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Dynam 156.
NARRATIVE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER H.M.S.FRISO DURING
60
OPERATION DYNAMO
H.M.S. OSPREY
PORTLAND.
9th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following narrative of
"Dynamo". events whilst in command of the Skoot "FRISO" during Operation
Sunday 26th May. At Portsmouth - ship was being wiped, swung and
generally prepared for service.
Monday 27th May. Sailed fr om Portsmouth at 0500. Arrived Newhaven
at 1315.
Tuesday 28th May. Repairs were effected to for'ard Capstan.
2100. Sailed for Dover.
Wednesday 29th May. 0900. Secured alongside Submarine Basin Dover.
Watered and provisioned ship.
1230. Sailed for Dunkirk towing a pulling
Boat. During the passage every endeavour was made for receiving
and embarking troops. My crew worked continuously at improving
ladders and guest warps, and preparing the holds.
2330 Entered Dunkirk Roads. I steamed as
close to the Beach as possible from about 6 miles to the East of
Dunkirk right up to Dunkirk, but was unable to see any signs of
troops. It appeared that FRISO was the first skoot to arrive in
the Roads.
0030 Entered Dunkirk and secured alongside the
Mole. I then started embarking troops until the skoot "SURSOM
CORDA" secured alongside me when I transferred them across. At
about 0130 I decided to commence filling my ship alternately with
SURSOM CORDA. Between 0130 and 0300 several skoots endeavoured to
come alongside SURSOM CORDA, I instructed the Commanding Officer
of SURSOM CORDA to tell them to berth further up the Mole. I
left the Mole at about 0315 having got onboard about 350 men and
4 officers. I arrived at Dover after an uneventful trip at about
1500 Thursday 30th May.
Having provioned and embarked water tins
I sailed again for Dunkirk at about 2100. This time I proceeded
by the Calais Channel. My crew worked extraordinarily well
clearing up the hold and preparing it again for more troops.
Although we were in the Beam of the Calais Searchlights for about
2 hours it appeared that we remained undetected.
Friday 31st May. At about 0245 I observed what appeared to be a
fairly large derelict two funnelled ship with a slight list to
port. As I approached her avoice shouted for Help, and at to the be same
time the ship took up a violent list to port and appeared the
but I might well have endangered the Boat and Boats crew, both The
sinking. I considered lowering a boat and searching for man,
urgently sunk just after I had passed her. I understand
as required for the evacuation I regretfully proceeded. that SURSOM
ship who some way astern of me did lower a boat but was the unable
CORDA the was Shortly afterwards I observed a flare afterwards on
water some about 250 yards on my starboard bow. At
to find 400 man. yards ahead of me, almost immediately about 0415
I entered being shelled I left hurriedly. I the beach
a bomb fell Dunkirk Harbour but as the Mole was completely then proceeded deserted
and the the place coast was until I saw dense columns of troops cable on as necessary
where I not to ground, I lowered my Boats and started to ships up.
along anchored and then then veered as much to load
An so Air as just Raid occurred at about 0630 but no damage was done
in my immediate vicinity.