TNA Unclassified 1

-
299
in
278
2
PORTSMOUTH
INNER
PATROL
ANKH
BOUNTY
CARYANDA
LAHLOO
THELE
SERIOLA
EILA II.
AHOLA
NONETA

REPORT OF 'BOUNTY (Contd).
295
I should like to draw special attention to the magnificent work
2
of, Petty Officer,Jones throughout operations.
The following officers, Lieut. Dawson, Sub.Lieuts. Godman accompanied me and reported to Ramsgate, on the following day if required.
on the Volunteer's List.
June 2. Having reported to S.N.O. Ramsgate, we were informed that only fast and shallow draft vessels were required. During course of day, found M.T.B.101. lying idle and requested use of same, but were informed that the vessel was R.A.F. property and we were unable to obtain permission to use her.
Received instructions to stand by and later to return to own Base.
Throughout twenty seven hours spent at Dunkirk and adjacent beaches, were under continuous bombardment from the pin and shelling from the land.
Diframs 298
300 B14/0/
REPORT OF THE SENIOR OFFICER, INNER PATROL ON THE WORK CARRIED OUT 1314
BY YACHTS OF THE INNER PATROL IN THE EVACUATION OF THE SOLDIERS FROM
DUNKIRK.
Nine Yachts of the Inner Patrol, "ANKH", "BOUNTY", "CARYANDA",
"LAHLOO", "THELE", "SERIOLA", "EILA II", "AHOLA", & "NONETA", sailed in company from Hamble at 1800 on Wed. 29th. May, and arrived at
Dover at 0830 the following morning. We were ordered to sail from
Dover at 1930 on the 30th. May and to proceed to the beaches at
Bray and La Banne and assist in the embarkation of the troops. The flotilla arrived off Bray at 0600, 31st. May and then divided and acted independently. Owing to the shelving nature of the beach, it was impossible for our yachts to approach very close; instead, they had to lay off and assist boats coming off form the beach. They either took the troops on board and transfered them to larger ships or else took the small boats in tow to larger ships. The operations were greatly hampered by the lack of good motor boats which could operate from the beach. Thert appeared to be only a very few and, during the day, some of these were left on the beach. All the I.P.
Yachts launched their motor boats and operated them as long as possible but the fresh onshore breeze soon put them out of commission.
Knowing the conditions on this coast, I had asked before sailing from Dover whether suitable motor boats to operate on the beaches were available over the other side and had been assured that there were literally hundreds. There is no doubt that, had these boats been over there before the beaches came under fire at about 1600, thousands more troops could have been brought off. At dusk, the
Yachts that were damaged were ordered to return to Dover and the others remained until dawn on Sat. 1st. June. "ANKH", "SERIOLA", "AHOLA", "THELE", damage "EILA by course on reported "LAHLOO", sent the the The over II" 4th. but they and fact & "BOUNTY" again. only "CARYANDA" June all were that reported one two and The told & all casualties "NONETA" those Yachts ultimately to the at stand Yachts at Hamble, at Ramsgate to Dover by Ramsgate. returned returned for having were on orders; Officers the was sustained ordered to On 5th. Dover; none, only arrival, June. back and made however considerable Ratings to they possible In Hamble due were all concerned, great and, coolness bearing and in resource mind that of many all of them had never been under fire before, I consider that their conduct under almost continuous bombing and shelling deserves the highest praise.
Sgd. C.C. Bone, Lieut. R.N.V.R.
VICE AUMIRAL
Senior Officer, Inner Patrol.
6th. June 1940.
15 JUN 1940
*

