TNA ADM 199 xxx

99
would be able to assist us if necessary and realised that we were the last English boat leaving harbour. Could not get engine of LADY CABLE to start but after a short while
W.D. boat came nearly alongside - her engines were running and making considerable noise. Their action then appeared to me suspicious she appeared to be undamaged in the half light.
By now dawn was nearly breaking. When W.D. boat came close to us I ordered one of my crew - Cadet Rating Price -
to board her. He managed to jump aboard but the two boats drifted apart. Price shouted that there was nobody aboard.
Yet her engines were going in neutral of course. Displaying great initiative and resourcefulness, Price was able to make
HAIG go slow ahead and was able to steer her close enough to LADY CABLE for me to jump aboard. Our first efforts to get a line between the two boats were unsuccessful.
The operation was made difficult by the LADY CABLE being full of French soldiers who did not or course appreciate what was happening and were therefore unable to be of much assistance however willing they might be. After some time the two boats were secured but in order to pass a line it had been necessary for Price to swim from the HAIG to the
LADY CABLE with it. Price did this on his own initiative and displayed great courage and efficiency.
By the time the two boats were secure it was almost broad daylight and we were still very close to Dunkirk
Harbour and appeared to have drifted inshore to the S.W. and were very close to the pall of smoke which shrouded the coast to the West of Dunkirk.
On inspecting condition of HAIG found that she had a fair amount of water forward and was damaged extensively on the port bow. However, I got French poilus to work the pump in relays and towing LADY CABLE and going very slow ahead were able to make progress and prevent the water forward from rising.
For some time we did not discover that each engine had a separate control lever and had been going ahead on one engine only. For several hours we made slow progress.
Worsall was trying to get LADY CABLE's engine to start again and Smith was steering her. I left most of the French in
LADY CABLE.
I saw a submarine half surface about half a mile ahead on one occasion and also a number or German aircraft passed close shead of us. Luckily we were either not seen or not deemed or sufficient importance to attack. A French destroyer came and had a look at us but I did not signal to her as we were making fair progress. A flight of 3
Hurricanes flew low over us and later we saw Spitfires and Defiants, but luckily no German planes approached us.
The starboard engine of HAIG packed up I think about
0730. I had not time to keep a detailed log of events.
By this time Stoker Worsall had got engine of LADY CABLE
to go again and I secured her alongside HAIG as towing her astern with only our port engine going was too difficult.
For a considerable time we made very slow progress using engines of both boats. LADY CABLE's engine kept stopping, which French made our progress very slow and steering difficult. At last
4-funnelled light cruiser or large destroyer X 440 (I think)
with DOW wave painted on her, saw us and came up to help. I
had/

100
I had great difficulty in manoeuvring alongside and this difficulty was made worse by the attitude of a few of the
French soldiers who had become panicky and kept shouting
"Au Secours" and shouting at me to hurry up and get them alongside! Only a small section of the soldiers took this attitude which was formulated by a soldier (Heaven knows what rank or capacity) who looked at least sixty, having a pointed grey beard! I found it so difficult. to get the boats alongside secured together that I decided to cast off the HAIG and left Cadet Rating Price on board her with orders that I would come back to the HAIG as soon as the French soldiers were on board the cruiser.
We were very close to X440 and I was alongside her in about two minutes. The French troops scrambled aboard her and I spoke to a French Naval Officer and asked him to wireless Dover that I had the W.D. craft in tow, that we were in difficulties and needed assistance. He promised to do this and also told me the course we should follow from our present position. I noticed that while the French troops were boarding X440, the HAIG had drifted alongside
X440 further aft and I noticed Price talking to the French sailors but do not recall seeing him go aboard X440,
As soon as the troops were aboard I shoved off and
X440 went ahead. HAIG was now astern of X440 and I went alongside her at once. To my amazement there was no sign of Price, who must either have fallen overboard or else boarded the X440 and had not been able to get back aboard
HAIG before X440 went ahead. There was no sign of anyone in the water.
I was now left with Worsall and Smith to manage both the HAIG and LADY CABLE. There was no chance of the HAIG
towing the LADY CABLE owing to the fact that only HAIG's port engine was working and this would have made steering very difficult and also it would not have been possible to prevent the water from rising forward as there were no spare hands to pump. I decided then to try and tow HAIG alongside
LADY CABLE. First I stopped HAIG's engine - there was no object in leaving it running. It took us quite a while to discover how to stop the engine:
Efforts at towing alongside were unsuccessful - the lines kept parting and the bollard aft in LADY CABLE was not up to the strain. The only possible chance left of towing
HAIG was astern but this meant that the tow rope would have to be secured forward around the mast of LADY CABLE and led aft along the deck. We could not secure the tow rope aft owing to the bollards having been carried away by our previous efforts at towing HAIG alongside.
I realised that there was a considerable risk towing from forward that the tow rope might jump over the engine room cabin housing and I took every care to watch for this happening. We managed to make a little progress but several times the tow rope nearly jumped the cabin and unfortunately this finally happened when our engine had almost stopped and the HAIG yawed away to port. I went overboard like a shot from a gun and felt the screw of LADY CABLE touch my left foot. Luckily I caught hold of a fender alongside
HAIG. Wobsall quickly got on board HAIG and he and Smith
(who was already abord HAIG) were able to pull me out of the water. After this episode I decided reluctantly that any further efforts at towing HAIG were impossible, especially/

