TNA ADM 199 xxx

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OPERATION "DYNAMO" - PRELIMINARY REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS Page FOR 4.
(Commanding Officer, H.H.S. "Keith's" No.4/32 of 15th June '40
PERIOD 30TH HAY - 1ST JUNE, 1940.
41. During the hours between 2200 and midnight, several
magnetic mines to the Test of La Panne and off Braye.
enemy aircraft passed overhead and, as reported later, dropped
La Panne anchorage was under shell fire from Nieuport of La
Caxide and this became more accurate as time passed.
"Vivacious" as hit twice and proceeded to the Testward.
42. At 0030/1 June, "Keith" weighed anchor and proceeded
at slow speed towards Braye, which the enemy artillery were
now reaching. At 0206, the ship was off Brays.
43. At 0510 ten enemy fighters fired on the shore
beaches and on "Keith" and other ships with bursts of machine
sun fire, which was inaccurate.
44. At 0520 shelle from shore batteries again fell closs
to the ship off Braye.
45. At 0565 onemy bomber aircraft were engaged with 4.7"
barrage and pom pom fire. Only two rounds of E.A. ammunition
now remained and about 100 rounds of pom pom.
46. At 0630 "Keith" was standing off between Braye and
La Panne superintending the departure of ships with men
collected from the beaches during the night.
47. At 0737, & very large number of enemy dive bombing,
heavy bombing and fighter aircraft were aighted approaching.
"Keith", circling repidly round a wreck, was attacked by
Junker 87 dive bombers which carried out extremely vertical
dives and released five bombs each. The ship however was not
hit but a near miss, probably of a delayed sction bamb,
Jammed the steering gear.
The enemy were engaged with pom pom and lewis guns.
was under control in hand steering aft.
The ship manoeuvred by engines until shortly afterwards she
"Keith" continued to circle at apeed as enemy aircraf
were continually in sight.
NOTE: Times from now forward cannot be vouched for.
took place on No.2 boiler room on fire and Havy, severe
48. At "Keith", a salvo of which caused ship.
about 0805, further numerous straddled dive bombing the attacks
One bomb set Lieutenant (3) Kenward, Royal and the
boiler list heavily room's to port until eventually upper was touch:
flooding there. crew perished in this fire. her The ship deck began to
ing the
water. torpedoes were fired with no range overboard on and depth
The set to safe and thrown attacks. or fired The ship due had to
charges the danger were from further aircraft now
no steam and had anchored.
49. An M.T.B. came alongside and took off Rear Admiral
Dover and his Staff.
undamaged
Port whaler, the only/boat remaining, considerable was lowered
of and timber all carley was collected and thrown
50. The floats secured to it. overboard. A quantity