TNA ADM 199 xxx

Dynama.228 Biulo/ 12n8
H.M.S. "Queen of Thanet"
9th. June, 1940. - 32 2d
DUNKIRK OPERSTIONS.
I have the honour to report that I arrived at Harwich, 1410
30th. My, 1940, H.M. Ships "Westward Ho", "Plinlimmon", "Devonia"
"Brighton Queen" in company.
At Harwich I ordered each ship to act independantly and the orts will have been sent in separately. I left Harwich at 2045
irsday, I then proceeded to embark troops from the shore using from
30th. May and anchored off Le Panne at 0405 on Friday, our own 31st mts, were then ordered to Dunkirk. I berhed at Eastern Jetty 1750.
about 170 troops were embarked. Owing to heavy fire the at
USO bre where we I embarljed a further 900 troops and left Dunkirk at tsi to Dunkirk I took the Dungeness Lifeboat in tow and proceeded to reate, in for Dunkirk at 1117 and at 1210 was ordered to stand by to arriving at C005, Saturday, 1st. June. I left Margate the
I.E.R. troopship "Prague" which had been bombed on her way ver and took off all the remaining troops, approximately 1640.
with troops. I closed the troopship which was steaming 1,600 at 8
ots proceeded to Margate, arriving alongside the Pier at a left Margate again for Dunkirk and on arrival was ordered anchor ain CK at 2007 and proceeded to Dunkirk, arriving at 2330. for
1850 to I Margate, arriving 0643, Sunday, 2nd. June. I weighed I was ain ordered and arrived at 0540 on Monday, 3rd. June, I 0045 weighed on and back to Margate, no troops being available oceeded June, where I embarked approximately 300 troops, after At barkation, to Dunkisk at 2000, arriving at East Jetty at nday 4th. ordered to return to Margate, arriving at 0506. to the 0515
weighed mined French ship off the North Foreland. H.M. Sloops, ich I was anchor (without disembarking troops) and proceeded On arrival sistance found that of any a survivors had been picked up by one of returned to Margate Roads and anchored at 0822, finally sembarking troops at 1408.
I submit the following names of Officers and men who were tstanding for their courage and devotion to duty:-
John William Holgate, Lieutenant R.N.V.R.
Horace Goldsmith, C.P.O. Pension No. 13112. (late C/J.27799
Rumsan, Lieutemant, R.N.R. (T.124).
G. J.A.G. White, A.B. R.F.R. No.B.25866 (late C/SSX13308)
A.N. Williamson, Signalman R.N.V.R. 011.No.LD/X.4036
W.T. Hughes, Officers Steward, C/LX23530.
Will. Mitchell, Fireman, T.124.
Geo. Lane, Fireman, T.124.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant.
S.P. HERIVEL. ODE
0. Vice Admiral B.H. Ramsey
Lieutenant Commander (Act. R.N.V.R. Commander)
lag Officer Commanding
Senior Officer
7th. Minesweeping Flotilla.
over.
VICE ADMIRAL
DOVER

4d.
49
Copy/
DYNAMO 234.
Salvage
Office,
11, Cambridge Dover. Terrace,
11th
June,
1940.
Commander
Days
The
Castle,
Dover.
Sir,
As instructed I enclose my report of operations
$
carried out under my orders on the following Tugs, LADY BRASSEY,
FOREMOST 87 and ST. OLOARD
29th May 0/30 State left Dover on LADY BRASSEY to assistance of
H.M.S.
"MONTROSS".
3/- Took "MONTROSE" in tow from the range of enemy searchlights off Gris Nez.
6/110 Arrived at Dover after towing "MONTROSE" stern first all the way.
30th May 11 Refle Left Dover on LADY BRAS BY with FOREMOST 87
in company, bound for Dunkirk in search of H.M.S.
"BIDEFORD", missed the "BIDEFORD" in fog, received 8
bombing off Gravelines - no damage done; carried on to Dunkirk.
5/0 Dalla On arrival S.N.O. ordered me to assist in harbour work. I sent the FOREMOST 87 to handle barges onto the Marlo bench, etc., BRASSEY into harbour.
Towed "PRAGUE" out of harbour stern first and guided incoming craft to troop embarkation points.
31st May 0/30 Stalle Left Dunkirk under orders of V.A.D. by W/T, no troops then available for me to bring over, there being five vessels waiting at that time.
7/0 ReMe Visual signal from Leathercoats sent me back to N. Goodwins to assist two Trawlers ashore. I ordered
FOREMOST 87 back to Dover.
8/30. Arived back at Dover. Trawlers refloated.
lot June 10/30 seme Left Dover on the "ST. OLOAP" to assistance of *H.S.S. "SALAMANDER" reported to be off "Western Buoy"
and proceeding slowly towards Dover; went to assistance of S.S. "PRAGUE" off N. Goodwin, vessel had been bombed and was in sinking condition and troops were being transferred to small craft which were alongside, finding my mistake in ships I requested the "JAVA" to take my place and tow the "PRAGUE" to the Small Downs and beach her whilet I went after the "SALAMANDER" -
this the "JAVA" did; at about 3 palla we were dive bombed near *** buoy - "no damage", so went to assistance of several other craft "not required".
After searching between the and Western Buoy for some time and finding no sign of the "SALAMANDER" I sent
W/T to V.A.D. that I would wait around the area for orders or would assist anything I came across. Later
I took in tow H.M.S.? D.96, destroyer which had been battered and was laid helpless - full of troops.
Towed her until off the E. Goodwin and Goodwin Knoll, when her engines came back to life.
Whilst towing the D.96 I received W/T from V.A.D.
to return to Dunkirk and handle H.M.S. "KEITH". I
replied unable to obey orders as I was fully engaged with the D.96. Later, when D.96 was able to proceed under her own power I phoned from Deal for further orders; these were then given to the Captain of the
Tug whilet I myself was put into hospital from injuries received/

