Admiralty reports on naval operations off the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts during 1940.
Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/795. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
1 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.
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CONFIDENTIAL. |
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CONFIDENTIAL. Page 2. Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels. Personnel Vessels (continued). In the meantime, relief crews had been sent for for the TYNWALD and an armed naval guard was placed alongside at Folkestone where the ship lay. The crew did not attempt to leave the ship but contented themselves with shouting abuses at the sentries. Relief crews arrived and the old crew were then allowed to leave. Complete listsof their names and On addresses were taken and given to the S.T.O., Folkestone, Those ginal who stayed of the old crew were the Chief Officer as Master, ;ain Second Officer, Purser, W/T Operator and Carpenter. A naval officer and 10 naval ratings were put on er board as moral stiffeners and the ship sailed at 1945/2. She nd completed a round trip which was repeated next day without le incident. 5. MANX MAID. Never completed a trip; she should have r sailed on 3 separate occasions. On the last occasion, at 1745/2, she produced an engine breakdown as excuse; was given up as hopeless and other ships made use of instead. On the afternoon of 3rd June, when it was realised that MANX MAID was not going to be used, the majority of the to crew, in response to an appeal by the S.T.O., Dover, volunteered to replace men in other personnel vessels who had left their duty. 18 seamen and firemen were accepted and sailed to Dunkirk in LADY OF MANN, and others were drafted to MANX MAN who, however, did not sail. to 6. BEN MY CHREE. Transported 408 troops in 2 trips; she should have completed 4. The master was evidently in league ps, with the masters of the TYNWALD and the MALINES. On failing to to sail during the night 1/2nd June, in reply to a written enquiry from the S.T.O., Folkestone, whether or not he would sail, George Woods, Master, replied in writing - "I beg to state that after our experience at Dunkirk yesterday, my answer is 'No'. " to At 1850/2 BEN MY CHREE came alongside Folkestone. Naval guards were placed on the gangways and abreast the ship. As the ship was berthed the crew were demonstrating and shouting that they were going to leave the ship and on the brow being run out, they attempted to do so with their kits. Leading Stoker Booth ordered his men to come on guard and advanced up the brow with fixed bayonets. The crew returned on board at once, where they remained until the relief crew arrived. The Captain and crew left the ship, the Chief Officer stayed as Captain, together with 3 greasers and the W/T Operator. Other- wise the ship was manned with the new crew. Unfortunately, on sailing, at 1905/2, BEN MY CHREE was in collision and did not complete the trip. 7. LADY OF MANN Carried out 4 trips and transported 2902 troops. One tri_ was abortive through no fault of the Master, as the ship was ordered back from Dunkirk before entering that harbour, The last 2 trips were carried out with a Naval officer and 10 naval ratings on board as an insurance, but there is no suggestion that the LADY OF MANN did not attempt to play her part. 8. MANX MAN. Transported 233 troops in 3 voyages. Should have completed 5. On her fourth trip, due 2115/2, MANX MAN refused to sail from Folkestone. A new crew was put on board, the engineers remaining/ nnel