TNA MT 40 66

Page 4.
LIST OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940.
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (contimued)
PERSONNEL AND HOSPITAL SHIPS
ARCHANGEL
MANXMAN
AUTOCARRIER
MONA'S QUEEN
BEN-MY-CREE
NEWHAVEN
BIARRITZ
NEPHRITE (Store Ship)
CANTERBURY
NGAROMA
CLAN MACALISTER
NORMANIA
COTE D'ARGENT
} french
PARIS (Hospital)
COTE D'AZUR
PRAGUE
DINARD (Hospital)
PRINCESS MAUD
DORIAN ROSE (Store Ship)
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
FENELLA
ROEBUCK
FOAM QUEEN
ROUEN
ISLE OF GUERNSEY (Hospital)
ROYAL DAFFODIL
ISLE OF THANET (Hospital)
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
KILLARNEY
ST. ANDREW (Hospital)
KING GEORGE V
ST. DAVID (Hospital)
LADY OF MAN
ST. HELIER
LEVENWOOD (Store Ship)
ST. JULIAN
LOCH GARRY
ST. SEIRIOL
LORINA
#
SCOTIA
MAID OF ORLEANS
TYNWALD
MALINES
WORTHING (Hospital)
MANXMAID
WHITSTABLE
OTHER BRITISH SHIPS
ADVENTURESS
BONNY BELLE
AGNESS CROSS (Life-boat)
BOURNEMOUTH LIFE-BOAT
ALBATROSS III
B.P. ONE
ALOUETTE
BRITANNIA
ANDORA
BULLFINCH
ANDORA II (R.A.F. Launch)
CABBY
ANNE IV
CANVEY QUEEN
ATHOLA
CAVERSHAM (M.B.)
AURA
CHAMOIS (Lighter)
BAIL
CHERFIELD
BAT (Lighter)
CLAUDE (Water Boat)
BEE (Lighter)
COMMODORE
BELFAST
CONSTANT NYMPH
BLACK ARROW
CORDELIA
BLACK JAVA
CORNELIA
BLACKPOOL
C. 9 (Tugs)
BOBELI (Motor Cruiser)
C. 11
BONNY HEATHER
C.Y. 63
DABB II
DEFENDER
DHOON (Trawler)
Sunk
(Continued)

Tune,
31 B
CONFIDENTIAL.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
PERSONNEL VESSELS.
Twenty-nine personnel vessels were used during operation "Dynamo"; a list is given in the enclosure.
of these, seven were sunk, five so damaged by bombing or gunfire as to render them unfit for further use during the operation, and two were damaged in collision.
Of these ships the following, namely MONA'S QUEEN,
BIARRITZ, CANTERBURY, QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL, MAID OF ORLEANS,
AUTO CARRIER and ARCHANGEL; ST. HELIER and KING GEORGE V, had been engaged prior to Dynamo, in operations at Dunkirk,
Boulogne and Calais, and had completed the following trips:
MONA'S QUEEN 3 QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL 1 ARCHANGEL
1
BIARRITZ
2 MAID OF ORLEANS
3 ST. HELIER
2
CANTERBURY
3 AUTO CARRIER
2 KING GEORGE V.1
2. There was no doubt that the Captains and crews of these ships were feeling the strain when operation Dynamo started. After completing two round trips to Dunkirk harbour in operation Dynamo the Master of the CANTERBURY stated on the
28th that he would not take his ship to sea for a third trip.
The P.S.T.O. went on board and explained the gravity of the situation and ordered him to sail at 2230, but discovered some of the crew had been given leave. The P.S.T.O. therefore put an officer and some seamen and stokers on board to augment and stiffen the crew. The ship sailed at 0930/29, but was bombed and damaged on her return voyage from Dunkirk, and after landing troops did not take any further part in the operation.
3. After completing one round trip the Captain of the
St. SEIRIOL refused to sail, and accordingly one officer, an armed guard and 7 stokers were put on board at 1000 on the 29th.
The Captain was placed under open arrest and the ship sailed at
1100. On her return voyage the ship was bombed and damaged and did not sail again.
4.
The TYNWALD transported 7534 troops in 5 voyages; she should have completed 6 voyages. When due to commence her fourth voyage at 1945/1, she refused to sail and did not sail again until 1945/2.
On a written enquiry from the S.T.O., Folkestone, on the 2nd June, whether or not the ship would sail for Dunkirk if required, the Master, W. Qualbrough, replied by letter as follows:
"Dear Sir,
Your letter received. I had a signal from the master of the MALINES last night to say him and the master of the BEN MY CHREE had considered it apt R.
hopeless to proceed to Dunkirk. Our crews have been continually on their feet all the week and especially the deck officers who have had to be on their feet for 30 long. I myself have had 4. hours rest for th week and am at present physically unfit for another trip like what we have had. If it is absolutely necessary to go I will abide with the masters of the other ships decision.
i
P.S. There is two more of the crew going ashore now g
absolutely nervous wrecks and certified By the naval
ER
doctor.
In/
rized.

