TNA ADM 199 xxx

248,
ENCLOSURE III. TO FORD'S LETTER NO. 541 of 17th. June, 1940.
REPORT BY LEADING SKAMAN H. COOK, COXSWAIN OF MOTOR
BOAT "ANDCRILL"
h. May.
Ordered to proceed to Newhaven, left approx. 1930 in company with 275, arrived Newhaven 2130 approx. stopped by examination vessel after about 8 hours of exchange of signals allowed to enter harbour. Boat running well.
h.May.
Officer in charge of boats gave orders to leave Newhaven at 0600 for Ramsgate. Arrived Ramsgate about 1630.
Instructed to berth alongside West Wall. Filled boats with petrol, oil and water wireless and arms taken out of boats.
Officer and T.A.G. making trip returned to Littlehampton.
No further orders. Boat running well.
E. May.
Boat ready for sea, needed Officer and charts. Noticed and
Officer looking at "Andorra". I asked him if he would take us to Dunkirk and he replied that he would be pleased to.
At noon took whaler in tow and received provisions and 3
rifles and 100 rounds, left for Dunkirk. Boat running well at 1800 revs. Arrived at destination at 1630. Ran whaler alongside telling Papworth and Kettle to proceed inshore and load with soldiers. About one minute after this order a raid started all vessels were under way in view of this we decided it would not be sensible to ferry as boats would have been smashed alongside owing to big surf. The whaler returned with 12 French soldiers. Took them aboard Andorra and sent whaler inshore again, raid was still on, whaler returned with II more French soldiers. They were also taken aboard Andorra making total load of 29 men and whalers in tow decided whaler was too much for boat whaler. to tow so empty, to slip it to another boat in need of a Boat
Raid well at 1800 revs. but load had robbed S 80009 about decided had ceased. 1805 left Dunkirk for Ramsgate. her of
4 knots. close astern badly shook boat, fact all that we very had cool.
running About 18 miles out second raid started, aboard
Decided to for compass and wished to make about Ramsgate 8130 near North dark dropped increase speed owing to the before no light challenge signals. At broke down;by
Goodwin pitch dark. C.E.R.A. Wilford it running as we had Lighthouse, no starboard port engine had been working this time it was all this time and managed to to get & warning in again.
We were unable entrance lights were on. 23 French Ramsgate soldiers.
on engine to find entrance owing Arrived in harbour Ramsgate, 0300 no on the 1st. June, discharged st. June. Working on engines, filling up and cleaning boat in general.
Saw 275 leave harbour.
nd. June
Working on engines.
7d.
June.
Working on doing the proper speed.
engines A.M. Trial. P.M. C.E.R.A. engines Milford running decided well, but the boat damage not was outside the boat.
th.
discovered port screw trial badly and found damaged, to be this running was
June.
put Boat right; lifted, boat to given SmN.O. another 1/0 at 1530 told to Littlehampton. to report back at well. 1700. Reported Officer detailed to take us back Subth.
June.
Lieutenant left Ramsgate from Portsmouth. arrived Littlehampton 1900, boat running well 0900 except for bad petrol.
(SIGNED) H. COOK. L/SEA.

RAS
of
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MAY 26TH. A careful sweep of the Harbour and approaches carried out during the forenoon and the area was declared and the Harbour open at 1436. Sweeping operations were later to ensure that delayed action mines should be destrope
The order to withdraw the B.E.F. from Dunkirk was given and embarkation of the troops started this evening.
JOFF
A staff organisation known as "DYNAMO" was set up to carry plan for evacuating the beaches at Dunkirk. Dutch Skoots,
Launches, Life-boats and numerous other small craft began assemble at Dover and were berthed at Prince of Wales Piers in Submarine Basin. These vessels were at once supplied fuel, food and water to enable them to sail for Dunkirk at earliest possible moment.
MAY 27TH. The tugs "Sun V11" and "Sun X" and "Persia" arriv and reported for duty with K.H.M. They were detailed for lighters and boats to Dunkirk.
MAY 28TH. At 0300 the Examination Vessel "Ocean Reward" ⑉
and sunk off Dover by the Hospital Ship "Isle of Thanet" with loss of all hands. Boats were lowered by "Isle of Thenet serched the position of the accident to gether with the tug
Brassey" but no survivors were found. The night was fine calm and clear and both vessels were showing lights. Facts contributory to the accident may have been the high speed
"Isle of Thanet" and possibly a misunderstanding on the pari
"Ocean Reward" that "Isle of Thanet" would stop off Dover
The tug "Foremost 87" arrived and joined the flotilla of lighters and boats to Dunkirk. At 0830 the requisitioned
Skoots "Ruja", "Sursum Corda", "Jaba Amazone", "San Antonio"
arrived for duty on the Flanders coast. They required water
"Pacific", "Frendja", "Hebe", "Frisco Wega", "Pascholl" and fuel and provisions and steps were to provide
During these operations the air raid taken warning at once sounded and precautions in the Dockyard were taken. No attack develop immediately after the "All Clear" was sounded these vessels for Dunkirk.
MAY tow. 29th. The tug "Fairplay 1" with the water lighter "Cla "SM
was Lt. with Sub. the Comdr. detached Commodore Lieuts. Military and the R.G. K.A. for tug stores Wardrop Harwood, duty "Persia" sailed at R.N.R. Dunkirk. with E.S. for of Hill the Dunkirk. Commodore lighters and G. Jones "Sark" R.N.V.R. and
MAY connection numerous by motor of enemy the 30TH. boats Examination holes action. with H.M.S. arrived Superintendent's caused operation The Service "Jaguar" by former bombs "DYNAMO". was and had detached and staff, "Greyhound" thirteen aircraft for dead arrived duty on at board both duty Many
Dunkirk order by tugs and drifters. during the day All and whose were
Several Thames sailing barges orene sailed during afternoon.
available at the Prince arrived and as will visions same day. and ammunition. of Two Wales tugs Pier sailed they with them to whom Many more vessels were now available evacuating the many thousands were landed at Admiralty for Pier.
MAY 31ST. The Fleet in tow
"Locust". She had been Sweeper struck "Bideford" arrived which had her depth charges and blown by & bomb aft was taken in hand for temporary repairs H.M.S. Sanahu
800 troops on board at the time thirty and feetmoff suffered her
At the Prince of Wales Pier in the by the
"Ocean Cook" and "Challenge" towed morning the lighters and
"F.23" loaded with Military stores over to Dunkir&,

