TNA Unclassified 1

Dynam. 311.
27
FROM Commander in Command Mine Recovery Flotilla,
27
DATE
10th June, 1940
North Shields.
TO
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate copy F. Cape. Hund remon
REPORT OF OPERATION ON NIGHT OF
3/4 June, 1940
Sir,
I have the honour to report the operation of the 5 scoots under my command on the night of
3/4 June.
2.
On being refused permission to take the drifters of the 2nd M.R. Flotilla, I was offered command of the 5 Dutch Scoots, "PASCHOLL",
"HORNSRUG", "REIGER", "LENA" and "BORNRIF".
3.
There was little time to make any arrangements and comminication was difficult. I made some rough orders on a signal pad and sent them round by the motor boat which took me on board "PASCHOLL".
4.
Under way about 1600 for RV at N. G odwin.
"REIGER" had meanwhile run aground on the Quern on a falling tide and was out of it.
5.
Proceeded in company without incident, timing my speed to reachlic. 12, buoy Dunkerque at 2230.
6.
My orders were to use Western pier Nouvean avant Port and on rounding Western mole I headed into the avant Port. I was unable to find enough water anywhere in this area so I came astern and headed for
West pier of the main harbour, which I could seeagainst the burning town.
7. go alongside West side of West Pier. They got their
Meanwhile 2 of my ships passed me and tried to bows up to pier but had a job getting their stern to and "LENA" which was the outside ship of the two grounded just off the pier. I got alongside east side and
"HORNSRUG" came alongside me.
8. very glad to find Commander H.R. TroMp, who said he had
The Pier was full of French troops and I was appointed himself Piermaster.
He and I were unable to get a tug to pluck
"LENA" off and finally had to take the men off and leave her.
meanwhile 9. loading the ship with men and "HORNSRUG" was
Lieut. Wise, R.N.V.R., and his Sub Lieut. were also loading across my decks. There was a destroyer escort vessel alongside each side astern of us. Commander of
Tromp had complete control of the situation in spite and having almost lost his voice, and without his help judgment the loading of 5 ships at once would have been difficult.

23
-2-
10.
we could have taken more. There was
At about 0030 we had a good 10ad, althouch the arrival of the troops and there were ships waiting to get alongside, so I decided, after and "BORNRIF" following independently.
consulting Tromp, to 80 with what I had - #HORNSRUG"
11.
There was no shelling or bo bingof the part of either the harbour the where we were, and no incident to reports in harbour on the return journey.
12.
well taped beforehand, and nothing left to chance.
The officers of the ship had their organisatic shewed great judgment.
The C.O. Licut. Wise only joined the day before, and
Licut. de Mornay, R.N. came as a volunteer to
His pilot me to harbour having made several recent trips.
of the service was invaluable. I took over the handling and leaving, not that I doubted Wise's capacity, ship at the entrance of Durikerque, both entering but because the importance of accurate handling was such that I preferred to have it in my own hands.
13.
I have made no recommendations in respect of this operation in view of the fact that the S ips were at ano time under fire, whereas the majority of ships taking part were continually bombed and shelled.
PT
&
0
VIV
14
4
2
I have the honour to be Sir,
12 JUN 1940
H.M.S. M 2745/636 VERNON
Your obedient servant,
(SHammd
CO ANDER R.
II.
No: 211/27.
THE VICE ADMIRAL,
DOVER.
(Copy to:-
The Commander-in-Chief, H.M.Ships & Vessels, Ports
Portsmouth General Order 1700.
Submitted, with reference to Confidential
H.M.S. "VERNON",
PORTSMOUTH.
13th June, 1940.
Magerton
CAPTAIN.
VICE ADMIRAL
15 JUN 1940
Думашь

