TNA MT 40 66

Page 5.
LIST OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
OTHER BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
DOGGER BANK
HANDY BILLY
DORIA (Tug)
HASTINGS LIFE-BOAT
DREADNOUGHT II
HOLLAND
DREADNOUGHT III
HOPPER 26
DUCHESS OF YORK
HOUND (Lighter)
DWARF
HYTHE (Coaster)
D.1)
IOLANTHE
D.4
)
IOTE
D.7
(Harbour
IRMA MARIA (Fishing boat)
D.9
Launches)
JABA
D.16
JACINTA (Trawler)
D.C. 715
JAMES 67 (Hopper Barge)
D.G. 694
JANIS
D.G. 950
JOHANNA (Eel Boat)
EASTBOURNE LIFE-BOAT
JONG
EDWARD NISSEN
JORDAN
EDWINA (Trawler)
KAYELL
ELIZABETH QUEEN
KESTREL
E.M.E.D. (Motor Life-boat)
KINGSGATE
EMPRESS
KITCAT (M.B,)
EMPRISE (Harbour Launch)
K.L.
ENDEAVOUR
LADY BRASSEY (Rescue Tug)
ENTERPRISE (M.B.)
LADY CABLE (M.B.)
ERICA
LADY SHEILA
ESKBURN
LADY SOUTHBOROUGH
FAIR BREEZE (Drifter)
(Hopper Barge)
FAWLEY (Gosport Ferry)
LANDANIA
FERRY KING (Gosport Ferry)
LANSDOWNE
FERVENT
LAROC
FISHBOURNE (I.O.W. Ferry)
LETITIA (Smack)
FOREMOST 2 (Hopper Barge)
LITTLE ANN (M.B.)
FOREMOST 87 (Tug)
LOTUS
FORMIDABLE
LOUISIANA
FORSA
MADAM SANSGENE
FOSSA (Tug)
MAID ERRANT
FRIGHTENED LADY
MALDEN
F.W. 23 (Lighter)
MALDEN ANNIE IV
GALLEON'S REACH (Hopper)
MA JOIE
GALZAR
MARASOLE
GAY CRUSADER
MARGERITA
GLENWAY (Barge)
MARLBOROUGH (W.D. Craft)
GLITTER II
MARQUIS (Tug)
GOLIATH
MARY ROSE
GOURKA
MARY SPEARING I
GRACE DARLING
MARY SPEARING II
GRAPPLER (Lighter)
MASSEY SHAW (Fire Float)
GREATER LONDON LIFE-BOAT
MAYSPEAR
GONDIA (Tug)
MEANDER
H. 75
HAIG (W.D. Craft)
MERMAIDEN (M.L.)
M.F.H. (Lighter)
HALFWAY
MICHAEL STEVENS
MINEKOI (Tug)
Sunk
Continued)

67
Extracts from letter from the Managing Director of the
NEW MEDWAY STEAM PACKET CO. LTD.
151
14th August, 1940
The "QUEEN OF THANET" which was stationed at Grantnam in the Firtn-of-Forth and Flotilla Leader of Minesw eepers received instructions on Thursday, during the evacuation to proceed to
Dunkirk. On arrival there, this vessel with many others proceeded to take in Troops off the beach under terrific bombing and shell-fire from the Germans; in spite of this she took in several hundreds of Troops and proceeded to Margate Jetty where they were disembarked. Arrangements were then made for her to take in oil fuel and proceed again to Dunkirk, as soon as possible; she arrived over the following evening, and again took on board several hundred more Troops and many wounded, and again proceeded to Margate Jetty, disembarked the Troops, and after taking in Stores and water proceeded again for Dunkirk. When more than halfway across the Channel they noticed a Steamer which had evidently been bombed and loaded with 3,000 Troops was in difficulties and seriously damaged; on arriving close to the vessel she proved to bettieLondon North Eastern Mail Steamer,
"PRAGUE".
A destroyer was alongside transferring Troops from disabled vessel, numbering 500. A wireless message was then received by the "QUEEN OF THANET" asking him to call alongside also, and take off the Troops. When within hamling distance, the Commanding Officer of the "QUEEN OF THANET", Lieutenant
Commander Hallivell, R.N.V.R., asked 'How many Troops were left on board' and the reply came, '2000. Commander Hallivell replied, "I will take the lot". These were all safely embarked including the few wounded, and again the vessel left for Margate
Jetty; this was on Sunday, May.
In the meantime the "PRAGUE" having been lighted was able
I
with precaution to proceed under her own steam to Dover on Sunday
I
night. "QUEEN OF THANET" again proceeded to Dunkirk, and o
early Monday morning cleaned up the beach and brought over a t
few Troops including 47 wounded. The total number of Troops
W
brought over by the "QUEEN OF THANET" was 4,000 plus wounded.
d
Lieutenant Commander Hallivell has since been promoted Commander o
"MEDWAY QUEEN" This vessel I understand made three or four trips to Dunkirk and each time brought over her full complement pl of about 800 passengers. I am endeavouring to get in touch with the Commanding Officer of the "MEDWAY QUEEN", but each al occasion she was lying so far from the pier that I was unable to
De jo of th
I see immediately we were hove up our anchor and kept the he twisting as I could and turning to likely clear to get run down whilst the Tug underweigh were rowing as could see our crew of the barge and the in towards the a bit, I the bombs. I paddled destroyers shore were and crew of barge off in their boat towards us. I picked soldier stevedores e
t next wave of bombers "DUCHESS" were overhead. that had anchored in the Roads, them up, and also then boat the
(Continued)

