TNA ADM 199 xxx

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OPERATION "DYNAMO" - PRELIMINARY REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS FOR
PERIOD 30TH MAY - 1ST JUNE, 1940.
(Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "Keith's" No.4/32 of 15th June '40)
51. As the ship was getting lower the order to abandon
ship was given and the majority of nen, who were able to find
some timber to hold on to or to find & place in the floats,
left the ship. At this moment the enemy launched a further
dive bombing attack and a bomb struck our exposed starboard
side in the engine room, making a large hole. Several bonks
fell very close to and one fell among the nen who had
abandoned ship. The aircraft were engaged by pom poms and
lewis guns.
52. Some twnety minutes later the tug "St. Abbs" was
sighted and eventually came alongside to take men off the ship.
This she did with the exception of volunteers who remained or.
board. She was ordered to go and pick up "Keith's" men in the
water.
In this she was assisted by the tug "Vincia" which
took back to Margate: Lieutenant Beauchamp, 88 ratings from
"Keith" and about ten of the General Headquarters Staff,
together with six seriously injured ratings.
A grey accor also assisted and recovered Lieutenant
Verney, Pay. Sub. Lieutenant Craig-Waller, R.N.V.R., and about
four of "Keith's" men. Having a full load of soldiers, she
returned to England.
53. "Keith" was again bombed by dive bombers at this time.
54. After an interval, in which a search was made for
wounded and any confidential matter remaining, the tug "St.
Abbs" returned and, the ship now being not only immoveable
but without H.A. ammunition and sinking slowly, the remaining
men left the ship in her at about 0840.
55. Signals were made to "Salamander" and to "Basilisk"
asking of control and required tug assistance. "Keith" minesweep
them to sink "Keith" finally but both replied The that they
were or however out proceeded westwardsand ed shelled in vicinity
of Asdic cabirat
56. "gt. Abbs" proceed/to the recovery of a number of men
which the had been sunk during, it 18 believed, the last attack on
in water and on thewreck
of the "Skipjack"
"Keith".
57. After from a ship's lifeboat, the aircraft but was without attacked
recovering all these men "St. and Abbe" a number of
by soldiers part of a large formation of enemy
result.
58. sighted consisting but proceeded to bombers.
However, somewhat later, mainly another of extremely high level large
formation not was attack the "St. Aboa" some miles to the destroy East.
These did and attacked "Basilisk" bomba at about 0915.
"Keith" the "Keith" sank in a heavy salvo of
59. A from Dunkirk. Again bomb hit her as
single, high flying twin-engined the "St. bomber Abba" was circled then
fast as she and she sank very rapidly about 1000. seconds and
seen returning could but this time a single in about 30
with amidships her many wounded survivors at