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From:- Resident Naval Officer, Poole,
Dynam 241.
To:- F.O.I.C. Portland.
22
Copy to Staff Officer Operations, Portsmouth.
REPORTS RECEIVED FROM COMMANDING OFFICERS OF REQUISTIONED
DUTCH COASTERS, WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO"
"SAN ANTONIO"
B
people. On first trip 270 people were taken off Dunkirk Breakwater and on Second trip 330
On second trip a dive bombing attack was made on the vossel from ahead by a Junkers
89 plane and two bombs just missed astern. The first of these was a delay action
bomb. The ship experienced heavy bombardment by 5.9 inch shells whilst embarking
the second time.
A
"HEBE" ( Report as written by commanding Officer)
The Dútch Coastal vessel "Hebe" was takon over by a Naval Crew on Friday 24th. May 1940
H.M.S. Hebe was commissioned on Saturday 25th. May 1940, Commanding Officer, Lieut.
A. H. Rowlandson R.N., First Licut. Lieut R.N., and a crew of 1 P.O.
1 E.R.A. 2 Stokers 1 A.B. and 4. Ordinary Seaman.
The first O eration carried out was on Monday 27th. May when TO sailed in
Company with the rest of the group with orders to evacuate troops from the Beach be-
tween Dunkirk and Ia Panne or from Dunkirk.
Hebe arrived off Dunicirk at about 0030 and I approached the beach twice
but found no troops and no opposition. I turned West along the beach towards
Dunkirk, entered and went alongside the east fetty in shore, I loaded with troops
all that remained there, and returned to Dover on completion with about 150 on
board. No opposition was encountered.
The only casuality was & slight wound in the foot of the commanding
officer H.M.S. Hebe from a bullet accidentally fired by a British Soldier on
board.
The second operation began on Tednesday 29th. leaving Dover at 20.00. I
went to Dunkirk by the Calais route and although constantly searched by
searchlights no batteries opened fire on the Calais coast.
Off Dunkirk I came up to H.N.S. Sursun Corda lowering a boat near the
wreckage of a vessel apparently mined. One voice was heard and a mineaveeper
arrived and sent over a boat I continued my course.
I passed close to the entrance to Dunkirk, the jetties and piers were
deserted so I inued eastward and went ashore near & large body of British troops
I lowered the only boat and carly left and began embariting these troops. This proved
to be very slow so I approached the beach and bown to the shore enabled nen to
wade out and climb on board. About 300 were taken on board and ferried out to a
destroyer.
I repeated this operation and took operation and took over another 300
to 350 men to the minesweeper Fitaroy. The Captain let me have two large type life
G.1
saving nets to put over the bows which assisted embaticing troops after I returned
to shore.
No other large ships were lying off Dunkirk. H.M.S. Friso was embarizing
troops and H.M.S. Sursum Corda was aground close in shore. I attempted to tow her
Yoff but failed and was driven onto a small Bank close to her and remained aground
until 18.30
At 18.00 Geramn Artillery began sholling the sand dunes and beach, although
shapnel fell over us and wounded men aboard Sursum Corda We got afloat without
difficulty and oaded about 250 troops and went down towards La Panne to ass them
to a destroyer there.
I remaine a there resouing men from the water embarking men from boats
and pontoons the majority of these were passed to & destroyer and were suffering from
exposure.
At 23. I found no more men to embark and returned to Dover without
further incident with about 250 people on board.
The ship was without ater and fuel and I arrived at Dover at about 11.00
on Friday 31st. May. Wa er and provisions were embarked and I was sent to Remagate
In company with H.M.S. Fiso whose compass WILB useless owing to banbing attack.
On Sunday June 2nd. 1940 while under WAY to the fuellingJetty In
Ransgate Herbour I was ordered alongside the Pier to enbark 249 Corman prisoners
to take them to Dover.
The hold was filled and about a dosen wounded were left lying on dock. The
uard consiste of 36 frenc security Police and 6 cades of the O.T.C. under the
Command of a 2nd. Licut,