TNA Unclassified 1

OR CONVOY.
6/6/40. Dynamo 188.
or Barge Sherfield
M
185
Lighter Y.O. 63.
Lighter X.95.
Sub Dr. J.D.F. Kealy, R.N.
or Launch Nanette II.
On arriving at Sheerness Motor Boat Dook on Friday, Sist May, 1940, -
ceived command of the above convoy with instructions to pick up British Troops om the shores round Dunkirk as soon as possible. This was at 2 p.m; by 2.15 p.m.
were under way heading out to sea.
Good progress was made until later that night we lost contact with lighter X.95
though we spent some time in trying to locate her without success.
At 11 a.m. 1st June land was sighted, peniot Where were we? The one and cidedly irregular compass, the Deviation of which we never know, which perhaps
B just as well, brought us to a buny round which was painted - -"Ostend". This a a most salutary effect on us and putting the wheel to starboard we headed for e battle. The succession of sunken ships with the oil saturated water covered.
th junk and garbage of all sorts began to have a dampening effect on everybody.
wever, we fortified ourselves with large helpings of Mr. Machonicie's Irish Stew.
Continuing on passed Nieuport we found ourselves between two destroyers and shore battery in action;during this one of the destroyers was hit and the supertructure burst into flames. On closing in it was obvious that there was no one board and we drew away a magazine explosion. Shells then began to drop round us rom the remaining destroyer and to further our consternation at this moment a orpedo passed under the "Sherfield", disappearing up the beach; whether fired by submarine or the other destroyer is not known.
Next thing on the programs was the finding of a whole lot of chaps who had een in the oil-covered water for a considerable time and we experienced dirfi ulty n getting them aboard as there were several wounded amongst them. These - were ostly off destroyers sunk during the day. During this interlule soldiers were een gathering on the foreshore, and owing to ebbing tide it was impossible to each the lighters and the motor boat. commenced to collect the soldiers and take them to the lighters at twenty at a time. One young Army officer to whom great redit is due came along with a motor boat full of wounded, and after putting them board helped with the embarkation.
In the meantime one lighter continued to fish people out of the water and the ther went alongside the wrecked "Clan MacAlister" and took off 15 wounded survivors of the "Keith" and other ships.
All was going well when a number of enemy planes started to machine gun the beach and bombard the vicinity. It would be as well to mention that there were no other British ships or planes in sight, and being completely unarmed except for one Boer War rifle, we couldn't do much against them. As the last load was being gathered it appeared that the enemy were using Trench Mortars and machine guns from begind the Dunes.
During a lull the second lighter and motor boat made for the open sea; while the motor barge was receiving her last load of wounded enemy planes started paying further attention to her. She stopped all movement and drifted about for the next three quarters of an hour, hoping to be taken for a derelect, which thank God she wast At length the planes eased off and she made a dash (at 6 knots) for the open sea, large quantities of tea being consumed. Peace reigned, but not for long;
the familiar whine of a power bomber was heard, followed by a pattern of bombo exploding round the barge and a nice little machine gun attack followed.
The remainder of the trip was quite uneventful, entering Dover at 7 a.m. on
Sunday morning.
Too much praise cannot be given to the Civilian members of the crews, all being volunteers and the youngest being 17. A fine example was set by the fortitude of the Troops waiting on the shore and in the water. All Naval members of the orews acted as expected.
On returning to Sheerness we found the third member of our convoy, whan - had missed during the first night, had managed to get to Dunkirk and had had her full share of excitement.