REPORT OF 'BOUNTY' (Contd).
I should like to draw T.Jones special attention to the magnificent work 295
of, Petty Officer throughout operations.
2
The following officers, D.A. Dawson, Sub.Lieuts. Godman and Potter-Irwin accompanied me and reported to Ramsgate, volunteering ships and services on the following day if required.
Our names were accordingly entered on the Volunteer's List.
June 2. Having reported to S.N.O. Ramsgate, we were informed that only fast and shallow draft vessels were required. During course of day, found M.T.B.101. lying idle and requested use of same, but were informed that the vessel was R.A.F. property and we were unable to obtain permission to use her.
Received instructions to stand by and later to return to own Base.
Throughout twenty seven hours spent at Dunkirk and adjacent beaches, were under continuous bombardment from the air and from the land.
REPORT OF "SERIOLA" (contd).
309
288
ne 1 0700. Signal from destroyer to collect all boats lying in the channel between La Panne and Dunkirk and to take them in tow to the latter place so that they could then drift ashore. This had been carried out by 0830. We then collected several boathloads of troops who boarded us and we took them to a destroyer lying off Dunkirk. The Captain of this destroyer asked me if I could tow the "BOUNTY" back to
Ramsgate as her port engine had been put out of action.
This I agreed to.
0845. Closed "BOUNTY" which was lying on the other side of the destroyer and took off Commodore Stephenson and Lt.
Lundy, R.N.V.R. (C.O. of "BOUNTY"). We then took "BOUNTY"
in tow. the Commodore gave me orders to leave the vicinity immediately and set course for Ramsgate. "LAHLOO" was in company with is. We were attacked by aircraft machine gunning us but the damage done was slight.
1430. Arrived Ramsgate. Reported to S.N.O., Ramsgate,
S.O.I.P. at Hamble and to Flag Lieut. to C. in C., Portsmouth.
The following officers reported with me to S.N.O., Ramsgate:-
Lieut. Lundy of "BOUNTY",
Sub.Lt. Godman (with me on "SERIOLA")
Sub.Lt. Potter Irwin, C.O. of "NONETA".
We offered our services for anything that might be required and the S.N.O. accordingly put our names down on the volunteerM
list, and asked us to report next day to him, which we did.
ne 2. When we reported to S.N.O. Ramsgate, we were informed that no craft with a speed of less than 15 knots was of any use, so we went in search of a suitable craft. We found M.T.B.101
not being used, so suggested that we manned her ourselves and took her accross. This unfortunately was not permitted as it belonged to the R.A.F.
ne 4 Received orders from S.N.O. to sail at 0800 on the 5th. and to collect charts and routes.
ne 5 0830. "SERIOLA", with "BOUNTY" in tow, followed by "LAHLOO" &
"NONETA" left Ramsgate. I realised that at the rate we were
Nab during the hours of darkness, so thought it would going we would be in the vicinity of the minefields off be the advisable to make for Newhaven.
1800. Arrived at Examination anchorage, Newhaven. Exam Ship
2030. Tied us entry, at Southwick Canal, Shoreham. Reported to S.N.O., refused instructing us to go to Shoreham.
Shoreham, SOIP up at Hamble and Flag Lieut., Portsmouth.
ne 6. With of S.N.O., Shoreham, sailed at 1030. at As we were permission leaving, received signal ordering us to return once as all sailings for Portsmouth were cancelled.
(Continued).

REPORT OF 'BOUNTY' (Contd).
I should Officer like to draw T.Jones special attention to the magnificent work 295
of Petty throughout operations.
2
officers, Lieut.D.A.Dawson, Sub.Lieuts. Godman accompanied me and reported to Ramsgate, and services on the following day if required.
Our names were accordingly entered on the Volunteer's List.
June 2. Having reported to Remsgate, we were informed that only fast and shallow draft vessels were required. During course of day, found M.T.B.101. lying idle and requested use of same, but were informed that the vessel was R.A.F. property and we were unable to obtain permission to use her.
Received instructions to stand by and later to return to own Base.
Throughout twenty seven hours spent at Dunkirk and adjacent beaches, were under continuous bombardment from the air and shelling from the land.
Good
290
REPORT OF INNER PATROL YACHT "LAHLOO". C.O., Lieut.J.V.Ould, R.N.V.R.
y 29. 1740. Slipped and proceeded to sea from Hamble.
Took station with yachts of Inner Patrol on course for Dover.
y 30 Made fast on arrival in Dover Harbour. Depth Charges removed,
1050 hours.
1940. Cast off and, proceeding from Harbour, took station with yachts. Crossed Channel in station with yachts.
7.81 0610. Arrived off Zuydcoote. Destroyer signalled to lay off close to beach and tow boat loads of soldiers as they pulled out from beach to destroyers. Carried on with this work for some hours taking many boat loads in tow.
In the course of this operation was told that a boat had overturned in seas which had now got up somewhat considerably.
Hurried round stern of a destroyer and found quantities of men struggling in the water. Managed to save seven of them and put them aboard a destroyer. (In point of fact I believe only one of the boat load was lost.) Carried on towing as before while being bombed at frequent intervals, by enemy aircraft.
During the afternoon, Commodore Stephenson in "BOUNTY"
ordered me to proceed to La Panne and close destroyers off shore.
Went alongside H.M.S.HEBE who gave me a boat with three ratings and told me to lay off La Panne and put this boat ashore to take off General Lord Gort.
1700. Lay off La panne as ordered and, while waiting for Lord
Gort, took several boat loads of soldiers who had rowed out from shore and put them aboard destroyers.
1830. Boat brought out General Lord Gort and his Aide de
Camp out to me. He came aboard and I took him over and put him aboard H.M.S.HEBE. It appeared to me that the enemy knew of his departureas they shelled the beach and bombed it as he left and a very large enemy formation flew over
Continued to lay off La Panne as instructed, taking off and bombed as I put him aboard the HEBE.
out at intervals with about two men per boat. Had had shell no soldiers until nightfall, by which time they were only coming further except that the flaet were going to
La Panne orders in the early morning and the destroyer KEITH further who had told to lay alongside him told me to lay with him in the him dark. With first daylight I found myself had near away from me in consequence of which I lost touch instructions. Yacht Found he had not so toad him we would remain
I.P. "SERIOLA" and closed to see if he had any around there until further orders.
(Continued).

