TNA Unclassified 1

289.
-
83
NARRATIVE OF DUTCH BOAT "JAVA"
26th May - 4th June, 1940.
0645, 27th May, the crew of D.B.22 under the command of
Lieut-Commander Drake, BUE left Chatham Barracks and travelled via
Portsmouth to Southampton, joining "Java" that evening. The vessel was then under repair, with orders on completion to load ammunition in the River.
On the afternoon of 29th May those orders were cancelled and we were instructed to fuel and proceed light to Dover.
Accordingly about 1700 with Main and Auxilliary machinery persuaded to function by Diesel experts from the shore "Java" left ible.
SECRET
,914/0
irted. Our final air
??
22/1148
left with the handicap of
IS the belt driving our ally our Auxilliary
LIEUT.F.T.RENNY.R.N.R. - REPORT
83
Lght and air with the
ON OPERATIONS OFF FRENCH COAST.
er our E.R.A. collapsed
(Letter dated June, 1940.)
as already out of action è morning of 31st May
By this time our
II.
in
No:477.cc/40.
egards the other and
FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING, DOVER.
it was pointed out that
Lete and we were under h starting on them.
-Commander Drake was
Forwarded.
=
proceed to Dunkirk to
2. The full names of the
945, steaming 10 knots
Officer and rating concerned are:-
working. My confidence as being too slack it
Lieut. Frederick Thomas ack of air and consequent
Renny, R.N.R.
ahead or astern, might
Petty Officer James Potts,
, 16 miles off Dunkirk,
D/J.92816.
, shedding bolts from eventually held in place
5 knots making an 0200
at to put about, but a
Engine cooling, some rpoceeded another 5 miles
The Nore.
ADMIRAL
ngine failed and it was
9th June, 1940.
hat it could be kept ogress unwise I cruised
VICE ADMIRAL
then made the best of my
2nd June. Here repairs
11 JUN 1940
y,4th June I was towed lowing day by "Bornrif"
*
to Surrey Commercial Docks
DOVER
ΓyHaTo
Davie
It. P.N.V.R.
14 Ju.
DOVER

289.
-
83
NARRATIVE OF DUTCH BOAT "JAVA"
26th May - 4th June, 1940.
0645, 27th May, the crew of D.B.22 under the command of
Lieut-Commander Drake, RND left Chatham Barracks and travelled via
Portsmouth to Southampton, joining "Java" that evening. The vessel was then under repair, with orders on completion to load ammunition in the River.
On the afternoon of 29th May those orders were cancelled and we were instructed to fuel and proceed light to Dover.
Accordingly about 1700 with Main and Auxilliary machinery persuaded to function by Diesel experts from the shore "Java" left dock and proceeded down the Solent to Hamble.
At 0400 on 30th May our troubles started. Our final air pressure started the Main Engine and we left with the handicap of being able neither to stop or go astern as the belt driving our
Auxilliarys parted immediately. Eventually our Auxilliary
Diesel was started and ran all day for light and air with the result that shortly before arrival at Dover our E.R.A. collapsed owing to fumes. As our Windlass gear was already out of action the ship was allowed alongside and on the morning of 31st May
"Sandhurst" was notified of our defects. By this time our
Auxilliary engine also had ceased running.
The Main belt was renewed, but as regards the other and major defects, notably our Ballast Pump, it was pointed out that as they would take several hours to complete and we were under
1 hours' notice for sea, it was not worth starting on them.
On Saturday morning, 1st June Lieut-Commander Drake was taken ill and detained sick in "Sandhurst".
I received orders that afternoon to proceed to Dunkirk to arrive at 0200 on 2nd June and left at 1945, steaming 10 knots with neither Auxilliary nor Anchor gear working. My confidence in our new belt was apparently misplaced as being too slack it failed to drive the Compressor. This lack of air and consequent inability, if stopped, to restart, either ahead or astern, might have led to complications if, at midnight, 16 miles off Dunkirk,
No.3 Cylinder had not commenced to seize, shedding bolts from the Crankcase which my Engineroom staff eventually held in place with wedges. But our speed was down to 5 knots making an 0200
arrival impossible and I had no choice but to put about, but a for minuteslater however presumably with the Engine cooling, some higher revolutions were obtained, and I receeded another 5 miles towards the shore. Again however the Engine failed and it was only at slow speed and with great care that it could be kept moving at all. Considering further progress unwise I cruised in the neighbourhood until daylight and then made the best of my way home, berthing in Dover about 1015, 2nd June. Here repairs were considered impossible and on Tuesday, 4th June I was towed by "Gorecht" to Sheerness and on the following day by "Bornrif"
to Tilbury, thence the following morning to Surrey Commercial Docks
ADNIRAL
Havri
DOVER 14JUN 1940
ft. R.N.V.R.

