TNA ADM 199 xxx

CONFIDENTIAL.
Part
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF H.M.S. WHITSHED.
The Rear Admiral (D) gave me orders to II
loud hailer and stop other ships entering and this
Some 80 troops and 10 civilians and others were en from small craft. Orders were received to return as no more troops were available and ship proceede
0245, When at No. 5 W. buoy H.M.S. HOLLAND was obs apparently splitting in half and sinking. I stood but survivors were taken off by M.T.B. 102 so I pr arriving Dover at 0530.
A Dutch scoot flying the white ensign he me in Dover harbour the previous afternoon piercin oil tank. While off Dunkirk with H.M.S. MALCOLM 1:
across my bows an unknown paddle minesweeper rammed stern and carried away part of the depth charge ra
Ship accordingly proceeded alongside Sandhurst when damaged stern was made watertight.
although lying at one time alongside H. HEBE we
My ship's company were in very good heart unaffected by their hysteria.
pier party ship sailed at 1900 for Dunkirk with the
Embarking Commander Buchanan, R.A.N. and harmonica band playing.
jammed me in the entrance and and tide we
Ship arrived Dunkirk at 2215, 3rd June.
berth and a wire out but this got my I put part 0
ships off the Eastern arm. I the wind bows alongside party into the M. T.B. that had parted. (D) abc my and wires. The harbour was now French full of troops ships of all again went alongside, but the Rear Asmiral would I
brow SABRE who had slipped and my me. I gave 8
alongside M. a transport's stern stern alon sizes backing and filling. Eventually I got II
as to the transport to assist in inside them in embarking to one the very tide was small narrow brow. or She, four however, decided th they only had some three hundred on boar more board. and about I or that ens fell can troops the Perforce same use M.T.B'S in falling sight time. I were of I she By sailed this again must now down at number I at and leave high had the 0245 embarked nn harbour about speed and board having H.M.S. 200 and with a and been furthe troops salvo SABRE so my the WI V
manoeuvring uncomfortably of to the ship One while passage made in dense from fog. within a mile arrived of the Dover breakwa at of After making of arrangements which about the was admin th sailed at 1315 for a
I have the honour to be, Sir
Your obedient Servanys
The (Copies Vice (Sga.) E.R. CONDER
CANADA

Copy.
Dynams 353
2116.
FROM: Unit Officer, 40th A.S. Group, H.M.S. "Olvina".
DATE: 17th June, 1940.
TO:
Flag Officer i/c Portland.
In accordance with your Memo. No.2912 of 6th June, 1940,
I have the honour to submit the following narrative.
On Wednesday 29th May, at 1700, "Olvina" proceeded to
Dover in company with "Topaze". During the night she became detached and reached Dover independently at 1045/30 May. The
Examination Vessel was hailed for instructions, and at 1230
orders were received to proceed to the Downs, where the
Examination Vessel would have our sailing orders. This ship, which was engaged in towing a steamer off the Goodwins, directed us to the Examination Tug at the North Goodwin Light
Vessel, where we anchored at 1545 to await instructions from the shore, since the Tug had no orders for us. At 1810 orders were received to proceed to Bray beaches, 6 miles east of
Dunkirk, to pick up troops.
At 2210 the anchor was dropped 1 mile to east of Dunkirk when visibility was very low owing to smoke clouds. Orders were then received from a destroyer to investigate a reported enemy M.T.B. 2 miles to eastward. Anchor was weighed at 2221, and we steamed to Bray beaches without encountering the M.T.B.
Pilotage was somewhat hazardous in the intense darkness, owing to wrecks obstructing the channel, and at 2345 the anchor was dropped as close inshore as possible.
The ship's boat was taken away soon after midnight, and brought off two loads of troops totalling 32, including one stretcher which was put aboard a destroyer. Owing to deterioration case, of conditions, no more troops were embarked until daylight, when the boat was pulled ashore on two more occasions.
provide proceed to "Sabre's" motorboat and use it for embarking to At about England, so it was arranged that "Olvina" should
0500/31 May, "Sabre" was full of troops and ready troops. a crew for after refilling with petrol from "Icarus", boats the Accordingly, manned and proceeded to tow off ships' to vessels and motorboat Engineer's was pontoon floats from the lorries pier driven anchored the off. The having planks lashed to 3/4 at Owing
Royal pier consisted of motor the roofs. into to sea at low water, breeze, which freshened be used, to force and some 1100, a northwesterly pier could boats.
in handling the Probably of
300 to 350 removed in this manner, which
240 were put aboard "Olvina".
by enemy action was experienced fired at, during and the shrapnel embarkation, was observed to burst on the
No interference although enemy aircraft were sand being dunes.
At 1100, I conditions for proceed to Dover. to decided to discontinue small embarking boats, troops and owing owing the to the fact adverse that the weather ship was almost full, and to
"Sabre's" motorboat was handed over to "Vivacious" and at
1120, "Olvina" was under way.