TNA ADM 199 795

SECRET
14
3.
Report on operations in connection with the evacuation of the B.E.F. from the Dunkirk area. (Continued)
1312
Anchored off Nore Light Vessel.
2015
Weighed.
2140
Anchored off East Margate Buoy, "Mallard" and
"Sheerwater" in company.
Sunday 2nd June 1940.
0245
Weighed and proceeded with "Mallard" and "Sheerwater".
0430
Commenced patrolling in vicinity of.W buoy.
French destroyers "Epervier" and "Leopard" at U and
V buoys respectively.
0710
Last homeward bound ship passed W buoy.
1035
Attacked by 3 J U 88 diving from out of the sun.
4 bombs very close on port beam.
4 bombles very close on port bow.
4 bombs missed well ahead.
French destroyers left patrol.
1050
Attacked by 1 Heinkel dive bombing. 4 bombs missed well out on starboard beam.
1140
Attacked by 1 Heinkel with machine gun from 4,000 ft.
1155
Attacked by 1 J U 88 who would not come through
"Calcutta's" barrage and dropped 4 bombs well astern.
1350
Orders received to return to Sheerness.
1459
"Mallard" detached to stand by Hospital Ship
"Worthing" who had been bombed and damaged.
1644
Anchored off Nore Light vessel to make good condenser trouble and slight damage from near misses.
Monday 3rd June
0510
0550
Weighed. Secured to buoy at Sheerness. Discovered further condenser trouble and serious cloud in all reserve feed tanks.
All defects made good by 1400 on Tuesday 4th June.
3. During the period at La Panne, "Calcutta" had to lie too far from the beach to be of any use for direct embarkation of troops so the principle adopted was to order any small ships alongside when they were full, disembark their troops into "Calcutta" and return close inshore for another load.
4.
In the two salvoes each of 4 bombs which fell very close to "Calcutta" on Sunday 2nd June it appeared that one bomb in each salvo had at delay action and burst some way under the water whereas the other three burst on impact.
5. The conduct and behaviour of my ship's company and of the military forces evacuated has been exemplary throughout.
VIOE ADMIRA
D.M.dees D.rr.
10JUN 1940
*
POVER
CAPTAIN

121
REPORT OF PART PLAYED BY H.M.H.C. ISLE OF GUERNSEY"
106
in the evacuation of Bunkirk.
a May 1940
Having received orders from Dover at noon, we proceeded towards Dunkirk company with the Hospital Carrier "Worthing" and Transport "Monas Queen", lowing the route given by the Naval Authorities. At approximately 4-0 p.m.
we approached Calais, which lay in ruins under & heavy pall of smoke, two tish destroyers crossed our bows, hove to and commenced shelling the re Batteries who promptly returned the challange. To avoid this No mans d we were forced to Deviate, as our proper course would have taken us ween the combatants. Whilst carrying out this manouvre, enemy planes eared and commenced bombing the convoy but none of the three vessels were pok, although as the bombs fell very close.
Arriving off Dunkirk, which was under an even heavier pall of thick ok smoke than Calais, we manouvred our way inside through the various cks of vessels which had been struck by bombs and the "Worthing" having on made fast to the Quay we moored alongside her. A few moments after our rival streams of motor ambulances arrived threading their way through
) columns of troops who were not so seriously wounded and were able to sisted in stretcher bearing so as to facilitate the loading. By 9-55 p.m.
Lk. Loading was commenced immediately and every member of the ships Crew sle of Guernsey" having 346 cases on board, and as her number of cots the is th Hospital Carriers were loaded with as many as they could take, the ok along many corridors, in fact wherever it was possible to put & and stretcher. was ly 203, of these cases were accomodated in between the cots on mpleted Ballo on the 37th May. At 11-47 a,m. on the same day,
0 voyage back to Newhaven, via Dover passed without incident loading having by 4-53 been completed, Water, provisions and Oil fuel taked aboard, proceeded to Dover for orders.
y 29th 1940
At 5-16 received orders, we proceeded towards Dunkirk, TO
4-1 for a course of an engagement between aircraft and at observed llowing p.m., having which took us well clear of Calais. At 7-18 British p.m. stood scending immediately close ahead of us and the vessel was but save stroyer a while because in our track. At 7-30 palla an airman was stopped to m. One by parachute went down a rope ladder to assist the airman, with bombs innon and reached the By a miracle none of the bombs struck cannon fore he of the seamen bottom, 10 enemy planes attacked the Ship the ship, iells and considerable damage bullets. British fighter planes drove place enemy though machine guns. was done by the concussion, shrapnel, off the rerhead. proceeded towards port at 8-20 pall. we found it was being Returning id we machine gun Dunkirk with at terrific air battle taking bombed
4d Arrived off the from the shore to keep clear.
ong shelled, the and we had orders with two destroyers, we later received At 11-30 orders p.m. to it channel in company fallen and then return to Dunkirk. brilliantly lit entered until darkness had breakwaters, the whole place being to up up ongside of fires, of the quay at 12-30 a.m. Loading numbering 490. at once the glare between the burning oil tanks atc., and managed commenced moor
2-15 what was left taken on board as many as we could throughout, carrying crew and R.A.M.C. their utmost to load the ship few minutes as by the a.m. we had personnel behaved splendidly quickly and
/ on as possible, the quay and in the water. found the their duties and although doing the ship was shaken every Leaving the quay a.m. of we proceeded and shouting for help, presumably a these men up, of bomba falling out on of the harbour and just outside transport we had n men swimming destroyers were standing by picking Dover.
ided our way for us to attempt to stop and try to save any overhead, sunk. As two carefully through them and proceeded towards of these It ve been fatal wonderful target for the airoraft hovering paintwork up.
We made such a burning port showing all our white just o ng was comparatively & patrol boat headed us off as we were heading orders flames of the quiet on the way across, except that straight before for ly Dover, laid minefield. Arriving off Dover at 7-0 a.m. we received