Dyrams 314
Blale m. Lieut.Commdr.K.M.Drake,R.N.R., c/o W.Simons & Co., Renfrew.
1325
e. 13th.June 1940
-
85
Vice Admiral, Dover. copy to 0.in O., Nore.
mitted in accordance with Nore General Order 448/40 relative to ration "Dynamo".
On the morning of 27th.May I proceeded from Chatham to Portsmouth
:h draft, to take over Dutch ship "TINY". On arrival at Portsmouth I
3 informed that "TINY" had already been taken over by the C.O. and ships mpany of "JAVA" which had broken down and was then undergoing repair,
1 I was instructed to proceed to Southampton and take command of the tter ship;this I accordingly did on the evening of the same day.
Repair work proceeded as arranged in accordance with F.O.1/c.
uthampton's instructions and main engine trials were held during the renoon of 29th. May; these appeared to be satisfactory.
ring the afternoon of the same day I received instructions to proceed
Dover at the earliest possible moment, the urgency of these instructions king it impossible to carry out the full tests of auxiliary machinery originally planned with a further 24 hours at my disposal.
I left Inner Dock, Southampton at approx.1840/29th.and,after justment of compasses and fuelling at Hamble Jetty, finally sailed for ver at 0400/30th. arriving off that port at 1730 on the same day.
On passage the following defects had appeared:-
Driving belt from main engines to auxiliary machinery broken.
Auxiliary diesel refused to start.
Leaks from air bottles had resulted in starting air supply being reduced to only sufficient air for one certain restart.
Mooring and windlass diesel refused to statt.
Ballast pump out of order.
On arrival off Dover a report was made through the Examination essel to the effect that engineroom repairs were required and I was later nstructed to berth alongside in Submarine Basin. This was done at approx. 2230/30th.
Repair work was started the following day but at 2000 was stopped is all ships were at immediate notice and remaining repairs would require at least 24 hours. At that time the only repairs which had been completed were the renewal of the driving belt and the restarting of the auxiliary
Omant

Dyrom P2 391
-
368
June 5th, 1940.
1.
Lieut. A.J. Davies, R.N.V.R. -"Java" never got over the other side and was finally towed to Sheerness by "Gorecht"
2.
Lieut. A.N. Blundell, R.N.R. - "Bornrif" did three. trips between Ramsgate and beaches at Dunkirk. "King Orry" was sighted sunk off Dunkirk.
3.
Sub Lieut. R.H.C. Amos, R.N.V.R. - "Iote" was beached and abandoned after she had damaged her rudder while rescuing two of her crew, who had fallen overboard on the morning of Saturday June 1st. On night of Monday, June 3rd, Sub Lieut
Amos, R.N.V.R. and Sub Lieut. R.H. Wallace, R.N.V.R. were in a new but unnamed power life boat which was towed over to
SUN
Dunkirk by Tug "About
.....
(A).
On the 30th May D.S. "Horst" was known to have been abandoned.
4.
Sub Lieut. D.C. Williams, R.N.V.R. - left Ramsgate on the night of Su day, June 2nd in the "Kitcat". On the way over he became separated from the rest of the convoy. After doing some work the other side he towed the "Singapore" back to Dover and then on to Ramsgate on Monday, June 3rd.
5.
Lieut. R.W. Thomson, R.N.V.R. - After being discharged from the "AEGer", where he had proved lacking in experience, did
4 trips in the "DABB II", two of which were unsuccessful.
6.
Sub Lieut. C. Minchin, R.N. - Went to the beached in the
"LYDD" where he ferried until the boat broke down. She was abandoned and Minchin returned to Ramsgate in the "Lydd".
On Monday, against orders he tried to go over in the "Helfrinore" but she broke down.
7.
Sub Lieut. E.S. Foreman, R.N.V.R. - In the"Princess Freda"
he ferried from the beaches for a destroyer. He then worked for the Dutch "Besta" --?, who finally towed him back to Ramsgate.
8.
Sub Lieut. R.E. Blows, R.N.V.R. - Started in the "Minikoi"
but she was rammed and sunk by "MASB 6" off the downs at
0230 on Wed, May 29th. He next went over in the "Ambleve", which with the "Sambre" was towed over by the "Skipjack", for whom he ferried from the beaches. A crew from the
Skipjack releived his crew for a'stand-easy' and ran the
"Ambleve" aground. He and his crew returned in the
Skipjack. On Saturday, June 1st, he went over in a power life boat. She was damaged by near bombs but the engines continued to run.
9.
Sub Lieut. J.W. Pratt, R.N.V.R. - Ran aground in the
"Singapore" on beach at 0130 on Sunday June 2nd. She rfloated at 0800 and he left with three French Officers.
On the way he picked up two British soldiers who were floating around'. These were revived with wine from the
French Officers' water bottles. He passed the "Mosquito"
which was still afloat but had been deserted. In mid channel he found three life boats which he took in tow intil his engines gave out and he was taken in tow by the "Kitkat".
10.
Sub Lieut. I.F. Smith, R.N.V.R. - In "Jong" helped to ferry troops from the beaches on Friday, May 31st. On way home he sighted the "Iote" drifting round empty and the "White Heather" empty but at anchor.

