TNA Unclassified 1

- 315
HM DRIFTERS
DORIENTA.
BEN Thusy
KINDRED STAR
THRIFTY.

Dyram 100
339
From Actual A. 317
RNVR.
To. Captain H.M.S. Veriou
H.M.S. "VERNON",
Blulel uss
Portsmouth.
6th June 1940.
H.M.S. "VERNON,"
311
PORTSMOUTH.
8th June, 1940.
Report of Movements of "DORIENTA" and
"BEN LUCY".
unit the following ifters *HEN & LUCY" and
136/49.
a to Tuesday, June 4th.
VICE ADMIRAL,
OVER.
rs received from
(Copy to:- The Commander-in-Chief, sailed from "VERNON"
Portsmouth).
29th May aboard *300 &
nd for Ramagate.
ful, the visibility Tory
Submitted with reference to
May we passed Dover onfidential Portsmouth General Order 1700
arbour at 1645. I
ge and was told to stand en until the following a.
Maelon
May I received orders pulling boats in tow,
: small craft). No
CAPTAIN.
:eed was adjusted to the
Loh was necessarily slow.
1 of the West entrance to
VICE AD MIRAL 1940
10 of enemy bombers at high altitude; they driven off, but not ad been dropped mong the
DOVER
R
to observe that two
.D. "LORD HOOD" (this
"FAIRBREEZE" which I
this attack I angaged one guns, the destruction one of our fighters, ged and No proceeded into to the East of Dunkirk harbour at 2100, approaching the shore to a depth of three fathoms. I ordered both my vessels to ship their boats fatorment the boats in shore with instructions to return obe parent ships if possible.
when the was now dark, and when the heats were inshore
D beach smenced shelling the beach and the bay, 1
to sant my ship moving and instructed "DORIENTA"
as soon SA she N&S loaded.
sed then hailes then hailed by H.M.D. "PRASABLE", It. Turner
11, Iquested & nequested & tow as his angines had been in with shell, I racshell, I replied that I would do SQ as soon with sso shd with troops.
ps.
turning four misty four boats were returning I observed that
S were one was

Dynam. 124
339
From Acting Ar.
To. Captain H.M.S. Veriou
RNSR.
H.M.S. "VERNON",
Portsmouth.
6th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of the movements of H.M.Drifters "BIDIV & LUCY" and
"DORIENTA" from Wednesday, May 29th to Tuesday, June 4th.
In accordance with orders received from
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, I sailed from "VERNON"
North Pier at 2400 on Wednesday, 29th May aboard "EIGN &
LUCY", "DORIENTA" in company, bound for Ramsgate.
The passage was uneventful, the visibility very bad. At 1405 on Thursday, 30th May we passed Dover arriving at anchor off Ramsgate Harbour at 1645. I
reported to Naval Officer in Charge and was told to stand by day. for orders, which were not given until the following
Friday, 3180.
At 1350 on May I received orders to proceed to Dunkirk taking four pulling boats in tow,
("DORIENTA" in company also towing small craft). We proceeded by route 15 W. Our speed was adjusted to the remainder of the large Armada' which was necessarily slow.
At 2000 we were just to the North of the West entrance to
Dunkirk channel when a large force of enemy bombers attacked us from the East flying at high altitude; they were engaged by our fighters and driven off, but not before a large number of bombs had been dropped among the assembled shipping. I was able to observe that two vessels were struck, namely, H.M.D. "LORD HOOD" (this vessel was towed back) and H.M.D. "FAIRBREEZE" which I
was informed was sunk. During this attack I engaged one dive bomber with our two machine gune, the destruction of this machine was completed by one of our fighters.
Neither of my two units was damaged and we proceeded into the channel arriving off the bay to the East of Dunkirk harbour at 2100, approaching the shore to a depth of three fathoms. I ordered both my vessels to sRip their boats and sent the boats in shore with instructions to return to their parent ships if possible.
It was now dark, and when the boats were inshore the enemy commenced shelling the beach and the bay, 1
therefore kept my ship moving and instructed "DORIENTA"
to return independently as soon as she was loaded.
I was then hailed by H.M.D. "FEASABLE", It.Turner
R.N.V.R. who requested & tow as his engines had been disabled by & shell, I replied that I would do so as soon as I had filled with troops.
As my four boats were returning I observed that one was

