TNA Unclassified 1

Navalteer, Hove.
Dynamo 369.
D- 2'503 532
ms
H.M.S. 1432
one No.: Hove 6286.
(Naval KING ALFRED
HOVE 3
No. 21/1358
20th June, 1940
incia
The Vice Admiral,
DOVER.
Dunkirk Evacuation: Proby Temp. Sub. Lt. T. Laurie,R.N.V.R
The enclosed report is forwarded in accordance with your telephone message 1745/15.
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This Officer has now been discharged for duty with N.O.I.C. Brightlingsea.
CAPTAIN
VICE
24 JUN ADMIRAL 1940
*
DOVER
Vynamo noyal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

H.M.S. "KING ALFRED"
533
12th June, 1940
501
Report: DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
7
By:
Proby. Temp. Sub. Lieut. T. Laurie, R.N.V.R.
May, to take light draught river craft to Dunkirk to embark troops from the
I was sent to Sheerness with about 12 others on Wednesday, 29th beaches. My time table for the next five days was briefly as follows:-
Thursday, 30th May. Left Sheerness on "Maldon Annie* bound for
Ramsgate and Dunkirk.
Friday, 31st May. Reached Dunkirk in tow with engine broken down cutter. and vessel derelict. Embarked men from the beach in & naval
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Saturday, 1st June. In Ramsgate on harbour duties.
Sunday, 2nd June. To Dunicirk in motor boat "Wind of the Morning".
Monday, 3rd June. To Dunkirk in charge of tug "Dyomodary".
I regret to report that "Maldon Annie", the small Thames pleasure boat of which I was in charge had to be abandoned,at Dunkirk. The magneto of her engine broke down before we reached Ramsgate and she was then towed by the convoying trawler "Strathelliott". "Mation Annie" was only built for river work and she was not strong enough for the sea. The tow rope pulled all the bollards and cleats out of her, one after another, (the fastenings wro & bit nailsicktoo), and eventually it was only possible to tow with & strop right round the boat. At the same time the pumps choked and could hot be freed, as her bilge was full of rubbish, and she made water faster than - could sail.
By the time we reached Dunkirk after a slow crossing, she was dereliot and had to be left on the beach.
I transferred to a large diesel-engined barge and carried about
120 French troops to her in a Naval cutter. We left for Ramagate with & full load about midnight.
I reported the next morning, (Saturday) to the Port Captain. That day the only work available was landing troops from transports and carrying orders to ships, but on Sunday I was able to get another notor boat, called
"Wind of the Morning".
We left in the late afternoon with a number of other notor boats;
enemy aircraft were about all the way across, and when - were 10 miles from
Dunkirk their fighters circled over us for some time in the dark. la went.
dead slow so that the phosphorescence in our wake should not show us up and after a time the enemy attacked the next boat ahead which replied with went machine gun fire. After two unsuccessful attacks the enemy went off and we on our way. Before reaching Dunkirk however, we were stopped by & British
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

535
From:- Sub.Lieut. R.A.Forbes. R.N.V.R.
505
To
:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
I submit my report as requested. I recommend my Engineer
G.V. Peterson, a civilian, who volunteered and was signed on at
Shaerness. He obeyed orders explicitly and behaved very well ports during operations off Dunkirk, even when, with a load of excited so th
French soldiers a bomb fell close enough to blow off half my anchor. I would also recommend Sub.Lieut.R.N.V.R. Bates, Bellamy,
Knight, Christian, Clarke and Laurie who were particularly te, energetic. Sub.Lieut. Clarke swam to the beach himself with a
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line, to get some soldiers off.
ALPI
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.