TNA ADM 199 795

5)
1
also
0001
/
MESSAGE.
OUT
SECRET.
To
C. in C. Nore 445
DATE
Repeated F.O.i/c London 62.
22.5.40.
V.A.Dover.
P/L by T/P.
mont
From Admiralty.
to
IMMEDIATE.
even
91009
1. From the following list of Dutch Coasters lyin
THE
DC
[[tw in the Port of London four in ballast and of about 200-300
Беппат
IOW
1ftw tons are to be sent immediately to Victualling Wharf
Subject
.S
Deptford to Load military supplies. These will be manned
Lftw
VOSST
by naval crews after arrival at Deptford, and will work under the War Office.
in
3370
orit
2. As many of the remainder which are in light to
ROBBIT
condition are to be taken over and manned by naval crews.
.H
ed of
3. C. in C. Nore is requested to arrange for the ru organisation and assembly of these vessels which when
Aven to
.TOVO
ready will be placed at the disposal of V.A.Dover.
.a
4. Names of ships to be reported as they become aleasev
200
ready for service.
.T
5. Arrangements are being made for sets of charts to be sent to Chart Depot Sheerness.
6. Further signal will be made re disposal of
Dutch crews and provision of personnel for manning.
7. It is a matter of great important that these
Jal bas ships should be got ready as soon as possible.
Cortnol
BRABANT
BART
Virged
8.
TWENTE
ANTJE
HONSDRUG
TILLE
.Ja8A
BRANDARIS
REIGER
DELTA
das
LENA
PRINCESS
JULIANA
BORNEO
B.W.O.V
CARIBIA
ORANGE
LIBERTY
GORECHT
BERNINA
S.W.O.A
68
VREDE
RIKA
FIDUCIA
LIMBURG
B.M.O.A
JUNIOR
BORNRIF
0.8.0
PATRIA
AMSTELROOM
DENEB
MARTHA
,agO
.0.0
EXPRESS
MERCURIUS
AEGIR
.4.V.8
JUTLAND
1704/22.
D.O.D.(H)
.a.r.a
A.C.N.S. (A)
D.T.D. (3)
(15 apin)
1st S.L.
D.T.D. Basement
A.C.N.S.
2nd S.L.
0.8.0. to 1st S.L.
D.P.S. (2)
Controller
N.A.2nd S.L.
Deputy Controller
00s.(4)
I.S.P.S.
Ass. Controller Bath
O.D.(3)
Hydrog.
5)
S.V.P. Cdr. Stephenson Room 59
I.P.(3)
4th S.L.
W.R.Bath

298
FROM Commander in Command Mine Recovery Flotilla 276
North Shields.
DATE
...
10th June, 1940
NAVAL
OFFICER
TO
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate
11JUN1940
REPORT OF OPERATION ON NIGHT OF
3/4 June, 1940
MASSACHUSETTS
CHARGE
M
*
Sir,
I have the honour to report the operation of the 5 scoots under my command on the night of
3/4 June.
2.
On being refused permission to take the drifters of the 2nd M.R. Flotilla, I was offered command of the 5 Dutch Scoots, "PASCHOLL",
"HORNSRUG", "REIGER", "LENA" and "BORNRIF".
3. and communication was difficult. I made some rough
There was little time to make any arrangements orders on a signal pad and sent them round by the motor boat which took me on board "PASCHOLL".
4. "REIGER" had meanwhile run aground on the Quern on
Under way about 1600 for RV at N. Goodwin.
a falling tide and was out of it.
Proceeded in company without incident, timing my 5. speed to reachNo. 12 buoy Dunkerque at 2230.
avant 6. Port and on rounding Western mole I headed into
My orders were to use Western pier Nouvean
West anywhere pier of the main harbour, which I could seeagainst the in this area so I came astern and headed for avant Port. I was unable to find enough water the burning town.
2 of my ships passed me and tried their to
7. Meanwhile West side of West Pier. their They stern got to bows up to which pier was the outside ship of the side two and grounded go alongside but had a job getting and just "LENA" off the pier. I got alongside east
"HORNSRUG" came alongside me.
very 8. glad The to Pier find was Commander H.R. Tromp, who had full of French troops and said I he was appointed himself Piermaster.
I were unable to get a tag to off pluck and
"LENA" off He and and finally had to take the men leave her.
Wise, R.N.V.R., and his Sub "HORNSRUG" Lieut. were was meanwhile decks.
9. Lieut. loading the ship with men There and was a destroyer also loading across alongaide my each side astern of us. in spite Commander of escort TroMp had vessel complete his control voice, of and the without situation would his help have been and having judgment almost the loading lost of 5 shipa at once difficult.

299
-2-
ass
10.
Depearm 309.
B14/0
At have about taken 0030 we had a good
TELEGRAMS:-
waiting we the could arrival of the troops more. and There there was load, althoughough were
Admiral, Chatham
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, THE 27
TELEPHONE::-
ADMIRALTY HOUSE.
to get alongside, so I decided, ships
Chatham No. 3997.
(Retensions 210 and 619)
CHATHAM.
and consulting "BORNRIF" TroMp, to go with what I had - after "HORNSRU
following independently.
13th June, 1940.
11.
of either the harbour where we were, and no incident to part
There was no shelling or bombing of the
No.477.C.C/40.
VICE ADMIRAL, DOVER.
in the harbour on the return journey.
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A.B. RANDALL EX "ST.ABBS".
12.
well taped beforehand, and nothing left to chance,
The officers of the ship had their organiss
For information.
The C.O. Lieut. Wise only joined the day before, shewed great judgment.
When talking to wounded men in the Royal
Naval Hospital, Chatham, recently the following
Lieut. de Mornay, R.N. came as a volunteer information was obtained from Able Seaman Randall ex "St. Abbs":-
pilot me to harbour having made several recent 22
His service was invaluable. I took over the hand
"Left Dover 31st May, 1940, for Dunkirk, of the ship at the entrance of Dunkerque, both enter arrived at night and went into Dunkirk in the and leaving, not that I doubted Wise's capacity, morning picked up survivors of "Keith" (including but because the importance of accurate handling
Captain) and "Skipjack", struck by bomb which exsuch that I preferred to have it in my own hands.
ploded for minute later - ship sank, Boatswain
Henderson, Ldg. Offs. Std. LAWRENCE and A.B. RANDALL
13.
I have made no recommendations in respect d of "St. Abbs" together with Captain of "Keith" were this operation in view of the fact that the ships saved and came over in a steam lighter. Ldg. Offs.
at no time under fire, whereas the majority of BILL
Steward LAWRENCE behaved with great coolness and unconcern - foraged around wreck for food and clotaking part were continually bombed and shelled.
thing and assiduously attended wounded all the way over."
It seems probable that Leading Steward
Lawrence was "Edmund Samuel Lawrence, O.N. P/L.8649,"
I have the honour to be Sir, but Portsmouth Depot was unable to confirm that he had been in "St. Abbs".
Your obedient servant,
70%
(SHammd COMMANDER R.N.
ADMIRAL
VICE ADMIRAL
15 JUN 1940
DOVER DO