TNA Unclassified 1

262
217
CORVETTES
SHELDRAKE.
KINGFISHER.
GUILLEMOT.
DS

Page2
266
day (continued)
2010
possibly, already damaged by our fighters.
- 255
2105
Proceeded with 180 British troops.
Alongside Eastern Pier embarking troops.
aturday 1st. 0005 June.
Anchored off Margate.
0133
Alongside Margate Pier, disemberked troops.
0240
Ordered to anchor off Margate and await orders.
0700
Ordered to proceed to Dunkirk.
1000
troops. Alongside Eastern Pier, Dunkirk Harbour, embarking
More or less continous High level Bombing in progress engaged enemy Bombers.
1130
Proceeded with 210 British troops, and 5 stretcher cases.
1235
In position 342° No.5 Buoy 1 Mile, steering 342° with
Scote two transports ahead. One being a large two funneller
Queen and the other a Paddle steamer (names not known), both carrying French troops. We were all attacked by 16
Enemy Dive Bombers which were hotly engaged. Both transports were hit, and Kingfisher near missed". The smaller ship appeared to be sinking and the larger on fire, but still under way, and under control. A
Three anys number of small Drifters proceeding to Dunkirk, were close at hand and proceeded to pick up survivors. I
Univerly commenced to turn, with the same intention but sighted two destroyerstwo miles to the Northward, one British and one French, both without troops. informed them by light and they closed at full speed. I then decided that the help Kingfisher, who was already full, could add, did not justify my risking the loss of my troops by remaining in the vicinity, so proceeded.
1442
Anchored off Margate Pier.
1555
Alongside Margate Pier disembarking troops.
1635
Proceeded and anchored in Margate Roads, ordered to remain at 1 hour's notice in case required.
Not included in Saturday Night's operations.
unday 2nd June.
No fresh orders received, took the opportunity to replenish ammunition, 113 4" H.E. H.A., return empties,
During the dark hours several Parachute flares were seel and to oil seen to drop, off North Foreland.
onday 3rd June.
1910
Weighed and proceeded, "Cuillemot" in company, to rendezvous with, and escort, Lady of Man and Auto
1955
Formed Carrier. escort on Auto Carrier, who informed me that
2130
Off'W' Buoy. Salamander firing at floating mine.
Lady of Man was still in Dover.
Mines about 12 feet apart with
2149
Went Sighted a line alongside between two floating West them. Pier, Ordered Dunkirk Guillemot were Harbour very to and well sink them.
2255
organised embarked for embarkation, and appeared much fresher
210 French troops, who
They than also still possessed practically all their any of our own.
equipment.
2319
Slipped and proceeded. There was considerable

Думамо 243.
H.M.S. "GUILLEMOT",
259
at HARWICH.
11th,June,1940.
H.M.S. "GUILLEMOT" REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS DURING OPERATIONS
"DYNAMO" BETWEEN MAY 29th. and JUNE 24th.
On Wednesday 29th. May "GUILLEMOT" received orders to proceed to SHEERNESS, and arrived there at 0700. On arrival she was ordered to embark fuel and stores and proceed to
MARGATE and act as base ship. She arrived at MARGATE at 2030, and at
Dymanso 2H3. 8/4/0/1266
FROM
THE COMMANDING OFFICER, H.M.S. "GUILLEMOT".
To ide
DATE
11th. June, 1940.
258
TO
THE VICE ADMIRAL, DOVER.
'om
H.M.S. "GUILLEMOT". REPORT ON OPERATION "DYNAMO".
or
The attached report is forwarded in accordance with Nore General Order No. 48.
Lieutenant Commander R.N.
in Command.
1940
ts
*
at DOYB E
nd ide r
Lynamo

