TNA Unclassified 1

-2-
--352
- 329
Malo-les-Bains, towing three Liege lake boats. Drifters of to the had been sunk by an escort vessel at
"Netsukis", "Girl Pamela" and "Lord which Howard" returned from Dunkirk with the crew
Dover Wednesday morning, landing 1600 men.
damaged transport to the Downs from "S" Buoy. Drifters returned a to entrance harbour. A/S Trawler "Kingston Olivine" towed the
"Golden Sunbeam" and "Girl Gladys" sailed for Dunkirk, three vessels
8. On Wednesday night Drifters "Yorkshire Lass", "Ut Prosim", towing motor-boats.
Thursday, 30th May.
9. 800 troops were landed at Dover during the forenoon from
Drifters returning from Dunkirk. A/S Trawler "Kingston Andalusite"
reported what was considered a successful attack on a submarine off
"T" Buoy. Drifters "Yorkshire Lass", "Golden Sunbeam", and "Girl
Gladys" filled up with troops alongside Eastern Arm, Dunkirk, and sailed for Dover. Drifter "Ut Prosim" rescued 250 men from a French
Destroyer "Barasque" sunk by shell fire. The three other Drifters landed 700 men at Dover.
Friday, 31st May.
10. A/S Trawler "Stella Dorado" reached Margate with survivors from French Destroyer "Sirocco", torpedoed off "I" Buoy.
Lieutenant T.P. Graham, R.N.R., on return in Drifter "Forecast"
reported difficult conditions, owing to swell and weather for boatwork on the Dunkirk beaches, a large number of boats being wrecked and broken down.
Saturday, 1st June.
11. A/S Trawler "Stella Dorado" was torpedoed off "T" Buoy, survivors being brought in by "Kingston Galena", as reported in my submission No.DL/250/11/AP dated 1st June 1940. All available
Drifters were ordered to sail for Dunkirk. "Netsukis", "Lord Howard",
"Lord Howe", "Golden Sunbeam", "Midas", "Golden Gift", "Girl Gladys",
"Forecast", "Yorkshire Lass", sailed. A/S Trawlers "Lady Philomena"
and "Olvina" arrived with survivors from S.S. "Prague" and H.M.S.
"Basilisk". Two Drifters, "Gervais Rentoul" and "Eileen Emma"
returned damaged and unseaworthy after collisions with other craft.
Sunday, 2nd June.
12. Drifters returned to Dover landing 1800 men. They were all brought to immediate notice for a further trip to Dunkirk.
"Shipmates", "Lord Howard", "Lord Howe", "Golden Sunbeam", "Midas",
"Golden Gift", "Girl Gladys", "Forecast", "Yorkshire Lass", sailed.
Drifters went alongside Eastern quay, filled up with troops and returned to Dover. Practically all the troops evacuated were French.
A/S Trawlers "Blackburn Rovers" and "Westella" were sunk by enemy action between "S" and "I" Buoys, as reported in my submission
No. DL/259/33/AP dated 5th June 1940. "Blackburn Rovers" had obtained a contact which was subsequently attacked by A/S Trawler
"Saon", it is considered successfully. A/S Trawler "Grimsby Town"
screened and stood by a damaged transport off North Goodwin Light
Vessel.
Monday, 3rd June.
13. Drifters returned with French troops from Dunkirk, landing at Dover roughly 1600 men. Drifters "Lord Howe", "Shipmates",
"Girl Gladys", "Midas", "Golden Gift", "Golden Sunbeam", "Forecast",
"Ut Prosim", 'Lord Howard", sailed for Dunkirk. A/S Trawler
(Par.13. "Cayton Wyke"

396
373
"A/S & LL
TRAWLERS
LORD INCHEAPE.
OUR BAIRNS.
OLVINA.
CAPE ARGONA.

