TNA / ADM 234 360

TNA ADM 234 360

Collection details

TNA ADM 234 360

Naval Staff History No. 41, the official historical study of the evacuation from Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo, 26 May–4 June 1940, dated 1949.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: ADM 234 360

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, ADM 234/360. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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FRIDAY, 31ST MAY
CHAP. VIII
in the Bray and Malo sectors were being thinned out by movements westward towards Dunkirk iteslf. This change of plan involved concentrating the special tows and the minesweepers to which they were to transfer the troops, into the stretch opposite the beach between Zuydcoote Sanatorium and one mile east of La Panne¹, and also advancing the commencement of the operation by one hour².
A risk was involved in this change of plan as the boat tows were not in communication with the Vice-Admiral, and it would therefore be necessary for minesweepers to see that the escorting M.A./S.B.'s shepherded the tows to the new positions It had been explained to the Naval officers in each tow that the minesweepers would be anchored so as to serve as guiding marks³.
" It was always impossible for me to do more than deal with the situation of the moment", says Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker. "I did not know what ships were coming or when-except for the pre-arranged plan of the sloops. Nor was it possible for Dover to give me much information. Ships got back there, unloaded, and were off again, the stream was constant but irregular and it was not possible to see any way ahead. My policy was always to keep only sufficient ships off the beaches and send all the others into Dunkirk, but the situation changed continually."4
Small craft arrive in hundreds
It was in such circumstances that, at about 1900, Rear-Admiral Wake-
Walker had proceeded to Dunkirk in the Keith to see how the boat situation was getting on. There he saw for the first time that strange procession of craft of all kinds the story of which was to become famous-tugs, towing dinghies, life-boats and all manner of pulling boats5-small motor yachts, motor launches, drifters, Dutch skoots, Thames barges, fishing boats, pleasure steamers⁶. This was indeed the first time that the small craft had come over in hundreds⁷. Since noon Lt. Cdr. C. J. Wynne-Edwards, R.N. (of R.-A.
Dunkirk's staff), embarked in M.T.B.68, had been directing the tows to the various beaches.
I See Appendix Q.18, observing that D.R. p.20, para. 61 says the beach between Bray and 1 mile east of La Panne."
2 Appendix Q.19.
3 D.R. p.20, para. 61.
4 M.017978/41, p.17.
5 The following 14 tugs (their tows are shown in brackets) reached Dunkirk that evening:
The Racia (12 life-boats), Sun VIII (12 life-boats), Sun XV (6 life-boats), Vincia (3 lifeboats), Sun IV (9 boats), Tanga (6 boats), Ocean Cock (6 M/B's), Sun VII (seaplane tenders
243, 254, 276, 291 and A.M.C.3), Foremost 87 (two sailing barges), Fairplay I (sailing barge
Barbara Jean), Empire Henchman (sailing barge Aidie), Crested Cock (a lighter), Sun XI (a lighter), and the Sun XII (sailing barges Tollesbury and Ethel Everard).
In the early hours of 1st June 4 other tugs arrived. The St. Fagan (auxiliary barges
Pudge and Lady Rosebery, and the sailing barge Doris), St. Abbs (auxiliary barge Thyra and sailing barges H.A.C. and Duchess), Cervia (sailing barge Royalty), and the Persia
(sailing barge Glenway and Lark).
6 M.017978/41, p.19.
7 New arrivals off Dunkirk and the beaches on 31st May included the following The yachts Amulree, Aronia, Glagla, Caleta, Christobel II and Llanthony, the nine yachts of the
Portsmouth Inner Patrol, viz the Ahola, Ankh, Bounty, Caryandra, Eilla II, Lahloo,
Noneta, Seriola and Thele and from the R.N. Air Station, Ford, the yacht Andora.
The drifters Ben and Lucy (towing 4 boats), Dorienta (towing boats), Monarda, Renascent and the 13 drifters of the Yarmouth Base, viz Alcmaria, Feasible, Genius, Gula,
Jeannie MacIntosh, John and Norah, Lord Barham, Lord Hood, Overfalls, Reed, Rewga,
Swift Wing and Taransay. The drifters Fair Breeze and Ocean Breeze were again over, the former towing a motor life-boat and 3 life-boats.
The steam hopper barges Foremost 102 (towing the Excellent's 35 ft. fast motor boat and
71