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Continue werleaf.

PLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE
17JUN1940
*
HARWICH
H.M.S. "Watchful"
547
Great Yarmouth.
8th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the report of proceedings of the
"M" Drifters attached to Yarmouth Base (H.M.S. "Watchful") whilst employed on Operation "Dynamo".
30.5.40. 2345.
Flotilla sailed Yarmouth for Ramsgate, to good
Yes a
B.
544
From:- Commander J. Glendinning, R.N.R.
Date:- 5th June 1940.
To:-
Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
dd
28th May.
1430 Left Ramsgate for Dunkirk in the tug JAVA with the following ships in company:-
Drifters. Lord Rodney, Lord Keith, Lord Collingwood and Lord St. Vincent.
Motor Launches. Walker I, Walker II, New Brittanic,
29th May.
Nayland and Angler II.
0100
2
Arrived off Bray dunes and anchored in 3 fthms water illed and sent Walker I and Walker II in to the beach to ng try to find men; all troops seemed to be hiding in on the sands. Walker I and Walker II then proceeded then up to Dunkirk Harbour.
hout
As dawn came I lowered all small boats from the Java in all and all drifters and worked with them right into its to the beach filling motor boats and transferring from motor boats to bigger ships lying off shore.
1000
Ordered by a destroyer to take all ships to Dunkirk pier, On arrival there I received orders to fill up as much as possible and return, leaving Walker I
i. Mann, and Walker II for the use of N.O.I.C. Pier, Dunkirk.
ived
On leaving Tuydercoot Pass I was ordered by H.M.S.
Calcutta to transfer all troops on board herand return to the beaches. We worked all afternoon on the beaches, towing army collapsible boats off the
At this time there were no more ships lying off to fill beaches and filling larger ships lying off shore.
1900
up, so filled all craft possible and returned to
30th 0930 May.
Ramsgate.
Arrived Ramsgate.
During the daylight operations the boats attacks, crews were subjected worked on with a good heart, until all to continuous dive-bombing without but all men of a meal from p.m. May 30th. 28th arrival the chance in harbour at 1100 on May

PLAC OFFICEN IN CHARGE
17JUN1940
HARWICH
H.M.S. "Watchful"
547
Great Tarmouth.
8th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the report of proceedings of the
"M" Drifters attached to Yarmouth Base (H.M.S. "Watchful") whilst employed on Operation "Dynamo".
30.5.40. 2345.
Flotilla sailed Yarmouth for Ramagate,
I
to
Report by Commander J. Glendinning, R.N.R. (conta).
575
545
The following men worked particularly well for no:
Robert Durrant, Master, Drifter Lord Rodney, helping me to keep the convoy together during the two night passages and during the day he manned @ boat himself working into the beach.
Walker I.
Walker II.
New Brittanic.
A. Cadman (cox)
Percy King (cox)
William Matthews (cox)
de
G. Stavely
Edward Parker
Walter Reid
T. Davies
John Ellard
Norman Reid (aged 15).
Java.
Victor Smith (mate)
Harry Griffiths (deck hand).
Arthur Westcott Act. A.B. No. LDX/5046 - H.M.S. Pervent.
Lord Collingwood.
Lord Keith.
9
Lord Rodney.
illed
Edmund Marr (mate).
Robert Eye (master)
William Gladwell
Jg
(deck hand)
Thomas Durrant
(deck hand)
an
Charles Fisk then
Fred Goddard
( deck hand)
your as all
These particularly well in the boate on the and beach ate to and also men in worked boats picking up survivors from aeroplane
H.M.S. Waverly, which was bombed close to us.
#. Mann, ived