Думамо 243.
H.M.S."GUILLENCH."
259
11th,June,1940.
H.M.S. "DYNAMO" "GUILLEMOT" BETWEEN MAY REPORT 29th. OF and PROCEEDINGS JUNE 24th. DURING OPERATIONS
On Wednesday 29th. May "GUILLEMOT" received orders to proceed to SHEERNESS, and arrived there at 0700. On arrival she was ordered to embark fuel and stores and proceed to
MARGATE and act as base ship. She arrived at MARGATE at 2030, and at
2200 H.M. Schoot HORST came alongside for stores and lubricating oil.
She cast off at 2300.
On 30th. May H.M.S. "GOLDEN EAGLE" came alongside for fuel and water at 0625. At 0950 "GUILLEMOT" cast off from
"GOLDEN EAGLE", weighed anchor and proceeded alongside "ROYAL EAGLE"
to supply stores, water, and oil fuel to her. At 1100 we cast off from
"ROYAL EAGLE" and anchored. At 1840 "MEDWEY QUEEN" came alongside for oil fuel and water, and at 1950 H.M. Schoot DELTA came alongdide for diesel oil. "MEDWEY QUEEN" cast off at 2000 and "DELTA" at 2115.
At 2345 "GOLDEN EAGLE" came alongside for oil fuel and water and cast off at 0425 the following morning. During the day a supply of victualling stores was landed on MARGATE PIER for supply to ships'
companies of ships going alongside pending the arrival of stores from RAMSGATE. Signalman ALLEN was landed to assist the Signal staff ashore, which duty he performed until the ship sailed for DUNKIRK.
At 1110 on 31st.May oil lighter BRENDOR came alongside for orders as it had been arranged with N.O.I.C.MARGATE
that GUILLEMOT would take charge of all fuelling. BRENDOR carried about 30 tons of diesel oil and was extremely useful fuelling Schoots and other Diesel engined craft. Hopper W24 came alongside for oil and stores during the forenoon. At 1135 H.M. Schoot HORST secured alongside and Lieutenant SARGENT R.N.R., lst. Lieutenant of GUILLEMOT, took over command of her from Lieutenant Commander FARDELL R.N. Her crew was relieved by a volunteer crew from GUILLEMOT as her Officers and men had been three days and nights without sleep. HORST sailed at 1315.
Lieutenant SARGENT'S narrative is attached.

2.
271
During the the afternoon of the 1st.June four coal 260 barges were brought down river by a tug and secured alongside.The were later towed to RAMSGATE by H.M.Tug "SPRITE".
On lst. June "QUEEN OF THANET" came alongside for fuel and water at 0820 and "WESTWARD HO" at 0845. Lieutenant SARGENT and temporary crew of HORST returned to the ship at 0900 and the original grew of HORST were discharged to shore. "WESTWARD HO" cast off at 1040
and "QUEEN OF THANET" at 1100. As GUILLEMOT'S oil fuel was running low an oil fuel lighter was asked for from SHEERNESS. "GOLDEN EAGLE" came alongside for oil fuel and water at 1145 and cast off at 1420. During
X
the afternoon 40 rounds of 4inch H.E. ammunition were supplied to
H.M. S. "KINGFISHER".
On 2nd. June oil lighter PHERO secured at 0805 and
GUILLEMOT oiled from her. She remained alongside all day and supplied oil fuel to various ships. H.M.S. "KINGFISHER" oiled from PHERO at
1215 and cast off at 1530, when "QUEEN OF THANET" came alongside for fuel and water. At 1600 H.M.S. ORIOLE, a coal burning paddle steamer, came alongside for water and requested the loan of some stokers to assist in trimming her bunkers. Six stokers from GUILLEMOT volunteered but it was decided that only two could be spared, and lots were drawn and stokers S. HIORNS and C.SAWYER were sent. At 1700 "DUCHESS OF FIFE"
secured alongside "QUEEN OF THANET" and at 2020 "ORIOLE", "DUCHESS OF
FIFE", and "QUEEN OF THANET" cast off and proceeded. At 2135 oiler
PHERO cast off and anchored astern.
On 3rd. June orders were received to proceed to DUNKIRK
in company with KINGFISHER escorting LADY OF MAN and AUTO CARRIER
across, then to embark troops from DUNKIRK Pier and return to MARGATE.
At 1630 beef and bread for 250 men were embarked. Lieutenant
R.C. NORWOOD R.N. and Sub Lieutenant W.G.H.T. BONHAM R.N. came on board at 1800. These Officers had obtained permission of N.O.I.C. MARGATE
to accompany us as they had both had previous experience of DUNKIRK
and its approaches. They both proved of great assistance, Sub Lieutenant
BONHAM'S acurate navigation being particularly valuable.