June,
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 2.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
Personnel Vessels (continued).
In the meantime, relief crews had been sent for for the TYNWALD and an armed naval guard was placed alongside at Folkestone where the ship lay. The crew did not attempt to leave the ship but contented themselves with shouting abuses at the sentries, Relief crews arrived and the old crew were then allowed to leave. Complete listsof their names and addresses were taken and given to the S.T.O., Folkestone. Those who stayed of the old crew were the Chief Officer as Master,
Second Officer, Purser, W/T Operator and Carpenter.
A naval officer and 10 naval ratings were put on board as moral stiffeners and the ship sailed at 1945/2. She completed a round trip which was repeated next day without incident.
5. MANX MAID. Never completed a trip; she should have sailed on 3 separate occasions. On the last occasion, at
1745/2, she produced an engine breakdown as excuse; was given up as hopeless and other ships made use of instead.
On the afternoon of 3rd June, when it was realised that MANX MAID was not going to be used, the majority of the crew, in response to an appeal by the S.T.O., Dover, volunteered to replace men in other personnel vessels who had left their duty. 18 seamen and firemen were accepted and sailed to
Dunkirk in LADY OF MANN, and others were drafted to MANX MAN
who, however, did not sail.
6. BEN MY CHREE. Transported 408 troops in 2 trips; she should have completed 4. The master was evidently in league with the masters of the TYNWALD and the MALINES. On failing to sail during the night 1/2nd June, in reply to a written
58mg enquiry from the S.T.O., Folkestone, whether or not he would sail, George Woods, Master, replied in writing - "I beg to state
85mg that after our experience at Dunkirk yesterday, my answer is
Lestor
'No'.
"
At 1850/2 BEN MY CHREE came alongside Folkestone.
even
Naval guards were placed on the gangways and abreast the ship.
As the ship was berthed the crew were demonstrating and shouting that they were going to leave the ship and on the brow being run out, they attempted to do'so with their kits. Leading
Stoker Booth ordered his men to come on guard and advanced up the brow with fixed bayonets. The crew returned on board at acodg the once, where they remained until the relief crew arrived. The the
Captain and crew left the ship, the Chief Officer stayed as
Captain, together with 3 greasers and the W/T Operator. Otherolliown at wise the ship was manned with the new crew. Unfortunately, on
38
sailing, at 1905/2, BEN MY CHREE was in collision and did not on complete the trip.
a
3rd tmp
7. LADY OF MANN. Carried out 4 trips and transported
2902 troops. One trip was abortive through no fault of the apt R.
god
Master, as the ship was ordered back from Dunkirk before entering
19.9
that harbour. The last 2 trips were carried out with a Naval officer and 10 naval ratings on board as an insurance, but there is no suggestion that the LADY OF MANN did not attempt to play her part.
332
8. MANX MAN. Transported 233 troops in 3 voyages.
Should have completed 5.
On her fourth trip, due 2115/2, MANX MAN refused to i g sail from Folkestone. A new crew was put on board, the engineers remaining/
athorized.

June,
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 3.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
Personnel Vessels (continued).
remaining; she started a trip but failed to make Dunkirk. On return, the original Captain rejoined with some of the original crew. She should then have sailed at 2010/3, but the Captain reported 3 engineers short at the last minute. It was not considered necessary to wait for the engineers and the Master and crew disembarked and the new crew provided for the second time. Before further use could be made of her, however, the evacuation terminated.
9. The MONA'S QUEEN was sunk by a mine on her second voyage to Dunkirk, and the FENELLA was bombed and sunk on her first voyage.
10. The MALINES who had completed two trips, refused to sail on the 1st, left Dover at 1600 on the 2nd without orders and was subsequently found to have proceeded to Southampton.
11. It was felt that trouble might occur in the ST.HELIER
and PRINCESS MAUD, and accordingly a naval party was put on board to supplement the ships crews, and in consequence no trouble occurred.
12. The outstanding ships were the MAID OF ORLEANS 6 trips, one being diverted without completing the trip, and once returning due to collision. ROYAL DAFFODIL 7 trips, on one of which she was turned back by a French destroyer -
ROYAL SOVEREIGN 6 trips
KING GEORGE V
5 trips
COTE d'ARGENT
5 trips
ST. HELIER
4 trips after having refused to
158 rgdl sail once.
PRAGUE
3 trips with full loads, bombed,
85mght severely damaged and beached on the last return trip.
13. Eleven other ships were concerned in the Operation, details of which are as follows:
27th May BIARRITZ
27th May
Damaged by shell fire and returned.
ARCHANGEL
27th May
Damaged by shell fire and returned.
QUEEN OF THE
Sunk by bombing attack.
CHANNEL
28th May
LORINA
Sunk by bombing attack.
29th May
NORMANIA
Sunk by bombing attack.
28th May LOCH GARRY
One trip.
28th May SCOTIA
One trip.
2nd June
THE
28th May KILLARNEY
Sunk by bombing attack.
One trip.
2nd June ROUEN
One trip.
2nd and 3rd
Acapt R.
June AUTO CARRIER
Two trips.
2nd and 3rd
June NEWHAVEN
Two trips.
fice of
Enclosure:-
g Officer Commanding,
Details of Personnel
ER.
Ships used.
2 June, 1940.
authorized.

