TNA Unclassified 1

Dynam 199.
8/4/0/1215
à
87
CONFIDENTIAL
To - VICE-ADMIRAL COMMANDING DOVER
( Copy for C. in C.)
From - C.O. JUTLAND.
NARRATIVE REPORT ON OPERATIONS DYNAMO.
(MAY 26th - JUNE 3rd 1940 )
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88
CONFIDENTIAL
VICE-ADMIRAL COMMANDING DOVER,
Sir,
OPERATIONS 'DYNAMO'
Having been in command of the dynamo ship JUTLAND. I
have the honour to submit the following narrative report of operations May 26th - June 3rd.
On May 26th, JUTLAND was at Sheerness awaiting orders.
In the early hours of May 27th, acting on orders received, we proceeded to the Downs where at 1500 the same day. orders were received to go to Dunkirk by a certain route.
This route was via the West Hinder Light and Kwinte
Bank Buoy.
While on the South-Westerly course from this buoy at about 2200 a hospital ship steaming " away from Dunkirk signalled us Dunkirk fallen.
Shortly afterwards, another ship signalled a similar message and added " I am returning " to which I replied
"
I am proceeding. " Later, in the proximity of the
Nieuport Bank Buoy, I was signalled to " close " another ship. Here I had hopes of receiving more detailed orders.
PATRIA was also closing this ship and I learnt from her that she had contacted an R. A. F. motor boat which had gone for orders. While waiting there, I sought orders from a destroyer that passed and was advised to wait there.
Planes were heard overhead.
After waiting some three hours and after consultation with PATRIA, we felt we had no alternative but to withdraw from - Hum Skurt Who are aripping ashin, and Pacific they Kashi them luid of
View was of: belowed, about the four stert of this party 0 are it he Pame.
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Il citaition are Is him is Pet 9 auchor.
Here the Then was a Perius

92
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exceptions to that procedure and they each rowed their boat back to the beach single-handed.
I saw little hope of achieving with these men what their own officers could not do, so I had the boats made fast until a few had collected and then, manning the largest with my own crew, sent them to row ashore towing the others, with orders to let go the others on reaching the shore for the troops to man themselves and to row back the large boat with troops.
On reaching the shore. so many troops crowded into this boat, and none would get out, that there seemed little likelihood of the boat ever being able shove off the beach.
It was about an hour later when a French officer took charge and threatened to shoot anyone who did not get out of the boat when ordered to, that the boat managed to leave the shore.
In the meantime, troops had been coming out to us in other boats made avaliable to them by the fact that the wind was gradually blowing the empty boats in to the shore.
I had taken JUTLAND in to about sixty yards from the shore where we were lying in eight feet of water.
After a while an enemy air attack developed. In our vicinity four bombs were dropped immediately in rear of the beaches but the attack seemed to be directed chiefly at the ships lying off; the next ship to the westward of us receiving one bomb in the after magazine, another ship farther westward being set on fire. One plane dived to masthead height or lower over a nearby ship but, I think, failed to score & hit.
JUTLAND replied with her only and newly found armament -
about fifty French rifles - whom I had stationed on deck, the remainder of the troops being in the hold.
Partly due to the presence of hostile aircraft and partly to the boat problem again. the supply of troops coming off to the ship gradually ceased. I estimated We had some
275 troops on board and it was at this juncture that I decided to make sure of what we had got and set course for returning.
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Here Me Then was a ferius

