TNA ADM 199 xxx

Dynam- ago.
141
CONFIDENTIAL.
- 136137
Subject. Operations off DUNKIRK - Recommendations.
From
The Commanding Officer H.M.S. "VENOMOUS"
Date
7th June 1940
Ref No 1460/144
To
The Captain (D) 16th Destroyer Flotilla.
Submitted:-
Vith reference to Vice-Admiral
Dover's Memorandum NO.B14/C/1101/40 dated4th June 1940
and to my letter 01442/144 dated6th June 1940.A11
my Officers and Ship's Company carried out their duties in an extremely praissworthy and efficient nanner and it
15 difficult for me to note the names of any particularly outstanding individuals.
2.I should, however, like to emphasize the outstanding efficiency and devotion to duty of ay executive officer Lieutenant Angus Alexander Mackousie Royal Havel
Reerve On every occasion his his seananship and appreciation of the situation was exceptional, and I
consider that he is deserving of recognition by their
Lordships.
3. Although he did not belong to ay ship,I
should like to bring to your notice the valuable work performed by the Sublieutenant Royal Havy In command of the motor Launch "BALQUHAIN" off La Panne and Bray Beaches.
This motor boat went round to many other larger Launches and gave them precisely orders,at & time when they were urgently needed for disembarkation,and when there appeared to be a "wait until ordered" attitudu among many of them.I regret that I do not know the name of this officer but I consider that his work on this occasion was extremely praiseworthy and the example he not during the combing raids and under difficult conditionswas largely instrumental in keeping the embarkation going.
DMIRAL
COMMANDING
OFFICER
J. E. H. McBEATH.
Lieutenant Commander
JUN 1940
12 JUN 1940
RE
H.M.S. MALCOLIN
in Command.
OVE
H
II.
The Vice Admiral. Dover.
545.
"VENOMOUS" embarked with rders beach to THE THE THE embark roops. At 0030 shore. June Number one landing Nothing Lt. further Cdr. CRAIG was R.N.)
ulled een ppeared of ashore this from party. inship's the At whaler 0200 R.A.D. He to stated investigate. ordered that the he would ship to order berth half one of he longside M.S. to and take embark over troops. had the whaler been embarked and 0515. berthing and H.M.S. party. "VENOMOUS" After stated returned an hour longside DOVER at 1100 28 knots, troops arriving at and bye of
0
abarkedf an NOMOU
0515 returnety
RS-BAIK
ed but tion(

142
Subject.
Operations off DUNKIRK.
the 137
From
The Commanding Officer H.M.S. "VENOMOUS".
Date
6th. June 1940.
Ref.No......... 1442/144
To
The Captain (D) 16th. Destroyer Flotilla.
Submitted:-
The following report is forwarded in accordance with V.A.Dover's signal 2001/4/6/40.
2. H.M.S. "WHITEHALL" and H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" left
DOVER Harbour at 0035/31, and arrived off BRAY at 0350.
During the passage, searchlights were observed burning from the shore seawards near CALAIS. H.N.S. "VENOMOUS", after waiting off the beach for one hour,proceeded,or the receipt of orders from R.A.D., to berth alongside DUNKIRK Eastern Breakwater, laving remained alongside for thirty minutes, H.M.S. "VENOMOUS"
left harbour with 1200 troops on board, entering DOVER Harbour it 0800.
3. At 0940 31st. May 1940 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" left arbour with orders to proceed to BRAY or LAPANNE beaches to embark roops. The ship arrived off BRAY at 1530, and finding no small raft available, I lowered my motor boat and whaler to embark roops. The motor boat broke down and was towed back to the ship.
.M.Motor Boat "BALQUHAIN" ( a Sub-Lieutenant was in command) used he whaler and ferried some 200 troops from the shore to the ship.
uring this period, repeated high level bombing attacks were arried out on the beach and ships lying off. Barrage fire vas pened as opportunity presented. At 1700 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" was rdered by R.A.D. to proceed alongside to embark troops. While aiting for a berth, aircraft appeared and dropped bombs. Since he H.A. ammunition in H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" was nearly exhausted
.M.S. "VENOMOUS" requested permission to return to harbour to eplenish ammunition. At 1900 the ship was ordered to proceed longside by S.N.O. DUNKIRK. The ship proceeded alongside but
O troops arrived. 60 German aircraft were observed approaching rom the S.E. Fire was opened with all guns. The gun recoil parted
11 my wires and as no berthing party was available on the jetty, proceeded out of harbour go as to retain mobility of the ship uring the air attack. All H.A. ammunition was now-expended and n receipt of orders from V.A.D. H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" returned to
OVER to replenish ammunition, arriving at 2220.
4. The ensuing twelve hours vere spent in refuelling, epairing damage to the D.G. equipment and ammunitioning ship.
5. At 1245 1st. June 1940 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" left arbour with orders to proceed to DUNKIRK. At 1430 all Destroyers ere recalled by V.A.D. and accordingly I returned to DOVER at
545.
6. At 2050 1st. June 1940 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" embarked rders to party, to a position off T.MALO-LES-BAINS but and boats embark beach consisting of ten officers and ninety men, with roops. proceed 2nd. June 1940 the ship arrived no ppeared At 0030 the shore. Number one landing section(Lt.Cdr.CRAIG R.N.)
ulled from inship's whaler to investigate. Nothing further was longside of this party. embark troops. He stated that order After half one of een ashore At 0200 R.A.D. ordered the he would ship to berth de and take over the whaler and berthing party. "VENOMOUS" an hour longside M.S. to 1100 troops had been embarked and H.M.S. returned a DOVER at 28 knots, arriving at 0515.