Ahola Aidie Alcmaria Amulree Ankh Aronia Barbara Barbara Jean Boat Bounty Caleta Cervia Crested Cock Deal Dorienta Doris Duchess Empire Henchman Ethel Everard Evening Excellent's Fair Breeze Fairplay I Feasible Foremost 102 Foremost 87 Genius Glenway Gula H.A.C. Jeannie MacIntosh Lady Rosebery Lahloo Lark Llanthony Lord Barham Lord Hood Monarda Noneta Persia Pudge Racia Reed Rewga Royalty Seriola Sun Sun IV Sun VII Sun VIII Sun XI Sun XII Sun XV Swift Swift Wing Tanga Taransay Thames Thele Thyra Tollesbury Vincia Westward Barge Dover Edwards Ford May Reed Swift Wake Wake-Walker Walker Wynne-Edwards

119

SATURDAY, 1ST JUNE
CHAP. IX
SUNK BY E-BOAT TORPEDOES.
Trawlers Argyllshire, Stella Dorado.
SUNK BY MINES.
Trawler St. Achilleus, small craft Renown.
SUNK BY GUNFIRE.
Drifter Lord Cavan.
SUNK BY COLLISION OR OTHER MISADVENTURE.
Drifters Eileen Emma, Fair Breeze, Gervais Rentoul.
Yachts Amulree, Pellag II.
Barges Aidie, Barbara Jean, Duchess, Ethel Everard, Lark, Royalty.
Small craft, number unknown.
DAMAGED BY AIR ATTACK.
Destroyers Ivanhoe, Worcester.
Minesweepers Ross, Salamander, Westward-Ho.
Corvette Kingfisher.
Personnel vessel Prague.
DAMAGED BY MINE.
Hospital carrier St. David.
DAMAGED BY GUNFIRE.
One trawler, name uncertain.
DAMAGED BY COLLISION OR GROUNDING
Destroyer Vimy.
Personnel vessel Maid of Orleans.
The evacuation figures for the day
Little ships added their quotas to those of the big ships, though not without casualties they suffered heavy losses from collision or other misadventure, although in the circumstances it was not always possible to obtain details
(See App. B.I.)
On this day there were lifted from the beaches and from Dunkirk harbour:
by motor boats and the like 2334 persons, by hopper barges 1470, by tugs 736, by yachts 1,831, by skoots 3,170, of which almost all were from the beaches, by special service vessels 1,250, by drifters 2,968, and by trawlers 1,876 practically all of whom were lifted from Dunkirk harbour. French ships lifted
3,967, Belgian trawlers 402, and a Dutch yacht 114; all troops evacuated by foreign ships were embarked in Dunkirk harbour, none coming from the beaches.
Though losses of ships had been highest this day the total of troops lifted was the second highest of the operation, no less than 64,429 being landed in England.
Of these, 47,081 had been embarked in Dunkirk harbour and 17,348 from the beaches.
95

Aidie Amulree Argyllshire Barbara Barbara Jean Boat Drifter Duchess Eileen Eileen Emma England Ethel Everard Fair Breeze Gervais Rentoul Ivanhoe Lark Lord Cavan Maid of Orleans Pellag II Prague Renown Royalty Westward Day Little Ross