340
318
Page 2, one was destroyed by a shell.
power boats boat to return containing control officers who ordered by
While embarking the troops I was hailed a instructed to the beach closer to the harbour. my troops, this these boats to the position indicated.. with At to tow & motor boat which came alongside me, also I
stage contact with "DORIENTA" was broken and I
presumed that she had proceeded as previously directed.
My boats having departed I made contact with
H.M.D. "FEASABLE" taking her in tow and proceeded to
Westward in search of further troops. When off the harbour entrance I contacted three boat loads of troops and took them aboard, as there were no boats crews I put them in tow astern of H.M.D. "FEASABLE".
"BEN & LUCY" was now loaded to capacity and was preparing to proceed homewards when I was hailed by a naval rating alone in a waterlogged whaler, I took him aboard abandoning the whaler, I was then hailed by a fishing smack (?) "LETITIA" of Southend who requested a tow as he was short of fuel, I told him to tail on, and
June 1st.
continued my passage, the time being approximately 0100
The channel was negotiated without event, two destroyers being passed bound in. At approximately 0200
we turned to the North having rounded the Whistle bucy and, when about six miles to the North of the channel aircraft was heard overhead, while A.A. gunfire and searchlights had been active for the last half hour. At approximately 0330
8. very heavy explosion occured close to the port quarter of "FEASABLE". The skipper and I were thrown across the bridge with great violence. On looking aft I saw a large column of smoke and water close astern of "FEASABLE".
Owing to the abnormal phosphorescence of the water I judged this to be an aerial attack on what was thought to be a large vessel, and as "FEASABLE" was still in tow and made no signal for assistance I continued. (I was subsequently informed by "LETITIA" that another smack named "ROWAN" which had attached herself to the tow unknown to me had been sunk by this explosion.)
at
"BEN & LUCY" was now making water & about one foot per hour.
About 0700 I was overtaken and hailed by "VERNON"
Pinnace V.4. who requested & course for the North Goodwin
Light Vessel and then proceeded ahead of us.
At approximately 0745 we sighted North Goodwin to port and headed for Ramsgate.
When approximately 3 miles to the N.E. of Ramsgate
"LETITIA" slipped her tow and under her own power began to make off. I hailed her and when he informed me about the loss of the "ROWAN" I ordered him to report to Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate. He replied that he was returned whence he came. I repeated my previous instructions which
I do not think he obeyed.
When a mile to the Northward of the harbour I
signalled

341
319
Page 3.
signalled "FEASABLE" my intention to tow her in lashed alongside "BEN & LUCY". While attempting to do this the tow rope was picked up by a length of sweep wire which apparently had been foul of our propeller since leaving Portsmouth. Our propeller became hopelessly fouled so we were both obliged to anchor. I signalled
Pierhead that I had 100 troops, including two wounded and that I was disabled. A launch came off and took the troops ashore. We remained at anchor until Monday morning having made unsuccessful attempts to obtain a tow into harbour to clear the screw.
At 1000 on Monday, June 3rd we were towed in by drifter "RENASCENT" and at low tide succeeded in clearing our screw by acetylene cutter. While this operation was on hand I succeeded in contacting the skipper of "DORIENTA". He reported to me that his engines had been damaged by the explosion of a shell but that he had managed to return at reduced speed (the boiler had moved and broken the joints in several steam pipes causing flooding in the engine room which in turn blocked up the bilge pumps with ashes). I reported to Captain Wharton R.N.
who instructed me to return to Portsmouth and take "DORIENTA's"
crew with me as "DORIENTA" was "wrecked", but on the assurance of her skipper that he was confident he could bring her back to Portsmouth I returned to Captain Wharton and sought permission to bring "DORIENTA" back, as, if it proved necessary, I could have taken her in tow. This permission was granted and at 0600 on Tuesday, June 4th we weighed anchor and made passage to Portsmouth, arriving at 2100.
I wish to place on record and draw attention to, the perfect discipline and devotion to duty of all members of both crews, with particular mention of Skipper
W.A. Whatling R.N.R., Skipper.F.Reynolds R.N.R, and the engine room staff of H.M.D. "DORIENTA" whose coolness in maintaining way on the ship in most arduous conditions undoubtedly prevented the abandonment of this ship.
I have the honour to be,
CAPT H.M.S. -7- "VERNON" AIN 1940
Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
LM.Shs
Acting Lieutenant, R.N.V.R.
Unit Officer.

Lynamo 203.
342
320
From... Acting Lieutenant F.G.M. Iles, R.N.V.R. Unit Officer.
Date... 7th June 1940.
COPY To
VICE ADMIRAL, DOVER,
To
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.
Thro. Captain, Hrs.
Sir,
In accordance with paragraph 2 of C.P.O 0.1691,
I have the honour to submit the names of the following officers and men who I consider greatly distinguished
Dunkirk. themselves during the evacuation of the B.S.F. from
H.M. Drifter "BEN & LUCY".
Skipper W.A. Watling, R.N.R.
His 0001 bearing and demeanour throughout the operation and especially during the time H.M. Drifter "FEASABLE" was taken in tow under heavy fire contributed most materially to the saving of both ships.
A. Frempton. A.B. H.O. Official Number not known.
T.W. Turner. A.B. H.O. LT/JX/167136.
E.C.Winney. A.B. H.O. LT/JX/167132.
L.R. Ayers. A.B. H.O. LT/JX/167128,
The above four seamen manned the two Lewis guns continually in a most steadfast manner and without any protection whatsoever for five hours under heavy bombardments both from the air and land.
H.M. Drifter "DORIENTA".
Skipper W.F.Reynolds.
This officer showed great coolness throughout the whole operation and great initiative when ordered to proceed independently. He navigated his ship with extreme skill in the narrow channel off Dunkirk without any chart and his engines partially disabled, thus, undoubtedly saving his ship and the troops on board.
A.
"mentwh
W.Kennedy. Engineman R.N.R. X/369.
J.Smith.
Engineman H.O. LT/KX/101797.
J.J.Shone.
Stoker H.O. Official Number not
J.Pirie.
Stoker R.N.R. X/104158.
close to the stern, the boiler was se recked by the explosion
When the ship was demaged by & shell bursting that sundry steam pipe joints were blown and the feed pump damaged so S.S to cause steam and hot water to fly in all directions, the bilges became flooded and the pumps choked with ashes. The initiative, skill and energy shown by these
P.T.O.