204
OPERATION DYNAMO.
22
ENCLOSURE NO. 17.
SHIP: BLUE BIRD - Motor Boat.
OFFICER REPORTING: G.B. EYRE, SUB-LINUTENANT, R.N.V.R.
On Saturday 1st June I received orders to proceed with Motor Boat BLUE BIRD to the M/S SANDOWN
to be towed to Dunkirk. M/S SANDOWN was relieved by
M/S EMPEROR OF INDIA and accordingly I changed to her.
2.
On reaching Dunkirk it was found impossible to start engines of BLUE BIRD so she was not used and came back to Dover in tow.
3.
The Lifeboat MARY SCOTT was working in conjunction with BLUE BIRD, but remained behind in
Dunkirk to pick up EMPEROR OF INDIA's 1st Lieutenant who was on the pier, organising the troops to be embarked.
Note: This officer was previously in command of
A.L.C. No. 15, and had been employed ferrying troops off from Dunkirk beach for one day. When 8.8. CLAN MACALISTER
(A.L.C. parent ship) was bombed and set on fire he returned to Dover in company with A.L.Cs. 3 and 8 to refuel and proceeded to the beaches on completion.
A.L.C. No. 15 was driven on to the beach by the wash of a passing destroyer and as there was no hope of getting off,
Sub-Lieutenant Eyre set fire to her and returned to Dover in due course in
A.L.C. No. 3 and was then given Motor
Boat BLUE BIRD.
See

CONFIDENTIAL
Diprome 339
abject.
rom. THE CAPTAIN A/S, H.M.S. "OSPREY", H.M. DOCKYARD,
EVACUATION OF B.E.F. - NARRATIVE OF EVENTS. Bluwl 468
PORTLAND, DORSET.
17th June, 1940.
No. 0601/44/3.1170.
439 440
The Vice Admiral,
Dover,
(Copies to:- The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.
The Flag Officer-in-Charge, Portland.)
DMIRAL
With reference to C.P.G.O. 1700, reports from Motor
Boats 6land 7 and M.L.100 are submitted herewith.
18JUN
Reports from "KINGFISHER" and Motor A/S Boat 10 were already survid
Forwarded direct to you.
Lieutenant Comman or
Dynama for Captain A/S.
the Downs
2300
(approx)
Found "Clan Macalister". Embarked two stretcher cases on deck.
29th. 0015
Collided with and sank small motor launch "Mino MINEKOI Key" with whaler in tow. Saved crew of three.
0255
Secured Dover.
0441
Sailed from Dover to turn back to Ramsgate all small craft from Thames Estuary.
Rixx Took in tow six cutters and one whaler found drifting.
0630
Recalle to Dover. Handed tow over to motor boat to
(approx) take to Ramsgate. Fueled.
1921
Left Dover for anix anti M.T.B. patrol.
30th. 0710
Secured Dover.
0901
Left Dover with Lt-Comdr. (?) to marshal and instruct all small boats arriving from south coast.
1335
Secured Dover.
Fueled. Carried out engine repairs.
31st.
1140
Sailed for Ramsgate to rendezvous with small boat convoy.
1220
Arrived
Ramsgate.
Off-loaded depth charges.
1453
Sailed from Ramsgate escorting five tugs and five drifters all towing open boats.
1930
Off Reutigen Bank. General bombing attack on shipping.
2100
Arrived off Dunkirk.
Took on board Lt-Comdr Wynne- Edwards
Instructed open boats where to operate.
(from Keith)
2315
In collision with large yacht. Hole in starboard bow above water line.
Some ribs broken.
2400
Returned to Keith off La Panne. Took on board General
(approx)
Leese.
Manuo
0115 Arrived Dunkirk and embarked C.O's of block-ships and Captain Dangerfield.
Carried out reconnaissance of the harbour.
0200 returned to block-ships.

