TNA ADM 199 795

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

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my cutter. I later borrowed a whaler and 2 hands from IMPULSIVE.
For the rest of the day until my last trip I carried only British troops.
Owing to the ground swell and the fact that SWALLOW's propellors were unguarded and below the hull, we considered it unsafe to go into less water than five feet, and it was necessary, therefore, to run inshore at some speed, check the boat's way and allow the cutter to shoot in towards the beach, and when it was nearing the end of its tow
(50 fathoms of grassline bent on to 30 fathoms of 3" rope), the cutter's bows were turned to seaward and the boat was backed into shore.
Crowds of French soldiers immediately rushed into the water and clambered over the stern and quarters of the cutter. I instructed them by megaphone how to distribute their weight, and when I thought enough had been embarked, I went ahead so as to take the cutter out of reach of the remainder; subsequently stopping while hangers-on were pulled inboard.
With the British troops the loading was easier, but in all cases the men were very weak and very helpless; for instance, on one occasion when the tow parted, both the cutter and the whaler, which were fully loaded, were blown in broadside on to the beach, and in the case of the cutter, the combined efforts of the four Naval ratings and the soldiers were unable to refloat her, so that I was obliged to send a line in to them, using SWALLOW's dinghy. The tow parted again and it was only with great difficulty that we re-established it and hoisted in the dinghy.
Each time after loading, I proceeded alongside IMPULSIVE, which had a jumping ladder rigged. In order to avoid waste of time in shortening in my eighty-fathom towline, I passed the end of it to
IMPULSIVE and requested her to haul the boats alongside, which was done by part of the ship's company doubling along her deck. After the first number of trips from shore to ship towing both boats. There were but at trip, I borrowed IMPULSIVE's whaler and two more hands, and made &
this time few boats working between the shore and the ships, there very boats full of troops broached to on the beach and and unable 8
to were some One motor boat belonging to & destroyer, one whaler miles of small get motor off. yacht were the only boats working on two aircraft or three by beach, and in view of the target presented to enemy I
destroyers and transmit & signal from me to Admiralty, repeated embarkation. Dover, other ships waiting to embark troops, requested requesting more shelling on the beaches, and a good deal of intervals. from
IMPULSIVE to Cautters and power boats to speed up the A/A fire
There the ships was as some German aircraft appeared overhead at frequent
IMPULSIVE hoisted two black shapes, some wreckage and when
At about midday, she reported that she had struck while she was
I and next came alongside propellor (this happened, aircraft). I think, taking damaged avoiding her port action during an attack by
As IMPULSIVE borrowed had ratings to who had manned IMPULSIVE my cutter, had taken proceeded some proceed for docking, I returned and her whaler and the Up to this time obtained from
400 to work soldiers, with WINCHELSEA. nearly all British. Before she left, I her
50 gallons of fuel for my boat.
Captain, I the possible should First like Lieutenant was to done mention to and assist here many the long me others the both ready tow C.H.M.S. by line, co-operation the and handling IMPULSIVE; by providing of of the the ship everything to provide a whaler lee, by and hauling hands to help in working during my the outter short and petrol, also by providing lending a food for me and my boat's crew periods when we were alongside.
received much assistance and co-operation for my cutter from and H.M.S. gave
WINCHELSEA I who later lent me a signalman and ratings me all her available petrol.

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In the early afternoon, the wind lightened and conditions became easier. Observing that there were boats at the davits of a wreck close inshore, I borrowed some hands from WINCHELSEA to lower and man them and ordered a R.A.F. launch which was lying astern of a neighbouring vessel to take over these boats ex- the wreck and embark troops.
Soon after this, on the suggestion of the Captain of WINCHELSEA, I
boarded KEITH to discuss with Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker the possibility of making all remaining troops march to Dunkirk for embarkation.
By 1730 hours, there were few troops waiting to embark at this part of the beach and the remainder were making their way along the this beach should to be the last trip; I concurred. In the last trip only about 30
Dunkirk, and at this time WINCHELSEA signalled proposing that soldiers embarked in the cutter, and I transferred them to the launch. cabin and room of my boat, handing over the cutter to the R.A.F. made on
WINCHELSEA further to the Eastward was hit about this time, and enemy presumably air
During which appeared to be straddled by the first engine this last half-hour, several dive-bombing attacks salvo. were A
transport activity was intense. SWALLOW was hit by a few small splinters, of anti-aircraft shell, but was undamaged.
last trip inshore I proceeded direct to boat Ramsgate, had been and
After the about 2150 hours. The engines of the the port, and a arrived there since 0315, at and when outside Ramsgate the first port engine was restarted.
minute running would Johnson, cutter untiring like later, single-handed The of in to crew his the bring the Patrol efforts of starboard to the for your Service SWALLOW and some before showed notice engine of at worked the Lowestoft; she great the failed; earlier left extremely work initiative and of trips this obtained an well Able man to and throughout the was Seaman, his resource: beach working name Peter and and as in I was I I the put wished him to on draw board attention IMPULSIVE to his very good work.
total number of troops embarked 600 and from 800. the beaches and transferred I estimate to H.M.Ships the by SWALLOW as between
Rohn Hutchis
Lieutenant-Colonel,
(A.L.O.,Admirality).
To be attached to my upnt, bleak himet Prescom
Dort 13.6.