3.
272
261
GUILLEMOT and KINGFISHER weighed and proceeded at 1910
and met AUTO CARRIER with LADY OF MAN some distance astern at the North
GOODWIN Light Vessel at 2200. Two floating mines were sighted while on passage, and a third was sunk off GRAVELLINES by GUILLEMOT by orders of
KINGFISHER, at 2215. Ship arrived off DUNKIRK at 2300 and went to the
WESTERN MOLE at 2355. It was high water and owing to the shape of the
MOLE the ship could not lie close enough for the brow to reach. This difficulty was solved by heaving the bow in and utilising the flare of the bow. The ship secured past H.M.S. "SPEEDWELL" which was lying at the outboard end of the MOLE. There were about six hundred French Troops ashore, and after thirty one minutes of embarkation the ship was full, and cast off from the MOLE, leaving about two hundred troops behind.
Boats were seen approaching the MOLE and it was thought that the remaining troops would be collected by them. GUILLEMOT cast off at 0225.
There was considerable conjestion at the entrance and Collision was with difficulty avoided. Aircraft flares were seen on the return Journey but no attacks were made on the ship. Thick fog came down at daylight, a nd the ship anchored near the FORELAND BUOY at 0428 for one hour, arriving at MARGATE at 0700 and disembarked 387 Officers and man.
Irade

SECRET
Dyram
FROM
The The Senior Officers in Command, H.M.S. GOLDEN EAGLE through 275
Officer, Thames Local Defence Flotilla.
DATE
4th June 1940.
TO
gunds
The Extended Defences Officer, Sheerness.
SUBJECT.
Report of Proceedings - Golden Eagle. May 29 -
June 2nd 1940.
Submitted
On May 29th about 1045 ship received orders tp proceed to position 9 miles East of Dunkirk and embark troops.
Ship sailed at 1140 and arrived inj position south of Quint
Bank buoy about 1820 where a number of men were seen swimming in the water. GOLDEN EAGLE picked up all that remained in the water (some 285) and it was realised that two trawlers were also present picking up men.
A
French destroyer was present but left without taking any part in the rescue work.
It was ascertained that these survivors (British soldiers) were from H.M.S. WAVERLEY who had been sunk by bombs about an hour previously.
Ship then proceeded straight back to Margate and anchored at 0035, May 30th.
At 0445 went alongside and disembarked survivors.
At 1000 proceeded from Margate by route "Y"
and arrived at the Dyck buoy at 1322 when a signal was
30
received saying that ships were to use route "X". Ship was turned about and proceeded by "X" route to "W" buoy, when the Commanding Officer did not seem sure of his position and returned to "R" buoy and then finally returned to
Margate where ship was berthed at 2137.
The Commanding Officer had previously made a signal to say he was unwell and on arrival was seen by a medical officer on the pier and was sent ashore.
GOLDEN EAGLE then shoved off and proceeded alongside
H.M.S. GUILLEMOT at 2359 and filled up with oil.
At 0430 in the absence of any orders it was decided to leave for Dunkirk. Proceedings were then as follows:-
0742. Passed close to Dunkirk harbour entrance.
Tried to get in touch with pierhead but failed.
0807. Anchored in position 2± miles N.E. of harbour. Dunkirk High Lighthouse bearing 224 deg. 2.4 miles.
Lowered two boats and embarked about 40 troops from the beach.
Received information that more troops were further East and owing to great number of boats and facilities in present position decided that GOLDEN EAGLE would be of greater assistance further East.
1005. Weig/hed and proceeded.
1035. Observed large number of troops waiting by
Zuidcoote Sanaterium and no boats or ships in immediate vicinity.
1040 Anchored in 2₂ fathoms in position
Dunkirk High lighthouse bearing 237 deg. 3.25 miles.
Established communication ashore by using ship's ropes secured ashore and by using two ship's boats and two small boats salved from beach, ferried troops from beach to ship.
Owing to falling tide, shallow water and inshore swell operations were difficult and troops had to wade into 3 feet of water to keep boats afloat but by changing the boats creews for every trip - about 60 troops per hour were embarked.
During this time bombing, shelling and aerial and machine gunning took place, and gun's crews were continually on the alert and in action and embarking operations continued without a break.
Embarked about 340 troops.