170

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
APPENDIX A
TROOPS
SAILING BARGES (contd.)
TRANSPORTED
Claud (water boat)'
/
Doris¹ (F. Finbow, Master)
/
Duchess (H. J. Wildish, Master)
/
Ena
100
(A. G. Page, Master)
Ethel Everard
/
(T. Willis, Master)
F.W. 23 (dumb)
13
Glenway (W. H. Easter, Master)
213
H.A.C.
100
(R. H. Scott, Master)
Haste Away
-
Lark'
/
(R. H. Scott, Master)
Monarch
-
Queen
-
Queen Alexandria
-
Royalty
-
(H. Miller, Master)
Sark (dumb)
-
Shannon
-
Shetland (dumb)
-
Spurgeon
-
(- Haisman, Master)
Tollesbury
200
(R. Webb, Master)
Warrior1
-
Total
886
LIFE BOATS
Total 19, R.N.L.I. life boats2, of which I was lost.
Abdy Beauclerk
-
Cecil & Lilian Philpott
51
(A/B W. J. Morris, Coxn.
Charles Cooper Henderson
-
Charles Dibdin
-
Cyril & Lilian Bishop
-
(Actg. P.O. W.H. Adkin)
Edward Z, Dresden
50
E.M.E.D. (Lt. Cdr. R. W. Faulkner, R.N.R. (?Retd.) )
39
(Lieut. R. H. Mead, R.N.V.R., died)
(P.O. Tel. W.H. Cooley)
Greater London
48
(S/Lt. W. D.F. Claydon, R.N.R.)
Guide of Dunkirks
-
(S/Lt. R. H.C. Amos, R.N.V.R.)
-
Jane Holland
(S/Lt. R. H. Wallace, R.N.V.R.)
-
(Sto. J. Strangeways) (Sto. A. H. Shaw)
Lord Southborough
(S/Lt. E. R. Ponsonby, R.N.V.R.)
17
(E. Parker, Coxswain)
I Lost.
2 The Dunkirk, reserve life boat Agnes Cross carried out duties at Dover. She did not go to
3 At been the same time of Dunkirk evacuation, this boat had just been built and had not yet named.
146

Agnes Cross Boat Duchess Ena Ethel Everard Glenway H.A.C. Haste Away Holland Lark London Monarch Queen Royalty Sark Shannon Shetland Spurgeon Tollesbury Amos Claydon Cooley Cooper Dover Easter Faulkner Finbow Haisman Mead Miller Morris Page Parker Ponsonby Scott Shaw Strangeways Wallace Webb Wildish Willis

176

OCR table 1 from document page 176
MOTOR BOATS, LAUNCHES AND VESSELS (contd.)	TROOPS TRANSPORTED
Two Rivers' (P/O G. B. Thomas, R.N.R., Coxswain)	/
Vanguard (A. Grimwade, Skipper)	20
Vanitee'
Venture	/
Vera	/
Viewfinder	30
(S/Lt. F.N. Dann, R.N.V.R.)	/
Walker I
(A. Cadman, Cox)	29
Walker II
(P. King, Cox)	76
Wave Queen3
Westerley	/
White Bear	1
(Comd. Gnr. E. Deacon, R.N.)	/
White Heather
(Lt. Seal ?)	-
White Wing	/
(S/Lt. A.S. Mullins, R.N.R.)	6
Willie & Alice
Windsong	-
(T. H. Falkingham, Skipper) (A. Barden (Engine man))	-
Wings of the Morning (R. E. Button, Skipper) (S/Lt. T. Lawrie, R.N.V.R.)	-
Yser1 2 (S/Lt. R. W.D. Don, D.S.C., R.N.) (P/O W.H. Atkin)	Not known
Total	5,031

OCR table 2 from document page 176
OWNER	LIFE BOAT	NUMBER LOST
Blue Star Line	Four	4
B.I.S.N. Co. Ltd.	Ten	10
Butchers	Two (M.L/B)	-
Can. Pac. S.S. Co.	Beaverdale	-
Englis & Mills	Four (ex-Dunbar Castle)	4
Englis & Mills	One (ex-Lolworth)	1
Englis & Mills	One (Parales)	1
-	Two (ex-Flandres)	2
Houlder Bros. & Co.	Four (ex-Upway Grange)	1
Orient Line	Orient IV (M.L/B)	-
P. and O. S.N. Co.	"G"	1
P. and O. S.N. Co.	Fifteen	10
Ropner Shipping Co.	One (ex-Hawnby)	1
Royal Mail Line	Four (ex-Roslin Castle) Five	2 3

