TNA ADM 199 xxx

CONFIDENTIAL 332. 239
244
Royal Naval Barracks,
Chatham.
15th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to report the loss of H.M.Tug "St Abbs"
at Dunkirk at 0930 on 1st June 1940, Lieutenant Brooker in command.
2. H.M.Tug "St Abbs" sailed from Dover at 10 a.m. on Friday,
31st May with three barges in tow, the "Duchess", the "H.A.C." and the "Doris", bound for Dunkirk.
3. At 2100, 31st May the last barge of the tow, the "Doris"
broke adrift and was taken in tow by a sloop, name not known.
H. At 0030, 1st June, H.M.Tug "St Abbs" anchored approximately six miles from Dunkirk, Lieutenant T.E. Brooker considering it unadvisable and dangerous to proceed further before daylight.
5. At 0330 anchor was weighed and ship proceeded towards
Dunkirk.
sed the piers and proceeded
CONFIDENTIAL
ommenced bombing the piers and
Dynamo d and ordered to proceed owing the "H.A.C.".
r soldiers to embark.
ORT BY MR. R.B. HENDERSON BOATSWAIN R.N. raft intensified and anchor to
N LOSS OF H.M.TUG "ST ABBS"
ed closer to the beach
Henderson's report dated 15th June '40)
Keith" was struck by a bomb
II.
Abbs" proceeded alongside
0017
Captain(D) of Nineteenth
1th" and other ratings a and consider the possibility
VICE-AIMIRAL, DOVER.
gland. H.M.Tug"St Abbs"
p's boats and from the water.
truck by a bomb and sank
Forwarded. It is regretted lso rescuing survivors
The bombing was very heavy.
Henderson inmediately was not directed on return to sould forward to have
.S. "Keith" and took off the
0 pick up survivors. Bombing en informed of all the facts in view rracks as it was assumed you
0 keep the ship at full speed paragraph 19, 20, and 21 of the report.
the entrance.
blown up by four delay-action
:he ship. The bottom and ship sank in approximately
1g in the water after one hundred and thirty ratings
N. Barracks, th June 1940.
COMMODORE.
a wreck believed to be the
18JUN 1940
two soldiers, two ratings
.S."Salamander's" whaler's
4
DOVER
1(D), Nineteenth Flotilla, and eight other survivors

CONFIDENTIAL Dyreams 332, 239
244.
Royal Naval Barracks,
Chatham.
15th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to report the loss of H.M.Tug "St Abbs"
at Dunkirk at 0930 on 1st June 1940, Lieutenant Brooker in command.
2. H.M.Tug "St Abbs" sailed from Dover at 10 a.m. on Friday,
31st May with three barges in tow, the "Duchess", the "H.A.C." and the "Doris", bound for Dunkirk.
3. At 2100, 31st May the last barge of the tow, the "Doris"
broke adrift and was taken in tow by a sloop, name not known.
N. At 0030, 1st June, H.M.Tug "St Abbs" anchored approximately six miles from Dunkirk, Lieutenant T.E. Brooker considering it unadvisable and dangerous to proceed further before daylight.
5. At 0330 anchor was weighed and ship proceeded towards
Dunkirk.
6. At 0600, H.M.Tug"st Abbs" passed the piers and proceeded towards the beaches. Enemy aircraft commenced bombing the piers and shipping.
inshore to At the beaches, the "Duchess" towing the "H.A.C.".
Y. 0630 the barges were slipped and ordered to proceed
H.M. Tug" St Abbs" anchored and waited for soldiers to embark.
8. attackes by enemy aircraft intensified beach and anchor to was weighed, At 0730 it being intended to proceed closer to the facilitate embarking of soldiers.
and 9. At Abbs" proceeded Nineteenth
"Keith" was struck alongside by a bomb
Flotilla, "Keith" and Lieutenant of H.M.S. "Keith" and the
H.M.S. settled took off survivors. Captain(D) other of ratings remained of on board towed back to England. and from the
First to estimate the damage and consider H.M.Tug"St possibility Abbs"
proceeded H.M.S. "Keith" to pick being up survivors from ship's boats water.
"Skipjack" was struck by a bomb survivors and sank quickly. H.M.S. of the harbour. "Keith" and took very off heavy. the
10. At 0830 H.M.S. "Salamander" who was also The rescuing bombing was
H.M. Tug"St Abbs" returned then continued to pick up the ship at full Bombing speed sailed for the entrance alongside H.M.S. survivors.
remainder became of the that crew, it was necessary to the keep entrance.
and at 0900 so heavy H.M.Tug "St Abbs" sailed for
'St Abbs" was blown up by The four bottom delay-action and
". At 0930 H.M.Tug water ahead of the ship. sank in approximately bombs stern were dropped completely into the shattered and the ship
45 seconds.
H.M. Tug 12. "St About Abbs" thirty sank. Approximately thirty ratings men were swimming one in hundred the water and after and soldiers were on the ship.
June, I reached a two wreck soldiers, believed two to ratings be the
13 company with "Salamander's" whaler's
S.S. one from H.M.S. Nineteenth Flotilla, from the wreck were Captain(D), eight other survivors the crew. First Also: Lieutenant on of H.M.S. "Keith" and

