TNA Unclassified 1

512
PRINCIPAL 483
ler "LORD HOWE". 21JUN1948
Ifiliam Henry Pollock,
ROOM
his Trawler was ordered to Caldin with a car 60 amminition. on
Port she was heavily shelled by battery concealed the sand dunes to the South of the Port. almost mong possible to force an entrance, the trawler, drow and reported to
Dover. On receiving the order "Proceed to Chints immediately", was decided to approach the entrance to the Port from the North.
nder a heavy barrage of H.E. and shrapnel fire the Skipper of the trawler ucceeded in entering the port and taking up position alongside the Qual sixtime Eastern end. As there was no labour or assistance to be btained from the Quai the crew of the trawler started to discharge the argo of ammunition. This entailed hauling the boxes of ammunition by and from the deck of the trawler to the too of the Juni, a distance of one 22 feet, and dragging them across the Cuai to a place of safety he whole proceeding under a devastating fire from the enemy. There was no rotection of any sort and none of Mie enemy were coulpped with steel elmets.c The di scharge continued orderly and efficiently until ordered to top by Commodore Gandell, R.N., who decided that the danger was too great, nd sent the trawler to sea. Again the trawler came under a heavy direct ire from the enemy, but with great skill the Skipper succeeded in bringing is ship safely out of danger.
cannot too highly commend Skipper W.H. Pollock, WHO in ad ition to his uty with regard to his cargo, gave me every possible assistance, chabling ie to report to Commodore Gandell, R.N., also contacting S.
ho with the aid of a plan given to me by the Commodore was able to hell
;he Port and so relieve the pressure on our Troops.
town, suspicions which were when the landing ashore and had to return hurriedly to the yasht.
lover. 29th May 1940. Brammell slipped his (signed) L. C. Lieutenant WHITTLE.
R.U.R.
just in time, as a heavy fire from rifled and
TDS opened on the yacht from the net rhbourhood of the
0.8 she procesded down the entrance.
It WGB due to the quiet discipline in his ship that the
Lending party got ashore unnoticed, and due to his scomanship and martness that we got quickly away; any dolay night have severe casualties.
OUR
he Commanding Officer,
HMS. hulzar,
"Canterbury," "Calvi", "Polly e men received shrapnel wounds
90 W.P. On the raiders were driven off.
London think one by "Jaguar", "Jaguan"
hips attended to their wounded.
he "Canterbury" and got the from "Grenade" for the more

512
PRINCIPAL
Travler "LORD HOWE". 21JUN1940
Sictor Hillian Henry Pollock, 483
ROOM
7
Trawler was Port ordered sine to Calais with a car of amminition. On dunes South of the Port. atmost to the was leavily shelled by concesled mong mpossible to force an entrance, the trawler, drow and reported to
Dover. On receiving the order "Proceed to Childre was decided to approach the entrance to the Port from the North.
inder a heavy barrage of H.E. and shrapnel fire the Skipper of the travler ucceeded in entering the port and taking up position alongside the Cuat mixtime - Eastern end. As there was no labour or assistance to be btained from the Quai the crew of the trawler started to discharge the argo of ammunition. This entailed hauling the boxes of ammunition by and from the deck of the trawler to the too of the Juni, a Matance of iome 22 feet, and dragging them across the Cuai to a place of safety -
he whole proceeding under a devastating fire from the enemy. There was no rotection of any sort and none of the enemy were equipped with steel elmets. The discharge continued orderly and efficiently until ordered to top by Commodore Gandell, R.N., who decided that the danger was too great, ind sent the trawler to sea. Again the trawler came under a heavy direct
'ire from the enemy, but with great skill the Skipper succeeded in bringing is ship safely out of danger.
I iuty with regard to his cargo, gave me every possible assistance, enabling cannot too highly commend Skipper W.H. Pollock, THE in ition to his ie to report to Commodore Gandell, R.N., also contacting S.
who with the aid of a plan given to me by the Commodore was able to hell the Port and so relieve the pressure on our Troops.
town, ashore and had to
Dover. 29th May 1940.
(signed) L.C. WHITTLE.
Brammell
Lieutenant R.U.R.
just in time, as
&
ogened on the yachs Dran who procesded down the
It due to the quiet got that ve he Commanding Officer,
HMS. Gulzar,
"Canterbury" "Calvi", "Polly e men received shrapnel wounds
% W.P. O, the raiders were driven off.
London think one by "Jaguar". "Jaguar"
tips attended to their wounded.
10 "Canterbury" and got the from "Grenade" for the more