Dynam. 290.
-
CONFIDENTIAL.
189
Subject. Operations off DUNKIRK - Recommendations.
From
The Commanding Officer H.M.S. "VENOMOUS"
Date
7th June 1940
Ref No 1460/144
To
The Captain (D) 16th Destroyer Flotilla.
Submitted:-
With reference to Vice-Admiral
Dover's Memorandum NO.B14/0/1101/40 dated4th June 1940
and to my letter No1442/144 dated6th June 1940.A11
my Officers and Ship's Company carried out their duties in an extremely praiseworthy and efficient manner and it is difficult for me to note the names of any particularly outstanding individuals.
2.1 should, however, like to emphasize the outstanding efficiency and devotion to duty of my executive officer Lieutenant Angus Llexander Mackenzie Royal Naval
Reerve.On every occasion his his seamanship and appreciation of the situation was exceptional, and I
consider that he is deserving of recognition by their
Lordships.
3. Although he did not belong to my ship,I
should like to bring to your notice the valuable work performed by the Sublieutenant Royal Savy in command of the motor Launch "BALQUHAIN" off La Panne and Bray Seaches.
This motor boat went round to many other larger launches and gave them precisely orders, at 8 time when they were urgently needed for disembarkation, and when there appeared to be a "wait until ordered" attitude among many of them.I regret that I do not know the name of this officer but I consider that his work on this occasion was extremely praiseworthy and the example he set during the bombing raids and under difficult conditionswas largely instrumental in keeping the embarkation going.
ADMIRAL
DOMMANDING OFFICER
Hi McBEATH
JUN 1940
#
12
B
H.
Lieutenant Commander
E
In Command.
II.
The Vice Admiral, Dover.
1545.
2050 1st. June 1940 H.M.S. "VENONOUS" embarked with
A beach party, to & position off arrived but no boats embark
6. consisting At of ten Officers MALO-LES-BAINS and ninety men, and orders to proceed 2nd. June 1940 the ship section( Lt. Cdr.
troops. At 0030 shore. Number One landing Nothing further CRAIG was R.N.)
pulled ashore At 0200 R.A.D. ordered that he would order ippeared from inship's the whaler so investigate. the ship to berth alongside and embark the whaler and berthing "VENONOUS" returned an hour seen of this party. troops. He stated party. After half one of the longside M.S. to take trops over had been embarked 0515. and H.M.S.
to DOVER at 1100 28 knots, arriving at

Subject.
Operations off DUNKIRK.
THE
rom
The Commanding Officer H.M.S. "VENOMOUS".
Date
6th. June 1940.
Ref.No. 1482/144
The Captain (D) 16th. Destroyer Flotilla.
Submitted:-
The following report is forwarded in accordance with Dover's signal 2001/4/6/40.
2. H.M.S. "WHITSHALL" and H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" left
OVER Harbour at 0035/31, and arrived off BRAY at 0350.
uring the passage, searchlights were observed burning from he shore seawards near CALAIS. H.M.S. "VENOMOUS", after waiting ff the beach for one hour, proceeded, on the receipt of orders
'rom R.A.D., to berth alongside DUNKIRK Eastern Breakwater.
aving remained alongside for thirty minutes, H.M.S. "VENOMOUS"
left harbour with 1200 troops on board, entering DOVER Harbour it 0800.
3. At 0940 31st. May 1940 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" left arbour with orders to proceed to BRAY or LAPANNE beaches to embark roops. The ship arrived off BRAY at 1530, and finding no small raft available, I lowered my motor boat and whaler to embark roops. The motor boat broke down and was towed back to the ship.
.M.Motor Boat "BALQUHAIN" ( & Sub-Lieutenant was in command) used he whaler and ferried some 200 troops from the shore to the ship.
uring this period, repeated high level bombing attacks were arried out on the beach and ships lying off. Barrage fire was pened as opportunity presented. At 1700 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" was rdered by R.A.D. to proceed alongside to embark troops. While aiting for a berth, airoraft appeared and dropped bombs. Since he H.A. ammunition in H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" was nearly exhausted
.M.S. "VENOMOUS" requested permission to return to harbour to eplenish ammunition. At 1900 the ship was ordered to proceed longside by S.N.O. DUNKIRK. The ship proceeded alongside but
10 troops arrived. 60 German aircraft were observed approaching from the S.E. Fire was opened with all guns. The gun recoil parted all my wires and as no berthing party was available on the Jetty, proceeded out of harbour so as to retain mobility of the ship uring the air attack. All H.A. ammunition was now expended and in receipt of orders from V.A.D. H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" returned to
OVER to replenish ammurition, arriving at 2220.
4. The ensuing twelve hours were spent in refuelling, epairing damage to the D.G. equipment and ammunitioning ship.
arbour with orders to proceed to DUNKIRK. At 1430 all to Destroyers
5. At 1245 1st. June 1940 H.M.S. "VENONOUS" left ere recalled by V.A.D. and accordingly I returned DOVER at
545.
6. At 2050 1st. June 1940 H.M.S. "VENOMOUS" embarked rders party, to & position off ST.MALO-LES-BAINS but boats embark beach consisting of ten Officers and ninety men, and with proops. At 0030 the shore. Number One landing further CRAIG R.N.)
to proceed 2nd. June 1940 the ship arrived section(Lt. no topeared pulled from inship's whaler to investigate. the Nothing to berth was seen ashore At 0200 R.A.D. ordered he would ship order the longside and over the whaler and berthing and H.M.S. party. "VENONOUS" returned an hour of this party. embark troops. He stated that After half one of so DOVER at 28 knots, arriving at 0515.
longside M.S. to 1100 take troops had been embarked