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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List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 96–231 of this collection

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THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. VIII
Typical of the urge which characterised sailed from Ramsgate this movement at 0205 of small craft was escorting the trawler motor Strathelliot, boats, 8 which of which were disabled and in tow of on various the 31st May the M/B Skylark, disabled, was in tow of Strathelliot. At 0640 the Skylark's vessels towing bollard tore away and she was taken the in tow stern first. Then the M/B
embarked the Skylark in also the in became Strathelliot. tow-and damaged, later Shortly taken after in tow this stern the first-and M/B Malden crew Annie Lad ber, IV
crew were transferred to the Strathelliot and she and was Mary sunk after Rose was her sunk. Her
Mary Rose, which had been in tow of M/B the Rapid I, was damaged.
had to be taken she arrived water fast, and dritting on to the was She
Dunkirk beaches with her pumps beach choked, she bilge abandoned. full of rubbish fund making off useful purpose, however, by being used as a pier.
It is impossible to give the story of every ship, although each ship has its which went over on the 31st May in company with the lighters X. 217 (S/Lt.
story. Here, for instance, is the unvarnished history of the M/B Marsayru
R.A. W. Pool, R.N.) X. 213 and X. 149. They arrived off Malo beach at about
1600. During an air attack X. 213 and X. 149 were sunk. The Z. 217 was beached and, assisted by the dinghy, embarked 95 troops which were transferred to the yacht Llanthony. The X. 217 continued to embark troops using the
Marsayru and a cutter. At about 2100 that evening, with the Marsayru's skipper and crew and about 200 British and French troops on board, the X. 217
left for home towing the Marsayru and a cutter.
Shortly after sailing the Marsayru broke adrift, and in darkness could not be found. Next day, the 1st June, however, at 1400, S/Lt. T.E. Godman, R.N.V.R.
in a Naval steam pinnace, off La Panne, sighted the Marsayru drifting with the tide and unoccupied. She was found to be in working order; the engine was started up and Sub-Lieut. Godman took an A.B. and a soldier as crew. He left Petty Officer Morrison in charge of the steam pinnace with orders to lay off and wait for the return of the Marsayru.
With the dinghy in tow the Marsayru proceeded to the western end of the beach capacity. and anchored; the dinghy ferried 19 troops to her, which filled her to
In the meantime the crew of the steam pinnace had embarked in the skoot
Doggersbank and had left the steam pinnace anchored near Dunkirk harbour.
Sub-Lieut. Godman decided to leave her there and sailed in the Marsayru for
England; from her. he overtook the Doggersbank on the way and obtained some fuel and in tow waited for daylight. At 0430 on the 2nd June a trawler a took the Marsayru
At 2330 on the Ist June the Marsayru made fast to conical flashing buoy embarked. to Ramsgate, which was reached at 0800, and the 19 troops were disthe Queen's pleasure launches Enterprise and Wave Queen), the Foremost Southborough,
White Heather,Westeriey,A Lansdowne, hopper barge.26. The M/B's. Marsayru, and the 101, Lady Minotaur,
The motor coaster Hythe. M/B, the Dolphin's Balquhain, power Tigris boat, I, Rapid the Nelson's I, picket the motor X lighters launch 95, 149, 209 (towing a boat), 213, Sherfield, motor launches Grouse, Nanette II the lighter Y.C.63. The and War 217. The motor barge seven 30 knot eighth, The skoot the Pigeon, Hilda went Haig, over on Kestrel, 1st June. Marlborough, Swallow, Department's Wolfe and Vulture an
Gipsy Three King, more Golden of towed Spray over II the and motor two life-boats. boats Moss Rose, Rose Marie, Lady Haig, Britannic and the M.F.H. Pickford & Co. Ltd.'s motor vessels went over, viz the Chamois, Hound
72

Balquhain Boat Britannic Broke Chamois Dinghy Doggersbank Dolphin England Enterprise Evening Grouse Haig Hilda Hound Hythe Kestrel Lady Haig Lansdowne Llanthony M.F.H. Malden Marie Marlborough Marsayru Mary Mary Rose Minotaur Moss Rose Nanette II Naval Steam Pinnace Pigeon Queen Rapid I Rose Rose Marie Sherfield Skylark Strathelliot Swallow Vulture Wave Queen White Heather Wolfe Barge Day Godman Haig King May Morrison Pool Rose Spray White

174

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
APPENDIX A
TROOPS
MOTOR BOATS, LAUNCHES AND VESSELS (contd.)
TRANSPORTED
M.F.H. (W. H. Smith, Capt.)
87
Minikoil (S/Lt. R. E. Blows, R.N.V.R.)
/
Minoru II'
/
Minotaur (T. Towndrow, Skipper)
/
Minwood
51
Mirasol
/
Moss Rose1
/
Murious
/
Naiad Errant
8
(A. B.S. Palmer, i/c)
Nanette II
30
Nayland
83
Nemo IV'
/
New Britannic
83
(W. Matthews, Cox.)
New Prince of Wales'
-
(S/Lt. P. H. E. Bennett, R.N.)
New White Heather
-
Offemia
50
Patricia (T.H.V.)
/
Pauleter
400
(Sto. D. T. Banks)
Peggy IV:
-
(S. H. Hughes, Skipper)
Pioneer¹
-
Princess Freda
-
(S/Lt. E.S. Forman, R.N.V.R.)
Princess Lily
-
(Prob. Ty. S/Lt. K. E.A. Bayley, R.N.V.R.)
Princess Maud
-
Provider
Not known
(F. Hannaford, Skipper)
Queen Boadicea II
-
(Lieut. J.S. Seal, R.N.R.) (Capt. J. Whittaker)
Queen of England'
-
Quest
-
Quicksilver
20
(S/Lt. D.L. Satterford. R.N.) (L/Sea. T. Phillips)
18
Quisisana
(S/Lt. A. J. Weaver, R.N.V.R.)
28
Rapid I
(S/Lt. J.C. Clarke, R.N.V.R.)
Reda
44
Reliance (S/Lt. P. Snow, R.N.) (P.O. R. W. Rawlings, Motorman)
80
(Skpr. A. Legget)
Renown'
-
Resolute (Skpr. W.H. Noakes)
40
Roberta (Skpr. H.D. Osborne)
-
Rocinante
-
Rosabelle
-
Rose Marie
Not known
St. Patrick1
-
Sambrez
Not known
Santosy
-
Saviour (Actg. S/Lt. J.M. Chappell, R.N.)
22
I Lost.
2 Ex-Belgian canal boat.
150