NAVAL
21 JUNISTANT
PRINCIPAL SEA TRANSPORT OFFICE, 481
#
7-
FRENCH PORTS,
*
MINISTRY OF SHIPPING,
ROOM 8009
*
BERKELEY SQUARE HOUSE,
7
FP/YX/4.
of S.T
BERKELEY SQUARE,
LONDON. W.1.
20th June, 1940.
The Director of Sea Transport.
Sir,
I have the honour to bring to your notice Licutenant
C.V. Brammell, R.N.R. of H.M.S. "GULZAR".
2. On the evening of 26/27th May, 1940, I was informed by
Vice Admiral, Dover, that H.M.S. "GULZAR" was placed at my disposal to go to Calais to take water and stretchers, and to bring back wounded.
3. Lieutenant Brammell brought his ship into Calais, it being a very dark night, turned round, and secured with slip lines alongside the steps of the Gare Maritime. All this was done without noise, which enabled the officers landing to get ashore unnoticed. On entering the channel, the complete absence of any firing raised suspicions that the enemy might already have taken the town, suspicions which were confirmed when the landing party got ashore and had to return hurriedly to the yacht.
4. Lieutenant Brammell slipped his lines very quickly and got away just in time, as a heavy fire from rifles and machine guns was opened on the yacht from the neighbourhood of the steps as she proceeded down the entrance.
5. It was due to the quiet discipline in his ship that the landing party got ashore unnoticed, and due to his seamanship and smartness that we got quickly away; any delay might have entailed severe casualties.
/6.
be were dropped, but they were
Commanding Officer,
Ams. hulzar,
"Canterbury," "Calvi", "Polly e men received shrapnel wounds
90 W.P. Oi,
London the raiders were driven off.
think one by "Jaguar", "Jaguar"
hips attended to their wounded.
18 "Canterbury" and not the from "Grenade" for the more

517
CONFIDENTIAL.
48548
Ref No. GD.445/57
4
FROM:
CAPTAIN M/S, DOVER.
DATE:
1ST JULY, 1940.
TO:
COMMANDER MARTINEAU R.N.
The attached in connection with "Dynamo"
Operation is forwarded for your perusal.
him RN.
to
Captain M/S.
Ia"
be were dropped, but they were he Commanding Officer,
HMS. hulzar,
"Canterbury," "Calvi", "Polly e men received shrapnel wounds
% W.P. O,,
London the raiders were driven off.
think one by "Jaguar". "Jaguar"
hips attended to their wounded.
10 "Canterbury" and not the from "Grenade" for the more

488
FROM:
LIEUTENANT C.V. BRAMMALL R.N.R.
7
DATE:
30TH JUNE, 1940.
TO:
CAPTAIN M/S, DOVER.
Ref. G. Gipson, A.B. (T.124).
Reference my report on operations carried out by
"Gulzar" during the period 21st/27th May, 1940, on the
French Coast. I beg to submit the name of A.B.,Gipson (T.124)
for special mention who volunteered, and landed at Calais at the Gare Maritime with Captain Robinson R.A. to assist locating wounded, and afterwards was forced to return by enemy fire.
I am enclosing a note from Commodore V.P. Gandell R.N
referring to the above.
Grammall
Lieutenant R.N.R.
be were dropped, but they were e
Commanding Officer, tms. hulzar,
"Canterbury" "Calvi", "Polly
: men received shrapnal wounds
90 W. O,
London the raiders were driven off.
think one by "Jaguar". "Jaguar"
rips attended to their wounded.
10 "Canterbury" and got the from "Grenade" for the more