H.M. M. A/S. B.6.
Dynams
468
Period May 23rd. to June 4th. 1940.
Bru/o/
1214
Time
440
3rd
1329
Sailed from Portland for Harwich.
2152
Arrived Dover - fuelled.
4th.
0857
Sailed from Dover.
1316
Arrived Harwich.
Fuelled.
5th.
6th.
Fitted quadrupia Lewis gun in place of port double
7th.
1307
Sailed for Dover in company with 3.0.7.
1753
Arrived Dover. Reported to M.A.Dover.
8th.
1100
Sailed with S.0.7. to search for Hurricane reported in the sea SeW. of Goodwins. Following air battle off Dover earlier.
1400
Returned to Dover. Search unsuccessful.
(approx)
2117
Sailed from Dover to find S.S. Clan Maclister in the Downs to give her instructions.
2300
Found "Clan Macalister". Embarked two stretcher cases
(approx)
on deck.
MINEKOI
29th. 0015
Collided with and sank small motor launch "Mine Key" with whaler in tow. Saved crew of three.
0255
Secured Dover.
0441
Sailed from Dover to turn back to Ramsgate all small craft from Thames Estuary.
Rixx Took in tow six cutters and one whaler found drifting.
0630
Recalled to Dover.
Handed tow over to motor boat to
(approx)
take to Ramsgate. Fueled.
1921
Left Dover for xxxx anti M.T.B. patrol.
30th. 0710
Secured Dover.
0901
Left Dover with Lt-Comdr. (?) to marshal and instruct all small boats arriving from south coast.
1335
Secured Dover. Fueled. Carried out engine repairs.
31st. 1140
Sailed for Ramsgate to rendezvous with small boat convoy.
1220
Arrived Ramsgate. Off-loaded depth charges.
1453
Sailed from Ramsgate escorting five tugs and five drifters all towing open boats.
1930
Off Reutigen Bank. General bombing attack on shipping.
2100
Arrived off Dunkirk. Took on board Lt-Comdr. llynne- Edwards
Instructed open boats where to operate. (from Keith)
2315
In collision with large yacht. Hole in starboard bow above water line. Some ribs broken.
2400
Returned to Keith off La Panne. Took on board General
(approx)
Leese.
ynamo
On passage CO DUNKITK.
0115 Arrived Dunkirk and embarked C.O's of block-ships and Captain Dangerfield.
Carried out reconnaissance of the harbour.
0200 returned to block-ships.

May 28th. 1940. 1100 1400.
470
-
442
At approximately 1100 3.0.6 and 7
5 to for Hurricane Course reported was set in S.B. sea, from position Dover until 2000 yards Goodwins and bore swept N.E. 10 miles Boats S.W. then Course opened was up to then approximately altered to S.E. and again to N.E. and sweep carried back to opposite Dover.
Much wreckage was examined but none that could have been aircraft.
May 28th. 1940. 2117 to May 29th. 0255.
Instructions were received to find the S.S. Clan Macalister anchored somewhere in the Downs and in conference with the Captain of the ship and the Commander R.N. in charge of M.L.V.S to decide the best course for Clan Macalister to land her boats and to instruct her to procede accordingly. Subsequently to report to the Chief of Staff what action was being taken. Serious difficulty was experienced in finding Clan Macalister owing to large number of ships in the Downs and absence of examination vessel. Contact was made however at approximately 2300. Clan Macalister had no charts of Dunkirk and consequently S.0.6.s were handed over to her.
It was decided she could probably get within fifteen miles of
La Panne, and she sailed accordingly. It would appear that she got very much closer and unfortunately is still there.
Two stretcher cases were taken off being members of the crew of the
M.L.V.s who had fallen down the hold of Clan Macalister. At approximately midnight S.0.6. set course for Dover. and shortly afterwards collided with motor launch Minnekoi with whaler in tow.
This occurred owing to the whaler appearing close under the port bow.
Course was immediately altered to starboard and collision occurred with the launch which was previously not seen. The crew of three
Sub/Lieut. R.E.Blows, R.N.V.R., Stewart and Stoker Madgill were rescued after difficulty owing to rain squall and slightly choppy sea. **** Able-Seaman Shuttleworth did good work by jumping overboard and supporting the one member of the launch's crew who could not swim.
I believe the launch's crew XXX
subsequently sailed for Dunkirk in another launhh.
Return to Dover was made at 0255 where the stretcher cases were dispatched by ambulance.
May 29th. 1921 to May 30th. 0710.
rendezvous with two M.T.B.s from Harwich at 2100 off the Quint bouy.
Anti-M.T.B. Patrol.
Instructions were received to
S.0.6. proceded there at full speed but was one hour late at the
R.V. approximately half-a-mile from S.0.6. who could not connect with
At approximately 2230 the two M.T.B.s arrived, and passed them owing to their superior speed. Contact was not made until approximately being mistaken 0230 for an and enemy this was craft. done with Much due of the caution night to was avoid spent on passage to Dunkirk.
0115 Arrived Dunkirk and embarked C.O's of block-ships and Captain Dangerfield.
Carried out reconnaissance of the harbour.
0200 returned to block-ships.