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TNA Unclassified 1

TNA Unclassified 1
Collection details

TNA Unclassified 1

A working collection of Operation Dynamo source material whose definitive National Archives catalogue reference is still being identified.

Holding archive
TNA
Collection reference
Unclassified 1

Source: The National Archives, Kew, Unclassified 1. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing only pages tagged with the vessel name SABRE. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

4 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 1–485 of this collection
Page ImageOCR textOCR tags
1 Page 1 Log in to enlarge

Dysmiss ZINK
Commanding Officer H.M.S.Shikari
June 8th 1940.
- 375
Sir,
I have the honour, with reference to Flag Officer
Commanding Dover's Memo: B 14/0/1101/40, to forward the following report on recommendation of personnel under my
Command.
While it is very difficult to single out Officers or Ratings who were all performing the same duties to the best of their abilities; the names are forwarded of the boats crews who did excellent work during the final day evacuation at Bray a.m. Saturday June 1st under continual
Shell fire and bombing until ordered to withdraw to
Dunkirk.
A). Recommended for decorations.
1. Lieutenant John Rees Wilson R.N. In charge of all shore operations, throughout operation Dynamo. His leadership and the manner he stuck to his job was inspiring.
2. Leading Stoker Alfred Browne. D/KX 81441.
3. Ordinary Seaman Dominie Kenny D/SSX 30221.
4. Ordinary Seaman George Park. D/JX 170122.
5. Ordinary Seaman William Lyons D/SSX 30211.
6. Signalman William Hicks D/JX 144358.
(1-6 formed the motor boats crew )
The motor boat was sent in to help other small craft during the final hour, after the cutter had been turned over to "Sabre".
B). Recommended for mention in despatches.
1. Signalman John Scott Mac Kibbin JX D/139851, relief to signalman in motor boat. Was in the motor boat for last and most unpleasant trip.
2. Acting Leading Seaman George Edward Cross D/JX 125679.
3. Able Seaman Arthur Bower D/SSX 21463
(2-5 Batkeepers
4. Able Seaman Jeremiah Forde D/SSX 19539.
in Culter on
5. Able Seaman William Murphy D/SSX 22784.
C). Recommended for mention in despatches.
Lieutenant Leonard Douglas May.R.N. For devotion landing craft and carrying for setting an example of resuorcefulness to duty, (E) out rapid repairs to beach and initiative throughout the operation.
I have the honour to be
OMIRAL
Your Sir, obedient servant
JN 1940
Plag Officer Commanding Dover.
V H R
0.0. H.M.S. Shikari 1 Cat

37 Page 37 Log in to enlarge

Dyrama tto. - 411
oth June,1040.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report in accordance 10th your mono. [P. 514/0/1101/40, dated 4th June,1940.
2. At 1400, Tiesday 23th My, slipped and sailed for Dover in company with Chartain 0.00
subsequently proceeding to Dustrict under the orders of Cutain D.10. B.H.S. "SABRE" and
"SCIMITAR" also in company. Orders were received to closs the benches and orders the D.B.F, by boot.
S. At 0015, Todnesday 20th, the force arrived, having used the North Easterly approach, bonts vara lowerod, and the embartation connonced. This was a slow and laborious procoss owing to brotten inter inshore and the distance cut that the dectroyers were forced to 11c.
4. During the forencom about 400 non were embarked from a shoot, and orders were then received from
Captain D.10. to return to Dovor and discribute.
5. From this the currents I the cut of touch with Crytain D.16. and Cutain D.80. and noted Independently under the orders of the Vice Admiral, Dover.
C. at about 1700, shile lying alongable the ciling jetty at the Bastern are, I the ordered to cobins the Donch Subartation party, under the counted of Bone
Adniral C.D, and proceed to Dunkish.
7. At 2100, with this party on board I allowed, and the followed to Dunkiri by who, in due course, assisted in landing the party with his bonts.

484 Page 484 Log in to enlarge

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

485 Page 485 Log in to enlarge

- 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