G.D.
Report of - LIEUTENANT R. BILL R.N.
517
Wednesday 29th May, 1940, and the loss of
Operations with M/S Trawlers at Dunkerque on
48
N°
Trawlers "CALVI" & "POLLY JOHNSON
To: Commander M/S, artey
Dover.
Brach oux calve
Fylder (So)
Sir,
John Getting
I have the honour to submit the following report in
Pather Johnson
Wednesday 29th May, 1940.
connection with operations by M/S Trawlers at Dunkerque on
Before sailing I collected all Unit Officers and explained what we were going to do, issued and explained their routes, and impressed on them that they must act independently in the case of an emergency. I then instructed them to and
0400. independently and meet me in the vicinity of the Gull Buoy by
Ladders were embarked off Ramsgate by 0430 and we rriving at 1330.
MINISTRY OF SHIPPA&?
ignalled to S.N.O. through no No.: ABBEY 7711.
nter harbour. The reply
BERKELEY SQUARE HOUSE, our after 1600". I then reply to this communication quote the following reference
BERKELEY SQUARE, he beach", as there were nsports alongside the vall.
LONDON, W.I. harbour and pull off"Loch rth".
Prommal
25th June, 1940.
O follow no in. and we pulled
Dear Branwal, eeded to take her berth. The harbour and berthed alongaide
If you are sending in any report umander yat about on our midnight trip to Calais, I
should like to remind you of one of he Piermaster and asked for your A.B.'s, Gibson by name, who was plucky enough to go ashore into the wait and to fill up my ships
Gare Maritime with Captain Robinson, R.A
renade" had completed. Ladders
3 were prepared to receive
Yours W.P.Gan.dell sincerely byt no troops had appeared at was nearly full and "Tynella"
also nearly full and was animed other traffic along the
: ships at this time.
about 1530, by about aix or re and a fairly effective be were dropped, but they were
Commanding Officer, tms. hulzar,
"Canterbury," "Calvi", "Polly
: men received shrapnel wounds
% W.P. O,,
London the raiders were driven off.
think one by "Jaguar". "Jaguar"
hips attended to their wounded.
18 "Canterbury" and got the from "Grenade" for the more

G.D.
Report of - LIEUTENANT R. BILL R.N.
517
Wednesday 29th May, 1940, and the loss of
Operations with M/S Trawlers at Dunkerque on
487
N:
5 A
Trawlers "CALVI" & "POLLY JOHNSON
7
To: Commander M/S, arley
Dover.
Brach oux calvi
Sir,
Fylder - (So)
Tehn Getting connection with operations by M/S Trawlers at Dunkerque on
I have the honour to submit the following report in
Paller Johnson
Wednesday 29th May, 1940.
Before sailing I collected all Unit Officers and explained what we were going to do, issued and explained their routes, and impressed on them that they must act independently in the case of an emergency. I then instructed them to onil
0400. independently and meet me in the vicinity of the Gull Buoy by
Ladders were embarked off Ramsgate by 0430 and we proceeded in company to Dunkerque, arriving at 1330.
On arrival I hove to and signalled to S.N.O. through
"Grenade" requesting permission to enter harbour. The reply came back "Wait - you may enter harbour after 1600". I then signalled - "Can I be more use off the beach", as there were already three destroyers and the transports alongside the vall.
I then received the signal - "Enter harbour and pull off"Loch
Garry," trawlers may then take her berth".
"Lock Garry" from the wall, and proceeded to take her berth. The
I then signalled "Arley" to follow ne in. and we pulled remaining four trawlers then entered harbour and berthed alongside
1420. us as directed by the Piermaster (Commander
)at about
I landed and reported to the Piermaster and asked for instructions. I was instructed to wait and to fill up my ships after the transport "Fynella" and "Grenade" had completed. Ladders were troops. rigged up the wall and the ships were prepared to receive
Fenella
Up to this time practically no troops had appeared at the far end of the pier, and "Jaguar" was nearly full and "Fynella"
about half full. "Canterbury" was also nearly full and was embarking wounded which completely jammed other traffic along the pier. Sketch "A" shews positions of ships at this time.
The first raid occurred at about 1530, by about six or seven bombers. All ships opened fire and a fairly effective barrage was put up. About 20/30 bombs were dropped, but they were mostly wide.
There were near misses on "Canterbury," "Calvi", "Polly
Johnson" and "Jaguar" and a number of men received shrapnel wounds in all these ships.
Fighters then appeared and the raiders were driven off.
One was shot down by fighters and I think one by "Jaguar". "Jaguar"
left harbour, and the remainder of ships attended to their wounded.
I arranged to place all wounded in the "Canterbury" and not the assistance of the Surgeon Lieutenant from "Grenade" for the more serious cases.

