TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

BEE
BAT
"ADVANCE"
DUNKIRK.
6.
appeared to be more needed.
While we were doing this, we were hailed by a Destroyer and came alongside. We were instructed to take on board a portable radio transmitting set, and two operators and to land them at a certain place. (Signal Station at La Panne, not marked on our chart, but readily visible on land).
Embarked signalman and equipment.
Cast off pontoons etc. so that they would, as far as possible, drift onto beach near troops and so be of further use.
Picked up another whaler, and while doing so, passed close to a transport using her remaining boat to evacuate troops from a crowded paddle steamer recently bombed; aground and with her after part on fire.
Went as close to beach as possible, transferred signalmen and radio to whaler, and slipped them near "The Frenchman on the Horse".
Their plan was to get a volunteer party of soldiers to carry their gear, and to leave the boat to be used by troops.
By this time (late afternoon), we had no electrical circuits and no instruments (other than engine oil pressure, and water temperature)
still working, so we stood off and dipped the fuel tanks by hand. -
Found that there was only a small reserve over what we should need to make the English coast again (about 40 galls.) Still making water through strained chines - Neither hand nor power bilge -
pumps working (probably owing to leaks in suction lines)- Decided it was advisable to return to England soon, without passengers.
29 May. 2045 hrs. Found one of the boats which had started with us from Dover, still afloat and functioning. We had seen several others beached or abandoned at various times, including the original Leader.
Reported to Lieutenant Garside, R.N.V.R. in command, as the only available officer.
It appeared that he was in much the same state as ourselves, except that he had a compass. Neither of us had charts which showed minefields, etc., nor had we any other aids to navigation.
Agreed that be should endeavour to make Ramsgate, towing a whaler which he still had; 'Advance' to follow, keeping as much reserve fuel as possible in cans, in case we had to abandon during the night.
One of Leader's crew found an empty tin so we came alongside cue cloths TO
The in their pockets was explouing.
n medical 120 men, whom they transferred to a French Trawier 102
ue attention.
that day, so they returned to England, and were allowed
Daylight prevented them reaching Dunkirk and were unable to remove any troops as, owing to Dunkirk but a day's rest. Following this they again went to to England. bombing, there were none on the beach, so they sholling returned

BEE
BAT
LIETTER SENTH
CHAMOIS
ns
HOUND
"ADVANCE"
DUNKIRK.
8.
0530 hrs. Mist clearing. Recognised end of Undercliff Parade at Ramsgate. 'Advance' cast off, Leader weighed anchor and we proceeded into harbour; making fast, as instructed, alongside a dredger. Went ashore.
0600 hrs. Found a Lt. -Commander R.N. and reported to him. He told us to go and get some food and rest. Did so. We ('Advance')
making our own arrangements.
We were later informed that 'Advance' had had to be beached to save her from sinking alongside.
14
DS
C. P. DICK.
I have given times where possible but they must be regarded as very approximate, as no log was kept on the spot.
I have used the word "Leader" throughout to indicate the boat carrying the S.N.O. of our party (at the time) as, with the exception of Lt. Garside, I do not know the names of either the
Officers or boats concerned.
light prevented returned to England, ollowing this they agal
DS remove any troops as
3 were none on the bea is
DUNKIRK.
n
Recognised end many of these were
0530 hrs.
ockets was exploding. They managed to rescue off, Leader wei at Ramsgate.
hom they transferred to a French Trawler for ng fast, as insi
Recognt proceeded int tention.
Leat dredger. Went ashore.
fast, as
Daylight prevented them reaching Dunkirk hrs. Found
Found y, so they returned to England, and were allowed go and and ges rest. Following this they again went to Dunkirk ander R.N. and re ised end were unable to remove any troops as, owing to shelling and rest.
Did clearing bombing, there were none on the beach, so they returned
00 England.
HO
'Advance' had had ible thro ICK.
(at

