TNA / MT 40 66

TNA MT 40 66

Collection details

TNA MT 40 66

Ministry of Transport records containing a Dynamo vessel list and reports from masters and crews engaged in the evacuation, covering 1940–1947.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: MT 40 66

View the archive catalogue entry ↗

Source: The National Archives, Kew, MT 40/66. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing only pages tagged with the vessel name Dawn. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

4 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 15–366 of this collection

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OCR is not a transcription. It is machine-generated text used to create research tags and help locate names and references within the source images; it should not be read as a verified narrative.

Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
15	Log in to enlarge	Page 2. LIST OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940. PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued) MINESWEEPING CRAFT. ALCMARIA JEANNIE MACINTOSH RECERD ARLEY JOHN AND NORA RELONZO BOTANIC JOHN CATTLING RENASCENT BROCK LORD BARHAM RESTRIVO # CALVI LORD CAVAN REWGA CLYTHNESS LORD COLLINGWOOD RIG CHICO (E.S.) LORD GREY SARAH HYDE / COMFORT LORD HOOD SARGASSO CONIDAW LORD INCHCAPE SATURN DORIENTA LORD KEITH SILVER DAWN FEASIBLE LORD MELCHETT STARLIGHT RAYS FIDGET LORD RODNEY STELLA RIGEL FISHER BOY LORD ST. VINCENT STRATHELLIOTT FYLDEA MARE STRIVE GENIUS MARETTA SWIFT WING GULA # NAUTILUS TARANSAY GULZAR OLIVAE THOMAS BARTLETT INVERFORTH OUR BAIRNS THOMSONS JACKETA OVERFALLS THREE KINGS JACKEVE POLLY JOHNSON TWEENWAYS UNICITY A/S TRAWLERS. ARGYLLSHIRE KINGSTON ANDALUSITE SPURS BLACKBURN ROVERS KINGSTON OLIVINE STELLA DORADO CAPE ARGONA LADY PHILOMENA THURINGIA CAYTON WYKE OLVINA TOPAZE GRIMSBY TOWN ST. ACHILLEUS WESTELLA KINGSTON ALALITE SAON WOLVES THAMES SPECIAL SERVICE SHIPS. CRESTED EAGLE GOLDEN EAGLE ROYAL EAGLE M.A/S.B's. M.T.B's. ETC. D.C. MOTOR-BOAT M. A/S. B. 10 M.T.B. 68 ( ex "EXCELLENT") M.T.B. 16 M.L. 100 M. A/S. B.6 M.T.B. 22 M.T.B. 102 M.A/S. B. 7 M.T.B. 67 M.T.B. 107 DOVER FLARD-BURNING DRIFTERS BOY ROY GOLDEN GIFT PAXTON EILEEN EMMA GOLDEN SUNBEAM SHIPMATES FORECAST LORD HOWARD THE BOYS GERVAIS RENTOUL LORD HOWE TORBAY II GIRL GLADYS MIDAS UT PROSIM GIRL PAMELA NETSUKIS YORKSHIRE LASS YOUNG MUN Sunk.	Alcmaria Argyllshire Arley Boat Botanic Boy Roy Brock Calvi Cayton Wyke Chico Comfort Conidaw Crested Eagle D.C. Dawn Dorienta Eileen Eileen Emma Feasible Fidget Fisher Boy Forecast Fyldea Genius Gervais Rentoul Girl Gladys Girl Pamela Golden Eagle Golden Gift Golden Sunbeam Grimsby Town Gula Gulzar Inverforth Jacketa Jackeve Jeannie MacIntosh John Cattling Kingston Alalite Kingston Andalusite Kingston Olivine Lady Philomena Lord Barham Lord Cavan Lord Collingwood Lord Grey Lord Hood Lord Howard Lord Howe Lord Inchcape Lord Keith Lord Melchett Lord Rodney Lord St. Vincent Mare Maretta Midas Nautilus Netsukis Olivae Olvina Our Bairns Paxton Polly Polly Johnson Relonzo Renascent Restrivo Rewga Rig Royal Eagle Saon Sargasso Saturn Shipmates Silver Dawn Spurs Starlight Rays Stella Rigel Strive Sunbeam Swift Swift Wing Taransay Thames The Boys Thomsons Three Kings Topaze Torbay II Tweenways Wolves Yorkshire Lass Dover Fisher Johnson Kings May Page Swift Thomas Young
252	Log in to enlarge	-2- 11/6/40. S. S. "YEWDALE" 127 Master's Report of Evacuation of Troops from Dunkirk (contd) we had 500 men on board. As we were at that time being assisted by several Motor Launches and other small boats, counting become almost impossible, Another Officer who also assisted a great deal counted 20 men boarding in 5 minutes. This we maintained until 2.30 p.m. when I decided that we were too tightly packed to hold any more. The soldiers numbering about 1000 were put into the cargo hold of vessel and in addition every available space on the deck (which being a. self-trimming vessel was very limited) was covered with men. Every room and space on the ship including the engineroom and stokehold was packed with men. 2.35 p.m. we hove up and closed a Destroyer for advice and we were told that we could travel in company with her. There had been a few Air Raids during the day but no bombs had dropped, at