42 50
received during the general melee of bombing and getting ropes fast to the D.96.
I should like to mention the Skipper of the Tug
FOREMOST 87 for his coolness in towing barges around the Dunkirk beaches and work which he helped me with in Dunkirk Harbour under fire; also the Master of the "ST. OLOAF" AND "BRASSEY" throughout the operations.
WI regret that I cannot supply time, during the operations. I had no time to make notes.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) Geo. 11. Robinson,
Lieut, R.N.R.
Assistant Salvage Officer.
to on this planes overhoad and the gan vis fired by Zite Robinson.
arrived Deskrick a missage von Lm to the them had been wast over to the 8
to come Inste and berth alomgaide the mot pter
To alongside the plan about 6.50
11, Robinson visit on shore for than orders to - with School and return. but this order use and orders given for the seg to reming by the
Staff orriser, who asked for shree itrabulto So past in and notor best that una standing by for time This 789 down)
the said that be would not pus trade OR board but va vare to rousin slongatde of the any until further orders.
I Laon him titn's I 414 not think va could remin very
Img in this borth on account of the death of intere Ba advised THE to-shirt for ther our tountries the and of the HEAP
about 9 Date No shifted bearth about 9 Date to the outer not the plan. I then found with the small that the tugs sterboard bills bel VIA striking the contrage stome before the rubbing band tools a houring on the dene I sent one of
YOU most along the plan to report to hts 11 196 not safe tug to renain and Sept the tour almas by the state
About 9a Date 90 received orders for both toge too the Improport off the but Pier at 10,
The "PEASOR" and lying head into the and draving about 17 the of and at that time there would be abroad
18 No of votern. alon a stoot of * extent, bet a 11,01 for N guide to Tream of 2014
check Della se got that be the atorn of Six.
"PRAGUE" and the on her 10.
the "MASSSSY"#" utro with not nade meanths on the and 11 attained ore, TO got our voce on board and
That to the of the Ii not vary in the starr of the

51
Rescue Tug "LADY BRASSEY".
May 30th and 31st 1940.
Dunkirk and Transport "PRAGUB".
Sir,
I Frederick John Hopgood was the Master-in-Charge of the tug "LADY BRASSEY" on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st May 1940
when I received instructions about 9.50 B.M. from the Salvage
Officer to be prepared to leave when he arrived on board. The
Salvage Officer Lt. Robinson arrived on board about 10.30.a.m.
with the route: for Dunkirk and to assist the H.M.S. "BIDEFORD", also the tug "FORSMOST 87 was to follow, and to instruct the salvage craft "FORDE", also to follow us.
We left Dover at 11 and passing through the Western
Entrance, and waited outside until the "FOREMOST" 87 appeared.
The Salvage Officer told the Master to follow us. We then proceeded on course about 11.15 Balle The weather at this time being hany, visibility about one mile, We proceeded through
Downs but failed to see the "FORDE" and continued on our course.
When nearing V. Buoy the weather became a dense fog that we lost sight of the tug "FOREMOST", so we reduced speed, sounding the tugs whistle until the OREMOST" was close to US. The fog lifted and became patchy and we proceeded on at full speed on course for 17. Buoy. e then set course to No. 5 and 6 buoy
Dunkirk Roads
Thilst on this course several German planes were overhead and the machine gun was fired by Lt. Robinson. We arrived off Dunkirk pierhead about 6.30 palls when a message was sent in to the signal station informing them to had been sent over to assist the "BIDEFORD". le then received a message to come inside and berth alongside the east pier
Dunkirk. We arrived alongside the pier about 6.50 Dalla
Lt. Robinson went on shore for orders. e then received orders to load up with troops and return, but this order was cancelled, and orders given for the tug to remain, by the
Staff Officer, who naked for three lifebelts to put in his motor boat that was standing by for them. This was done, he also said that he would not put troops on board but we were to remain alongside of the quay until further orders.
I then informed him that I did not think we could remain very long in this berth on account of the depth of water. He advised me to shift further out towards the end of the pier about 9 Dalla We shifted berth about 9 Della to the outer end of the pier. I then found with the swell that the tugs starboard bilge keel was striking the coping stone before the rubbing band took a bearing on the pier. I sent one of my men along the pier to report to him it was not safe for the tug to remain alongside and kept the tug underway close to the pier.
About 9.30 Dalla we received orders for both tugs to tow the Transport "PRAGUS" off the East Pier at 10.30 Dalla
The "PRAGUS" was lying head into the harbour and drawing about 17 ft. of water and at that time there would be about
18 ft. of water, also a wreck of a trawler astern, but this trawler had a anchor light burning, for a guide to keep clear of her.
About 10.30 Dalla we got fast to the stern of the
"PRAGUE" and the "FOREMOST" on her bow. About 10.35 p.m.
the "BRASSEY's" wire was not made fast secure on the "PRAGUE"
and it elipped off. We got our rope on board and again made fast to the stern of the "PRAGUE". It was now very dark; we succeeded in towing the "PRAGUE" clear of the Trawler wreck and out between the pierheads and swinging her clear of the wreck/

