TNA ADM 199 xxx

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CONFIDENTIAL.
H.M.S. "Formidable",
12/6/40.
C/o G.P.O.
030/48/40.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of certain minor duties carried out during the evacuation of the
British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk on June 1st./2nd. and
June 3rd./4th. 1940.
I arrived at Ramsgate about noon on the 1st. June with orders to organise a convoy of motor and pulling boats, to be towed over to Dunkirk that night by tugs, the convoy to sail about 1400. Not all the pulling boats then at Ramsgate were suitable for work on the beaches, being too large and heavy, nor were all the motor boats in running order. At about 1530, the tug "SUII" arrived from Tilbury with some 20 more pulling boats in tow. I took this tug under my orders, and sailed about 1750 with one motor boat and five of the most suitable pulling boats in tow.
I took with ne Lieutenants J.V. WILKINSON and R.E. LLOYD (R.N.)
who had had previous experience on the beaches. The Tug "TANGA"
under Lieutenant Commander SHERWOOD, R.N.R. sailed about the same time with two pulling boats. I had had some difficulty in obtaining another tug, and the master of the tug "RACIA" was quite evidently most unwilling to sail, and this vessel was left behing. The tug
"SUN IV" under the command of Commander TYLER, R.N. sailed earlier independently with either one or two boats.
On the way to Dunkirk, three of the pulling boats were swamped -
Dunkirk and had to be abandoned. I arrived at Dunkirk at about probably through towing too fast, as I was in a burry to get over to boats arrived a little earlier. Both tugs anchored at a point about
2330, after - an otherwise uneventful passage; the tug "TANGA" with her boats; the tug "SUN IV" was, I believe, a little further to the East.
1 - of mile East of the Eastern Mole at Dunkirk, and sent in the
The boats from my tug "SUN" proceeded to take off troops from the
East mole at a point where the beach and mole joined; on the first motor being beat (possibly Commander MAVID) to proceed alongaide the mole were embarked, I received orders from an officer ina fast trip they brought about 45 British troops to the tug. While these to embark on taking troops off to the other ships and that I would and troops, so I told my boats, before they went in again, return carry the position I was then in to meet them again. I then proceeded to alongside the mole and embarked about 50 French soldiers, this anchorage, was a slight amount of The French ratings al from a and waited for the boats remonstrance for about an hour. from the During subsequently broken down motor boat. I originembarking another 28 Frenchmen then and returned 4 English to naval the troops about on with another 50 British troops or two time board there who were anxious to get away. (having done boats one returned trips in 0300 the meantime to other ships.)
During the night heavy battery, and from at the the mole, and towards guns. The
Dunkirk was being shelled East from by the lighter West by what
0300 lighter shells was coming nearer and just nearer to the Westward, mole, At and a seemed to be a appeared to be directed down the about fire was started was an outburst of troops, apparently and just on the shelling either on the mole or rifle fire the mole 0300 where there the boats had been embarking Lieutenant

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WILKINSON informed me that shells had burst very close to the boats alongside the mole on the last trip. One or two shells burst in the neighbourhood of the tugs, but I think these were probably mis-directed.
I had decided to leave at 0300 2nd, June in order to be clear of the channel and round No.7 I bucy before daylight, since the enemy had been shelling the channel from the shore on the day before. A short time before 0300, I heard a good deal of shouting from the direction of the harbour entrance; the tug TANGA left about 0245 and I
understand from later conversation with other officers that all ships were ordered to clear off then. I left at about 0315 having secured the boats, and having then some 175 English and French troops on board, besides 28 naval officers and ratings and the tug's crew.
The Tug was very full.
(a) The return passage was uneventful; I posted an English soldier with a Bren gun, as anti-aircraft armanent, the tug having no protection otherwise. One pulling boat was swamped on the return passage. (b) I understand that some orders were issued for this operation, but these did not reach me before sailing. Fortunately the tugs under my orders went to the right place in the event.
On arrival at Ramsgate about 0815 (2nd. June), the troops were disdecision had yet been made, I made contact with various officers embarked, and I went ashore for further orders. Finding that no who had been working on the beaches on the night of 1st./2nd. June, and prepared a short appreciation which I was about to telephone to were not required that Sunday night. This tallied with the informat-
Captain DENNY at Dover, when orders were received thatbeach parties ion that I had been able to glean, SO I decided not to telephone to Captain DENNY.
officers named as to events on the nights of 1st./2nd. June.
The following is a summary of the information gleaned from various
(a) Lieut. Commander Miller. D.S.O. R.N.R.
Just to the Westward of a wrecked French destroyer. Left at
Had been working on the beaches about 1 mile East of Dunkirk, about line about I 1 mile still further to the East 1.0. about 3 miles at was on mile further to the East of this position and 1st.
1900 Saturday 1st. June. At this time, the 2nd. line of the defence
East of of defence Dunkirk. Troops would not come off from this position this time.
(b) Lieut. Commander Sherwood, R.N.R.
sniping was going the barges by the wrecked stranded on the beach
In tug on on the Eastern mole, and French destroyer beaches 1 mile to
TANGA. Left at about 0245 (and. June), also at on this the time the East Eastward of Dunkirk. of TANGA'S motor boat was left at about 0215.
(c) Commander Le Mesurier, Lieutenants Wilkinson and Lloyd.
OT above. the Eist At 0315 mole, there and were some still further a few up.
Meatenant LLOYD said that there appeared 0230. to be a few people on the beach up to 1 mile East of Dunkirk at
(d) Lieutenant Walker R.N.V.R.
float This Officer (?). He had been working from barges by the was in charge of the London Fire two Brigade fire -
wrecked LADY French MASSEY destroyer 1 mile East of Dunkirk and had done good

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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.

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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.