LETTER SENT
BEE
xt. 2161
BAT
1 0CT1940
DS
CHAMOIS
POST ROOM
HOUND
09144/S.T.N.6.B
4
EADROW
MFH
30th September 1940.
EY.
Gentlemen,
17
I have to acknowledge receipt of
23rd September 1940.
your letter dated 23rd September 1940,
Operations insofar as your "BEE", "BAT"
enclosing report on the Dunkirk
"CHAMOIS", "HOUND" and "M.F.H." took part in these operations, and to thank you for the most interesting information which you have been good enough to supply. It is anticipated
P 10 24 REGISTRY SEP RECEIVED
that this report will be of value in compiling the final report which will be drawn up on these operations.
I am, Gentlemen,
T.0.9144/STN.6B, undated,
Your obedient Servant, than to send you a copy ard on the part played the 'Bee', 'Bat', 'Chamois'
(Sgd.) A.P. MEREDITH.
t your requirements perhaps
Director of Sea Transporthow.
Messrs. Pickfords Ltd.,
51, Meadrow,
Farncombe,
'aithfully,
Surrey.
ORDS Limited.,
Charles him retary. -
who were being of Dunkirk where they encountered in getting two within on two miles raids they succeeded 1010 twice cloths of survivors, who were French and went to the rescue The of the heavily bombed. They transports in their pockets many of these were on fire and Belgian the troops.
medical men, attention. whom they transferred to a French managed Trawler to rescue for
120 was exploding. They ammunition a that day's day, so they Daylight returned prevented to England, them reaching and Dunkirk but rest. Following this they were allowed and were bombing, unable there to remove any troops again as, owing went to to Dunkirk to England. were none on the beach, so they shelling returned

BEE
BAT
PICKFORDS
CHAMOIS
HOUND
TELEPHONE
<
ODALMING 1272-7
TEMPORARY OFFICE: 51 MEADROW
MFH
FARNCOMBE, SURREY.
17
QUOTE THIS REFERENCE WHEN REPLYING
CB/MFW
DATE
23rd September 1940.
The Director Relid. of Sea Transport
Ministry of Shipping (H.O)
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square, W.1.
LICENSE 10 4 REGISTRY SEP PM 24 SEP RECEIVED
Sir,
In reply to your letter Ref. T.0.9144/STN.6B, undated,
I do not think that I can do better than to send you a copy of the actual report made to our Board on the part played by our men and five of our Boats - the 'Bee', 'Bat', 'Chamois'
'Hound' and 'MF.H'.
If this does not entirely meet your requirements perhaps you will be good enough to let me know.
Yours faithfully, for PICKFORDS Limited.,
Charles Animal
Secretary. -
who two were miles of Dunkirk raids where they succeeded they encountered in getting 1010 two within twice on of the being heavily bombed. They went transports in their many of these were on fire and the troops.
cloths of survivors, who were French and Belgian to the rescue The
120 pockets was exploding. They ammunition medical men, attention. whom they transferred to a French managed Trawler to rescue for that a day, so they returned to England, reaching and Dunkirk
Daylight prevented them but day's rest. Following this they again went were to allowed and were unable to remove any troops as, owing to Dunkirk to England. bombing, there were none on the beach, so they shelling returned

DUNKIRK EVACUATION
In connection with this work the Admiralty asked for the use of five of our ships which are normally employed in the conveyance of goods between Portsmouth, or Southampton, and the Isle of Wight. The following ships were taken: -
Ship.
Crew
M.V. 'BEE'
4
"
'Bat'
4
11
'Chamois'
2
77
'Hound'
3
"
'M.F.H'
4
With only two exceptions the members of the crews insisted on going with their ships. All returned safely, but an account of their experiences in summarised form may be of interest.
M.V 'Bee'₁.
After lying 3 miles off the shore all one night, was placed along shore and took 360 British
Troops aboard. These were later transferred to a tug.
Later 10 British and 5 French troops were taken from small boats and brought back to England.
M.V "Bat"
On the first day and in a rough sea they rescued 15 of the crew of a French Destroyer which had capsized owing to bombs.
This occupied two hours, and they then returned to Port. They then returned, being bombed on the way.
They put in close to shore on the West side, but found that all the remaining troops had been taken off in a Destroyer, so they proceeded to the East side, being machine gunned and shelled on the way. On this occasion they got on board in small boats about 100
men. These they brought safely back to England, having been without sleep for 92 hours, and the engines having been running continuously all the time.
M.V. 'Chamois'
After being sent back into Port twice on account of air raids they succeeded in getting within two miles of Dunkirk where they encountered two transports who were being heavily bombed. They went to the rescue of the survivors, who were French and Belgian troops. The cloths of many of these were on fire and the ammunition in their pockets was exploding. They managed to rescue
120 men, whom they transferred to a French Trawler for medical attention.
Daylight prevented them reaching Dunkirk that day, so they returned to England, and were allowed a day's rest. Following this they again went to Dunkirk but were unable to remove any troops as, owing to shelling and bombing, there were none on the beach, so they returned to England.