TNA ADM 199 xxx

Dynam. 297.
Confidential
144/4
H.M.S. "WCLSEY".
Yo L.P.1/12/40
12th June, 1940.
ir,
I have the honour to forward the following report of roceedings of H.M. Ship under my command during the period May 22nd
June 1st. The delay in forwarding this report is regretted ut, firstly, I did not think that reports from individual ships ould be required.f such a large operation and further, your letter
0.B.14/0/1101/40 was not seen by me until my return from leave on
IthnJune.
2. H.M.S. "WOLSEY" was ordered to proceed to Dunkirk at 1913
2nd May. Ship berthed at the FelixfFaure jetty and about 200
unded soldiers (all walking cases). Ship sailed for Dover at 2105, scured to Admiralty Pier at 0140/23 and disembarked wounded, finally ecuring to buoy at o230.
3. At 0915/23 "WOLSEY" slipped and proceeded to the Downs to struct Hospital Ships "ISLE OF THANET* and *WORTHING* to proceed to unkirk. Hospital Ships were instructed to stop at Dover for route it as they had not the necessary charts, "WCLSEY" had to lead.
hips berthed alongside at Dunkirk at 1430. "WOLSEY" embarked oproximately 180 Officers and other ranks of the Army G.P.O. and ther non-combatants. Ships sailed in company 2045 Hospital Ships ere ordered to Newhaven, "WOLSEY" secured to Admiralty Pier 2330 and isembarked troops 9 finally securing to buoy at 0415/24.
Le Havre with demolition parties. On return "WOLSEY" was ordered
4. Friday 24th May "WOLSEY" in company with *WINDSOR* proceeded ooring cable proceeded of fixed buoy of Western Entrance boom destroyed dome
WOLSEY" to buoy. On passage to buoy, "WOLSKY" and em ark ammunition for Calais. This was cancelled AM Saturday fouled and already reported).
couring and carried returning to Dover 1850. At 1930 Fog encountered was ordered alais 5. At 1445/26 out bombardment of the road to Seaward "WOLSKY"
"WOLSEY" in company with "WOLFHOUND" proceeded of the to assage proceed to Dunkirk finally secured to Felix transports to
Basin, to act as W/T link ship. Faure jetty was 2350. on
Longside. WOLSEY" shifted berth remained under way in anchorage I berthed but "WOLSEY" at 0530/27 to allow troop but finding come a ommunication ast with Shore calculated I could remain shallow, and as
Ship Signal Station difficult there until one alongside hour efore Low Water but 0930 I (reported immediately. by signal)
Pier 0700. I at 0915 I found water getting to anchorage r-Raid endeavouring began at to move decided decided at rest 1030. of the Ship day, nd ship was eventually and remained there for the with great aintained roceeded to V/S anchorage touch with the clouds Shore of Signal smoke and Station almost 70 continuous rounds ir-Raid. Ship was at claims to have brought but ificulty due to the dense Action Stations all day, over down one plane, per his un being is not fired. confirmed. *WOLSEY* was bombed on 1800 six occasions "WOLFHOUND" but no hehored rrived ombs fell and THE bringing embarked back "WOLSEY" troops. approximately subsequently Both 150 ships sailed for as Dover at roops.

211
Page Be
07SO. Slipped and proceeded to Dover's AB ships proceeding down the channel between Dunkirk and BY buy had been fired at by shore batterios, a smoke flost use burit on the forecastle and funnel moke 108 also rade. The wind was exactly right to afford the maximum protection from the forecastle smoke float, but whether 18 was due to this protection or due to the energr guns having coved on, it is impossible to sey, but fire was not opened on
"Iearus" during this passage.
1015. Arrived Dover and disectioned troops.
1300. Secured to H0.1 Buby, ship's staff and deckyard fitters sorking on the 3.0.0011.
2030. Slipped and proceeded to Dunking "Windsor" in company.
"Icnsus" ISS late proceeding owing to not receiving the signal giving order of leaving herbour until 3030.
asco
Secured in Dunitirk harbour on liastern Am
Saturday 2nd June.