Left anchorage bound for Doner.
my reason for leaving, was because
Copy too "Dynamo"
Dynams 71.
210
water was running very low,
2nd June 1940.
vicinity was subjected to a
Officer in Charge,
Dover.
anchored in Dover Harbour.
no slows
Das
(HOSPITAL SHIP "WORTHING")
Sir,
Transfered the troops to W.D. tender have to that according to orders from N.O.i/c Ramagate,
I prodection TASTAS MARK day at 12.55 hours for Dunkirk at 20 knots.
them at adminalty pier. I did
At 14. 32 hours 12 aircraft were sighted dend shend and were berth my ship at admiralty peer immediately recognised as enemy aircraft. One of them detached, dived at no and commenced machine-gunning my ship. I increased to 24 imots few troops, I thought it best to and put my helm hard a starboard. The enery aircraft then attacked with nine bombs of heavy calibre. in the ship was then swinging very fast on her helm the bombe full on starboard quarter and part box and detached male, and get then to one anidehips off the starboard side. two of the bonba fell within three or four feet.
for the troops.
Concussion was very violent and some pipe castings were broken in the engine room, permitting water to enter, but this was quickly remedied. Some superficial damage is sustained and as - are making thed alongside N°3 admirally pin as a slight smount of water in the fore hold and chain locker I survise the plates are started on part bown There were, at the time, no other water was now acute.
ships in aight with the exception of two sailing barges.
thed outside of Steamers Hythi + Glene
Wind usa N.B. 2.3. Visibility very good and at the time I was carrying all the marks and signs of a hospital ship according to Genera laying at N°5 berth, (for I was per
Convention and this was without a shadow of doubt, a deliberate and sustained attempt to destroy a hospital ship.
of N°3 beath,) and y watered shif
For possible future guidance for fast ships I would suggest that from this experience, to keep circling at high apend is one means of across these two ships, baulking the dive bomber.
I would bring to your notice the exemplary conduct and loyalty
No5
of all personnel on board.
hours in beath the harbon close to Pow
I - Sir,
Your obedient servict,
Copies will be sent
(Sgd)
to S.T.O. Base Port anchor awaiting orders.
and to owners.
Master.
He worthing
W. Baater
Master