To Vice adminal Doren
Dynams i 90
1148
78 79
Rehat on operations carried out by M.B.Hondsrug
Between 26 may and S' June 1940. (Dutch schoole).
any 26th anchored aot Sheenness waiting to aders
13 27
0300 Sailed drom sheerness.
1000
arrived and anchored on DeaR
1500 ordered to Dunkink in company with S schooles
2300
OM Eastern entrance to Dunkink roads ships hassing advised that Dunkiik hadtallen
Senior others schoole develcted engine tranble adered Honderug to take him in low Readed away from Dunkink
12 28'
Reary
0345 seipled low as soi. engine now working and Schools adered back to Deal
0430 german seaplane machine gunnedand
Combed vessel, no damage, entrather unhleasant as we had no guns to return fire.
1000 anchaed on Deal
1815 ordered to Dunkink have wh and proceeded
2330 arrived and made to beaches
2 29
0200 Saw move deashing from Beach + ran vessel uh on sand, Emparked troops.
mo
YOIR
5, 2nd June. Here repairs
11 JUN 1940
sday, 4th June I was towed
*
following day by "Bornrif"
DOVER
ing to Surrey Commercial Docks
Гулашь
Davie
14JUN 1977
ift. N.N.V.R.
DOVER

4.
So
79
Schoole on shore camein alongside or us and
P
assisted
10
00 found screw had nicked un none and engines would not turn Bannit towed us PA and back to Deal.
ro arrived and anchored. disembanked hooks y 30
00
cupter several attempts to clear screwhom Goat asked SNO. Ramsgate it we might be towed in and beached this was approved.
000 arrived Ramsgate nut vessel on Hand
2
1200 Shih dry, cleared screw.
y30
Proceeded to unkink
500 arrived on beaches, Reary combing.
800 no Coats available to erinz men ox so beached verset, trooks would not wade out so backed M and anchared
.300 Embanked about 100 French troots from motor Croats
Q 1"
5000
Cruised along beaches and then madeta harbour entrance
330
Secured alongside Geakwater, embanked troops heary combing going on
600 Cleared harbour we were able to machine gun Row flying german nime thooks assisty
OF
i, 2nd June. Here repairs
11 JUN 1940
day, 4th June I was towed
*
ollowing day by "Bornrif"
DOVER
R
ng to Surrey Commercial Docks framo
Davie
14JUN
ift. B.N.V.R.
DOVER

3/
with Bren guns.
I
81
-
80
1100
arrived Ramsgate and disembarked trooks
1530
Proceeded Dunkiik Combed on several occasions no damage.
2130
intered harban embarked French troohs harban being shelled and Combed.
2200
Proceeded that 88 harban une 2'
0400
arrived Ramsgate disembarked trools and anchored or waiting for orders sure 3ʳᵈ Have uh and hroceeded Dunkink in company
1600
with three other Schootes
2245 arrived alongside Jetty at nouveau avant
Past and embarked French troops.
the 4st.
0000 Selt unkink and proceeded.
0530 arrived Ramsgate after thick toy Tor east three Raus 81 hassage,
0630 anchored on and rested crew.
1615 ordered to Tilbury have wh and proceeded
2200 arrived at Sanding stage.
une 5
0600 Pea branded and ressel proceeded to
Surrer Commercial Dock.
VICE
- 2nd June. Here repairs
11 JUN 1940
ollowing day by "Bornrif"
day,, 4th June I was towed
*
ng to Surrey Commercial Docks.
DOVER
Гулашь
R
it B.N.V.R.
14JUN
DOVER

41
I
82
,
81
1100 Secured alongside Quelic Dock to haid ODA
ship returning all stores and crew to chatham
P.O. J Potts J.92816 showed great coolness getting men under cover when shih was gunned and erombed on the 28 may and was a tower as shength during the whole operation.
AdRenny
VICE ADMIRAL
Sent. RNR
8- JUN 1940
*
OVER
0
b may June 1940
Times given above in this rehalt are approximate
Total number or men landed about 1500 in town effective hassages from Dunkink
VICE
AL
, 2nd June. Here repairs
11 JUN 1940
day, 4th June I was towed
*
ollowing day by "Bornrif"
DOVER
16 to Surrey Commercial Docks refuamo
Have
DOVER
14JUN
ift. B.N.V.R.

