TNA ADM 199 792

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 476.

Any further communication
CONFIDENTIAL.
NL
d be addressed to:-
Secretary of the Admiralty,
11798
London, S.W.I.
110
quoting " 29/28 A.B/40
1940
Admiralty, S.W.1.
1 the outside of the
velope as well as in
4th October, 1940
e text.
Report of Enquiry into the loss
of H.M. M/S Trawler POLLY JOHNSON
MILITARY
BRAN
in operation "Dynamo".
6F OCT 1940
Sir,
With reference to Admiralty Letter N.L. 6245/40
dated 1st August, 1940, be pleased to lay before Their Lordships
the following report arising from an enquiry into the loss of
H.M. M/S Trawler POLLY JOHNSON on 29th May, 1940.
2.
Skipper Lieutenant L. Lake, R.N.R. who was in
command of POLLY JOHNSON was examined on 1st October, 1940.
3.
At about 1500 on 29th May when POLLY JOHNSON was
secured to CALVI which was alongside the pier at Dunkirk and
astern of GRENADE, she was subjected to a heavy bombing attack.
Splinters from near misses perforated the ship's port side with
small holes just above the water line and put the 12 pdr. gun
out of action.
4.
The ship was subjected to further bombing attacks
during the next two hours but at 1700, with about 50 troops and
some survivors from GRENADE on board, she proceeded out of
harbour, being able to make only very slow speed.
5.
Engine and Boiler rooms were making water steadily
and ship's pumps were unable to cope with the rate of flooding.
6.
At about 1830 midway between Middlekerk and Nieuport
Buoys when it was obvious that POLLY JOHNSON would not remain
afloat much longer, Trawler ARLEY came alongside and took all
hands on board.
7.
ARLEY then endeavoured to destroy POLLY JOHNSON by
gunfire but failed and left her in a sinking condition in about
7/8 fathoms. It is considered, however, that she was unlikely
to remain afloat for long.
8.
Although it was not possible to elicit full
particulars of the damage sustained by this ship it seems, from
the evidence, in view of the fact that water was fast entering
the Engine and Boiler room that this compartment was flooding
below the waterline as result of heavy underwater explosions.
The flooding was accentuated when draught increased to admit
water through holes already made above the waterline.
9.
Secret Charts were burnt in the stokehold before ship
was abandoned and all S.P's and C.B's were transferred to ARLEY
and landed at Dover.
10, is the desirability of these craft carrying a number of varying
The only point brought out in the loss of this vessel
size wooden plugs for stopping shot holes.
11./
Secretary of the Admiralty.