least not close to us. At 4.0 p.m. several German planes were seen overhead, and bombs dropped close to this ship. We then hove up and proceeded on our passage to Downs with m.v. "BEAL" about 1 mile ahead and a Destroyer about 1 mile astern. At 4.50 p.m. several enemy planes appeared overhead and began dive-bombing; several bombs fell very close. This continued of and on for about threequarters of an hour with one final attack shortly before 6.0 p.m. During the third attack shrapnel struck the steamer and five men were killed and 78 wounded (two I believe died later). Our Mate, W. Watterson, was struck in the leg and seriously injured. About six soldiers who apparently thought the ship to be sinking jumped overboard. These men possibly were picked up by the Destroyer astern. It would have been dangerous, to all those on board for us to turn back for them. In the next raid a Dive-Bomber was hit by our guns and appeared out of control, it lost height and as it passed close over the ship our gun kept firing and each tracer bullet was seen to enter the plane until it got out of range. Several soldiers ctually saw it striking the water about half a mile on our port bow. At 6.0 p.m. the Raiders were driven off, we believe by our own planes. During these Raids our compass had been smashed and we had to depend entirely on other ships and on a small field compass which could only give us an approximate direction when used on top of wheelhouse. At 9.30 p.m. as we were approaching the Coast I signalled the Destroyer to report that I had wounded men on board. I also kept calling UD other ships when entering Downs where we eventually arrived at 11.10 p.m. one mile off Deal Pier. After continuing calling up by flashing (wireless was smashed) until 11.40 p.m. we gave up and awaited dawn. We then attracted attention by firing our Lewis guns and a Naval ship got in touch with the Coastguard and at 6.0 a.m. a lifeboat with a Doctor on board arrived, and we were then ordered to Ramsgate where we arrived and disembarked all troops by 9.30 p.m. and then proceeded for temporary repairs to Sheerness.	Beal Dawn Deal Yewdale Beal Day Few Lewis Watterson
273	Log in to enlarge	68 70 H.M.T. "DORRIEN ROSE" CARDIFF. 148 On the 22nd May, 1940 the above vessel was in the Downs loaded to with Army stores awaiting orders. She was instructed next day proceed to Dunkirk, but on approaching observed it to be in flames, and the "DORRIEN ROSE" passed three vessels outward bound, one of which signalled that it was unsafe to approach Dunkirk, so the Master reversed course and proceeded slowly outwards. At 3-0a.m. on the 28th as dawn was approaching he decided to approach Dunkirk in daylight so he set a course for Middlekerke Buoy. At 4-25a.m. on nearing the Buoy enemy aircraft suddenly attacked, several bombs were dropped and the "DORRIEN ROSE" retaliated with machine-gun fire. At 5.05 after the bombs had fallen it was observed that the M.V. "QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL" was sinking, so he proceeded to her assistance and was requested by the O.C. to take off troups and ship's complement, whilst the troups were being transferred the Germans repeatedly attempted to renew the attack, but were prevented from doing any further damage by bursts of fire from our machine-guns. At 5-25 all the troups and the crew of the "QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL" were safely on board the "DORRIEN ROSE" and she then proceeded to Dover where she arrived at 2-20p.m. The operation of transferring the troups was carried out expeditiously under the efficient direction of Commander M.L. Musson R.N.R. and during the passage to Dover the Commander was of great assistance in attending to the signals, spotting enemy planes and controlling the troups. On the 29th May the "DORRIEN ROSE" again proceeded towards Dunkirk and was attacked next morning at 3a.m. by two enemy motor-craft which circled the ship and sprayed her with machine-gun fire the "DORRIEN ROSE" gave as good as she received and the "E" boats ceased & I their attack and the vessel continued her passage to Dunkirk were she I arrived at 6-50a.m. She then despatched as much food stuff as possible for the rear-guard troups and left again at 12-25p.m. with o t 590 troups