TNA ADM 199 792

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Statement of the operations of Commander
Dove's party at Dunkirk.
Prefatory Note.
The party consisted of Commander Dove, b.Lieutenant
Field, and Sub.Lieutenant Addis, R.N.V.R. The object was to erect
a lethal kite barrage round the port of Dunkirk. Commander Dove
sailed with "Boy Roy" and "Natsuki" on May 2004 with 200
sets of lethal kite gear. Sub,Lieut,Field and Sub.Lieut Addis
left Daver with H.M.D. "Gervais Rentaul". On instructions from
Captain A/P took command of the Drifter
(skipper Mr.Burgess,R.N.R)
Report.
Sub.Lieut Field and Addis, sailed from Dover 6345 Friday
May 25th with 9 tons high explosives for the demolition party, 4
tons of medical stores, 1 Medical officer Major Russell, 1 Army
liaison officer Captain Hill, and 3 signal ratings. After an
uneventful passage, we arrived off Dunkirk 0930 to find a large
scale air attack by the enemy in progress. We noted then, and for
the whole time we were in Dunkirk that in spite of the courage and
persistence of the shore A.A.units the great majority of their
salvoe were well astern of their targets. We immediately entered
the harbour and made fast alongside the South Quay.
Army Officers and signal ratings, we reported to Cdr.
Henderson B.N.L.O. who order "Gervais Rentaul" to keep clear of the
harbour to avoid the aerial bombardment which had recommenced. We
then reported to Cdr. Banks of the demolition party that we had
brought his explosives, and shortly afterwards made contact with
Cdr. Dove who had taken charge of a portion of a demolition party.
Cdr.Dove now signalled the G.R. to re-enter the harbour and took
in tow two sinking tugs which were threatening to block completely
the South Quay. If this had not been done at once it would have
been difficulty if not impossible for the hospital and personnel
ships to make fast to the South Quay. The, "Gervaise" was man-
eeuvred to a small lock on the south side to avoid the risk of her
being hit and exploding the ammunition in the fairway. Ammunition
medical stores were then unloaded and handed over to Cdr. Banks who
up to that time had not received any primersor detonators for the
depth charges.
Cdr.Dove then signalled in two hospital ships which were
in the offing and the work of loading these was just put in hand
inmediately. As there was no. labour dock available at any time during
our stay in Dunkirk Commander Dove himself and with help of his
officers organised and carried out the necessary work. Now the
South Quay was cleared it was possible for further hospital and
personnel ships to enter and load. During these operations Cdr.
Dove reached the conclusion that the situation in Dunkirk was so
grave that we should have neither the opportunity nor the facilitie
to erect a kite barrage round Dunkirk. Furthermore there was a re-
grettable lack of wind and no low or dive bombing until Monday 27th
At midday dr.Henderson told Cdr. Dove that there was no
water in Dunkirk and we therefore commandeered a car and bought
sufficient vichy and perier water from estaminets which were still
open in Malo form H.Q.staff. We made tour of inspection and found
that up to date the damage done to property and personnel was
surprisingly little, although the oil tanks on the south side of th
town were blazing flercely and threatening the railway and timber
yards. There was a light uir from S. to S.W. which blew a pall of
smoke over the harbour and made the scene appear far worse than
reality. During the afternoon and evening the work of loading shi
went on smoothly but there were already a large number of noncom-
batant forces crowded into the harbour besides an increasing number*
of ambulances lined up on the south quay. The night was quiet
except for one air-raid when German planes circledthe town for over
(ca hour before dropping a comparatively small mimber of bombs. Early
next morning May 26th, r.Burgess who had been instructed by Cdr.
Dove to anchor outside the harbour for safety, reported that magnet
mines had been laid near the entrance and that a French merchantmen
had been blown up.
dawn, the situation will become extremely grim'