TNA ADM 199 792

CASE 7711
Volume VII
1
WAR HISTORY.
X
52 Holland
52 France
X
52 Belgium
52 Germany
6
6-1 x
Index (1)
W.H.S.
EVACUATION OF REFUGEES AND ALLIED TROOPS FROM
FRANCE, HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.
Arrangements for dealing with ----- in event of German Invasion.
Reception ports for
-----.
Report by V.A. Dover on Operation "DYNAMO"
Rear Admiral Wake-Walker.
Report on evacuation from Dunkirk 29.5.40 - 4.6.40
1940 - 1941
NOT TO BE DESTROYED
PERMANENT RECORD
our
This file is quoted as an that original reference in the Official all
The WAR History. At SEA
voz. 1

52H
523
6
96+
W Refugees from Holland of Belgium in Event of German Invasion of those Countries.
arrangements for dealing with
)
north of south Indand scoreand,
Isee of one
Bhannel Islands,
Bristol, Poole, de. considered as possible reception areas.
Memorandum accrespondence ne
Gransport required.
Posts of Landing.
shore accommodation.
Home Office instructions.
96.1 Possible landing of Enemy agents posing
85 as refrgees. Suggestion shall Eoachguards be given powers of arress 5 Details swarement by D.
of refugees was smaller than expected, d that
Duted Constert arriving as Poole were all dispersed into service.
1940

MO
COPY
17th January, 1940.
928
SECRET AND IMMEDIATE
1940
Sir,
I am directed by Secretary Sir John Anderson to say, for the information of Mr. Secretary Eden, that the question has been under consideration, in consultation with the Departments concerned, of what plans can be made beforehand for dealing with an influx of refugees from
Holland and Belgium in the event of an invasion of those countries by the enemy. I am in this connection to invite attention to paragraphs
13 and 14 of the Report of the Sub-Committee on the Control of Aliens in War (C.I.D. Paper No. 1543-B) and to the Minutes of the third and fourth meetings of that Sub-Committee.
Enquiries as to what accommodation could be made available in this country are being made by the Ministry of Health, and the Home Office is also enquiring as to the position in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
The question also arises whether some of the refugees might be accommodated in Eire, and I am to ask whether Mr. Eden thinks a confidential enquiry on the subject might properly be addressed to the Eire Government by means of a memorandum on the lines of the memorandum enclosed herewith.
Copies of this letter and the enclosure are being sent to the Foreign
Office, Admiralty, War Office, Treasury, Ministry of Health, Scottish Health
Department, Ministry of Labour, Unemployment Assistance Board, Customs,
Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Transport, and Ministry of Food.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd.) A. MAXWELL
The Under Secretary of State,
DOMINIONS OFFICE.

VERY SECRET
928
WAR REFUGEES
6
While nothing in this memorandum should be taken as indicating that
H.M. Government has any special reason to suppose that the possibilities with which it deals are imminent, considerations of humanity and prudence have led the Departments concerned to consider what steps would have to be taken to deal with an influx of refugees from Belgium or Holland in the event of a German invasion of those countries.
During the last war nearly 250,000 Belgian refugees were accommodated here without insuperable difficulty, but it is estimated that at least
500,000 might be expected to escape on this occasion.,In addition to this great increase in numbers, the problem of accommodation has been very greatly complicated by the danger of large scale air raids and the necessities of existing evacuation schemes.
The French Government has indicated that although it would be prepared to do all in its power to assist in the evacuation of refugees from Belgium, it could not undertake to retain any substantial number owing to the grave problems arising from the evacuation of the population of Northern France and the presence in that country of the British Expeditionary Force as well as the French Army.
For obvious reasons, any appeal to the public is impossible at present but energetic steps are being taken to prepare emergency schemes for accommodation in public buildings etc., in neutral areas. The resources of reception areas are already fully taxed and it would be undesirable to send large numbers of refugees - especially women and children - to evacuation areas, where they might be expected to be subjected to severe air raids.
It is doubted, however, whether this course can be avoided if the total should prove to be as large as is now feared.
H.M. Government is therefore anxious to explore all the possibilities of accommodation outside Great Britain and semi-official approaches have already been made to the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland.
The advantages to the unfortunate people concerned of being placed in an area free from enemy attack will at once be apparent.
The purpose of this note is to bring the problem to the notice of
/the

