TNA ADM 199 795

Collection details

TNA ADM 199 795

Admiralty reports on naval operations off the Dutch, Belgian and French coasts during 1940.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: ADM 199 795

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 199/795. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
217	Log in to enlarge	5 SECRET 8 Page 3. had embarked. 17. At about 2130 H.M.Tug St. Clears endeavoured to take the ship in tow, but it was found that the vessel was held fast aground aft, and at about 2215 the tow parted, and the tu: abandoned the attempt. 18. At about 2300 H.M.S. Havant endeavoured to take us in tow but without success. 19. During the night a further 350 French and 50 English troops were embarked, and these were brought to England. 20. At 0300 on the 30th. H.M.S.Locust was ordered to take us in tow, and by 9400 the ship was waterborne and in tow of Locust: 21. Between 9400 and 0700 the tow parted three times, and we had progressed only three miles. But after 0700 the tow was satisfactory and H.M.S. Locust towed us across to the English coast, arriving at the North Goodwin Light Tessel at 2100. Speed made good since 0700 2.4 knots. 22. A single Junker bomber appeared for a moment above the fog near the North Goodwin, but made off eastwards. 23. Shaped course to pass eastward of the Goodwins. At 2245 a French soldier, fully equipped, was seen to jump over the sideby two of Bidefords shipscompany. The tow was stopped. Although a buoy was dropped and a boat lowered to search, it 1 is regretted the man was not recovered. The sea was calm and the visibility at that time was good. The man's name is not known. 24. At 2315 we proceeded. The tow parted again at 0330/31st, but after that no further trouble was experienced a and we arrived at Dover at 1130 on 31st May. 25. The casualties to personnel were:- (a) Bideford's ships company (1) Killed. Three officers and nine nen. (11) Missing, believed killed. Four nen. (111) Dangerously wounded. Two men. (iv) Seriously wounded. Ten nen. (v) Slightly wounded. One officer & six nen. Total ship's company casualties. Four officers and thirty one men. (b) Passengers. (1) Killed. Swo officers & ten other ranks. (11) Wounded. Two officers (one dangerously). Total passenger casualties. Four officers and ten men. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, VICE AUNIRAL 1940 * DOVER Lieutenant Commander in Command.	Bideford Boat England Success Dover English Light May Miles Page

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 217.

5
SECRET
8
Page 3.
had embarked.
17. At about 2130 H.M.Tug St. Clears endeavoured to take
the ship in tow, but it was found that the vessel was held
fast aground aft, and at about 2215 the tow parted, and the tu :
abandoned the attempt.
18. At about 2300 H.M.S. Havant endeavoured to take us
in tow but without success.
19. During the night a further 350 French and 50
English troops were embarked, and these were brought to England.
20. At 0300 on the 30th. H.M.S.Locust was ordered to
take us in tow, and by 9400 the ship was waterborne and in tow
of Locust:
21. Between 9400 and 0700 the tow parted three times,
and we had progressed only three miles. But after 0700 the tow
was satisfactory and H.M.S. Locust towed us across to the
English coast, arriving at the North Goodwin Light Tessel at
2100. Speed made good since 0700 2.4 knots.
22. A single Junker bomber appeared for a moment above
the fog near the North Goodwin, but made off eastwards.
23. Shaped course to pass eastward of the Goodwins.
At 2245 a French soldier, fully equipped, was seen to jump over
the sideby two of Bidefords shipscompany. The tow was stopped.
Although a buoy was dropped and a boat lowered to search, it 1
is regretted the man was not recovered. The sea was calm and
the visibility at that time was good. The man's name is not
known.
24. At 2315 we proceeded. The tow parted again at
0330/31st, but after that no further trouble was experienced a
and we arrived at Dover at 1130 on 31st May.
25. The casualties to personnel were :-
(a) Bideford's ships company
(1) Killed. Three officers and nine nen.
(11) Missing, believed killed. Four nen.
(111) Dangerously wounded. Two men.
(iv) Seriously wounded. Ten nen.
(v) Slightly wounded. One officer & six nen.
Total ship's company casualties. Four officers
and thirty one men.
(b) Passengers.
(1) Killed. Swo officers & ten other ranks.
(11) Wounded. Two officers (one dangerously).
Total passenger casualties. Four officers and
ten men.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
VICE AUNIRAL 1940
*
DOVER
Lieutenant Commander in Command.