TNA / Unclassified 1

TNA Unclassified 1

Collection details

TNA Unclassified 1

A working collection of Operation Dynamo source material whose definitive National Archives catalogue reference is still being identified.

Holding archive: TNA
Collection reference: Unclassified 1

Source: The National Archives, Kew, Unclassified 1. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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

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1 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 108–108 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
108	Log in to enlarge	Dyramnerz Bin/ch243 H.M.S. "Despatch II", 51 7th June 1940. 50 Sir, I have the honour to submit the following Report of Proceedings of this vessel, during Operation "Dynamo". A "Log" is enclosed. 2. Due to engine, and other, defects, vessel did not reach Dover till 1740/28. 3. Two trips were made: First on 29th-30th May to West of La Panne, and Second on 31st May-lst June to East of Dunkirke. On each occassion no assistance could be obtained from small boats in embarking troops, and all the 267 French on the First Trip, and the 160-170, mostly Middlesex Regiment, on the Second Trip, were umbarked by Ship's Company in Ship's Boats. On 1st Trip Ship's Coy. were able to work 8 hours on this boat work, but on 2nd Trip they were exhausted after 6 hours, and I decided to sail with the "half loaf" we had, and not risk waiting while the crew rested before further boat work. The unreliability of the engines was a further reason for sailing On 1st Trip, when I tried to sail from La Panne, engines broke down, with 3 ft of water in E.R., E.R Bilge Pump not working, no air in the Air Bottles, and belt connection from Aux. Diesel to Air Compressor broken: temporary repairs took 6 hours: On 2nd Trip Air Compressor had broken down, and engines had to be kept running, as they could not be restarted without repairs to the Air Compressor. 4. "Despatch II" was one of the smallest and slowest of the Dutch Coasters, being under 200 tons gross, and about 6g knots. Due to a lot of luck, and a little "low cunning" of always trying to be in sight of some larger and more important ship, no hits or casualities were suffered on board. 5. All the Ships Company behaved well. In addition to my 1st Lieutenant, Lieut. R.M.Miller, who carried out his duties exceptionaly well, I wish to recommend to your notice:- Archibald J.M.Upton L.Sea. S.T. P/SSX 13505 who showed exceptional determination and stamina during the boat work embarking troobs, Walter H.Dibden A.B. L.R.3 P/JX 148504 who appeared to enjoy bombing and machine-guning, while manning his Lewis Gun against low flying Aircraft. These two ratings' work was only just more noticable than that of: Herman B.Ketchley A.B. L.R.2(P) P/J 109346 Sam L.Greenwood Ord.Sea. P/JX 130095 Kenneth A.Clark Sto.1 P/KX 90924 VICE ADMIRA William J.Allen Sto.l P/K 61172 12 JUN 1940 * I have the honour to be, Sir, DOVER Your obedient servant, Fewilmot-Sitwell Lieutenant Commander. Vice Admiral Commanding, Dover. (Copy to Co in C., portsmouth)	Boat Broke Despatch II Allen Clark Dover Greenwood Lewis Little May Miller Walter West

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 108.

Dyramnerz
Bin/ch243
H.M.S. "Despatch II",
51
7th June 1940. 50
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following Report of
Proceedings of this vessel, during Operation "Dynamo".
A "Log" is enclosed.
2. Due to engine, and other, defects, vessel did not
reach Dover till 1740/28.
3. Two trips were made: First on 29th-30th May to West
of La Panne, and Second on 31st May-lst June to East of
Dunkirke. On each occassion no assistance could be obtained
from small boats in embarking troops, and all the 267 French
on the First Trip, and the 160-170, mostly Middlesex Regiment,
on the Second Trip, were umbarked by Ship's Company in Ship's
Boats. On 1st Trip Ship's Coy. were able to work 8 hours on
this boat work, but on 2nd Trip they were exhausted after 6
hours, and I decided to sail with the "half loaf" we had, and
not risk waiting while the crew rested before further boat work.
The unreliability of the engines was a further reason for sailing
On 1st Trip, when I tried to sail from La Panne, engines broke
down, with 3 ft of water in E.R., E.R Bilge Pump not working,
no air in the Air Bottles, and belt connection from Aux. Diesel
to Air Compressor broken: temporary repairs took 6 hours: On
2nd Trip Air Compressor had broken down, and engines had to be
kept running, as they could not be restarted without repairs to
the Air Compressor.
4. "Despatch II" was one of the smallest and slowest of the
Dutch Coasters, being under 200 tons gross, and about 6g knots.
Due to a lot of luck, and a little "low cunning" of always
trying to be in sight of some larger and more important ship,
no hits or casualities were suffered on board.
5. All the Ships Company behaved well.
In addition to my 1st Lieutenant, Lieut. R.M.Miller, who
carried out his duties exceptionaly well,
I wish to recommend to your notice :-
Archibald J.M.Upton
L.Sea. S.T. P/SSX 13505 who
showed exceptional determination and stamina during the boat
work embarking troobs,
Walter H.Dibden
A.B. L.R.3 P/JX 148504 who
appeared to enjoy bombing and machine-guning, while manning
his Lewis Gun against low flying Aircraft.
These two ratings' work was only just more noticable than
that of: Herman B.Ketchley A.B. L.R.2(P) P/J 109346
Sam L.Greenwood
Ord.Sea.
P/JX 130095
Kenneth A.Clark
Sto.1
P/KX 90924
VICE ADMIRA
William J.Allen
Sto.l
P/K 61172
12 JUN 1940
*
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
DOVER
Your obedient servant,
Fewilmot-Sitwell
Lieutenant Commander.
Vice Admiral Commanding, Dover.
(Copy to Co in C., portsmouth)