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250
sailing barges "Glenway", "Lark" and "Spurgeon" similarly loaded were towed over by the tugs "Persia" and "Cervia".
Lt. Comdr. R.G. Wardrop and Lieut. F.H. Whalley R.N.R. returned from
Dunkirk and reported back for duty on the Commodore's staff.
JUNE 1st, The C in C of the B.E.F. Lord Gort arrived at Admiralty
Pier at 0605.
The tugs "SunX1", "Sun X11", "Sun V11", 'Océan Cock", "Challenge"
"Crested Cock", and "Fairplay 17 with one sailing barge in tow left for Dunkirk. The tugs were intended to assist disabled craft and carried out this duty off the Belgian coast until they were forced back by heavy air attack.
Numerous motor boats left the Prince of Wales Pier for Dunkirk beaches in tow of drifters.
H.M.S. "Harvester" and "Salamander" arrived with extensive damage sustained during the night operations and repairs were at once carried out by H.M.S. "Sandhurst". At midnight enemy air craft attempted to lay magnetic mines off the Harbour. Mines were laid outside before the raiders were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. The mines were swept up during the morning.
At 2130 the troops transport "Maid of Orleans" was badly damaged by collision in the Harbour. Several of the troops were thrown into the water but all were rescued by the tugs who happened to be in the vicinity.
JUNE 2nd. The tug "Sun X1" towed in the self-propelled lighters
Sherfield" and "YeC. 63" with troops on board. At 1430 the tugs coastal 87", and five motor-bosts in tow for the Dunkirk beaches.
"Foremost "Sun X", 'Sun X1", and "Fairplay 1" sailed with six
The tug life-boats Brassey" proceeded to the assistance of H.M.S. The "Mona's
Isle" "Lady received severe damage from enemy bombs. tug
X11", and "Ocean 22" Cock" refused to go owing to their lack of protection.
"Foremost which had sailed at 2000 for Dunkirk. The tugs "Sun V11", "Sun
JUNE the day troops were arriving in "Glenway" the Harbour returned in all from of craft. beaches filled with soldiers, in the got channel.
kinds 3rd. During The sailing barges "H.A.C." and who had them off and sailed the Dunkirk them until they were picked boats. up by tug
Some No troops came in Belgian to the fishing Dunkirk beaches on account Base made of a the quantity of brows "Halcyon", "Speedwell", brows were used with strong easterly wind. and ladders which were put "Vega", "Princess "Venimous", boats could be sent During the day the Repair aboard H.M.S.
"Vanquisher", "Express", and "Malcolm". The numbers of troops
Elixabeth", splendid effect "Sutton" at Dunkirk Mole and large were brought off during the night.
JUNE 4TH. Tugs "Sun V11", and "Sun X11" left towing H.M.S. "Bideford"
On completion of the up for the passage and following to days every to Portsmouth for repairs. operation of disembarking their troops Home from Ports Dunkirk and destroyers were patched During this day small craft, barges, endeavour subsequently was sailed. made to return the numerous lighters and tugs to their Ports.
NOTES.
ASUALTIES.
During the this H.M.S.
10th to Port, June of 4th whom a "Sandhurst" total of dealt.wistely 6,880 wounded were and over 60 suffering from shock and
50 dead.
EFECTS.
The 26 Repair Base and H.M.S. "Sandhurst" by bomb and holes splinters temporarily rigging. in them and ai a suffered repaired craft cannon. damage also the