57
I swung the ship and berthed on the store jetty at the root of the East Pier and soon the troops started to board carrying badly wounded men on stretchers.
Shell fire continued; shells falling on either side of the
Pier, one damaging the handrail on the east side abreast of the ship, the pier is about six feet wide at this point.
Bombs fell at intervals from aircraft flying in the pall of smoke over the town and fires were observed to start in many places.
At 1001 having on board 650 Officers and men 18 wounded, 4
French and 2 Belgian Officers, the Naval Embarkation Officer decided to sail me as the shell fire was getting more and more accurate
I could probably have taken 20 or 30 more. The holds were full hut there was a little space on the forecastle head.
On leaving the Pier a number of shells fell on each side of the ship, one bursting under the starboard quarter. No damage was suffered to the ship or troops. The vessel lying ahead appeared to be damaged by this salvo (Malines).
The voyage back to Dover was uneventful except for a distant air attack on vessels arriving and a few shells falling over apparently from our unfriendly battery.
Dover was reached at 1640 after making a detour of some miles to avoid mines laid the previous evening.
During the passage my hands tended the wounded and provided tea etc., to the tired but wonderfully cheerful troops, until water ran out.
I would like to emphasise that the conduct of the whole crew was splendid throughout under most trying conditions. The engine room staff kept a constant head of steam and the many difficult manoeuvres were executed promptly. The Chief Engineer Mr. J.Bamforth shewed leadership of his men by his example.
The Deck Officers and men embarked the troops rapidly and filled the ship to capacity and carried stretchers from the quay. The helmsman Able Seaman S. Walker obeyed every order I gave him and shewed skill and coolness when entering and leaving the port, when the rest of the crew had to take shelter. We remained at Dover under immediate steam for four days but were apparently not again required.
I am, Sir,
Yours obediently.
(Signed) R.W. Morford.
Master.
When off the No. 3 beach in addition to many other craft sunk and aground our S.S. "LORINA" was observed, broken backed and aground.
R.W.M.

90
TRANSPORT "SCOTIA"
115
used
J.1 In response to your request for a narrative of the activities of the "Scotia" from the twenty-sixth of May onwards, I submit the following account:-
"On the 26th May the "Scotia", with its full crew was at Southampton under two hours notice. The order came at 7.30 p.m. on the following day (27th) to to proceed to Dover with all possible speed. We left berth
42 at 9.30 p.m., and passed through Spithead at about
10.30 p.m. We arrived off Dover about 7.0 a.m. the following morning. I there received orders to proceed to
28/5
Downs and anchor to await further orders. At 5.0 p.m., having received orders and route instructions we weighed anchor and proceeded to Dunkirk, steering various courses as ordered and made for the Eastern Channel off Dunkirk, where we arrived at 9.45 p.m. The weather was calm and hazy. We sighted several destroyers at anchor off the
Thew agoott Eastern Channel entrance who were engaged in shelling enemy positions. We signalled destroyers for guidance and were told to proceed to Dunkirk. It was now getting dark so I signalled for a pilot but received no reply.
Dunkirk was all ablaze and dense clouds of smoke obscured
JIBQ -- the port. We could hear heavy firing from inshore and twode violent explosions in the port. Transport "Malines"
twode was following the "Scotia" so we consulted as to procuring nedd a pilot. "Malines" signalled "proceeding towards
Gravelines". About two miles ahead "Malines" was fired on from shore, so we returned steering east towards
Eastern end of Channel. Several small craft lay about
STOW
at the end of the Channel, none of them showing any lights.
need It was now 0.55 a.m., Wednesday 29th. Whilst going astern and keeping in mid-channel the "Scotia" was struck abaft engine room on the port side. It was sounded all round,
[eoo
. QU 10 but was found not to be making any water and all compartments
Ms were dry. This proved afterwards to have been a torpedo, which had struck the bilge keel and failed to explode.
grited We hailed a small sloop which was proceeding towards the end bre
,JOST of the Eastern Channel and asked if Dunkirk was clear. On
84.8 being told what ship we were he told us to proceed cautiously towards the entrance. He added you are very badly needed".
avoidev
On this I decided to go on and do our utmost to relieve the wot situation. The small craft all along the pier were shifted
I - as to enable us to berth. We berthed at about 1.30 a.m.
nt gatog close to the lighthouse, East Pier. Immediately the
Isnaia vessel was alongside the embarkation Officer requested that
I should take as many troops as possible. This I did. The
TOJSI counter showed 2,700, but many more had been taken aboard of of whom no account could be taken. The "Scotia' estimated had fully 3,000 troops on board, as every available space had been taken up. The troops (British) were very exhausted and many of them could hardly walk along the pier.
net The embarkation Officers' duty was a very strenuous one, and borrego in passing, I should like to express my admiration of the good no manner in which this difficult work was carried out by them.
bequort I gathered that some of these Officers had been on duty unceasingly for thirty six hours.
senale ows WORL
DIOVS
OF
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