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On the return voyage, after passing Nieuport Bank
Buoy, we saw two ships ahead of us bombed, one with 8 bombs, the other with sixteen bombs.
There was no indication that either had been hit, but as we drew nearer it could be seen that one was in difficulties, and in reply to a signal we went alongside.
This ship was the GRACIE FIELDS, and while she continued to steam round in a circle, we took off troops, a number seriously wounded.
After about 45 minutes when this was almost completed ( another dynamo ship was taking off troops on her starboard side ) a destroyer indicated that she wanted to come alongside and at 2130 we proceeded, passing through the Downs
29/-
in an early morning fog, up the Ramsgate Channel and into harbour.
30/4
As soon as the troops were disembarked, preparation was made for the next trip. Army provisions were put aboard and two Lewis guns mounted.
For the next trip, officers and men ( not engine room men who could work in three watches ) were relieved to get some sleep.
I understand that on that trip of the 30th/31st,
JUTLAND brought off troops from the beaches to the East of
Dunkirk Pier.
On her return it was reported that she required fuel and that fact and the state of the tide kept her in harbour that day.
With the original crew, I took over again from the relief crew, and on the 1st June was at anchor in the
Ramsgate Road, standing by for further orders; but I
understand that the ship's speed was not considered suitable for taking part in the final operations, and after standing by for a further period. JUTLAND was ordered to return to
London where, after reporting to F. O. 1. C., I handed over the ship to the Chief Dock Master, Surrey Commercial Dock, obtaining a detailed receipt.
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Dynoms 190.
204
191
REPORT ON WORK DONE ON DUNKIRK BEACH BY "CONSTANT NYMPH" 30/31 MAY, 1940.
CHARGE HAND. B.A. Smith., Little Ship Club (Owner of motor boat).
GREW.
-
STOKERS ALLEN AND MIXIKE from Sheerness.
We left Ramsgate about 3.30 Pollo on 30th May, 1940, in tow of
H.M.S. "Jutland" (A Dutch boat taken over by Navy) after lying outside the
Harbour from 9.30 a.m., during which time we had done a little ferrying work between ships.
We were towed with a whaler and cutter on same tow.
Arrived at our station some miles east of Dunkirk Harbour about
9.30 p.m. and towed whaler and cutter to beach as soon as "JUTLAND" had
30/5
enchored slight mist.
At first we could only find Frenchmen on the beach and took off several boat loads, then a British officer waded and swam to "CONSTANT NYMPH"
while running slowly up and down the beach in about 3 feet 6 inches weiting for the boats to be filled and keeping a look out for British troops,
In spite of darkness end slight mist, the fires on shore and fine night made bodies of men show up against the sand.
On hearing from British officer that thousands of our men. were a little nearer Dunkirk, we worked further up and got mainly British for some time; not many wounded.
One nice fire which was a leading mark was blown out by another bomb later on in the night, but we were fairly well at home by then and it caused no delay.
Having filled "JUTLAND", the motor-boat with whaler and cutter turned over to "LAUDANIA",a similar ship, and filled that. "JUTLAND" laft about 3 a.m.
I am informed by Captain of "LAUDANIA" that these ships hold about
450 men each, making a total of 900 men taken off.
About 8 a.m. "LAUDANIA" was full and the cutter was aground under a stranded lighter and her crew could not get her off, Captain of "LAUDANIA"
told me to get the crew if I could not get the outter, and this was done.
Certain odd boats were found on the beach by troops of both nations, any found trying to row to ships in our area were collected and towed to ship, mk and efforts made to use them again if serviceable. These efforts were usually hampered by Frenchmen not tying up to the ship when boarding and letting the boat drift.
Bombing in the district seemed fairly continuous, some explosions shook the boat a good bit, but nothing seemed very near.
Anti-aircraft fire seemed to come from the beach in many cases, tracer bullets from that line were often to be seen.
There was some heavy shelling, apparently directed by planes dropping Very lights over the ships, one crump was either very near or very big as the boat trembled as if she had grounded.
Being deaf and having a lot to de prevented my noticing the bombing much but my crew seemed to think it was increasing with daylights
About 8 a.m. on Friday, 31st May, 1940, having used all fuel and got rope in the propeller, I was ordered to turn over the motor boat and whaler to a Drifter believed to have fuel and mechanics, and go aboard
"LAUDANIA" which left at once with all orews and arrived Margate about 5 p.m.
Both Allen and Medkle, the two young Stoker ratings who were my crew, worked steadily and efficiently throughout the ten hours or so of working on the beach and were always on the look-out for swimmers or odd craft to be picked up.
These lads had hever been to sea and were only enlisted in January
1940, they informed me.
(sa) B.A. Smith.
6th June, 1940,