454
COPY.
Rescue Tug "LADY BRASSEY".
Saturday, 1st June, 1940.
Sir,
I, Frederick John Hopgood, was in charge of the tug
"LADY BRASSEY" when at 10.40 Selle Lt.-Commander Laloe WAS
put on board the Hospital ship "ST. DAVID" lying at anchor off the detached Mole with engine trouble. He then told me to 80 back into harbour and see if S.S. "ROEBUCK" lying at the Admiralty Pier was ready to be assisted off. We had just left the Hospital ship about 11.30 SeMe when we received instructions from the examination steamer to proceed to the assistance of Transport "PRAGUS", "SALAMANDER" and
"IVANHOE" and to instruct Salvage vessel "FORDE" to proceed that was lying at anchor in the Downs. We left Dover about noon and spoke the "FORDE" off Deal about 1 p.m. and proceeded on course when nearing the Fork buoy I could see a craft that appeared to be the "PRAGUE" off the N. W. Goodwin buoy. I spoke the Master who requested me to make fast, and also what was his position. I told him he was close to the
Fork buoy. We got fast at 1.20 p.m. and towing at 1.30 p.m.
About 1.45 Dalla we eased towing for the pilot to get on board.
I had asked the Master if he could hold the water in the ship and replied yes, and draught 25 feet. We then proceeded on passage to Dover. When nearing the Port we received instructions to anchor "PRAGUE" in the Downs at about 2.30 p.m.
We turned around and proceeded back to the Downs. During this time the En ineer reported Dynamo trouble. Whilst passing through the Downs and off Walmer we were hailed that we had better take the ship to anchor in Ramsgate Channel and on closing Ramagate channel we were told to ground the vessel. I then hailed them asking why they wished to beach the vessel and was told that they found they could not hold the water and that she must be beached. We then turned the vessel in towards the Conspicuous House and grounded her on
Sandwich Flats at 11.30 Date We then received a signal to return off Deal for the Salvage Officer Lt. Commander Laloe.
We then received instructions about proceeding to Dunkirk by signal. Lt. Commander Laloe came on board and I
informed him we should like to inspect the Dynamo before leaving. He agreed and sent a message to that effect to
V.A.D. and whilst we were at anchor he would proceed to the
"PRAGUE" by motor boat this would now be about 5.40 p.m.
On the return of the Salvage Officer we reported the
Dynamo appeared satisfactory, but the engineer could not make a very good exam on account of the steam. Lt. Commander
Laloe then told me that we should have to tow the "PRAGUE"
further in shore and that he would go on shore to report.
At 8.15 Dalla we have up anchor and got fast to the "PRAGUE"
and towed her in shore Sast of Sandown Castle at 9 p.m.
About 9.30 Dame we anchored the tug for further instructions from Salvage Officer.
Sunday, 2nd. Hove up anchor 7.45 a.m. and spoke to
Lt. Commander Laloe who was required on the telephone ashore and who was on the Dapper. We went alongside of Dapper and
Brought Salvage Officer off the signal station when he was landed by Motor Boat. At 8.45 n.m. I received instructions from the Salvage Officers to return Dover and arrived alongside the Pier at 10.15 Bettle Took on board coal, and engineer overhauled Dynamo.
Yours faithfully,
(SGD.) F. J. HOPGOOD.
To K.H.M.
Master.
Signed Tuesday, 11th June.