1594/07
FROM: Unit Officer, 40th A.S. Group, H.M.S. "Olvina".
DATE: 17th June, 1940.
TO:
Flag Officer 1/c Portland.
Dynam 353
-397
371
In accordance with your Memo No. 2912 of narrative. 6th June, 1940, I have the honour to submit the following
On Wednesday, 29th May, at 1700, "Olvina"
proceeded to Dover in company with "Topaze". During the night she became detached and reached Dover independently at 1045/30 May. The Examination Vessel was hailed for instructions, and at 1230 orders were received to proceed to the Downs, where the Examination Vessel would have our sailing orders. This ship, which was engaged in towing a steamer off the Goodwins, directed us to the Examination
Tug at the North Goodwin Light Vessel, where we anchored at 1545 to await instructions from the shore, since the
Tug had no orders for us. At 1810 orders were received to proceed to Bray beaches, 6 miles east of Dunkirk, to pick up troops.
At 2210 the anchor was dropped 1 mile to east of Dunkirk, when visibility was very low owing to smoke clouds. Orders were then received from a destroyer to investigate a reported enemy M.T.B. 2 miles to eastward.
Anchor was weighed at 2221, and we steamed to Bray beaches without encountering the M.T.B. Pilotage was somewhat hazardous in the intense darkness, owing to wrecks obstructing the channel, and at 2345 the anchor was dropped as close inshore as possible.
The ship's boat was taken away soon after midnight, and brought off two loads of troops totalling
32, including one stretcher case, which was put aboard a destroyer. Owing to deterioration of conditions, no more troops were embarked until daylight, when the boat was pulled ashore on two more occasions.
At about 0500/31 May, "Sabre" was full of troops and ready to proceed to England, so it was arranged that "Olvina" should provide a crew for "Sabre"s" motorboat and use it for embarking troops. Accordingly, after I'm filling with petrol from "Icarus", the motorboat was manned and proceeded to tow off ships' boats and Royal Engineer's pontoon floats from the pier to vessels anchored off. The pier consisted of motor lorries driven into the sea at low water, having planks lashed to the roofs. Owing to a northwesterly breeze, which freshened to force 3/4 at 1100, only the eastern side of the pier could be used, and some difficulty was experienced in handling the boats. Probably about 300 to 350 troops were removed in this manner, of which 240 were put aboard "Olvina".
No interference by enemy action was experienced during the embarkation, although enemy aircraft were being dunes. fired at, and shrapnel was observed to burst on the sand

- 2 -
39375
and troops owing owing to to the fact that the weather ship was conditions almost full, for small and boats, to 31/5
At the 1100, adverse I decided to discontinue embarking proceed to Dover.
and at 1120, "Olvina" was under way.
"Sabre's" motorboat was handed over to "Vivacious"
Vessel, the "Viking", a diesel engined Thames barge, with 70
When between Dunkirk and North Goodwin Light troops aboard, was taken in tow from "Dwarf" and brought into
Dover. Owing to delay outside the harbour, the troops were not disembarked until 2200.
"Olvina" was revictualled and berthed alongside
Prince of Wales Pier by 0100/1 June.
On proceeding to the office of Captain Auxiliary
Patrol, I was informed that "Olvina" should not have gone to
Dunkirk, but should have been on A/S patrol. Accordingly, at
0820/1 June, "Olvina" proceeded to a patrol station 17 miles
NNW of Dunkirk, which was reached at 1125. At 1500, 70
survivors from "Basilisk" came alongside in a French fishing boat, and at 1917 we went alongside "Whitehall" in Dover harbour and disembarked them.
"Olvina" was in harbour during 2nd and 3rd June, and on 4th June escorted "Bideford" to Portsmouth without incident.
I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your obedient servant
Sub Lt. R.N.V.R.
-II-
No. 1594/07.
Vice Admiral, Dover.
Forwarded.
P.R.T.S.
VICE ADMIRAL.
Portland.
FLAG OFFICER-IN-CHARGE.
18th June, 1940
VICE ADMIRAL
20 JUN 1940
*
DOVER