TNA Unclassified 1

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LAUNCH "TRITON"
à
190
Lieutenant R.H. INVING, R.N.R.
3, KNITH. Sea. Cox.
J.STEPHENS. Ord.Sea.
D. STMPSON. B.R.A. (uttorly useless)
0. GLYNN. Ord.Sea.
F.G. PURBRICK. Ord.Sea. (fell overboard and had to put him on "MOSQUITO"
suffering from cold and shook).
I was at Sheerness as No.1 of Dutch Scoot "PRINCESS JULIANA"
Wednesday 20th May 1940, was instructed to proceed from Sheamess to
Ramsgate in charge of 13 Launches, various kinds and speeds - handed over
12. Left Sheerness about noon Wednesday, 29th May.
Arrived Remagate about 1930
Left Remagate about 2150
for Cuploa near La Panne with 9 Launches.
Very vague instructions about La Panne and was not definitely
informed whether British troops were actually there. Had bad visibility
and did not know exact position but made Cuploa 0500, Thursday norning
only 5 launches arrived in company, others broke down and returned to
Ransgate. Launch "SILVER QUEEN" was of great assistance.
From 0500, Thursday, 30th May to about 1700 Friday, 31st May
I towed or picked up hundreds of troops and transferred them to destroyers,
scoots etc. Launches not equipped with proper towing topes and crew very
unsemanlike. Had to steer and make fast myself. Commodore Stephens used
my launch and participated in taking off troops, no one at Cuplos to give to
instructions.
I worked all Thursday night and carried on until 1330 when ship
was shelled heavily and all ships proceeded towards Dunquarque and I was
last to leave Cuploa under heavy shell fire.
I proceeded towards Dunquerque along the beach and on arriving
at extreme west end of Dunquerque beach a heavy air attack and fire from
shore batteries was falling all round. I took the most westerly boat in
tow and when looking round to find a near ship, saw the large launch "PRINCE
OF WALES" struck by a bomb, I proceeded with the boat I had in tow towards
her and found 4 survivors very bedly wounded ready to take off. Two others
were dead on board. On the way to the sloop "MOSQUXTO" with survivors I
resoued soldiers from drowing whose boat had sunic close ashore. While
doing this my starbcard propeller get fouled and I had a terrible job to
get to the sloop "MOSQUITO" with troops and wounded from "PRINCE OF MALZES".
All this time bombing and shelling was going on. I landed all on the
"HOSQUITO" and then asked the "MOSQUITO" to tay and clear ay propeller,
they tried but could not do so. I them consulted the Piret Lieutenant and
he suggested that I get a tow home. I spproached the yacht "CALNTA",
the C.O. immediately asked me to get him troops but I told him I would
attempt it with one engine although I could not handle her. I got near
the west beach and immediately came under shore fire and no boats being
ready to come off "CALETA" signelled me to return as he was being shelled
and had to get out of it. I got back and made the launch fast for towing-
under fire, but the tow rope broke and the Launch being still in the hotly
peppered area and close to the surf the C.O. of "CALETA" and myself thought
it would endanger his vessel to remain there to try and pick up again so
chose inshore.
Neither I or the arew had any sleep or proper food from Wednesday
morning until the launch was abandoned at 1640 Friday. All of us were
stupid with exhaustion.
I took off more troops at Cuploa than anyone else.
I have lost my voice meantime through constant hailing of boats
and giving orders. The "TRITON" was damaged badly in the stern and bow
through going alongaide ships so frequently in a very heavy swell. I have
lost my uniform cap and raincoat, rasor and other items.
My information on sailing from Ramsgate was - "No troops east of
La Panne or west of Braye Duns", the first item was correct byrb the second
quite wrong.