on board for Folkestone, she arrived at Folkestone at 8-45p.m. the same night. W d During all these aperations all the officers and members of the O crew carried out their various duties in a cool and efficient manner, in particular Gunner.W.Watson, Bo'sun.McFadden and A.B.John Upperton who were on the bridge under enemy fire. p al De jo of th twisting as I could and see we were likely up to our get anchor run down and whilst kept the the Tug underweigh were as off see our crew of the barge and the soldier the a bit, I could turning to clear the bombs. I paddled in towards destroyers were shore and rowing of in their boat towards us. I picked them stevedores also e t next crew barge "DUCHESS" that had anchored in the Roads, up, and then boat the wave of bombers were overhead. (Continued)	Boat Cardiff Dawn Dorrien Rose Duchess Queen Rose Sun Barge Bridge Day De Dover May Roads Rose Upperton Watson
366	Log in to enlarge	16 Extract Jun adminity weekly atelligue Refund No.15 (Lint Ime, 1940). body on on T.09474. 16 DUNKIRK BEACHES. 243 The following narrative, based on noted made at the time, has been contributed by an officer attached to R.A., Dover, during the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk. Wednesday, May 29. With R.A., Dover, and his staff I embarked in H.M.S. "ESK", and at 2000 sailed for Dunkirk beaches. Halfway across the Channel and it got dusk, huge fires showed the position of Dunkirk and vividly lit up the eastern sky. A pall of black smoke hung over the coast. At first it seemed that the whole town must be burning, but as we approached I found that the fires were confined to an area close westward of the town and harbour where the oil refineries and storages were situated. We steamed slowly up the narrow coastal channel and past Dunkirk to the ten miles of beaches from which the troops were being embarked. We had on board with us the naval beach parties who were to be landed to superintend the boat embarkation between Dunkirk at the western end and La Panne at the eastern. The beach parties were put ashore in three sections at different points in the ships' boats. The night was overcast and very dark, and it was not possible to see how much activity there was inshore. Boats were few, and not many ships were lying off the beaches. Thursday, May 30. At 0200 we transferred to H.M.S. "HEBE" of Bray, and proceeded eastward along the coast to La Panne. Dawn found us still there, and it brought with it one of the most astounding and pathetic sights I have ever seen. Almost the whole ten miles of beach was black from sand-dunes to waterline with tens of thousands of men. In places they stood up to their knees and waists in water waiting for their turn to get into the pitiably few boats. It seemed impossible that we should ever get more than a fraction of all these men away. The immediate and urgent need was for more boats - both small pulling boats for inshore work, and power boats to tow them seawards to the ships. These we asked for, and as the day progressed many more arrived. The weather to-day was most favourable, with low cloud and poor visibility, little wind and a calm sea. Even so, there was considerable surf on the beaches and inshore boat work was not easy. The day was spent in getting into touch with the situation ashore through S.N.O., Dunkirk, and the G.O., C. in C., and in directing ships and boats as they arrived to where they were most needed. It had been intended to keep "HEBE" free of troops for R.A., Dover, but ships were too few and she filled up in Dunkirk early in the day. After despatching her to Dover R.A. transferred his flag to various destroyers as they waited to fill up off the beaches. One of the great difficulties was getting empty boats back inshore. They had no boat keepers, and naturally a man, having once got off to a ship, was not keen to return inshore again. Some of the soldiers, however, did fine work in this wayy, and went back many times. During the whole of this day I saw no bomb drop on the beaches, nor any enemy aircraft flying low to machine gun. There were various ships attached by aircraft, but I do not think any was hit. Air superiority was well maintained during the - 1	Boat Dawn Halfway Hebe Westward Black Day Dover Few Little May Miles