289.
-
83
NARRATIVE OF DUTCH BOAT "JAVA"
26th May - 4th June, 1940.
0645, 27th May, the crew of D.B.22 under the command of
Lieut-Commander Drake, BUE left Chatham Barracks and travelled via
Portsmouth to Southampton, joining "Java" that evening. The vessel was then under repair, with orders on completion to load ammunition in the River.
On the afternoon of 29th May those orders were cancelled and we were instructed to fuel and proceed light to Dover.
Accordingly about 1700 with Main and Auxilliary machinery persuaded to function by Diesel experts from the shore "Java" left ible.
SECRET
,914/0
irted. Our final air
??
22/1148
left with the handicap of
IS the belt driving our ally our Auxilliary
LIEUT.F.T.RENNY.R.N.R. - REPORT
83
Lght and air with the
ON OPERATIONS OFF FRENCH COAST.
er our E.R.A. collapsed
(Letter dated June, 1940.)
as already out of action è morning of 31st May
By this time our
II.
in
No:477.cc/40.
egards the other and
FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING, DOVER.
it was pointed out that
Lete and we were under h starting on them.
-Commander Drake was
Forwarded.
=
proceed to Dunkirk to
2. The full names of the
945, steaming 10 knots
Officer and rating concerned are:-
working. My confidence as being too slack it
Lieut. Frederick Thomas ack of air and consequent
Renny, R.N.R.
ahead or astern, might
Petty Officer James Potts,
, 16 miles off Dunkirk,
D/J.92816.
, shedding bolts from eventually held in place
5 knots making an 0200
at to put about, but a
Engine cooling, some rpoceeded another 5 miles
The Nore.
ADMIRAL
ngine failed and it was
9th June, 1940.
hat it could be kept ogress unwise I cruised
VICE ADMIRAL
then made the best of my
2nd June. Here repairs
11 JUN 1940
y,4th June I was towed lowing day by "Bornrif"
*
to Surrey Commercial Docks
DOVER
ΓyHaTo
Davie
It. P.N.V.R.
14 Ju.
DOVER

289.
-
83
NARRATIVE OF DUTCH BOAT "JAVA"
26th May - 4th June, 1940.
0645, 27th May, the crew of D.B.22 under the command of
Lieut-Commander Drake, RND left Chatham Barracks and travelled via
Portsmouth to Southampton, joining "Java" that evening. The vessel was then under repair, with orders on completion to load ammunition in the River.
On the afternoon of 29th May those orders were cancelled and we were instructed to fuel and proceed light to Dover.
Accordingly about 1700 with Main and Auxilliary machinery persuaded to function by Diesel experts from the shore "Java" left dock and proceeded down the Solent to Hamble.
At 0400 on 30th May our troubles started. Our final air pressure started the Main Engine and we left with the handicap of being able neither to stop or go astern as the belt driving our
Auxilliarys parted immediately. Eventually our Auxilliary
Diesel was started and ran all day for light and air with the result that shortly before arrival at Dover our E.R.A. collapsed owing to fumes. As our Windlass gear was already out of action the ship was allowed alongside and on the morning of 31st May
"Sandhurst" was notified of our defects. By this time our
Auxilliary engine also had ceased running.
The Main belt was renewed, but as regards the other and major defects, notably our Ballast Pump, it was pointed out that as they would take several hours to complete and we were under
1 hours' notice for sea, it was not worth starting on them.
On Saturday morning, 1st June Lieut-Commander Drake was taken ill and detained sick in "Sandhurst".
I received orders that afternoon to proceed to Dunkirk to arrive at 0200 on 2nd June and left at 1945, steaming 10 knots with neither Auxilliary nor Anchor gear working. My confidence in our new belt was apparently misplaced as being too slack it failed to drive the Compressor. This lack of air and consequent inability, if stopped, to restart, either ahead or astern, might have led to complications if, at midnight, 16 miles off Dunkirk,
No.3 Cylinder had not commenced to seize, shedding bolts from the Crankcase which my Engineroom staff eventually held in place with wedges. But our speed was down to 5 knots making an 0200
arrival impossible and I had no choice but to put about, but a for minuteslater however presumably with the Engine cooling, some higher revolutions were obtained, and I receeded another 5 miles towards the shore. Again however the Engine failed and it was only at slow speed and with great care that it could be kept moving at all. Considering further progress unwise I cruised in the neighbourhood until daylight and then made the best of my way home, berthing in Dover about 1015, 2nd June. Here repairs were considered impossible and on Tuesday, 4th June I was towed by "Gorecht" to Sheerness and on the following day by "Bornrif"
to Tilbury, thence the following morning to Surrey Commercial Docks
ADNIRAL
Havri
DOVER 14JUN 1940
ft. R.N.V.R.