0001.
Slipped and proceeded to Davez by "X" route.
has in collision with a small travler shile proceeding vestuard down the channel: the visibility use extremely bad owing to the moke from the burning oil fuel take at Dunkirk and 1 spite 05 as having a lookout on the forecentle, there was ao the for if order of full entern to take effect before hit:ing. I was unable to alter away to port ao I was already just outside the charted channel to part to avoid the sagnatic nines, which had been loid in the channel. Do usjor lacage was sustained but the hael fitting of the P.V.boom use fractured. It is not known shot damage use sustained bythe trauler.
0030.
Received a signal: an V.I.Dover informing ships that magnetic nines had been laid indiscriminately around
Fede bucy. AB if D.O.0011 insulation was extremely Low and had been giving continuous trouble,: decided to avoid
F.I. buby and return by another youte.
There appeared to be a navigational dangers between
8a buay and the swept channel on a course of 323 digrees, but there remained the question of our own minefields. I
therefore inforged V.A.Dover that I intended to proceed on a course 05 310 from BW buay outing to the laying of magnetic mines at 7.0.buay and at the see time saked if there were any British minarields on this course. I judged that the uinefield, if says would be 1614 in the channel to the northanrd and therefore adjusted as apeed so an to give at least helf an hour in which to get an number to my signal before entering this channels Ky signal was passed by 0045 and as no answer van received by 0115 it appeared that this course use a safe one] at 0130 honover,
1 received a signal saying that the course was useless.
It use too late as X this time I use back in the number
0400.
"&" route channels
0500*
Secured at Adadrolity Pier and diserbarked troups.
1830.
slipped and proceeded to 50.7 Buoy.
"Icarus" sailing for Duskirk cancelled oving to having only one dynamo and one steering motor 1a action.
Honday 4th June
1145.
Slipped and proceeded under orders of "Vivacious" to
1830.
Secured Fortsmouth alongaide Fitch House Jetty.
3.
During all

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225
Page 8.
0730. Slipped and proceeded to Doven- AB chips croceeding down the chemal between Dunkfits and DD Serg had been fired at by shore batterien, a emplo floot 500 burnt on the forecastle and Cuanel empire 168 also unde. The wind was exactly right to afford the sexiem protection from the forecastle state first, but shother it me due to this protection 02 due to the enery gune having poved on, it is impossible to say, US$ fire voc not opened on
"Icarus" during this passage.
1013.
Arrived Dover and disabborked troops.
1300.
Secured to Ho.1 Budy, chin's staff and dockyard fitters working on the
2030.
Blipped and proceeded to Jushirk, "Windsor" in company.
"Icoxue" one Late proceeding owing to not receiving the signal giving order of Leaving harbous until 2020.
2300
secured in Duskink harbour on Eastern Am.
Saturday 3rd Jane,
0001. alipped and proceeded to Dever by "X" route.
Was 15 collicion with 2 email tranter shile proceeding westeard doen the chamel: the visibility und extremely bed owing to the smite from the burning oil fuel tanks at Dunkisk and 1 spito of nj having & lookout on the forecastle, there was DO time for = order or full estern to take affect before hit lig. I 120 unable to alter may to port an I 500 already just outside the charted channel to part to avoid the engretic nines, which had been Inid in the charnel. no major desige una sustained but the hast fittlig if the 2.7.boom use Crectured. It in not known what Camage 100 sustained Whe troular.
0050.
Received a sign? 2 GDL informing chips that magnatic sines 100 been loid indian ininately around
F.O. buag. As 17 0.0.0011 insulation see extrencly Lov one End been giving continuous trenble,: decided to avoid
AS bucy and return by another mote.
There appeared to be DD norigational cangero betwoon but there received the question of our can minefields. I
5W buay and the grept changel on & course of 320 degrees, a course of 315 from BY burg owing to the laying of therefore informed that 1 Intended to proceed on mignatic ulnes at and at the used time naked 18
that the mineriald, 18 DATE would be laid in the channel there were any British minefields on this course. I judged to northanrd and therefore addinted my speed so an to mg signal 0045 and as no number vae received at by 0130 it give at before entering this channel. IV signed 0115 van the least half en hour in which to not an answer to passed by that this course une a ent'u one: vas unclece. however, appeared signal anyand Date the course back in the
I It received was too a late an W this the X wan normal
0400.