Alice Boat Clara Belle Dinghy Dinky Doris Dumpling Edina England Lark Medora Two Rivers Vanguard Vanitee Venture Vera Viewfinder Viking Viking III Walker I Walker II Westerley White Bear White Heather White Wing Windsong Wings of the Morning Atkin Barden Bros Butchers Button Cox Dann Deacon Don Dunbar Falkingham Grimwade King Lawrie Mills Mullins Seal Thomas Walker White

184

OCR table 1 from document page 184
Dreadnought III'	Moss Rose¹	Venture
Eastbourne Queen (1/6)	Nemo IV1 New White Heather'	Viewfinder (31/5)
Empress (1/6)²		Viscountess
Enchantress	Peggy IV⁴	(31/5)2 Wakefield
Enterprise (31/5)	Princess Lily (31/5)	Wave Queen
Escaut Eve4		Westerley Yser (1/6)2 (5/6)⁶

OCR table 2 from document page 184
WHERRIES, PUNTS, BOATS	BARGES	LANDING
Aimée (wherry)'	Aidie (1/6)2	CRAFT A.L.C.4 (29/5)
Carama (punt) (30/5)	Barbara Jean (1/6)2	A.L.C.8 (31/5)2
Clara Belle (wherry)'	Claude³	A.L.C.15 (31/5)
Dinky (10 ft. boat)¹	Duchess (1/6)2	A.L.C.18 (29/5)
Doris (wherry)'	Ethel Everard (1/6)²	M.L.C.12 (2/6)2
Dumpling (boat)¹	Lark (1/6)2	M.L.C.17 (3/6)2
Edina (wherry)'	Royalty (1/6)²	M.L.C.22 (2/6)2
Lark (punt)¹	Warrior2 4
Medora (wherry)'
Miranda (No. 58)¹
Sarah & Emily (boat)¹
Viking III (dinghy)'

OCR table 3 from document page 184
DESTROYERS	A.A. CRUISER	SLOOP
Anthony (30/5)	Calcutta (2/6)	Bideford (29/5)
Gallant (29/5)
Greyhound (29/5)
Intrepid (29/5)
Ivanhoe (1/6)
Jaguar (29/5)
Sabre (30/5)
Saladin (29/5)		A.B/V
Vivacious (31/5)		Mona's Isle
Windsor (28/5)		(27/5)
Wolfhound (27/5)
Worcester (1/6)

OCR table 4 from document page 184
MINESWEEPERS Hebe (31/5)	PERSONNEL VESSELS	HOSPITAL CARRIERS
Pangbourne	Canterbury (29/5)	Isle of Guernsey (29/5)
(29/5) Ross (1/6)	Prague (1/6)	St. Julien (29/5)
Salamander (1/6)	Royal Daffodil (2/6)	Worthing (2/6)
Westward-Ho (1/6)

OCR table 5 from document page 184
	GUNFIRE
PERSONNEL VESSELS Biarritz (27/5)	TRAWLERS	A.B/V.
Princess Maud (30/5)	"Kingston" (2/6)€ Spurs (2/6)	King Orry (27/5)

Aidie Anthony Barbara Barbara Jean Biarritz Bideford Boat Calcutta Canterbury Clara Belle Cruiser Dinghy Dinky Doris Dreadnought III Duchess Dumpling Eastbourne Queen Edina Empress Enchantress England Enterprise Escaut Ethel Everard Gallant Hebe Intrepid Isle of Guernsey Ivanhoe Jaguar Kingston Alalite Kingston Olivine Lark Lily Medora Mona's Isle New White Heather Pangbourne Prague Princess Princess Lily Princess Maud Queen Royal Daffodil Royalty Sabre Spurs St. Julien TSS Princess Maud Venture Viewfinder Viking Viking III Vivacious Wave Queen Westerley Westward White Heather Windsor Worthing King Maud Ross White

