TNA Unclassified 1

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ENCLOSURE III. TO FORD'S LETTER NO. 541 of 17th. June, 1940.
REPORT BY LEADING SEAMAN H. COOK, COXSWAIN OF MOTOR
BOAT "ANDORRA".
9th. May.
Ordered to proceed to Newhaven, left approx. 1930 in company with 275, arrived Newhaven 2130 approx. stopped by examination vessel after about 2 hours of exchange of signals allowed to enter harbour. Boat running well.
Oth.May.
Officer in charge of boats gave orders to leave Newhaven at 0600 for Ramsgate. Arrived Ramsgate about 1630.
Instructed to berth alongside West Wall. Filled boats with petrol, oil and water wireless and arms taken out of boats.
Officer and T.A.G. making trip returned to Littlehampton.
No further orders. Boat running well.
1st. May.
Boat ready for sea, needed Officer and charts. Noticed and
Officer looking at "Andorra". I asked him if he would take us to Dunkirk and he replied that he would be pleased to.
At noon took whaler in tow and received provisions and 3
rifles and 100 rounds, left for Dunkirk. Boat running well at 1800 revs. Arrived at destination at 1630. Ran whaler alongside telling Papworth and Kettle to proceed inshore and lead with soldiers. About one minute after this order a raid started all vessels were under way in view of this we decided it would not be sensible to ferry as boats would have been smashed alongside owing to big surf. The whaler returned with 12 French soldiers. Took them aboard Andorra and sent whaler inshore again, raid was still on, whaler returned with II more French soldiers. They were also taken aboard Andorra making total load of 29 men and whalers in tow empty, decided whaler was too much for boat to tow so decided to slip it to another boat in need of a whaler.
Raid had ceased. 1805 left Dunkirk for Ramsgate. Boat running well at 1800 revs. but load had robbed her of about
4 knots. About 12 miles out second raid started, 3 bombs dropped close astern badly shook boat, all aboard very cool.
Decided to increase speed owing to the fact that we had no light for compass and wished to make Ramsgate before dark as we had no challenge signals. At about 2130 near North
Goodwin Lighthouse, starboard port engine broke down;by this time it was pitch dark. C.E.R.A. Milford had been working on engine all this time and managed to get it running again.
We were unable to find entrance owing to a warning in
Ramsgate, no entrance lights were on. Arrived in Ramagate harbour 0300 on the 1st. June, discharged 23 French soldiers.
1st.
June.
Working on engines, filling up and cleaning boat in general.
Saw 275 leave harbour.
2nd. June
Working on engines.
3rd. June.
Working on engines A.M. Trial. P.M. engines running well, but boat not doing the proper speed. C.E.R.A. Milford decided the damage was outside the boat.
4th.
June.
Boat lifted, discovered port screw badly damaged, this was put right; boat given another trial and found to be back running at well. Reported to S.N.O. i/c at 1530 told to report
1700. Officer detailed to take us back to Littlehampton. Sub-
5th.
June. 0900 left Ramsgate arrived Littlehampton 1900, boat running
Lieutenant from Portsmouth.
well except for bad petrol.
(SIGNED) H. COOK. L/SEA.

