TNA ADM 199 795

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Directa, S.V.P.
435
435
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.
At 0300 hours on Friday, 31st May, 1940., I embarked in
SWALLOW (45' Scott Paine Power Boat) in RAMSGATE HARBOUR, and at
0340 proceeded in company with MARLBOROUGH
WOLFE and VULTURE to embark troops from the beaches one mile East to
five miles East of Dunkirk, and to convey them to destroyers and other
vessels lying off-shore.
On passage to Dunkirk, we struck wreckage of some description
which damaged the starboard propellor; the revolution indicator of
the considerable vibration from the shaft. This engine it
starboard engine immediately showed excessive revolutions subsequently and there
was at normal revolutions with only part of the normal throttle;
ran appeared likely that at least one blade was stripped.
arrival at Dunkirk, MARLBOROUGH entered harbour contrary with
to plan, from which she took off as many as she could I closed MARLBOROUGH and to
and On went alonside a paddle minesweeper, partly accommodate, loaded
troops, two boats ahead of me did the same; informed by the
Commander ask why we that were he had damaged one propellor and proposed return
the other deviating from the plan and was to
direct to Ramsgate.
Observing take about seven THE effort in
that the round a
refuelling, the boats was would small, I considered embarked and it I & explained waste of this (on to the account Master of of
transfer troops wished already to return with the other the water boats was full of
SWALLOW who had sustained and the fact that beaches alone.
damage wreckage already and flotsam) and we proceeded to the
The situation at 0600 hours was as follows:-
was under a pall of smoke from fires There which were appeared There
numerous to be wrecks outside of troops the harbour on the shore was strewn as far with as it all was forms possible of of
mainly Dunkirk to the South and West of and the along port. the beaches.
were to large to the numbers Eastward, and the the foreshore beach were a very and abandoned. large number There
motor THE see THE Along or motor abandoned, damaged, the boats, Dunkirk and motor several Roads Launches were wrecks and but
yachts close one vessels out in waiting to embark these troops, ships.
numerous inshore. destroyers boats were and running other between the shore unfortunately and
scarcely any a light onshore and caused tide wind, at a which ground 0600 bombardment hours swell was which setting going made
the THE The There except was heavy for occasional until late chelling on
fairly on shore, hard but to the the bombing beaches which were quiet did not become heavy
and afternoon. intermittent On arrival but at appeared the beach her capable I saw off. one of small being This her THE which
was passed signalled aground, her for a towline further action. assistance her out assistance and resorted anchor. her alongside as small
rudder coasting took out vessel There it of over was which for a Service was use at in on cutter embarking the beaches, lying the whom astern and troops. I in took of my this to At first H.M.S. first, coaster, to three man I or
could and four I trips see no British troops borrowed only French 2, troops and later 2 more, hands /my
IMPULSIVE