SECRET
Dynoms 299
/17
.0110.H.
H.V.S. "Vivacious"
c/o. G.P.O.
12th June 1940
Sir,
I have the honour to forward the following report of proceedings for the H.M.S. "Vivacious" for the period 86th May intil 4th June 1940 inclusive.
proceeded 2.- to rend zvous with Admiral Commanding 2nd Cruiser Squadron
"vivacious" left Dasingham at 2200 on 26th May 1940 and in H.H.S. "Glattax Galatoa" in position 181 at 1215.C.S.2. Parted company at 1800 and orders were received to patrol in company.
with "Gallant" ant the Polish Destroyer "Blyskawica" betw en North
Goodwin Light and "I" buoy.
Dunkirk 5.- to evacuate the B.E.F. nd arrived at 0030. The town was
At 2200 ships were ordered to a position one mile Best of and oil fuel depots reached two to three thousand feet. During these undergoing continual combardment and na anes from amunition dumps raids whistling 'bombs were heard, their noise being similar to that of a siren.
attacked 4.- the ships with machine guns. The "Blyskawica" shot down one
Two enemy airer It came through the thick smoke cloud and of these in the harbour, with 5.- aid of drifters and the whaler, and a report having been
"Vivacious" section of the be ch was cleared at 0330
received the from a personel boat that the last Jetty had been cleared, the ship returned to Dower with 353 military personel.
proceeding 6.- by the Eastern Route.
The ship sailed again for Dunkirk at 1030 on 27th machines was machines were shot down crashed (Two the beach, one
7.- Intense encountered off the $ stern Entrance Junkers 88 and SHEXX
aircraft attack by about twenty- and five 110 enemy EXE
another was not seen with to the crash but the pilot was seen
Heinkel 111). one port engine on fire crashed to leave sea. the plane third жини three enemy burst into flames and into on the The and by parachute.
8.- Arrival at and three quarter hours Scoot. some The return journey were was point three miles East of Dunkirk 553 military was made at by 1830 ships and boats, after five M.T.B.16 and a Dutch made in company

