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SECRET
FROM
SENIOR OFFICER, THAMES LOCAL DEFENCE FLOTILLA.
Dynamo 132 282
DATE
5th June, 1940.
267
TO
EXTENDED DEFENCES OFFICER, SHEERNESS.
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS MAY OF A/A SHIPS - OF THAMES LOCAL DEFENCE FLOTILLA.
31st JUNE 3rd.
on May 31st H.M.S. "Royal Eagle" proceeded to a buoy and reported
On completing discharge of the Military Units at Sheerness
ready to proceed.
that all paddle minesweepers and minesweepers were to proceed
On June 1st at 0800 a signal was received from V.A. Dover,
forthwith to the beaches and I at once went on board "Royal Eagle"
and after having embarked extra lifebelts and some rafts from the
North Wall at Sheerness the ship proceeded to the beaches via route
"X" at full speed.
When half way across a signal was received from V.A. Dover
ordering "Royal Eagle" to Ramsgate to await instructions so the
ship was turned and anchored off Ramsgate. No instructions were
received but an Examination Vessel called alongside with a set of
directions to minesweepers and paddle minesweepers to proceed to a
point 11/2 miles East of Dunkirk at 2200 to embark troops. I
endeavoured to obtain confirmation that "Royal Eagle" was meant to
be included in the signal but not obtaining this I signalled that
I intended to proceed and left at 1530.
"Royal Eagle" was the first ship to arrive off the beaches
at 2200 and I directed the Commanding Officer to anchor a full 1½
miles from the breakwater so as to leave room for the ships coming
on to anchor astern. On arrival a French drifter with some French
soldiers arrived alongside and disembarked them but by 2320 I had
seen no sign of any boats although by then some six or more
sweepers had arrived and I made a signal to V.A. Dover to this
effect.
A signal was received that all sweepers were to be underway
and clear of Dunkirk by 0300, and I presumed that this was on
account of the shelling which was fairly continuous, though in the
dark not very accurate.
It seemed as if the enemy had registered on a wreck a few
hundred yards away from "Royal Eagle" as most of the shells fell
between "Royal Eagle" and the wreck or just around the wreck.
"Royal Eagle" was spattered with shell plinters and I kept the
ship's company below the upper deck as much as possible.
A little before 0300 "Royal Eagle" commenced to weigh but
two boats were sighted inshore with no ship near them and they were
injured from a power lighter which was manned by naval ratings. the last
closed and their occupants picked up as well as two seriously
but one Eagle" ship to clear. Owing to the absence of boats only some
"Royal men eventually left the beaches about 0330 being 120
French troops and half a dozen British had been embarked.
defect "Royal was put Eagle" at immediate notice for steam for half speed only.
returned to Sheerness and owing to a boiler
"Golden finding that her Commanding Officer was command in a
Eagle" arrived at 1320 and I at once
rather overwraught state Orders I were soon received for "Golden from
transferred her and sent him on leave and assumed Eagle"
of the ship myself. to arrive at 0100/3 and take route off "X" troops near"FG"
to proceed to Dunkirk 1725. Whilst crossing by at some
buoy the Mole. I sighted I sailed a motor at torpedo boat which, after passing