67
Extracts from letter from the Managing Director of the
NEW MEDWAY STEAM PACKET CO. LTD.
151
14th August, 1940
The "QUEEN OF THANET" which was stationed at Grantnam in the Firth-of-Forth and Flotilla Leader of Minesw eepers received instructions on Thursday, during the evacuation to proceed to
Dunkirk. On arrival there, this vessel with many others proceeded to take in Troops off the beach under terrific bombing and shell-fire from the Germans; in spite of this she took in several hundreds of Troops and proceeded to Margate Jetty Where they were disembarked. Arrangements were then made for her to take in oil fuel and proceed again to Dunkirk, as soon as possible; she arrived over the following evening, and again took on board several hundred more Troops and many wounded, and again proceeded to Margate Jetty, disembarked the Troops, and after taking in Stores and water proceeded again for Dunkirk. When more than halfway across the Channel they noticed a Steamer which had evidently been bombed and loaded with 3,000 Troops was in difficulties and seriously damaged; on arriving close to the vessel "PRAGUE". she proved to be the London North Eastern Mail Steamer,
A destroyer was alongside transferring Troops from disabled vessel, numbering 500. A wireless message was then received by the "QUEEN OF THANET" asking him to call alongside also, and take off the Troops. When within hamling distance, the Commanding Officer of the "QUEEN OF THANET", Lieutenant
Commander Hallivell, R.N.V.R., asked 'How many Troops were left on board' and the reply came, '2000. Commander Hallivell replied, "I will take the lot". These were all safely embarked including the few wounded, and again the vessel left for Margate
Jetty; this was on Sunday, May.
In In the meantime the "PRAGUE" having been lighted was able
I
with precaution to proceed under her own steam to Dover on Sunday
I
night. "QUEEN OF THANET" again proceeded to Dunkirk, and o
early Monday morning cleaned up the beach and brought over a t
few Troops including 47 wounded. The total number of Troops
W
brought over by the "QUEEN OF THANET" was 4,000 plus wounded.
a
Lieutenant Commander Hallivell has since been promoted Commander o
"MEDWAY QUEEN" This vessel I understand made three or four trips to Dunkirk and each time brought over her full complement pl of about 800 passengers. I am endeavouring to get in touch with the Commanding Officer of the "MEDWAY QUEEN", but each al occasion she was lying so far from the pier that I was unable to
De jo of th
I
as
I
see immediately we were likely hove up to our anchor and kept the Tug he could a twisting bit, and I turning to clear the get bombs. run down I whilst the destroyers underweigh were were and rowing as off could in see their our boat crew towards of the barge and paddled the soldier in towards stevedores the shore rt e
next crew wave of of barge bombers "DUCHESS" were overhead. that had anchored us. I picked in the Roads, them up,also and then boat the t
(Continued)

On the following day, Thursday, May 30th, the "St.
173
Helier" again left for Dunkirk, accompanied by two French troopships, the "st.Helier" being the leading ship, and halfway across was subjected to a fierce attack by three planes. Nino bombs fell on the port bow about twenty yards off the vessel, four bombs right ahead were even closer and many fell on the starboard side. One of the planes was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the "St.Helier" Over 2,000
troops were embarked and the vessel turned to Dover at 7-0 a.m.
Friday, May 31st, arrived at Dunkirk again and loaded 30/5
1,600 French troops. On coming out the H.N.S. "Sharpshooter", a mine layer, went across the "St.Helier's" bows and there was a collision. At the request of the Captain of the "sharpshooter"
the St.Helier" did not withdraw but steamed into her at half speed on one engine for forty minutes to ease the pressure on the bulkheads. It was now quite dark and enemy planes came over dropping flares to locate the ships. A tue came to attend to the H.II.S. "Sharpshooter" Enemy planes were continually around the ships and in the confusion the "Princess Eleanora"
struck the St.Helier" on the starboard bow. After ascertaining this vessel required no assistance the voyage was just proceeding when the Helier" ran over a wreck, but fortunately without doing any underwater damage. The troops were landed at Dover.
On Saturday, June 1st, arrived at Dunkirk 3-30 p.m.,
1/6
16 planes being overhead dropping bombs. The Master of the
'St.Helier" was asked if he would wait and load stretcher cases, to which he agreed and at 6-0 p.m. the vessel shifted and while moving was shelled from the beach, two shells striking the docking bridge and slightly wounding the second mate, but it did not interfere with his duties. The "st.Helier" lay alongside the quay in all for seven hours, the Harbour being fiercely bombarded the whole time from planes and shore batteries. The vessel embarked 40 stretcher cases and filled up with troops, and left the berth at 10-15 p.m. being shelled from coast batteries for thirty minutes before getting out of range. The shells all went over the ship, most of them dropping within thirty yards. Flames from fires on the shore lit up the sea so that the ship was plainly visible.
OARDIFF.
After landing the troops on the Sunday morning the 2/6
Naval Authorities informed the Master that they considered he had done enough and stated they were prepared to put a Naval
Commander in charge. Captain Pitman refused relief. A Naval
Commander and ten ratings were put on board to assist in case the ship was required to take off troops from beaches. The vessel, however, again proceeded to Dunkirk and loaded a full complement of troops. The vessel had now become very difficult to manoeuvre and it was afterwards found that the fore peak was full of water, evidently arising from the collision damage followed by underwater explosions, though this was not discovered until the vessel had returned to Folkestone as it ed was too dangerous to allow any of the crew forward. The fore peak was pumped out at Folkestone. The vessel was shelled while she was alongside the quay at Dunkirk but fortunately of the aim was poor and all the she Is fell just short.
cor the
Though other ships came to Dunkirk after this and took aft
French troops, the S.S. "st.Helier" on this occasion loaded the last of the B.E.F. numbering over 2,000. These British troops were landed on Monday morning and the Helier" stood

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