TNA ADM 199 792

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OPERATION "DYNAMO" - PRELIMINARY REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS FOR
PERIOD 30TH MAY - 1ST JUNE, 1940.
(Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "Keith's" No.4/32 of 15th June '40)
Junel
51. As the ship was getting lower the order to abandon
ship was given and the majority of men, who were able to find
some timber to hold on to or to find a place in the floats,
left the ship. At this moment the enemy launched a further
dive bombing attack and a bomb struck our exposed starboard
side in the engine room, making a large hole. Several bombs
fell very close to and one fell among the men who had
abandoned ship. The aircraft were engaged by pom poms and
lewis guns.
52. Some twnety minutes later the tug "St. Abbe" was
sighted and eventually came alongside to take men off the ship.
This she did with the exception of volunteers who remained or.
board. She was ordered to go and pick up "Keith's" men in the
water.
In this she was assisted by the tug "Vincia" which
took back to Margate: Lieutenant Beauchamp, 83 ratings from
"Keith" and about ten of the General Headquarters Staff,
together with six seriously injured ratings.
A grey scoob also assisted and recovered Lieutenant
Verney, Pay. Sub. Lieutenant Craig-Waller, P.N.V.R., and about
four of "Keith's" men. Having a full load of soldiers, she
returned to England.
53. "Keith" was again bombed by dive bombers at this time.
54. After an interval, in which a search was made for
wounded and any confidential matter remaining, the tug "St.
Abbs" returned and, the ship now being not only immoveable
but without H.A. ammunition and sinking slowly, the remaining
men left the ship in her at about 0840.
1/6
55. Signals were made to "Salamander" and to "Basilisk"
asking them to sink "Keith" finally but both replied that they
were out of control and required tug assistance. The minesweep
er however proceeded westwardsand shelled "Keith" in vicinity
of Asdic cabinet.
ed
56. "St. Abbs" proceed/to the recovery of a number of men
in the water and on a wreck
of the "Skipjack"
which had been sunk during, it 1s believed, the last attack on
"Keith".
57. After recovering all these men and a number of
soldiers from a ship's lifeboat, the "St. Abbe" was attacked
by part of a large formation of enemy aircraft but without
result.
58. However, somewhat later, another extremely large
formation was sighted consisting mainly of high level bombers.
These did not attack the "St. Abbs" but proceeded to destroy
the "Keith" and attacked "Basilisk" some miles to the East.
"Keith" sank in a heavy salvo of bombs at about 0915.
59. A single, high flying twin-engined bomber was then
seen returning from Dunkirk. Again the "St. Abbs" circled as
fast as she could but this time a single bomb hit her
amidships and she sank very rapidly in about 30 seconds and
with her many wounded survivors at about 1000.