Ofform
20197
COPY.
H.M.S. KING ALFRED.
HOVE.
SUSSEX.
Admiral Taylor.
Room 3.7.
Admiralty House,
E.M.S.Wildfire.
Sheerness. Kent.
#
Dear Sir,
= I arrived at H.H.S.Wildfire at 1800 on Wednesday the 29th May direct from H.M.S.King Alfred. I was appointed to M.Y. "Jong" (a standard Thornycroft 36' twin seree notor cruiser central cookoit type) the following morning and put to sea in company at 1400»
To were secorted to Imagate by H.M.T.Strathellict rhere 98 arrived at 2200. There TO received out instructions and proceeded to Dunkisk arriving at about 0930 Friday.
X impdiately want to a spot about 3 miles northeast
X the harbour anchored my boat and 1st he Grift 68 close to the there as possible. I than floated a life line eshare W - of
* life buoy. Immediately M English soldier 0889 est to -
followed by about a dozen Balgiane. 3 expendenced considerable lifficulty in getting State SSSS about as there usa about 3 20. of resboard at the stern of "Jong", Inverer, 99 got every HAIR
hoard and took then to 8 School X then returned to the boach and this time rigged the falls of one of the diaght devits. Again sent the life line ashore and when the man 0889 out to 139 I went verboard and hooked the Lower Mock 00 to the back of their waist elta and my orer hanled than about quite essily.
I continued this operation during the day and also ran essages for the Captain of a steam hoppen who wanted the services
Jr. an experienced engineer off another ships
During the afternoon Dir took R boat alongside & supply ighter that had been drifted schore. There 1920 8 number of board and these zen 312 took off. Others were opposite side of the lighter and experienced aboard it. DIE went 00 to the lighter to ⑉ if
STATE STATE the others to get abound. Just as I arrived found a young Toung (K.Alfred) in the water was exhausted and 80 10 got him on to the lighter and X
was overboard to take his place. We continued to get - on to my
9ab until DD more 1020 caning down the beach. During this peration three bonha fall quite close to the lighter but DO one was upt. X took this boat load of about thirty five out to the hopper.
they " motor boats which had gone sahore without dropping an suchor
I spent 9200 time during the afternoon trying to Jull
Dd the beach which USE a 100 shore. I also towad various whalers ships boats out to the transporte.
evening the big ships started sending their own long lines and as this occurred about every 50 yds.
the which had a supply lighter in too outside the line of big ships.
mobor boate became difficult. I VM hailed by he could 0000 DO names the beach he nabed as to take
8a alose in as X could. The lighter was almost -
While towing 10 the water circulation of one signa.
3 had to sintinue using the ongine which got Yes OTHE-
with I could safuly tree the Lighter after taking is VIII

Dynam 319.
Bir/o/
1344
2263
CONFIDERTIAL
RECOMMENDS FOR DECORATIONS AND MENTION IN DISPATCHES -
H.M.S. "JAGUAR".
FROM *** The Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "JAGUAR"
DATE... 13th June, 1940
No.
Deprome 38-204 201
H.M.S. King Alfred
Hove
Sussex
Commander Duffet
N.O.I.C. Ramsgate
014/0/1251
Dynawa 318
II
2200
RAMSGATE & MARGATE: DYNAMO
OPERATIONS.
ildfire at 1800 on Wednesday
Alfred. 1 was appointed to
3251/212
6' twin screw motor cruiser morning and put to sea in
- Flag Officer Commanding Dover.
Forwarded in continuation of my amagate by H.M.T. Strathelliot
2/212 of 11/6/40, Appendix 3.
a received our instructions about 0930 Friday.
spot about 3 miles northeast the let a her drift as close to means line ashore by
Secretary to di a isgate.
NAVAL OFFICER IN
h June 1940.
I e
CHARGE.
rd as there was
However, we got every beach man
I then returned to the e of when the men came out of to me the dinghy davits.
a I block on to the back
VICE ADMIRAL
them aboard quite easily.
19 JUN 1940
.
eam hopper who wanted ation during the day and the also
*
V E) R
off another ship.
I took my boat alongside were a a ashore. There off.
site and side of the lighter on to the and these men I took oard it. I went

Dynam 319.
Bir/e/
1344
FIDENTIAL
203
RECOMMENDS FOR DECORATIONS AND MENTION IN DISPATCHES -
H.M.S. "JAGUAR".
FROM The Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "JAGUAR"
DATE
13th June, 1940
No.
Deprome 318. 204
201
H.M.S. King Alfred
Hove
Sussex ommander Duffet
N.O.I.C. Ramsgate
H.M.S. Merry England
Ramsgate
Dear Sir,
I arrived at H.M.S. wildfire at 1800 on Wednesday the 29th May direct from H.M.S. King Alfred. 1 was appointed to central cockpit type) the following morning and put to 80a
"Jong" (a standard Thornycroft 36' twin screw motor cruiser in company at 1400.
were escorted to Ramsgate by H.M.T. Strathelliot where we arrived we at 2200. There we received our instructions and proceeded to Dunkirk arriving at about 0930 Friday.
immediately went to a spot about 3 miles northeast the of the harbour I anchored my boat and let her drift as close to means shore as possible.
then floated & life line ashore by of followed a life buoy. dozen Belgians. I experienced about considerable 3 ft
Immediately I an English soldier came out to me of freeboard at getting the stern of "Jong". I then However, returned we got to the beach man difficulty by in about a these men aboard as there was every aboard them to a Scoot.
and Again this time rigged the line ashore and when the men came back of to me and took falls of one of the dinghy davits. out
I I sent the life hooked the lower block on to the easily.
their went waist overboard belts and and my crew hauled them aboard quite this operation during the day and the also ran for I continued the Captain of a steam hopper who ship. wanted services messages of an experienced engineer off another
During the afternoon I took my boat There alongside were a &
number supply thers of lighter British that soldiers had been to on the drifted board opposite and ashore. these side of men the went I took lighter on off. to the and experienced were still difficulty coming in getting aboard it. I