Boat Britannic England Lily M.F.H. Marie Minoru II Minotaur Minwood Mirasol Murious Naiad Errant Nanette II Nayland Nemo IV New Britannic New Prince of Wales New White Heather Offemia Patricia Pauleter Peggy IV Prince Prince of Wales Princess Princess Freda Princess Lily Princess Maud Provider Queen Queen Boadicea Quest Quicksilver Quisisana Rapid I Reda Reliance Renown Resolute Roberta Rocinante Rosabelle Rose Rose Marie Santosy Saviour TSS Princess Maud White Heather Banks Bayley Bennett Blows Chappell Clarke Cox Forman Hannaford Hughes Legget Matthews Maud Noakes Osborne Palmer Phillips Prince Rawlings Rose Satterford Seal Smith SMITH H Snow Towndrow Wales Weaver White Whittaker

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

231

INDEX
I, 72n. small craft, 61.
29n, 53 (rams and sinks Queen of England).
Tilly Tolly, 71n.
Torbay 23n.
53, 60n, 74, 75n.
Tugs, Troup, use as transports, 41.
Triton, Cdr. H. R., 21, 118, 86. 128.
Twente, 20n, 24, 29n,
Two Rivers, 75n.
Tynwald, 29n, 54n, 64n, 107n, 109, 112n, 114n, 118 (record lift).
U-boats, see Submarines.
Ut Prosim, 23n, 63, 107n.
V.A. Dover, see Ramsay, Vice-Admiral B. H.
Vanguard, 60.
Vanquisher, 37-8, 54n, 55, 61, 62 (make two trips on 30th May), 87, 107n, 108 (sent back empty), 112n, 114n, 118.
Vavasour, Lt. G. W., 79-81.
Vega, 34, 42, 69.
Venetia, at Boulogne, 9-10.
Venomous, at Boulogne, 9-10; in Dynamo, 61, 101, 107-8, 114n, 118.
Vénus, sunk, 93.
Verity, at Calais, 10; in Dynamo, 13, 19, 28n, 32, 43-4, 49, 51 (reports on Dunkirk),
54n, 55.
Victor-Erna, 73n.
Viewfinder, sunk by Belgian troops, 53.
Viking, 60.
Vimiera, at Boulogne, 9-10.
Vimy, at Boulogne, 8-9; in Dynamo, 20, 23, 27-8, 62 (makes two trips on 30th May), 64n,
69 (hunts S/M.), 74 (rams and sinks Amulree), 95.
Vivacious, 23, 27-8, 45, 61 (calls for more ships and boats), 74 ( -boats), 83 (damaged),
Vincia, 71n, 90.
87, 111-2 (in Operation CK), 127.
V.T.B.25, 116 (evacuates Admiral Abrial), 120 (towed to Dover).
Vulture, 72n.
W.24, 60.
W.26, 72n.
Wakeful, 20n, 23, 24n, 27, 32, 36 (sunk), 37, 85.
Wake-Walker, Rear-Adm. W.F. (R.A. Dover) Apptd. S.N.O. Afloat, 49, 50; takes over duties, 58; tranships four times in 24 hours, 59; general policy, 71; urges M.B's. to be sent back, 74; investigates position E. of Dunkirk, 85-6; transfers to M.T.B.102,
90 clears Dunkirk of ships, 103; activities night 2/3 June, 108; on the final night,
115; effect of his arrival, 126.
Walker I, 32n.
Walker II, 32n, 114n.
Wardrop, Lt. Cdr. R. G., R.N.R., 49.
Warren, Lt. Cdr. G. H., 88.
Water supply, shortage at Dunkirk and beaches, 26, 31, 62.
Wave Queen, 72n.
Waverley, 28n, 42 (sunk), 47n.
Weather, affects boat work, 36, 48.
Weddle, S/Lt. J. S., R.N.R., 85.
Wells, Lt. J. G., 79-82.
Welman, Lt. Cdr. A. E. P., 8, 9.
Westcove, 111-2, 120.
Westella, 34n, 38 (sinking of), 69 (hunts S/M.), 110 (sunk).
Westerley, 72n.
Westward-Ho, 89 (damaged), 107n.
Weygand, General, 5, 10 (Plan), 11, 27, 96.
Whalley, Lt. 49.
Whippingham, overloaded, 87.
Whitehall, 55, 83 (damaged), 84 (shoots down bomber), 91.
White Heather, 72n.
Whitfield, Col., 22.
207

Amulree Boat England PS Whippingham Queen Tilly Triton Twente Two Rivers Tynwald Vanguard Vega Venetia Verity Viewfinder Viking Vimiera Vincia Vivacious Vulture W.26 Walker I Walker II Wave Queen Westcove Westerley Westward Whippingham White Heather Dover May Troup Wake Wake-Walker Walker Wardrop Warren Weddle White