TNA ADM 199 795

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

port by Douglas Kirkaldie, Coxswain. "Fervent" (contd)
2437°
persistent manner in which the attacks were made on us that our launch must have been suspected, owing to its smartness, of giving passage to some important personage, and that is why such a deliberate attack was made on us.
flee - scored 12 hits but mine

321
322
ITWOD boowing
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297
soldiers, some 370 mostly french were disembarked considerable difficulty. We arrived without furth
COPY.
incident at Ramsgate next morning.
24
To:
D.M.O., Admiralty House, Sheerness.
I returned from Ramsgate to Margate and to assist S.N.T.O. Now Lieutenant Commander Givin
Shift
On 31/5/40 I boarded H.M.S. "Nelson" (motor
31/5
On Monday evening at 1900 I sailed in launch) in Ramsgate Harbour under orders to proceed
"Guillemot" for Dunkirk, she had not previously been to Dunkirk. At 1310 I left the Harbour in company prgme
3th and so took me on as Navigator. We arrived at with H.M.S. "Fervent" in charge of Lieutenantentrance at about 2330 after an uneventful trip
Commander Clements, R.N.R. The starboard engine of the sinking a floating mine. We went alongside the motor launch was out of repair and on getting outside and embarked 400 Frenchmen without incident.
the harbour both the centre and port engines developed air locks which made it neessary to return to harbour.
On our return we ran into fog at the last
After a strenuous afternoon's work the engineer before the Goodwin and proceeded at slow speed with cleared the air locks and at about 1645 I again left the harbour. When about 2 miles south of the mi visibility about a cable. We made the North Good
Goodwin Light Vessel I was signalled to by Lieutenant set course for the elbow and North Foreland buoys,
Newell, R.N.R. in charge of the Northern Inspection had Tug.
unable to find them we anchored tillthe fog lifted, we found the North Foreland buoy a quarter mile 00
His struck tug a submerged wreck and was listed about was standing by the trawler "Jacita" which 25°
Starboard beam; we set course for Margate pier and to port. There were about 300 French colonial asked troops no second ship alongside.
the trawler and Lieutenant-Newell, R.N.R.
TO I humathed working Lieutenant Commander Gin refloat to the vessel. He was afraid that the I trawler in transfer them to his tug before he attempted to the S T.O. S office was closed on Wednesday, thes would spent about one hour in transferring return the be holed and sink during refloating.
reported first to Ramsgate as ordered and then to &
finally proceeding on leave that evening.
accordingly which left barely enough petrol for arriving the at troops from Dunkirk. I then proceeded, The harbour
Throughout the evacuation I was impressed voyage Mole, Dunkirk at about 2200. but necessity of sending in boats fully manned by navel bosts the East shelled a few minutes before I entered, in on had been alongside the Mole I found British troops ships.
shallow draught, not necessarily powerfully used.
to the beach, or better still sending in power engined large numbers onto the Mole and asked an Thereafter Officer to we detail getting going along the Mole to other few if any of this type of boat was being
82 men for my and after having nearly run 79 returned by an
I climbed up launch, which he did. down bas I have the honour to be left the harbour minesweeper in Dunkirk channel, we anchored till overtaking and reaching the Downs and landed
Sir by daylight buoys V.V and then on entered Ramsgate Harbour the troops.
doinw WOTD Bre Your obedient servant.
BBW
and as food
(Sgd)
(Sgd.) W. Barham.
Das
S/L, R.N.
Lt. H.L. Holman, R.N.V.R.
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further eastward but saw no signs of life on the tracer bullets were used in the Lewis gun and several and accordingly returned towards the harbour. On hits were observed by small puffs of smoke coming from nearing the eastern mole we saw large vessels lying the Heinkels - presumably caused by the tracer bullets.
the mole and a great number of troops waiting for
It in remarkable why the Heinkels used the "Fervent"
embarkation. It now became clear that the inform as their target when there were so very many large and that Dunkirk was in the enemy's hands was not coΓΓe small transports about - but not within a mile.
and we proceeded into the harbour. We were direct
Eventually they flew off without scoring a direct hit.
at first to go alongside the inside end of the easta
The ongines of the "Fervent" were badly damaged and very mole, but before we had comple ted making fast an nearly all the glass aboard was broken. I later found
Army Officer informed us that a large vessel require a piece of shrapnel in my inside pocket. Half an hour the berth and we were accordingly directed to later I was again attacked - by three Heinkels and immediately drove them brigh with the Lewis gun. About up the harbour. After proceeding about of
30 bombs were dropped. The method of bombing on this we made fast to the East Pier outside the motor occasion was different to the first attack. On the
"Patria and shortly afterwards the "Medway Queen'
first occasion the five Heinkels hovered above and dropped berthed outside Just as we were going alongsis bombs but on the second attack the 8 Heinkels came towards picked up a wire on the propeller. Isdid not me on my port beam dropping bombs about every 15 yards.
that the propeller was badly fouled and therefore
Owing to the damaged engines considerable difficulty was determined to take on board any troops that could met in getting back to Ramsgate. I pay tribute to the acco modated on the Patria or the "Medway Queen"
coxswain of the "Fervent" who on more than one occasion during the next 11/2 hours embarked about 120 men steered her between salvos of bombs and keeping a cool hatches. Lieutenant-Commander Pisani, R.N., in head under the gravest of situationsand thus allowing me of "Patria" undertook to tow my vessel out of the
(the only naval person on board) greater opportunities to stern first, after which I intended to use my put the Lewis gun to its greatest use and drive the
The towing operation was successfully performed
8 Heinkels off. He quickly and readily obayed all instructions I gave him as to alterations of course and vessels being made fast starboard side to port at about 0330 on 29/5/40 we cleared the harbour.
speed. He is a civilian and his name is Douglas
Kirkaldie of 4 Kent Place, Ramsgate.
During the time we had been the harbour the fire and explosions was more or less incessant
(Sgd) W.R.T.Clements.
was gun no shelling of the harbours After leaving the engines were ahead and shortly af terwards back
Lieutenant-Commender, R.N.R.
cleared itself from the propeller. We arrived
Downs at about 0845 ithout further incident.
6th June, 1940.
the made seven trips to Dunkirk and back.
On the 30/5/40 I relieved the Commanding of the motor vessel Jutland and proceed again embarked some 200 troops, the whole voyage being
Dunkirk beaches and during the dark hours until
FIW
accomplished towed back to Ramsgate. Hostile aircraft beaches without any particular incident.
was observed going on. Lots of shrapnel landed on boato were and much shelling and bombing on the board severe casualties.
1310 on 31/5/40 I left Ramsgate in H.M.S. and
Fervent via 'U', 'V' and 'W' buoys to Dunkirk attach
(a motor launch) with a whaler in tow bear
When 5 Heinkels who hovered above and feet, proceeded about 8 miles from Dunkirk I was dropped betwes
140 by H.E. bombs from a height of about 1000 Lewis the "Fervent" were six rifles and one Army the Lewis gun but it would only fire one ohank
I aimod which indicated that the gas regulating a time there was not the proper spring. got the tension on the spring correct.
set wrong I took the Lewis gin commenced guesswork, firing the 5 Heinkels Firing and the drove Lewis gun and extremely difficult because it had difficulty was least another 3, 000 feet.
to be fired from my shoulder. The increased by immense volumes of water boat from the splash of the salvos of water. Eight to ten bombs were in salvo made a weird whistling noise.