COPY.
HOME OFFICE,
9
WHITEHALL.
URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.
20th January, 1940.
S
929
dam he
1940
Dear Cadogen,
I had a conference this morning with representatives of the Admiralty, the Ministry of
Health and the Ministry of Food on the question of what provisional arrangements can be made for a to situation which would arise If large numbers of en
Dutch and Belgian refugees came to this country
3
owing to the invasion of Holland and Belgium. The view of the Admiralty is that their representatives in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Rotterdam ought to have instructions which would enable them to tell the captains of Dutch and Belgian ships where they must go if they are bringing refugees to the United Kingdom.
Moreover, It appears from the discussion with the
Admiralty that there are insupurable difficulties about bringing these ships into London or ports on the South and Best coast. We urged upon the Admiralty being nad for their safety and health during a 3 to 4 days winter voyage.
This estimate is offered with the greatest reserve, and should be subject to improvement in the light of fuller information.
4./

Page 5.
ICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO". - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
TTISH SHIPS (continued)
GER BANK
HANDY BILLY
TA (Tug)
HASTINGS LIFE-BOAT
ADNOUGHT II
HOLLAND
ADNOUGHT III
HOPPER 26
HESS OF YORK
HOUND (Lighter)
RF
HYTHE (Coaster)
1 )
IOLANTHE
4
IOTE
7 (Harbour
IRMA MARIA (Fishing boat)
9
Launches)
JABA
6
JACINTA (Trawler)
C. 715
JAMES 67 (Hopper Barge)
G. 694
JANIS
G. 950
JOHANNA (Eel Boat)
STBOURNE LIFE-BOAT
JONG
WARD NISSEN
JORDAN
WINA (Trawler)
KAYELL
IZABETH QUEEN
KESTREL
M.E.D. (Motor Life-boat)
KINGSGATE
PRESS
KITCAT (M.B.)
PRISE (Harbour Launch)
K.L.
DEAVOUR
LADY BRASSEY (Rescue Tug)
TERPRISE (M.B.)
LADY CABLE (M.B.)
ICA
LADY SHEILA
SKBURN
LADY SOUTHBOROUGH
AIR BREEZE (Drifter)
(Hopper Barge)
AWLEY (Gosport Ferry)
LANDANIA
ERRY KING (Gosport Ferry)
L/NSDOWNE
ERVENT
LAROC
ISHBOURNE (I.O.W. Ferry)
LETITIA (Smack)
OREMOST 2 (Hopper Barge)
LITTLE ANN (M.B.)
OREMOST 87 (Tug)
LOTUS
ORMIDABLE
LOUISIANA
ORSA
MADAM SANSGENE
OSSA (Tug)
MAID ERRANT
RIGHTENED LADY
MALDEN
.W. 23 (Lighter)
MALDEN ANNIE IV
ALLEON'S REACH (Hopper)
MA JOIE
ALZAR
MARASOLE
AY CRUSADER
MARGERITA
LENWAY (Barge)
MARLBOROUGH (W.D. Craft)
LITTER II
MARQUIS (Tug)
OLIATH
MARY ROSE
GOURKA
MARY SPEARING I
GRACE DARLING
MARY SPEARING II
GRAPPLER (Lighter)
MASSEY SHAW (Fire Float)
GREATER LONDON LIFE-BOAT
MAYSPEAR
GONDIA (Tug)
MEANDER
H. 75
MERMAIDEN (M.L.)
HAIG HALFWAY (W.D. Craft)
M.F.H. (Lighter)
MICHAEL STEVENS
MINEKOI (Tug)
(Continued)
Sunk

