TNA ADM 199 795

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 402.

Fire was opened and was effective in preventing
at
D1
Isc
Confidential
206
:
LS
id
do
FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER, "WIVERN"
Idd
3
DATE.... 19th JUNE 1940.
11
TO
THE CAPTAIN (D), STATEMWTH DESTROYER FLOTILLA.
ru
H.N.S."MALCOIM"
no
to
5/44
EVACUATION OF FRENCH AND BRITISH TROCPS FROM DUNKIRK.
00
J
so
Submitted :-
y
The following report of proceedings 1s forwarded
10h
in accordance with your verbal instructions :-
mly
"WIVERE" was undergoing refit and Lanage repairs
10
consequent upon enemy action, and had been taken over by &
wer
Care and Maintenance Party supplied by 1,Barracks while the
to
Ship's Company werevon leave.
On Thursday 30th May with the Executive Officer, Lieutenant
J.V. Harbottle I had been attending to variousmatters connected
had
with the refit prior to proceeding on leave whom instructions
ple
were received from the Commander-in-Chier, Fortsmouth, addressed
the
to Lieutenant Harbottle and syself by name, to report to the
Vice Admiral Dover immediately. It was discovered that the next
04
train left in half AZE hour and with some difficulty 11 was
anught by & narrow margin, and Dover reached in the early hours
for
of the next norning, Friday 31st May.
I was detailed to relieve the Commanding Officer,
H.N.S. "VANQUISHER" and Lieutenant Harbottle vas instructed to
accompany no in case & relief Executive Officer should also
1
3
be required.
Cn joining "VANQUISHER" at 1100 this USE not found to be the
2
case but Licutenant Harbettle was most anxious to adas and 11
seemed desirable to retain him as the exhaustion to which the
84
Commanding Officer of "VANQUISHER" had succusbed night wall
overtake his Executive Officer If operations became further
DOB:
Re took over the areament completely, and shared other tuties
protracted. His assistance was of the createst value throughout.
with the Executive Officer, providing the latter-with opportunities
for rest which could not otherwise have occurred.
Admiral I Dover that there was & possibility of "VANQUISHER*=*
had been instructed by the Chief Staff Officer to the Tice
scrows and rudder having been damaged, and that having regard to
this I was to sail for Duskirk as soon as possible.
Red
underwater examination, Sereve and rudder were undamaged
Soon after I arrived on board, divers - off and carried but out
Andio dome had been removed and ossillator tube bent straight art,
being sracked at the band and leaking alightly. The compartment
no
was and the araak become enlarged. Meanwhile the Engineer Officer
therefore kept battened down in case the tube should ssap:
had as the though professionally competent to stom
off also gone sick and had to be landed. A relief vas requested the
Да for Dunkirk, 1.0. at 1700 Triday, 31st May.
ship goon as the relief Engineer Officer joined, the No ship was
wasnphysically exhausted.
interfarence sailed from anomy action was experienced on passage about though a
ship
1s
between ahoad, apparantly insffective. R.A.B. fighters observed.
P.O.Buoy and 1,Buoys some bombing vas observed soon
205
mile and no further enemy air nation was the
piar and of the pier was being shalled. Troops were
On about two ships lengths ahoad of the wreaked embarked The
appeared arrival at Dunkirk "VANQUISHER" was burthed at drifter. eastern
to Dover and disembarked at Admiralty Her, After and
again sailed for Dunkirk about 0230. first
fighters ware observed and at thought and
were later seen to be Menserschnitt's about
been established they ansunition. attacked & ship
3 soon cables on the port quarter with trader
T.O