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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List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 439–439 of this collection

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Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
439	Log in to enlarge	2471 From:- Douglas Kirkaldie, Coxswain "Fervent". Date:- 7th June, 1940. To:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate. 1st June. Requested by Lt. Commdr. Clements to make ready for passage to Dunkirk; took in stores and arms and left Ramsgate. (One deckhand did not come with Lt. us). Commdr. Clements found our Lewis gun defective and unable to fire more than one round at a time. He gave constant attention for over 4 hrs to this young engineer and deckhand in the use of the gun and at the same time gave instructions to our On approaching French coast and at a distance of made about service rifles, of which they knew nothing. 4 miles saw a large vessel bombed and sunk; we about towards it. Saw a number of planes flying above the vessel; they altered course towards us and Lt. Commdr. Clements identified them as enemy and got the Lewis gun ready and handed dropping planes rifles to salvos my two all crew. around. Planes heavily kept bombed up us a Lt. Commdr. Clements with great coolness did constant fire at the attackers so that they I not judge distance and manoeuvre "Fervent" dive too closely. By very good fortune was ceased able through to through the bomb showers. I feel Commir attacks speed only accurate aim of Lt. Clements. had Vessel and fallen all was to to joints now abt return 80 8 leaking knots severely and and altered oil. shaken the We engines course that therefore our for were Ramsgate. felt choking it On prudent journey we were again bombed by 3 large Lt fire and I feel sure hit one plane its at Junker Commdr. Clements keeping up 8 constant return planes and again we were lucky to steer and clear, formation. least This attack was witnessed by Lt. accurate as it temporarily lost position in I Commdr. that Ramus. I must pay tribute to Lt. Coundr. defective Clements gun and having and for his coolness in fighting for his it ready for use when it was off so the feel enthusiasm in repairing the vitally needed constant attacks. I also feel sure that from the	Fervent Clements Douglas Kirkaldie Lewis Miles Young

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 439.

2471
From:- Douglas Kirkaldie, Coxswain "Fervent".
Date:- 7th June, 1940.
To:-
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
1st June. Requested by Lt. Commdr. Clements to make ready for
passage to Dunkirk; took in stores and arms and
left Ramsgate. (One deckhand did not come with
Lt. us). Commdr. Clements found our Lewis gun defective
and unable to fire more than one round at a time.
He gave constant attention for over 4 hrs to this
young engineer and deckhand in the use of the
gun and at the same time gave instructions to our
On approaching French coast and at a distance of made about
service rifles, of which they knew nothing.
4 miles saw a large vessel bombed and sunk; we about
towards it. Saw a number of planes flying
above the vessel; they altered course towards us
and Lt. Commdr. Clements identified them as enemy
and got the Lewis gun ready and handed
dropping planes rifles to salvos my two all crew. around. Planes heavily kept bombed up us a
Lt. Commdr. Clements with great coolness did
constant fire at the attackers so that they I
not judge distance and manoeuvre "Fervent"
dive too closely. By very good fortune was
ceased able through to through the bomb showers. I feel Commir attacks speed only
accurate aim of Lt. Clements. had
Vessel and fallen all was to to joints now abt return 80 8 leaking knots severely and and altered oil. shaken the We engines course that therefore our for were Ramsgate. felt choking it
On prudent journey we were again bombed by 3 large
Lt fire and I feel sure hit one plane its at
Junker Commdr. Clements keeping up 8 constant
return planes and again we were lucky to steer and clear,
formation. least This attack was witnessed by Lt.
accurate as it temporarily lost position in
I Commdr. that Ramus. I must pay tribute to Lt. Coundr. defective Clements gun
and having and for his coolness in fighting
for his it ready for use when it was off so the
feel enthusiasm in repairing the vitally
needed constant attacks. I also feel sure that from the