TNA ADM 199 xxx

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work getting a line ashore from the barges to the beach by which the pulling boats hauled off to the barges, the troops then being ferried by the fire-float to the waiting ships.
Lieutenant WALKER left at 0535 (2nd. June), the fire-float being then just aground (low water 0400 approx). He had to leave about 150 men on the barges, but there were no troops visible on the beach up to 1 mile East of Dunkirk. At 0545 there were no troops visible on the mole, and a paddle minesweeper was just leaving. An anonymous Brigadier who boarded WALKER's craft, said that at about 0200 there would be 1000 - 1500 British (?) troops still to come.
At this stage, it was the un hinous opinion of all the officers named above that small slow notier boats and pulling boats would be of no further use on the beaches. It night have been worth while trying to reach the barges 1 mile East of Dunkirk with fast shallow draught craft at about 2200 (2nd. June).
It is worthy of remark that these wrecked barges made excellent piers for motor boats to use, pulling boats briding between them and the beach with a line to haul themselves off. Three barges were afloat at any state of the tide and two others were aground about an hour before low water. M.T.B.S could 89 alongside the barges 3
hours either side of H.W. and shallow draught boats for longer.
Beach parties, eventually, were not re uired on the night of
Sunday 2nd. June, and everybody was able to get some much needed rest and food.
Monday 3rd. June - Tuesday 4th. June.
RAMSGATE, a copy of the orders being attached herewith. I organis-
A further operation for these nights was organised from ed the following tugs to tow:-
SUN IV - Commander Le MESURIER, Lieut. MARTIN R.N. Lieut.
FLETCHER, R.N.R.
TANGA - Lieut. Commander SHERWOOD, R.N.R.
SUN XV - Two R.N.R. Officers.
RACIA - Lieut. Commander MILLER, D.S.O. R.N.R., Lieut.
WALKER, R.N.V.R.
from the Nouveau reach, and to ferry troops Dad no specific orders, along-
Each tug Avant port and (rom any point down to the ships
WAS to take 4 motor boats in tow, with of the orders East to mole work which they could transport LOCUST. The tugs that they should wait outside the entrance understood there were to opportunity offered or and I instructed to Dunkirk, keeping be a good many) and to be side or to the the Officers in the tugs clear of ships going in just and out ready (of to which go alongside I to pick up troops as to assist as required.
left a little after 1700 trouble, with one 14 motor was aground boats in in all, two The having convoy failed (one across with engine was uneventful, the encountering save for of a two certain
RAMSGATE). The passage the tows, and dealt mines in the neighbourhood H. TAYLOR, R.N.R. Torpedo passage Boat and me, went but about to mount of trouble with of 11. buoy which took were with with by minebalfway sweepers. aoross Commodore was picked up by a Motor on
Dunkirk.

160
The following boats were abandoned either on passage or at Dunkirk, for the reasons given below:-
(a) THARK. Rope foul of propeller and rudder. Abandoned half way.
(b) SANTOSY. Petrol failure. Abandoned near 11. bucy. An interesting point arose here. The Sub-Lieutenant in command said that he had been instructed to fill up with petrol: RAMSGATE from certain cans which were subsequently found tc contain water. The officer who told him which cans to take was dressed as a Lieut.
Commander (E) R.N. When this was discussed, the Sub- Lieutenant reported this to the Engineer Captain (or Commander) at
RAMSGATE, who said that there was no Lieut. Commander (E) at
RAMSGATE, it any rate on the st If. I do not know if this officer could be, or ever W.S, traced and identified.
(c) DIAHA MARY. Engine trouble and to propeller. Abandoned
Dunkirk.
(d) ADMIRAL SUPERIMENDENT'S BARGE (Portsmouth).
Ran on a pile of submerged nasonry in Dunkirk and abandoned.
The officer in this boat (Sub-Lieutenant BIGGS, R.N.V.R.) left his charts on board. I should have sent him back for them, but did not do SO as it was near the time ordered for laeving, and
I thought he only had charts from RAMSGATE which gave no useful information to the enemy. Subsequently reflections made ne think he might have had a chart from Portsmouth, 80 I went in to circumstances, leaving S.0.(1) to pursue the matter further.
S.0.(1) office at Portsmouth on 6th. June and reported the
The arrived at Dunkirk between 2300 and 2345, having beendelayed convoy by trouble with the tows. liost of the boats had been slipped other three tugs proceeded to the East of the entrance: SUN IV at in the neighbourhood of the S.W. RUYTINGEN bucy and sent on. The in this picked up an open boat with a dozen French soldiers first stayed just to the West of the wreck outside the antrance, and it was an learnt that the Germans had possession of MARDYCK fort about and officer, position who had been isolated and escaped. From the officer
3 miles West of Dunkirk.
to motor Eastward boats of the entrance, having a look to see if there was
The carried on with their work, and SUN IV proceeded just the done while passing. All appeared to be going well, all berths any work at to the be East mole were occupied and there were one or two ships lying off ready to borth.
me about 0115 no more French troops at QUAI
At (4th. June) one of my motor boats the returned, FELIX and FUARE, told and that that there Commission were TAYLOR had left the QUAI. This boat was slightly damaged and 80 I left her in convany.
At two end berths on the East mole were also clear. did H.M.S. the tug "MALCOLM" went see if there were any more this ship troops. asked no to push were about 0200 the alongside and I followed in French SUN IV, as There only RACIA, few, to who embarked in "MALCOLM"; I did.
her stern a in to the jetty, which picked up the waiting Motor boat, and
I left at 0230, approximately, the return passage was uneventful, Tug SUN XV I towed was passed home by sailed for RAMSGATS; destroyers and a minesweeper.
another two or vessel three ОДЭ picked up halfway.
Out boats which started for but Dunkirk, the crews 8 or wore 9 had recovered to be safely. abandoned The for remainder one found their own way RAMSGATE, with the of the 14 reason or another, back to