-2-
518
Skipper more than fifty men, and if damage became the considered not to could embark made the return journey and instructed I
I she inspected "Polly Johnson" and although damaged
489
more serious to transfer them to "Brock".
7
During this lull more wounded troops were embarked in
"Fynella" and "Canterbury" and a few other troops wandered up the jetty. I was then told that I could try and fill up my ships and I stationed Officers abreast each ship and instructed them to order all unwounded men down into the trawlers. They were mostly unwilling to embark in what they considered "fishing boats" at first and made various excuses to try and get to the larger ships.
As the rate of filling up was so slow I asked the Piermaster if I could send the four outside ships to sea to wait their turns and decrease the target, but I was told that there would be a large number of men ready as soon as the wounded had been embarked and that the ships were to remain alongside.
I was then asked by the Piermaster if I would place a trawler alongside the Western Jetty and light some smoke floats, and he suggested that I might like to volunteer for the job. I
said that I was quite prepared to do the job by boat, but that I
did not consider it possible to place a ship alongside the jetty as the foundations of the pier were shewing when I entered harbour, and that my trawlers were all drawing over 15 feet while the rise and fall on that day was only 11 feet.
"Jaguar" completed and left harbour during this period, and a large paddle steamer (I think Crested Eagle) berthed shead of "Fynella".
At about 1630 the second raid was carried out, but this was a rather half-hearted affair. All ships opened fire as before, and no damage was done to the ships alongside. About 20/30 bombs were dropped as before but they were divided between three targets -
"Jaguar" leaving the harbour - the ships alongside, and two French destroyers on the opposite side of the harbour. The "Jaguar" was damaged.
Fighters again appeared and the raiders were driven off.
The Canterbury completed and left harbour, and a destroyer came in to take her place.
After this raid more troops started to come down the pier and although traffic was still hampered by the wounded and stretcher cases quite a large number were embarked in the trawlers.
At about 1800 the third raid started. This was a very much more determined attack, and the bombers came over in waves at a few minute intervals fire was opened but fighters appeared and it was impossible to tell if they were enemy or not and it hampered the firing to a great extent.
About 100 bombs were dropped, and the attack appeared to be directed entirely on the pier and the ships alongside.
The "Calvi" and "Grenade" received direct hits and sank immediately. "Calvi's" masts and funnel were above water and her ensign remained flying from the foremast. There was a Mrect hit on the pier close to the end and "Fynella" was damaged, A cortain amount of panic ensued and men started climbing out of one ship into another, and some attempted to run back towards the shore.
At this time I was with the Piermaster and he instructed me to draw my revolver to quell the panic and to load up with survivors and troops and to get the ships out as quickly as possible.