TNA ADM 199 792

Collection details

TNA ADM 199 792

Admiralty records concerning Operation Dynamo and the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, covering 1940–1941.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: ADM 199 792

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/792. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
180	Log in to enlarge	SECRET PAGE 7. 22? H.M.S. "KEITH" - FINAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS 30th MAY - 1st 229 JUNE, 1940, WITH HER EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION. (Captain Berthon's No.31 of 1st July, 1940 to V.A. Dover.) 62. At about 0950 a single high flying twin-engine bomber was seen returning from Dunkirk. Again"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), with her many wounded survivors. The "Keith's" medical officer Surgeon Lieutenant R.H.A.Turner Royal Navy, Ret'd, who was attending to wounded below and the Gunner (T) Mr.Gedric James Brown Rpyal Navy, were both lost. 63. All who had reached the surface of the water swam to the shore and a number reached the wreck of the "Clan MacAlister", which was now resting on her step off Braye after being sunk in one of the above raids. They were later taken off by a motor lighter and transferred to Yard Craft 63 which with a full load of soldiers proceeded for England and after further trials by bombing on passage landed at Dover at 0800 Sunday, 2nd June. One officer swam to the shore and returned via Dunkirk in a M.A.S.B. 64. Survivors from "Keith" thus reached England in the Following ways:- Rear Admiral Dover and his staff by M.T.B. Captain, 3 officers and 13 men by yard craft 63. 1 officer and 83 ratings by tug "Vincia": also H.Q. staff. 2 officers and 20 ratings by scoot "Hilda" About 7 ratings by "Salamander" 1 officer by M.A.S.B. from Dunkirk after swimming ashore. There are 3 officers and 33 men lost. 65. The discipline and cheerfulness of the ship's company was most marked and I consider was due to the personality of my predecessor the late Captain David Simpson R.N. who lost his life while in command of "Keith" about ten days previously, and to all the officers. No credit for this high morale can be attributed to myself as my active command of "Keith" amounted to 48 hours only. 66. The cause of "Keith's" loss was the heavy enemy dive bombing attacks carried out when the ship's movements were very restricted owing to shoals, magnetic mines and wrecks and to the lack of effective A.A. fire owing to H.A. ammunition having been expended. The conduct of all officers and men was exempliary but it is desired to bring certain officers and men to your notice who from my personal observations were outstandingly forward in the execution of their duty in action under very trying conditions. Recommendations of these officers and ratings are being made in a separate letter. VICE ADMIRAL JUL 1940 D CAPTAIN. for Dover uy zuyuevote rass and North channel. The night was	Clan Macalister England Hilda Vincia Berthon Brown Dover May Page Turner

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 180.

SECRET
PAGE 7.
22?
H.M.S. "KEITH" - FINAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS 30th MAY - 1st
229
JUNE, 1940, WITH HER EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION.
(Captain Berthon's No.31 of 1st July, 1940 to V.A. Dover.)
62. At about 0950 a single high flying twin-engine
bomber was seen returning from Dunkirk. Again"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), with her many wounded survivors. The "Keith's"
medical officer Surgeon Lieutenant R.H.A.Turner Royal Navy,
Ret'd, who was attending to wounded below and the Gunner (T)
Mr.Gedric James Brown Rpyal Navy, were both lost.
63.
All who had reached the surface of the water swam
to the shore and a number reached the wreck of the "Clan
MacAlister", which was now resting on her step off Braye after
being sunk in one of the above raids. They were later taken off
by a motor lighter and transferred to Yard Craft 63 which with
a full load of soldiers proceeded for England and after further
trials by bombing on passage landed at Dover at 0800 Sunday,
2nd June. One officer swam to the shore and returned via
Dunkirk in a M.A.S.B.
64.
Survivors from "Keith" thus reached England in the
Following ways:-
Rear Admiral Dover and his staff by M.T.B.
Captain, 3 officers and 13 men by yard craft 63.
1 officer and 83 ratings by tug "Vincia": also
H.Q. staff.
2 officers and 20 ratings by scoot "Hilda"
About 7 ratings by "Salamander"
1 officer by M.A.S.B. from Dunkirk after swimming
ashore.
There are 3 officers and 33 men lost.
65.
The discipline and cheerfulness of the ship's company
was most marked and I consider was due to the personality of my
predecessor the late Captain David Simpson R.N. who lost his life
while in command of "Keith" about ten days previously, and to all
the officers. No credit for this high morale can be attributed
to myself as my active command of "Keith" amounted to 48 hours
only.
66.
The cause of "Keith's" loss was the heavy enemy dive
bombing attacks carried out when the ship's movements were very
restricted owing to shoals, magnetic mines and wrecks and to the
lack of effective A.A. fire owing to H.A. ammunition having been
expended. The conduct of all officers and men was exempliary
but it is desired to bring certain officers and men to your
notice who from my personal observations were outstandingly
forward in the execution of their duty in action under very
trying conditions. Recommendations of these officers and
ratings are being made in a separate letter.
VICE ADMIRAL
JUL 1940
D
CAPTAIN.
for Dover uy zuyuevote rass and North channel. The night was