Secured "X" youte at channel. Admirally Please and Duoy. discriburied troupn.
08001
slipped satting for mikis cancelled 15 action. cwing to beving only and proceeded so 30.7
1830.
one "ICHIUS" dynamo and one stooring motor
Monday 4th June
Slipped and proceeded under orders of to
1930.
Secured Fortmonth. alongoide 21tch Hundred Jetty.
S.
During all

Dynamo 336.
2979
SECRET.
WAR. DIARIES.
DOVER
In compliance with Memo No. A14/0/330/40 dated 5th
February, the following record of the part played by the Dockyard Departments at Dover in the events which took place between 10th
May 1940 and 5th June, 1940 is forwarded.
ON MAY 10TH, at 0400 the German invesion of Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg began.
In accordance with previous orders the operation XD was commenced at about 0630 May 10th, and by 0830 over 20 tons of explosives had been placed on board "Falconet", "Lady Brassey", "Gondia" and
"Simla". These stores and & Naval Demolition Party of 300 men were then embarked in H.M.S. "Whitshed" "Wild Swan" "Verity" and
"Brillient" who sailed at noon for Dutch and Belgian ports.
ON MAY 11th. H.M.S. "Whitshed" arrived with several easualties
H.M.S. "Sandhurst" and at once taken in hand for repairs.
and damage caused by heavy air attacks. She was placed alongside At
2030 H.M.S. "Venimous" and "Verity" each embarked a Royal Marine detachment with stores and ammunition and proceeded at midnight for the Hook of Holland.
FROM TO MAY 22ND the principle activities in the Some Dockyard were MAY 11TH with repairs to ships damaged by bombs.
destroyers concerned had between 50 and 80 holes caused by bomb splinters or or aircraft patching. cannon, Damage to electrical circuits was also by repairs to which were affected by welding sustained nearly all
Belgian coast became expended and the difficulty of for the sole duty
The supply urgent owing to the large embarking number this rounds at of ships. of ammunition to vessels operating of on the
A.A. ammunition Some destroyers were detailed coast. A
any of other port. to the vessels on the Belgian for them where berth crane and at West reilway Pier, facilities are available. also carrying ammunition Submarine Basin was reserved Ammunition was sent off to ships in harbour tugs.
AT of to H.M.S. 0900 explosives ON "wild MAY were 23RD Swan", loaded operation "Venimous" in "Falconet" XDI were and was "Viay". carried also and embarked. "Simla" out, About about and 470 Commander taken 26 Royal tons off
Marines and details of the landing party. sailed for Boulogne.
from the Army At 1230 the
Welman, operation R.N. was was completed in charge and the destroyers of
ON MAY 24TH "Wolsey" and "windsor" and sailed embarked with at severe 0945. 6 tons damage in H.M.S.
"Wild explosive, the and at embarked and 80 were Royal taken Marines hand and sustained for in action 1600 H.M.S. "verity"
ON H.M.S. "Wolsey" and Calais. "Wolfhound" embarked Military used for stores ammunition repairs. and sailed for Calais.
The Prince ammunition of Wales Pier and stores from now in lighters and barges and for Dunkirk. small and MAY 25TH and sailed for on was extensively for
The craft Submarine requiring repairs. "Burza" The in The ship's bottom in the embarkation of Basin water was used for tugs a the had sailed with been the Polish destroyer by air shattered attack. but temporary the night repairs the enemy had
___???___ certain the During aress Harbour, in of it and had several the been Harbour mine swel,
No outside seen and reported. and exploded. being laid.
was carried mines closed out were to 8 found in until Harbour but These the lgying positions One mine were exploded plott and actually the mines had in been the later Western were Entrance swept within an hour of damage was sustained.