Dynam 319.
Birlo
1344
CONFIDENTIAL
203
RECOMMENDS FOR DECORATIONS AND MENTION IN DISPATCHES - -
H.H.S. "JAGUAR".
FROM... The Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "JAGUAR"
DATE... 13th June, 1940
No....
Diprome 3.8.204
201
H.M.S. King Alfred
Hove
Sussex
Commander Duffet
N.O.I.C. Ramsgate
H.M.S. Merry England
Ramsgate
Dear Sir,
I arrived at H.M.S. wildfire at 1800 on Wednesday the 29th May direct from H.M.S. King Alfred. I was appointed to
M.Y. "Jong" (a standard Thornycroft 36' twin screw motor cruiser central cockpit type) the following morning and put to sea in company at 1400.
We were escorted to Ramsgate by H.M.T. Strathelliot where we arrived at 2200. There we received our instructions and proceeded to Dunkirk arriving at about 0930 Friday.
I immediately went to a spot about 3 miles northeast of the harbour anchored my boat and let her drift as close to the shore as possible. I then floated a life line ashore by means of a life buoy. Immediately an English soldier came out to me followed by about a dozen Belgians. I experienced considerable ft of freeboard the stern of "Jong". However, we got every beach man difficulty in getting these men aboard as there was about 3
aboard and took at them to a Scoot. I then returned to the and this time the falls of one of the dinghy davits. out
Again I sent the rigged life line ashore and when the men came of to me
I went overboard and hooked the lower block on to the back their waist belts and my crew hauled them aboard quite easily.
continued this operation during the day and the also ran messages for I the Captain of a steam hopper who wanted services of an experienced engineer off another ship.
number lighter that board and these men I
supply During had been drifted ashore. There took off.
the afternoon I took my boat alongside were a a
Others of British soldiers to on the opposite side of the lighter to the and experienced were difficulty still coming in getting aboard it. I went on

280
G.O's 1700 & 1723. VESSELS TAKING PART IN OPERATION DYNANO.
TILBURY CONTRACTING & DREDGING CO. LTD. STEAM
HOPPER BARGE "LADY SOUTHBOROUGH*
REPORT OF MASTER.
at 3.00 s.m. on May 30th. To loft Portsmouth in company of
I received. orders on May 29th to have steam for sailing other Steam Hoppers and proceeded to Ramagate, arriving there at 9.30 Dalla I was boarded by a Navel Officer who have 100
my route instructions and charts and orders to leave in the morning at 5.00 a.m. I left Ramagate on Hay 31st at 5.40 s.m.
276
G.O's 1700 & 1723.
TESSELS TAKING PART III OPERATION DYNAMO,
C.S.in C. Dept. Tup "Pring"
Report of Master
Loft Portmouth 1.30 Balls Thursday 30/5/40 on peasage to
Ramsgate. Arrived there at 8.30 Dalla and mored alongaide
H.D.95, was Inter ordered to proceed to No. 3 buay and amit orders. 31/5/40 waiting orders, received AND and Ammunition to repel air attacks. 1/6/40.6.30 fielle received orders to motor Launch Coaling with 3 noval ratings on hoard in Total Hearing ore accompany Tug 0.9 to Dunicipit. Left Ramagato with
French D.16 Deatroyer Damaged and in Too.
Port Coast, passod in Action with shore batteries, one damaged Hand Destroyers Air attack correnced when going to rescue, started motor sinking. bont who got under oun power. Tug 0.9
warned slipped in company to Dunkin's Roads, picked Taken up away BO proceeded cabin cruiser Bonnio Heather.
Vessels Air bombing. Brighton (moon, 8.8. Scotin, and French another, from Vessels hit and dating, proceeded resous.
notor shood through vessels being heavily to attacked arriving ware on H.N.S. alipped notor boar and resourd 75 and
British BOSS usa again bonbed and machine gunned, with warned away survivers, Proceeded back to England at survivors, by French Destroyer. 0.9 Towing Bonnie Honther, on anchor arrival and
Ramagate THE wounded and survivors. To Portanouth. amited
Launch received joined off Dover by to
3/6/40 2/6/40 sailing orders. Left Ramagate tug 0.9 with Coaling orders. landed waiting ordors to return to with damaged C.3 in Tow, in vas tow, proceeded in Company arrival Portamouth. to
Arrived X Portemouth Boat 21 6.45 Belle 4/6/40 and reported
P.W.D. Drodging office.
Sir, by Mate, I wish Eng., to Stokers place and order in reacue veasel.
on record the assistance and running rendered of to DO
(sa.) J.R. Horran, Inster.