Synams 332 R.N. Bamacks Chatram
246
15 June. 1940.
15
CONFIDENTIAL
The Nice adminal in Change. Doner.
of The Commadore Royal Naval Banacks chatham
Sir
I have a honour in resort R as of
H.M. Inj St Bibbs" at as 0930 on a 1st June 1940 butmant 3moker in Command.
H.M. Ing ass sailus from Doar at a.m on Friday 3ʳᵈ May with the surges in Tw, the "Dueless" a "HAE" and a Dins, bound for Dunline at 2100. 3 may the ask sampe an R two, a
Donis" smoke admitt and was tekm in Bw of a sloop name not enouth.
at 0030 June H.M. Ing so asss" anchmed approximately six miles from Dunsise, have Enant 16. Brooker considering it anadown and dangerous to funther cerone daylight.
at 0330 anchouse was seighed and ship smocled 5wards Duncise at 0000, H.M. Ing "st adds" passed the piers and proceeded swards a deaches. Enemy commenced somsing a piers and shipping at 0630 a sanger were shipped and "Duches" ordered to proceed insire is a deaches anchored a
Twing te "H.A.C." nm Ing is 34 ambare. add and awaired for soldin atoy30 attacks of enemy intensquid anchor was weighed it seing in Ended and to proceed closer 8 It deach 8 factiar embashing of soldiess at 0800 approximately HMS Heart was struck at a bamb and setted in the water.

Syuman 332 R.N. Bamacks Chattam
15 June. 1940.
246
15
CONFIDENTIAL
The Dice adminal in change. Dover.
The Commadore Royal Nasal samasks Chatham
Sir
I have a rensut to resort p as of
H.M. Ing St asss" at Dunlish 26 0930 on a 1st June 1940 hustmant in Command.
H.M. Ing 'St ass sailue from Dead at can on Hiday 3/ᵗʰ May with the any in Tw, the "Dueless" R "HAE" and a Disis, sound for Duncise.
at 2100. 31ˢᵗ may The ast sange an e two, a
Donis" arose adift and was arem in two of a sloos name not enown.
at 0030 the H.M. Ing so adds" anchored approximately six miles from Duneira, here Enant T.E. Brooker considering it anadorable and dangerous to asseced funter cofore daylight.
at 0330 anchows was sengled and sis proceected 5wards Dunkise at 0600, H.M. Ing 'st adds' passed R piers and proceeded swands a deaches. Enemy account commenced someing a piers and shipping at 0630 a sanges were slipped and "Suches" ordered to proceed insure is a deaches a
Twing the "H.A.C." among 34 ambare. add anchord and waited for sodial 3
at 0730 attach of enemy intensquid and anchor was weight is eing instuded to proceed closer 6 a seach 5 faction
'
embashing of soldies at 0800 approximately mms. in was struck tas a, a bomb and setted in a water.

-3-
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