TNA ADM 199 795

332
305
OFFICERS.
LIEUT-COMMANDER A.J. CUBISON, D.S.C. (ret).
Commanding Officer, 1st Mine Recovery Flotilla. Took over his flotilla FISHER BOY, SILVER DAWN, FIDGET, JACKETA, LORD CAVAN
and Yacht BYSTANDER - arriving at the beaches 2200 28th May.
He remained at the beaches over four days with his flotilla, ferrying, towing and - by direct contact with the beaches - loading the transports. By his devotion to duty and fearlessness under intermittent gun fire, bombing, dive bombing and machine gun fire - he set an example to the entire flotilla under his command. He returned to Ramsgate at 0700 2nd June.
B231
S
sur lego
331
304
is
19,
No. 3095/15.
id
FROM
THE NAVAL OFFICER IN CHARGE, RAMSGATE.
DATE
3RD JUNE 1940.
THE FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING, DOVER.
S
TO
OFFE
1,
RECOMMENDS.
ing
Attached lists are submitted in accordance with your telephone instructions this day.
orts.
VICE ADMIRA
NAVAL CAPTAIN, OFFICER IN CHARGE,
RAMSGATE.
4- JUN 1940
*
DOVN

332
305
OFFICERS.
LIEUT-COMMANDER A.J. CUBISON, D.S.C. (ret).
Commanding Officer, 1st Mine Recovery Flotilla. Took over his flotilla FISHER BOY, SILVER DAWN, FIDGET, JACKETA, LORD CAVAN
and Yacht BYSTANDER - arriving at the beaches 2200 28th May.
He remained at the beaches over four days with his flotilla, ferrying, towing and - by direct contact with the beaches - loading the transports. By his devotion to duty and fearlessness under intermittent gun fire, bombing, dive bombing and machine gun fire - he set an example to the entire flotilla under his command. He returned to Ramsgate at 0700 2nd June.
SKIPPER JAMES HENRY MUGRIDGE, R.N.R.
Commanding LORD CAVAN of the 1st Mine Recovery Flotilla. This vessel was at the beaches in company with her consorts over four days, and was finally sunk by shell fire. Skipper Hugridge his first time under fire. When H.M.S. "MOSQUITO" sank, this throughout handled his with the utmost coolness although it was
Officer placed his ship alongside and took off the survivors despite heavy bombing attacks. When LORD CAVAN was sunk,
Skipper Mugridge personally supervised the drawing of the his fires, cabin, the saving of his entire crew and confidential books the and the clearing of the ship of Army Staff who were down in documents - all of which was done under heavy shellfire in space of three minutes.
LIEUT-COMMANDER N.J.L. PISANT, D.S.C., R.N. (ret). (ret).
the Dutch Schoot "PATRIA". Went to Braye beach and ladders. ran He then took off 1025 troops and Redged off.
Commanding ashore, putting out a kedge, rigging cargo nets and Jacob's In deeper water, he then embarked 200 men from the boats of
H.M.S. in "PATRIA", he went over again in fast motor boats,
"CODRINGTON" and brought all safely back to Margate.
making troops out to the transports. He has set a high example three days direct contact with the beaches and embarking and ferrying by his fearlessness and devotion to duty.
LIEUTENANT gallantry and devotion to duty whilst This Officer in charge -
VAN HAMELEN - ROYAL NETHERLANDS HAVY.
For conspicuous of the evacuation - of & speed-boat. landing has been over by collecting troops, and loading them day, transports. and every day himself in a speed-boat, ferrying, into on He has the beaches diaplayed utter fearlessness throughout duty. every has set & high example by his devotion to

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and a trawler which were loaded with 500 troops and sailed for home.
I afterwards visited the burning wreck of H.M.S. "GRENADE"
in the Drifter "LORD CAVAN" in which the S.N.O. was flying his broad pendant. The vessels was a white hot mass and there could have been no doubt that the confidential matter had been destroved
Thursday 30th May.
No ships had entered the Port of Dunkirk last night.
The Transport "KING ORRY" which had endeavoured to enter the port yesterday evening despite signals made to her to keep out, was attacked by bombers when she was attempting to turn in the
Western basin, and was damaged by & near miss. Although her engines remained undamaged, her steering gear was put out of action and in her attempt to get alongside the 3 stern Mole,she ranned and made a breach in the mole itself, thus rendering 8 great length of the mole inaccessible to troops Ships had accordingly carried to be berthed to the landward side of this gap, The KING ORRY herself but was making water, and it was decided, although she had managed to get alongside, that it would be undesirable to embark troops in her. She was, however, advised to sail, making use of her engines to clear the harbour and to navigate to England. I SAW her sail at about 2.30 a.m. and she managed to clear the mouth of the harbour. She was making water, and sunk about 4 cables outside the harbour entrance. Her crew or the majority of then were resoued.
We were in urgent need of ships but none came, and at
10000 signal was received from PRINCESS MAUD to sar that she
& fired at by shore butteries 5 ailes to the westward of had been that in consequence of this she had turned back German to
Dunkirkand Dover. This was proved to be erroneous, as there were no batteries in this position.
advised ще that he was proceeding to G.H.V. of to
The S.N.O. and instructed ne to carry out the duties decision S.N.O.
Dunkirk, see Lord in Gort, his absence. It will be remembered that the
She we hit 3 times bad 3 Kollow wounded,

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ordered him to return to Dover, taking with him as many troops as he could carryBe left at 0230 on the 2nd. June.
Sunday 2nd. June.
We had arranged for Commander Ellwood and myself to remain with the S.N.O. till the end, but Commander Surteeps and Commander Gotto refused to leave, as they. considered that there was yet work for them to do. The work of these two Officers the former at
Naval Headquarters and the latter controlling the troop movements on to the Eastern Arm, cannot be described by words of mine.
Suffice it to say that they were never for one moment absent from their posts,in the face of heavy bombardment and air attack and that they carried out their duties with a sense of courage and cheerfulness which must have been a fine example taxther not only to the ratings left with them but to the troops.
On returning to the Harbour I discovered that the drifter
"LORD CAVAN" - our Depot Ship had been sunk by shellfire.
Sunday June 2nd.
As it had been decided to cease evacuation of troops by daylight, there remained little to do during the daylight hours today. We were prepared to make 3 naximum effort tonight to get away the remainder of the B.S.F. There were roughly 4,300
of the rearguard troops to be embarked, which had been withdrawn, according to plan, from the front linde positions.
The position was becoming critical. The Germans were at 1000
to have penetrated important positions surrounding whether reported and it waas for see time questionable as to last
Dunkirk, to carry out the evacuation of this we would be able The hours went by and it was established ships were that the force of troops. had checked the enemy's advance. No air
French troops day, and we were subjected to very intense to move admitted attacks and by bombardment, the enemy having been able up his At artillery 2130 I took due up to my our position withdrawal. at the end of the Bestern Mole