Dyrom P2 391
-
368
June 5th, 1940.
1.
Lieut. A.J. Davies, R.N.V.R. -"Java" never got over the other side and was finally towed to Sheerness by "Gorecht"
2.
Lieut. A.N. Blundell, R.N.R. - "Bornrif" did three. trips between Ramsgate and beaches at Dunkirk. "King Orry" was sighted sunk off Dunkirk.
3.
Sub Lieut. R.H.C. Amos, R.N.V.R. - "Iote" was beached and abandoned after she had damaged her rudder while rescuing two of her crew, who had fallen overboard on the morning of Saturday June 1st. On night of Monday, June 3rd, Sub Lieut
Amos, R.N.V.R. and Sub Lieut. R.H. Wallace, R.N.V.R. were in a new but unnamed power life boat which was towed over to
SUN
Dunkirk by Tug "About
.....
(A).
On the 30th May D.S. "Horst" was known to have been abandoned.
4.
Sub Lieut. D.C. Williams, R.N.V.R. - left Ramsgate on the night of Su day, June 2nd in the "Kitcat". On the way over he became separated from the rest of the convoy. After doing some work the other side he towed the "Singapore" back to Dover and then on to Ramsgate on Monday, June 3rd.
5.
Lieut. R.W. Thomson, R.N.V.R. - After being discharged from the "AEGer", where he had proved lacking in experience, did
4 trips in the "DABB II", two of which were unsuccessful.
6.
Sub Lieut. C. Minchin, R.N. - Went to the beached in the
"LYDD" where he ferried until the boat broke down. She was abandoned and Minchin returned to Ramsgate in the "Lydd".
On Monday, against orders he tried to go over in the "Helfrinore" but she broke down.
7.
Sub Lieut. E.S. Foreman, R.N.V.R. - In the"Princess Freda"
he ferried from the beaches for a destroyer. He then worked for the Dutch "Besta" --?, who finally towed him back to Ramsgate.
8.
Sub Lieut. R.E. Blows, R.N.V.R. - Started in the "Minikoi"
but she was rammed and sunk by "MASB 6" off the downs at
0230 on Wed, May 29th. He next went over in the "Ambleve", which with the "Sambre" was towed over by the "Skipjack", for whom he ferried from the beaches. A crew from the
Skipjack releived his crew for a'stand-easy' and ran the
"Ambleve" aground. He and his crew returned in the
Skipjack. On Saturday, June 1st, he went over in a power life boat. She was damaged by near bombs but the engines continued to run.
9.
Sub Lieut. J.W. Pratt, R.N.V.R. - Ran aground in the
"Singapore" on beach at 0130 on Sunday June 2nd. She rfloated at 0800 and he left with three French Officers.
On the way he picked up two British soldiers who were floating around'. These were revived with wine from the
French Officers' water bottles. He passed the "Mosquito"
which was still afloat but had been deserted. In mid channel he found three life boats which he took in tow intil his engines gave out and he was taken in tow by the "Kitkat".
10.
Sub Lieut. I.F. Smith, R.N.V.R. - In "Jong" helped to ferry troops from the beaches on Friday, May 31st. On way home he sighted the "Iote" drifting round empty and the "White Heather" empty but at anchor.