225

INDEX
Johanna,54, 60.
John, and Norah, 71n.
39, 43-4. D.
G., 76.
G. de S. (P.S.T.O. 60. Dover), 48.
Jutland, 47n, 54,
Keith, at Boulogne, 9-10; In Dynamo, 55, 64, 66, 67 (flag of R.A. Dover), 71, 74, 76, 86,
Kaap Falga, 20, 29.
88-90 (sunk).
Kellett, 28n, 32, 41, 46, 97, 107n, 89. 109, 114n, 116-7, 119.
Kenward, Lt. (E) W. H., killed,
Kestrel, 72n.
Kingfisher, 60, 87, 89 (damaged), 114n, 116 (rammed), 117.
Killarney, 29n, 54n.
King George V, 54n, 94, 107n, 108-9, 114n, 116, 119.
King Orry, 16, 19, 28, 45 (sunk), 97 (damages Dunkirk pier).
Kingston Alalite, 34n, 110.
Kingston Andalusite, 34n.
Kingston Galena, 34n.
Kingston Olivine, 110.
Koeltz, General, 19.
Kuno, 20n, 24n.
Lady Brassey, 28n, 36, 91, 104.
Lady Haig, 72n.
Lady of Mann, 48n, 87, 107n, 109 (sent back empty), 114n, 118.
Lady Philomena, 34n, 91.
Lady Robinson, 94 (sunk).
Lady Rosebery, 71n.
Lady Sheila, 60.
Lady Southborough, 72n.
La Flore, 107n, 109.
Lahloo, 66, 71n.
Laidsell, Lt. Gen. W. G. (Q.M.G.), 8, 26, 59, 90.
Lambart, Capt. Hon. L. J. O., R.N. (ret.), lost, 93.
Lansdowne, 72n.
La Panne. See Beaches.
Lark, 71n, 95 (sunk).
Laroc, 60.
Leda, 28n, 32, 54n, 97, 114n, 116 (sinks Maréchal Foch), 118.
Lena, 20, 24, 27-8, 100, 116 (lost), 117.
Léopard, 73, 99, 107n.
Letitia, 73.
Lewes, Lt. Cdr. J. H., 45.
Lewis, Cdr. E. R., 106.
L.H.W.D., 114n.
L'Impétueuse, 62.
Llanthony, 71n.
Lloyd, General, 84.
Lochgarry, 29n, 39, 41.
Locust, 46, 58, 87, 107n, 108, 114, 116, 119.
Lord Barham, 71n.
Lord Cavan, 32n, 98 (sunk).
Lord Collingwood, 32n, 47n.
Lord Grey, 45.
Lord Hood, 71n.
Lord Howard, 23n, 107n.
Lord Howe, 13, 23n.
Lord Keith, 32n, 47n.
Lord Melchett, 85.
Lord Rodney, 47n.
Lord St. Vincent, 32n, 47n.
201

Haig Johanna Jutland Kestrel Killarney King George King George V Kingston Alalite Kingston Andalusite Kingston Galena Kingston Olivine L.H.W.D. Lady Brassey Lady Haig Lady of Mann Lady Philomena Lady Robinson Lady Rosebery Lady Sheila Lady Southborough Lahloo Lansdowne Lark Laroc Lena Letitia Llanthony Lochgarry Lord Barham Lord Cavan Lord Collingwood Lord Grey Lord Hood Lord Howard Lord Howe Lord Keith Lord Melchett Lord Rodney Lord St. Vincent Sheila TS King George V De Dover George Haig King Lambart Lewes Lewis Lloyd Mann Robinson