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
452	Log in to enlarge	92 CONFIDENTIAL 27SEP RAL NL 11385 REGISTRY /24AB/40. 1940 21st September, 1940. Report of enquiry into the loss of H.M. Paddle Minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS in Operation "Dynamo". Sir, With reference to Admiralty Letter.6245/40 dated 1st August 1940, be pleased to lay before Their Lordships the following report resulting from an enquiry held into the loss of H.M.Paddle Minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS on 29th May 1940. 2. Temporary Acting Lieutenant Commander A. C. Wicks,R.N.R., who was in command of GRACIE FIELDS, was interviewed on 21st September, 1940. 3. At about 2030, on 28th, when ship was in vicinity of Middlekerk Buoy, she was subjected to attack by enemy bombers for about a quarter of an hour. Two bombs scored direct hits in the Engine Room, wrecking the control platform and bursting steam pipes. (ii) Endeavour was made to shut off steam at the main stop valve on the upper deck near the funnel, but the valve could not be closed. (iii) The explosion put the steering gear out of action by fracturing the nal and chain connection. 4. Fires were drawn, the Engine Room was flooding steadily and by the time access could be gained, there was about 6 feet of water in the compartment. 5. PANGBOURNE came alongside and took off all troops and crew of GRACIE FIELDS, except those required for taking her in tow. 6. PANGBOURNE towed GRACIE FIELDS till about 0200 when, sponsons being awash and Engine Room and Stokehold flooded to a depth of 10 feet, it was decided to abandon her. Tow was cast off and remainder of crew were taken on board PANGBOURNE. 7. The ship was then in about 10 fathoms and sinking. Although it was not revealed when she actually sank, it seems, from the evidence, unlikely that she remained afloat more than about half an hour after being abandoned. 8. C.B.'s and S.P.'s not in use were in steel chest in Captain's cabin, which was so wrecked that it was not possible to have them. Those in use were taken on board PANGBOURNE and landed at the port of arrival. SS retary he Admiralty.	Endeavour Pangbourne May

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 452.

92
CONFIDENTIAL
27SEP RAL
NL
11385
REGISTRY
/24AB/40.
1940
21st September, 1940.
Report of enquiry into the loss
of H.M. Paddle Minesweeper
GRACIE FIELDS
in Operation "Dynamo".
Sir,
With reference to Admiralty Letter .6245/40 dated
1st August 1940, be pleased to lay before Their Lordships the
following report resulting from an enquiry held into the loss
of H.M.Paddle Minesweeper GRACIE FIELDS on 29th May 1940.
2. Temporary Acting Lieutenant Commander A. C. Wicks,R.N.R.,
who was in command of GRACIE FIELDS, was interviewed on
21st September, 1940.
3. At about 2030, on 28th, when ship was in vicinity of
Middlekerk Buoy, she was subjected to attack by enemy bombers
for about a quarter of an hour. Two bombs scored direct hits
in the Engine Room, wrecking the control platform and bursting
steam pipes.
(ii) Endeavour was made to shut off steam at the main
stop valve on the upper deck near the funnel, but
the valve could not be closed.
(iii) The explosion put the steering gear out of action
by fracturing the nal and chain connection.
4. Fires were drawn, the Engine Room was flooding steadily
and by the time access could be gained, there was about 6 feet
of water in the compartment.
5. PANGBOURNE came alongside and took off all troops and
crew of GRACIE FIELDS, except those required for taking her
in tow.
6. PANGBOURNE towed GRACIE FIELDS till about 0200 when,
sponsons being awash and Engine Room and Stokehold flooded to
a depth of 10 feet, it was decided to abandon her. Tow was
cast off and remainder of crew were taken on board PANGBOURNE.
7. The ship was then in about 10 fathoms and sinking.
Although it was not revealed when she actually sank, it seems,
from the evidence, unlikely that she remained afloat more than
about half an hour after being abandoned.
8. C.B.'s and S.P.'s not in use were in steel chest in
Captain's cabin, which was so wrecked that it was not possible
to have them. Those in use were taken on board PANGBOURNE and
landed at the port of arrival.
SS
retary
he Admiralty.