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have off a the few boats. At this time I got a signal
I at this part of doing essential work and that there were
I was beaches were to proceed to Dunkirk but that as many men signal, and the coast to be evacuated I decided to ignore the other transports proceed with the evacuation. There were at most inadequate and the other only about 3 power boats of doubtful efficiency were and/cross arrived. The embarkation arrangements were first no channel boa on the beach but later a paddle minesweeper boats and Royal Engineers Ferry Boats do with very few seamen ratings present boats consisted of a few service boats mercantile between the loto It was only due to the magnificent work of the
Army units at this part of the beach who were admirably led by their
Officers. that embarkation was able to proceed at any sort of speed, although the work of the naval officers 10 were present in few power boats available was beyond praise. There appeared to be no centralised control either of boats or beach. During the afternoon and evening there was a certain amount of enemy air activity but enemy planes always moved away when A/A fire was brought to bear on them, and there were frequent visitations by British
Fighters which appeared to have an excellent deterrant effect. No bombs were dropped in my vicinity.
At about 2000 a short but heavy artillery fire was brought to bear on the part of the beach near to Dunkirk and many men started to swim out to the ships or come out in very inadequate boats.
I weighed anchor in the "Royal Eagle" - as the tide was approaching high tide and proceeded as close in shore as possible to pick up these men. At about 2200 when no further men were coming to the ship and "Royal Eagle" was packed to nearly full capacity - i.e. every covered in part of ship full and men also on the upper deck forward and aft, I decided to weigh and proceed to Sheerness rather than
Margate on account of the ships requirements in oil and water which at Margate would have taken too long to complete. I consider now that on this day I committed a serious error or judgement as in view of the poor embarkation facilities I should have ordered "Royal
Eagle" to ground herself in shore at low water and fill up my boats running between the ship and shore on a line and then have floated off and proceeded as the tide rose, or alternatively I might have grounded /Royal Eagle" to form a pier to facilitate embarkation by other ships when they arrived. I consider now on looking back that the provision of some sort of pier should have been a matter of primary importance.
In view of the shelling of the beaches from the Westward I
decided to proceed back by route "y" particularly as this was the only route known by experience. Shortly after leaving a report was received of M.T.B.'s off Bray but I then considered that it was too late to turn back. After passing Middelkerke Buoy the ship was attacked by an aircraft firing machine gun but I gave orders that no firing was to take place so that thereshould be less chance of giving away to ships position to M.T.B. The ship was not hito
During the night I passed three small dark vessels which I believed were French Torpedo Boats. I did not challenge but kept guns trained on them. About 0230 on 31st May there were signs of firing about
10 miles astern and about five minutes later a tremendous column of flame rose from the water. I consider now that I was to blame in using route "Y" and that I unduly hazarded the ship by 80 doing.
On arrival at Sheerness at 0600 I found that in response to my request every possible arrangement had been made for the reception of the troops and the cleaningofuelling, and provisioning of the ship. The ships company had had practically no sleep for about 48
hours and had been working under conditions of high tension and extreme discomfort and the fact that such excellent arrangements had been made by Sheprness was very much appreciated. I cannot speak too highly of the spirit and sense of duty shown by the officers and ships company. On both nights the whole of the ships...commodation

Dynam 162.
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H.M.S. HARWICH. "Stella Rigel" 308
7th June, 1940.
Report on patrol of May 29th to June 3rd.
At 1515 on May 29th we cast off and proceeded out of harbour, icking up H.M.T. "Argyleshire" and "Lord Melchett" outside. We rrived off the position at 2200 and proceeded to our patrol area east f S. Buoy. At 0030 on May 30th we observed a vessel stopped which got nder way as we approached. As she did not answer the challenge we ave chase and eventually stopped her. She proved to be M.S. "Ricas"
rom Ostend with troops.
At 0750 we picked up "Argyleshire" and returned to area of
Walls Buoy for patrol.
At 2100 on 31st May we received orders from "Argyleshire" to atrol S. Buoy to West Hinder during night.
At 0230, having lost touch with "Argyleshire", and having efound her, we were closing when she was struck by a torpedo and sank mmediately. We lowered the boat and recovered five survivors, the two fficers, the signalman, wireless operator and one Able Seaman. During he course of the rescue a plane circled overhead and dropped parachute lares, but took no action. The Captain reported having seen a ubmarine crash dive, and while manoeuvring to attack he was struck midships by a torpedo. We received instructions to land survivors at earest port and proceeded towards Ramsgate. Artificial respiration las carried out on A.B. Laycock for 3 hours until we transferred all urvivors to H.M. Drifter "Gerrars Rontoul" outside Ramsgate to be taken
.nto port. Picked up "Lord Melchett" and patrolled area of S. Falls
Buoy during daylight of June 1st.
3. Buoy to West Hinden.
At 2015 received orders from "Lord Melchett" to patrol from
At 0430 on June 2nd we picked up a motor boat with 23 soldiers, aking them aboard and the boat in tow. During this operation the
'Lord Melchett" had closed us, and reported seeing a torpedo passing close inder our bow.
the soldiers and boat to her, rejoining the "Lord Melchett" on patrol.
At 0745 we were signalled by H.M.S. "Pangbourne" and transferred enemy plane, which attacked us and dropped a salvo of four bombs close to
At 1100 all ships in neighbourhood were in action against' one the "Lord Melchett", doing no damage.
daylight, and arrived at Parkeston at 1135.
At 0130 on June 3rd we received orders to proceed to Harwich at
(Signed) J.W. Wykeham.
Sub Lieutenant, R.N.V.R.
p.p.