REPORT OF 'BOUNTY' (Contd).
of The I should Petty following Officer like officers, to T.Jones draw special throughout attention Dawson, operations. to Sub.Lieuts. the magnificent Godman work 295
2
and Potter-Irwin ships accompanied and me and reported to Ramsgate,
Our names were accordingly entered on the Volunteer's List.
volunteering services on the following day if required.
June 2. Having reported to Ramsgate, we were informed course of day, found M.T.B.101. lying idle and requested use that only fast and shallow draft vessels were required. During of same, but were informed that the vessel was R.A.F. property and we were unable to obtain permission to use her.
Received instructions to stand by and later to return to own Base.
Throughout twenty seven hours spent at Dunkirk and adjacent beaches, were under continuous bombardment from the air. and shelling from the land.
2
REPORT OF INNER PATROL YACHT "LAHLOO" (Contd).
201
ne 1 0400 (about). Destroyer signalled us to collect various empty boats which were drifting about and tow them inshore
While doing this we were bombed and continually shot at by enemy fighter aircraft. It occurred to me as poetic justice that I who had been on night bombing duty at
Dunkirk in the last war should now be well bombed myself in this war.
It should here be mentioned that my crew behaved splendidly throughout. None of them had been properly under fire before and they took the almost continuous bombing, shelling and shooting up without a trace of nerves. My
Engr., D. Brewer was invaluable in sending and receiving signals under these circumstances.
Collected several boats as ordered and also picked up several boat loads of soldiers from shore again, putting them aboard a sloop. While putting the last of these aboard a bomb fell right alongside and a splinter broke the fore skylight and hit one of my crew on his steel helmet. This ship seemed to bear a charmed life and though we had several bombs alongside I can only think that they were so close as to be ineffective.
While carrying on the work I have mentioned, we were closed by BOUNTY with the Commodore aboard who was good enough to express pleasure at finding that we were still carrying on. He told SERIOLA to take BOUNTY in tow and ordered me to slip the boats I was towing and to lead him back to Ramagate.
0815. Set course over Route X for Ramsgate. On the way back we were again attacked, being bombed, and shot up by fighter aircraft. Off the North Goodwin Light a launch came alongside and bold me to return to Dunkirk, but I
had the Commodore's orders to precede him to Ramsgate and, in point of fact, my crew and I were almost all in for we had had no sleep for five nights, as before we left Hamble we had been on patrol under special circumstances which had made us do without sleep for two nights.
1500. Made fast at Ramsgate.
ine 2 Refuelled at Ramsgate. We were told that our boats were not fast enough for further duty. I stayed aboard my boat as leg was so swollen with what I am told was
BOUNTY that I volunteered and put my name down with theirs shock, my could not walk, but the 00.'s of SERIOLA, to take AND a fast NONETA boat over to Dunkirks but none was available.
une 3 & 4. In Ramsgate awaiting orders.
(Continued).

REPORT OF "NONETA" (Contd).
322
Sub.Lieut.Godman reported that joined me about 1640 and the engineer N. 301
having I got under we were leaking and making water very slightly, way at once.
12
We left Bray at 1650. Arrived at Ramsgate at about 2200, when I reported to N.O.i/C. and arrangements were made to remove the wounded.
June 1. At 0500 Sub.Lieut.Godmen took over a naval pinnace and sailed for Dunkirk.
At 1500 "Seriola", "Bounty", and "Lahloo" arrived at Ramsgate. I reported to my C.O. Lieut. Dawson and sailed, in company, to Hamble.
I would like to recommend very highly,
E.C. Hallet, Engineer T.124
B.P. Whitehouse, A.B. S.T.
C.Wilyman, A.B. S.T., for all their calm and brilliant work.
Under very difficult circumstances they set about their task cheerfully and without a thought for themselves.
I consider myself particularly fortunate to have had these men with me.
Petty Officer Lock was with me in the wheel-house until he was wounded and although in great pain cheered and encouraged the others and kept up the morale of the ship.
(Sgd) a.g Potter Irain
Sub.Lieut. R.N.V.R.