Dynams 370.
30205
BUB REPORT OF DUNKIRK OFERATIONS.
The night of June 3-4.
managed to find a large dabin cruiser, the "Mermaiden",
After being relieved from H.M.Schoot "Tilly" I
broken fuel and exhaust pipe, but, due to the efforts of in which to join the last crossing. the had at the time a
+Leading Stoker Teanger, they were both named in time to start with the remainder. Infortunately the 0209 had received their full share of machine-gunning in 8. previous trip, and they were rather shary of going again, 80, while the stoker volunteered to stay on Deard, the remaining four mobers of the ever were left ashore. The 0709 eventually consisted of the stoker, and Air Cummer on leave, Michael Game, an slderly whitehaired gentleman, Mr. ManPherson, recently appointed to H.M.S.
Victory AS-S Lieutenant, and myself. During the greater part of the trip across 10 had also on board the Matral, Ramagate "
Commodore Taylor.
Just after passing ⑈ buy the Admiral transferred to a' War Department boat, and the other bonts, which, **** then, had been towed by tugs, 1979 cast off and told to follow under their our steam. Between T buy and the shamel, three floating mines were encountered, which occupied the minesweepers for a considerable time, while they tried to explode them with
Lewis gunfire.
The floot reached Dunicist without mishap, and we proceeded straight up to Qual Felix Faire, where the Admiral was directing the maller boats. the War Department Boat was the only other 009 alongside. when 10 arrived, 80 there vas no difficulty is filling the boat. Although there was an officer controlling the French troops, they poured in OTER the bown and stern until there was not an inch of space unrilled. Meanshile to the Admiral, 1 ended up at the bettem of a large shall hole, stumbling along the Quad', tripping over the debrie, to report which 3 promptly sureed fluently in more than one language.
with two hundred treeps on board, the deak forward directions louder than the incessant French chatter. passage at all, consequently the boat had to be manocurred by shouting The or the cabin was 80 evented that OUR belmmmen could not 800 out out without any unterned incident. when Case the outside the passed a alight difficulty areas, LOCUST, to which harbour however, hould have been transferred, could to make not be found, worse to there its was a swell outside which made our roll Father due the not finshing the prearranged signal boat - mtters precariously.
troops 0020 oventually put aboard a sloop, lying near the hopelessly, 'Paseex a HB which entrance, the min to the consternation 'arriere' of a Sub-Lieutenant, order who kept bleating obayed by clustering on the fecale - luckily the caused by the was a grotesqualy the swell. twisted arriving at the guad' remarkably round 19 short time. Acting on his had
We incossed once more deserted up the - harbour, all the but troops on been evacuated want in a ashore again to make certain that the Admiral had instructions not good left X behind - no had not.
On our return down the harbour we not the Admiral in an M.T.B. We were ordered to take a to to smack which had apparently lest in tow both her French propellers fishing and rudders. that had collected a few troops. Turning go its assistance.