first aid outfits etc., to be supplied to my party of Skoots by noon
However an air raid warning intervened and none of these stores had been received
13.00 received orders to sail forthwith. Sailed about 13.00 and took over a large lifeboat at sea from one of the slower skoots who was dropping behind. Pacific gradually overhauled the other four skoots and I think was the first of this party to reach La Panne.
From No. 6 E Buoy we proceeded at slow speed 180 straight for the beach where in answer to our hail a shout was raised by the soldiers on the beach. The intention waswas to turn to Port and anchor off. However partly due to the fact that the larger ships were closer in than I anticipated but mainly due to my leadsman failing to obtain any sounding at all we grounded on a bank of sand before we had turned
90° This occured at 23.00 We sent the large Lifeboat ashore with 3 of our 5 hands and instructed them to take off men to other ships as with the wind blowing inshore it was not certain that we should get off, With the remaining two hands we laid out a kedge on our Port quarter. By going full astern and heaving on the kedge we got afloat when the tide rose at 02.00
29th. May. The ships lifeboat and skiff was then sent inshore and 1 officer and
7 men were brought off to Pacific before the boats lost touch with her in the dark
They did howver bring several par ies off to other ships. Verbal orders had been received before leaving Dover to leave shore before03.3 being anxious to recover boats and men Pacific remained inshore till daylight finally sailing at 04.30
when it seemed liekly that the boats and crews had been embarked by other ships.
Rerurned to Dover by route Y arriviving about 16.30 and disembarked troops. No orders were immediately available but verbal orders were subsequently received to embark water and provisions and sail about 22.00 Application was made for the balance of complument and I was informed that I should be sent 3 hnds from
Montvera. These did not arrive until 02.40 at which time Pacific sailed for Dunitirk.
30th. May. The morning of 30th May was misty at about 08.20 when crossing Le Dyck bank there was a violent underwater explosion about two cables on the Starboard bow
No aircraft was about and it is supposed that it was a torpedo which had exploded on the Bank. No vessel was in sight Arrived off the beach 09.00 about 1 mile E
of Dunkirk and anchored close in. We had no boat of our own but collected two from a skoot that was just leaving, conditions as regards surf were pretty good but boats very waterlogged and no boat was obtainable all day. By 16.00 my crew were exhausted by pulling those boats in and out from the hore all as I had 30 Officers and 620
men aboard I decided to sail. We might have had many more in half the time if a motor boat had been available. Accordingly sailed at 16.00 When crossing the
Inner Ratel Bank attacked by by two of a flight of three fighters with machine guns. They scored was & few hits on the ship and injured noñody. Had nothing but a pistol with which to reply.

Dyuram 123
To N.O.I.C.
From Commanding Officer
"San antonio" D.B.16.
2nd June 19A0.
Report on damage to "San antonio " in operation
Dynamo.
By ramming by D.B. "BART" whilet alongside at Doner
28.5.40. 1000 hrs.
Fore port regging screws carried away, Bulmarks bent, cable pipe fractured and displaced, Post light house disturbed.
Temporary repairs were effected.
,
0230 29/5/40. By ramming by D.B. "Tilly" whilet embarking troops at Dunkerque.
Poop rails bent and broken. Wheel house tilled forwards with windows broken and woodwork generaly displaced.
Steering gear housing moved forward, causing slight jamming of wheel and rendering steering year hard to operate.
Sleering compass unshipped and displaced
Stern light and flag staff carried away, Wiheless and
D.F. coil displaced, what house floor boards displaced.
)
By sticking Paddle sweeper alongside pier at Dunkarque.
Bulwarks bent in way of No3 Hatch. 0315 29/5/40
By ramming from D.B. "amazone" whilst alongside admirally
Pin, Doner.
1530 29/5/40
Bulwarks in way of fore part rigging further bent and Part lighthouse further disturbed
)
20.45 30/5/40 By delay action bomb from enemy plane exploding under sterm.
Standard Compass card washipped. Saloon lamp broken.
Main Dynamo drive betting carried away and dynamo base ven hot and melt white metal, necessitating constant lubrication fractured. Main shoft displaced causing bearings so

Dynams 376 8/4/0/13
1262
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.
HMS GODETIA
rew e/o. NOIC.
S.-546. (Revised-January, 1925).
Dynamo 350 huddles box.
125
D.-398.
COMMUNICATION SHEET.
FROM Cornanding officer D.B.16 SAN ANTONIO
DATE 10th June 1940.
To The Cornodore.
Ref. No.
R.N. Banachs. Partsmonth
FORMER
LEADING SEAMAN (S.T.) ARMITACE.
D.B.16.
&
Submitted that the above rating camed out his duties in Q most efficient manner during operation DYNAMO and under the lining and ling circuinstances conducted himself will a eheerful and Jealous spirit. and was an excellent. examp be to the re-ander of the
DE
ships company.
MODORE R.N. BARRACE
CO
12 JUN 1940
Reeil. Connacia R.N.R.
PORTSMOU
Sta. 186/24.
5.546.
212188. Wt. 43306/D.6536. 900M. 2-39, W.&S. Ltd. Gp. 701-68.

Dynam. 209 BIWO/ 233
c/o The Standard Bank of South Africa, 1462
9 Northumberland Avenue,
S.W.1.
7th June 1940.
Sir,
ACTIVITY OF EX DUTCH COASTER "ZEUS" UNDER OPERATION "DYNAMO"
I have been instructed by the Commodore's Secretary at
Portsmouth to submit a report to yourself with reference to the above, together with my suggestions.
27th May 1940.
Dawn - Arrived in company with others off Dover. This vessel has been equipped with 360 life belts in addition to those for the crew.
9 A.M. - Entered Dover. Berthed alongside West Quay, topped up with fresh water, stores etc.,
BIG
13:00 - Proceeded in company for Dunkirk. Considerable gun fire heard during crossing.
29th May 1940.
00:00 - Approaching Dunkirk experienced considerable difficulty in finding out where to go to be of most value.
01:00 - Entered Dunkirk harbour and berthed alongside the quay.
Commenced receiving troops.
(NOTE: Only one vertical shore ladder was available).
01:30 - SAN ANTONIO berthed alongside this vessel. Troops crossed our deck to board SAN ANTONIO.
03:00 - SAN ANTONIO cast off. This vessel continued embarking troops.
04:00 - Breeze freshening and we have received approximately 230
troops, as the supply of troops appears to have stopped for the time being we decide to cast off.
At times troops were so numerous on the quay that the one shore ladder was quite inadequate to deal with the numbers.
At others, as much as quarter of an hour went by without at single man boarding our vessels. It had been discovered that two ladies in soldiers overcoats and steel helmets boarded with troops. Best possible arrangements were made for their comfort.
Vice-Admiral,
Dover.
As/...