TNA ADM 199 792

Dynamo 65.
Dyrans. 33V.
Royal Chatham. Naval Barracks,
202
90
:que,
285
15th June, 1940.
13
sir,
I at have the honour to report the loss of H.M. Tug"St Abbs"
0
at Dunkirk 0930 on 1st June 1940, Lieutenant Brooker in command.
5
2.
Blst May, three barges in tow, the "Duchess", the "H.A.C." and
H.M. with Tug"St Abbs" sailed from Dover at 10 a.m. on Friday, the "Doris", bound for Dunkirk.
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3. At 2100 31st May the last barge of the tow, the "Doris"
31/5
ne or broke adrift and was taken in tow by a sloop, name not known.
ing
4. At 0030, 1st June, H.M. Tug"St St Abbs" anchored approximately say six miles from Dunkirk, Lieutenant T.E. Brooker considering it unadvisable and dangerous to proceed further before daylight.
5. At 0330 anchor was weighed and ship proceeded towards
Dunkirk.
6. At 0600 H.M. Tug"St Abbs" passed the piers and proceeded
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towards the beaches. Enemy aircraft commenced bombing the piers and shipping.
yer
7. At 0630 the barges were slipped and ordered to proceed it:
inshore to the beaches, the "Duchess" towing the "H.A.C."
H.M. Tug"St Abbs" anchored and waited for soldiers to embark.
8. At 0730 attacks by enemy aircraft intensified and anchor take was weighed, it being intended to proceed closer to the beach to a men on facilitate embarking of soldiers.
9. At 0800 approximately, H.M.S. "Keith" was struck by a bomb ng and settled in the water. H.M.Tug " St Abbs" proceeded alongside s:
H.M.S. "Keith" and took off survivors. Captain(D) of Nineteenth
S
Le had
Flotilla, First Lieutenant of H.M.S. "Keith" and other ratings remained on board to estimate the damage and consider the possibility of S. "Keith" being towed back to England. H.M.Tug "st Abbs"
rties ed.
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proceeded to pick up survivors from ship's boats and from the water.
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10. At 0830 H.M.S. "Skipjack" was struck by a bomb and sank of quickly. "Salamander" who was also rescuing survivors
Panne sailed for H.M.S. entrance of the harbour. The bombing was very heavy. the
Lo and remainder "St Abbs" then continued to pick up survivors. Bombing
H.M. Tug the returned alongside H.M.S. "Keith" and took off re and became so of heavy the that crew, it was necessary to keep the ship at full speed
S to and at 0900 H. M. Tug "St Abbs" sailed for the entrance.
O set
11. Tug "St Abbs" was blown up by four delay-action and ations, bombs At 0930 the water ahead of the ship. The bottom stern dropped were completely into shattered and the ship sank in approximatel p
i/c hit
45 seconds.
nise
1
H. 12. were swimming in the water and after
M. Tug "St About Abbs" thirty sank. men Approximately one hundred thirty que al ratings and soldiers were on the ship.
ark
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13. June, I reached a wreck believed two to ratings be the si
"Clan MacAlfister", At 2400, 1st in company with two "Salamander"s" soldiers, whaler's from crew. H.M.S. "Skipjack" and were one from Captain(D), H.M.S. Nineteenth Flotilla, survivors the First Also Lieutenant on the wreck of H.M.S. "Keith" and eight other