444
succession of British shipping as motley in its larger form as were the motor-boats themselves. Tramps, cargo ships, barges, drifters, tugs, Dutch schoots, British warships, even river ferry-boats such as carry one's car across the Thames at
Woolwich and elsewhere.
Of individual acts only a few can be given; every crew, every man almost, experienced some incident or another. some adventure that could fill a whole small volume on its own. And yet what can a writer do when such men report such events in the tersest of language such as "heavily shelled whilst at work";
A few reminiscenses may be given here in the hope that some idea of the work may be gathered by anyone who cares to piece them together. Here are some extracts from a letter written by Sub. Lt..Williams, R.N. which serve to illustrate that merry sangfroid which has been referred to earlier:-
"So I proceeded by compass (error 20°) to the Calais out. -
Gravelines sands and anchored & few hundred yards while about I 8 quarter of a mile I saw two men silhouetted to
I was walked inland in search of Allied pulled ashore in the boat, which waited soldiers. for me
After against the glow of a distant blaze. them. I approached within a few yards of them and say hailed "Lieber Gott!" and they time turned I
I heard and one commenced to shoot at me. By this territory, so had around to the conclusion that I was in enemy
I come behind a dune and shot back.
Fortunately see me properly, while I could see twice outhid it was a very dark night and the their Germans could not quite well. I shot the one on other the right one screamed lines and he fired fell without two bullets a sound. at him, The and he dropped By whatever this when I and then fell and lay discretion still. to be he was carrying nearby shouts so, deeming back to the the boat better and my ship was under way at her mots time I heard part of valour, I ran at top speed full six within less than five minutes."
the soldiers dusk bombing and shelling. greatly lot
"I proceeded at Ramagate and arrived just There was a back to Dunkirk as soon as in I had time landed to of shrapnel by the Tommies and Poilus who the boats. into catch the falling on the beach and I was waded out impressed and helped the sailors with anything Nowhere but did the sea Isee any signs of cracking morale or cheerfulness. back for the last time the same in evening. the "Swallow" Dunicirk
"I went flaming ruin. I again went with a and proceeded motor-boat. While in there I shortly was by now a to the inner harbour in company saw another War slower power boat which was, Ibelieve, of after- the
Department wards sunk. I had been ordered to take off some
- 4

501470
1 Sick Quarters at Ramsgate 4 SION HILL
June 7th
19 40
To NAVAL OF FICER IN CHARGE
RAMSGATE
Submitted
Report on the Medical Organisation at Ramsgate Naval
Base during the evacuation of the B.E.F. from the
French coast.
In such an emergency a basis of procedure had to be rapidly improvised and modified according to circumstances. Collaboration between the Naval. medical personnel and the RAMC was essential and after the first day was found to be working smoothly and efficiently.
The suggestion that the floor of the Merrie England base should be used as & Clearing Station was supported by the NOIC, and traffic from the eastern pier head
ATO
was so organised. Very little delay was found in rapidly clearing the wounded from ships as they berthed.
tels
Smaller boats were dealt with at the Dover steps further down. A naval and military doctor was always available at the pier head for some time before and after high led tide at which time many of the larger vessels entered the harbour. A pier head rallying point was established for medical personnel, and here stocks of dressings, stretchers and medical essentials were kept.
Transport in the form of ambulances Military, ARP, and
St.John's was always available and ample. I would
RILEA
United
JUTLAND
FREDANJA
TYCAP
CRASTS
JAJA
FOAM QUEEN
PACIFIC
BORNRIO
PASCHOLL
REIGER
SUN IV
LINIRED STAR
PATRIA
QUEEN
BRANDARIS
TANIA
RUJA
RESTREL
DELFUSE
SUN XV
HOPPER-
HANDBRUG
BARGE 24
(INO GEORGE y
SWALLOW
DWARP
CAVA
GROUSE
BOURNRIFT
ROYAL DAFFODIL
FABIA
PRINCE OF WALES
CARISTA
BAN
CELLETT
BOX FRED
ROYAL SOVERSION
LENA
VIRINO
SALVINA
DUCHESS OF FIFE ORIOLE