Page 78.
Operation "DYNAMO" cets Recommendations of Personnel.
PORTSMOUTH INNER PATROL YACHTS.
Lieutenant Cyril Cornelius Bone, R.N.V.R. Senior Officer beaches 0600/31/5 to dawn 1/6, they performed
Although from the unit of nine yachts only worked off the particularly time valuable work off La Panne and Bray at
The period also happened to be one of intensive air
British embarking or withdrawing westward.
critical troops when either La Panne was about to be finally a evacuated, bombardment, on the beaches. interspersed with sporadic heavy artillery fire arge
2
Particularly notable was the work of these boats inshore, which included the embarkation of Lord Gort and the G.H.Q. party. 3500 - 4000 troops were lifted.
Recommendations.
FFICERS;
KY. LAHLOO:
gine-
Lieutenant John Vander Ould, R.N.V.R., Commanding Officer.
C with suaded esh
His yacht did particularly well, handling about
1
500 troops. Emabrked Lord Gort. Did valuable work erful rounding up drifting boats for further beach work.
id him
Recommended for mention.
H.M.Y. SERIOLA:
STEAM PICKET-BOAT:
V.Y. MASAYRU:
Sub. -Lieutenant Thomas Ellison Godman. R.N.V.R.
May
D.S
C,
This Officer displayed remarkable determination, ily endurance and devotion to duty. Commencing service in
SERIOLA, he skilfully worked open boats through the surf on
S.
te the beaches during31/5. The next day he was ordered to o the vor command a naval steam picket-boat, and by his determination to and good judgment succeeded in operating this craft for vas nearly 24 hours, though its coal capacity only sufficed for whon
6 hours. Also seized and directed the activities of a number of abandoned boats found drifting off the coast.
Finally returned to Ramsgate and joined another vessel for a further day's service at Dunkirk.
great coolness under heavy fire in dangerous conditions.
Specially recommended by Senior Officers for
Recommended for decoration.
sank, nto
RATINGS:
H.M.Y. AHOLA:
Petty Officer H. H. Holland, J.20594.
Able Seaman F. H. Finch, SSX.23237.
Volunteers for boat work under fire, when boat crew from another unit left their boat.
Recommended for mention.
a in

Page 78.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
PORTSMOUTH INNER PATROL YACHTS.
Lieutenant Cyril Cornelius Bone, R.N.V.R, Senior Officer.
Although the unit of nine yachts only worked off the beaches from 0600/31/5 to dawn 1/6, they performed particularly valuable work off La Panne and Bray at a critical time when La Panne was about to be finally evacuated,
British troops either embarking or withdrawing westward.
The period also happened to be one of intensive air bombardment, interspersed with sporadic heavy artillery fire on the beaches.
Particularly notable was the work of these boats inshore, which included the embarkation of Lord Gort and the G.H.Q. party. 3500 - 4000 troops were lifted,
Recommendations.
OFFICERS;
H.M.Y. LAHLOO:
Lieutenant John Vander Ould, R.N.V.R., Commanding Officer.
His yacht did particularly well, handling about
500 troops. Emabrked Lord Gort. Did valuable work rounding up drifting boats for further beach work.
M
Recommended for mention.
H.M.Y. SERIOLA:
STEAM PICKET-BOAT:
M.Y. MASAYRU:
Sub. -Lieutenant Thomas Ellison Godman. R.N.V.R.
This Officer displayed remarkable determination, endurance and devotion to duty. Commencing service in
SERIOLA, he skilfully worked open boats through the surf on the beaches during31/5. The next day he was ordered to command a naval steam picket-boat, and by his determination and good judgment succeeded in operating this craft for nearly 24 hours, though its coal capacity only sufficed for
6 hours. Also seized and directed the activities of a number of abandoned boats found drifting off the coast.
Finally returned to Ramsgate and joined another vessel for a further day's service at Dunkirk.
Specially recommended by Senior Officers for great coolness under heavy fire in dangerous conditions.
DSC
Recommended for decoration.
RATINGS:
H.M.Y. AHOLA:
Petty Officer H. H. Holland, J.20594.
Able Seaman F. H. Finch, SSX. 23237.
Volunteers for boat work under fire, when boat crew from another unit left their boat.
M
Recommended for mention.