TNA ADM 234 360

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MONDAY, 27TH MAY
CHAP. IV
The "build-up" of small craft commences
Early on the 27th May, the Ministry of Sea Transport had been asked by
the Admiralty to find between 40 and 50 small craft, which were to assemble
at Sheerness for a special requirement". The Director of the Small Vessels
Pool (Vice-Admiral Sir Lionel Preston, K.C.B.) supplied a list of what were
thought to be suitable vessels, but it was soon found that a great number of
these were not in a fit state for service. A meeting was therefore held at the
Admiralty which was attended by a representative of the Director of Sea
Transport, Mr. H. C. Riggs. On Mr. Riggs' suggestion, Admiral Preston agreed
to send some of his officers to the various boat-yards from Teddington to
Burnham and Brightlingsea, to inspect and send to Sheerness all vessels fit for
service¹. Forty motor boats or launches were thus obtained, and arrange-
ments made for them to reach Sheerness by 28th May.2 Very few of these
reached the Dunkirk beaches by the 29th May, but they were the forerunners
of nearly 300 small craft, which were destined to play an important part in the
embarkation from the beaches of some 99,000 troops, by ferrying them to off-
lying ships.
In the evening of the 27th the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Ramsgate, assumed
by arrangement the duty of fuelling and despatching all small power boats with
the attendant pulling boats forming the inshore flotilla.
Some delays occurred in the assembly at Ramsgate or in the Downs of small
craft despatched from other commands, owing to many of them being routed
to Dover in error, instead of to the Downs. Once despatched by the authorities
no communication with these small vessels was possible until they arrived at
their destination; this resulted in delays of up to 24 hours or more before
assembly, because during the night misfortune befell many tows that came
adrift owing to the moderate weather or collisions, and the business of rounding
them up could not be effected until daylight.
"Dynamo Maintenance Officer" appointed
To take charge of these small craft, Rear-Admiral, A. H. Taylor, O.B.E.,
(with the acting rank of Commodore), after getting final instructions from the
Vice-Admiral, Dover, proceeded to Sheerness on the 27th May to act as
Dynamo Maintenance Officer." He was responsible for the preparation of
various vessels, small motor craft, and pulling boats, for service in Operation
'Dynamo his staff comprised Cdr. H. R. Troup, R.N., and Lt. Cdr. D. E.
Holland-Martin, R.N. The type of machinery fitted in many of the vessels
and its defective state presented the Fleet Engineer Officer, Captain T. E.
Docksey, R.N., and Sheerness Dockyard with some difficult problems; but
within a week, under Commodore Taylor's general direction, no less than 100
motor boats, 10 self-propelled lighters, 7 skoots, 1 oil tanker, 6 paddle steamers,
and numerous pulling boats, were prepared for service and sent out from
Sheerness.
S.N.O. Dunkirk assumes duty 1900/27
Meanwhile, at 1315, Captain Tennant left Dover for Dunkirk in the destroyer
Wolfhound, with a naval beach and pier party of 12 officers and 160 ratings.
A communications staff was also taken, as it was intended that the Wolfhound
should relieve the Wolsey at Dunkirk as W/T link. The Wolfhound was
I T.O. 9144/40.
2 Appendix G. 3.
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