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5.
exception of the one I towed back (MERMAIDEN).
a) As regards recommendations for officers and ratings who did well during these operations, the following officers known to me did well: but I am unable to say whether they did better than many others who must of necessity renain anceynous, since there was no time to collect names, I can only say that, frompersonal observation, the spirit, both of young officers and ratingsm was magnificient. One had only to ask for volunteers for crews to receive more applications than were necessary.
b) Officers names.
Lieutenant J.V. WILKINSON R.H.
Lieutenant R.E. LLOYD R.N.
Lieut. Commander MILLER D.S.O. R.N.JR.
Lieut. Commander SHERWOOD R.N.R.
Lieutenant WALKER R.N.V.R.
Lieuten nt J.E.L. MARTIN R.N. (late *Pelican*) 152
Lieutenant FLETCHER R.H.R. (late at Invergordon)
a) I Iso respectfully submit for Their Lordships consideration that letters of appreciation might be written S follows:-
To - The London Fire Brigade
) for the services of their fire-float LADY MASSEY (?)
The Alexander Tow ge Company
) for the services of their
.I. Alexander Ltd- I Iohns Whart- Wapping E.I. tugs SUN, SUN IV, & SUN XV.
v. Walkins 42 - 112 Feuchwock st London EC3 tug TANGA.
The Watkins Tug & Towage Company) for the services of their
(b) As the tug RACIA of the Watkins Company, the master although of this he vessel was on the nights of 31st. May and 3rd. June. MILLER D.S.O. 3rd.
regards obviously unwilling to 80 over to Dunkirk, On the of did June actually be was go under the orders of Lieut. Commander
R.H.R.
(c) the masters and crews of the the other Alexander tugs (especially Tug the SUN tugs) himself the captain of the tug this tug young
The spirit of was excellent, The owner of SUN IV, and a
Trinity Company House was pilot volunteered his to navis name. do throughout.
Unfortunately I cannot remember
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your obedient servant,
Edward. K. Lehnesmit
Commander R.N.

SECRET
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11. Three German bombers carried out a level bombing attack at from about 8000 feet. Ten Dombs were dropped falling about yards astem. British fighters appeared about a quarter of an later as three transports passed.
12. At 2030 the motor lifeboat B.N.L.D. hailed us and asked to shown the way into Dunkirk. This boat remained with us for the ainder of the night. The Lieutenant R.N.V.R. in command was ortunately killed by shrapnel during the night. This was reported
Commander Tyler on arrival at Bansgate.
ODS IS. left in Dunkirk. Commander Tyler disregarded this and went
At 2100 a small motor boat informed us that there were no o the harbour in the motor lifeboat with Lieutenant Fletcher.
14, At 2130 the tug was hailed by a motor torpedo boat and ders were received to use the boats to fill up minesweepers which e to arrive later.
is boat then pulled for/shore. The tug was then anchored about tug 15. then towed the remaining boat as near in shore as possible.
At 2145 the motor lifeboat and one boat were sent in shore.
ree quarters of a mile from the Bastern breakwater.
ldiers 16. ashore at 2230, and said that she had not seen
The pulling boat returned with the news that there the other were no ats.
17. 2300 All hands kept under cover, and proceeded
0100/2 June, 1940, fairly heavy until firing the over motor and short, defly feboat shrapnel, returned at 0130. The tug than wedghed to amsgate.
M.T.B. again hailed us and werere again at sent 0215. back to
111 18. At 0140 an and anchored in position weighed and went iter urther up waiting in with shore soldiers, till to 0330 pick for them the up, boats but the and ran aground the big use of about engines & quarter astern of ogether mile OII with shore. physical The jerks flooding by lb the then tide soldiers proceeded refloated to which Ramsgate 18 her. towed. with Boats eanwhile 42 soldiers had on been board secured. and in the motor lifeboat,
19. At 0415 18 ran aground to for get the off second after time ten minutes. one mile at 0745 west A slight laze: the breakwater, peaceful but managed passage home arriving at Ransgate
20. gave us Commander a Tyler left but us at A.M. 2000/2 and June, we were 1940, R told 18 to the were salvage tug ordered would to be required proceeded to & position 0.100 18 eventually located her tow her. the ot that night, near position and the tug weigh Hospital and Ship Paris. Commander At R.N.B., secured, but to her first down
We lay Sun off XV until with a she had two minutes got later & aircraft Cerman machine with Lewis dived gims;
wire parted. About us. 10 ongaged the in bursts. lb were then both and machine the ratings gunned on the guns R.N.R., getting in situation. the tug Sun XV The to hospital leave after ship be ordered had asked by the what Commander we thought water of and the was very heavily down to get by her the back stern. was
Both in about five us fathoms and of I considered that It would if we be were very slow already work to tow safely the Tuguaster would require an escort. ship.)
I think that she was her we a twin screw tell.
The tug arrived back at Ramsgate aground, as she but was it was hard to
0645/3 June, 1940.
21. At 1150 18