TNA Unclassified 1

16v
329
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
307
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
Dynams NT. 32d 303
we
FROM:- The Flag Officer in Charge, Harwich.
TO:-
The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.
DATE:- 5th June, 1940.
No. 199/40.
Harwich M/S Force engaged on the Evacuation of Dunkirk.
The following particulars of the M/S Force engaged on the evacuation of Dunkirk are submitted for information:-
Name of Ship.
Name of Commanding
Name of Group or
Officer.
Unit Officer.
Paddle M/S.
"WAVERLEY"
Lieut. S.F. Harmer-
Elliott, R.N.V.R.
ORIOLE"
Lieut. E.L. Davies,
R.N.V.R.
DUCHESS OF FIFE"
Lieut. J.N. Anderson,
R.N.V.R.
MARMION"
Lieut. H.O. Gaffney,
R.N.V.R.
M/S Trawlers
"LORD MELCHETT
Skipper R.C.Taylor, Lieut. W.H. R.N.V.R. Ward,
R.N.R.
STELLA RIGEL"
Skipper L.P.Keable
Sub.Lieut. J.I.
R.N.R.
Vykeham, R.N.V.R.
Drifters
"MARE"
Skipper A.H.W.
Commander J.W.D.Powell 10
Pendle R.N.R.
D.S.O., R.N.R.
"SARAH HIDE"
Skipper H.A. Meen,
Lieut. J.I.Cruickshanic,
R.N.R.
R.N.V.R.
"NERNWAYS"
Skipper E. Fawcett,
R.N.R.
P.T.O.

Drgrams 16v
329
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
307
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
326
Dyram NP--.
304
ers
FROM:- The Flag Officer in Charge; Harwich.
TO:-
The Vice-Admiral, Dover.
(Copy to Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.)
DATE:- 9th June, 1940.
No. 207/40.
Reports of Proceedings, Operation "Dynamo"
In continuation of my No. 207/40 of the
7th June, I beg to enclose Reports of Proceedings as shown in the attached Schedule, from M/S vessels attached to Harwich which took part in Operation
"Dynamo".
2.
Full Christian names and Official Numbers of Officers and men mentioned in these Reports are being collected and will be reported as soon as possible.
NICE ADMIRAL
JUUN1940)
REAR ADMIRAL
DOVER
38

Dryrams 16v
329
307
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
326
Dyram NP-- a
304
ers
FROM:- The Flag Officer in Charge; Harwich.
TO:-
The Vice-Admiral, Dover.
(Copy to Commander-in-Chief, The Nore.)
DATE:- 9th June, 1940.
No. 207/40.
Reports of Proceedings, Operation "Dynamo"
In continuation of my No. 207/40 of the
7th June, I beg to enclose Reports of Proceedings as shown in the attached Schedule, from M/S vessels attached to Harwich which took part in Operation
"Dynamo".
2.
Full Christian names and Official Numbers of Officers and men mentioned in these Reports are being collected and will be reported as soon as possible.
4168 ADMIRAL
*
REAR ADMIRAL
* DOVE F
98

16v
32
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
307
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
305
22°
REPORTS ON OPERATION "DYNAMO"
Schedule of Enclosures to letter No. 207/40 dated
9th June, 1940, from Flag Officer in Charge, Harwich.
No.
Ship
Remarks
1.
"WAVERLEY"
Enclosed in letter from Captain M/S,
(S.O. 12th M/S
Harwich.
Flotilla)
2.
"ORIOLE"
Enclosed in letter from Captain M/S,
Harwich.
Attached:- Separate letter of recommendations.
Letter from C.O. "Oriole"
requesting transfer from R.N.V.R. to R.N.R.
Letter in support from
Captain M/S, Harwich.
3.
"DUCHESS OF FIFE"
Attached:-
Separate letter of recommendations,
4.
"LORD MELCHETT"
"STELLA RIGEL"
}
Enclosed in letter from Captain M/S,
Harwich.
5.
"MARE"
"SARAH HIDE"
Letter written by Commander J.D.W.
"STRIVE"
Powell, R.N.R., H.M.S. "BADGER"
"THREE KINGS"
(Group Officer in Command)
"TWEENWAYS"
Attached:- List of recommendations.
"UNICITY"
"RIG"
)
"JACKEVE"
)

Dryrans 16v
329
307
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
Deprams
306
LAG ** OFFICER -7JUN1940 207 3 IN CHARGE GA
pers
FROM
Captain M/S, HARWICH.
*
HARWICH
*
DATE
7th June, 1940.
TO
Flag Officer-in-Charge, HARWICH.
SUBJECT
Report Covering Patrol from the South Falls Buoy to the West Hinder - May 29th to June 3rd inclusive.
H.M. Trawlers "STELLA RIGEL" and "LORD MELCHETT".
Both ships did extraordinarily well, there being practically no sleep for anybody on board for over four days.
I have pleasure in bringing to your notice bearing and general behaviour of:-
Skipper R.C. Taylor, R.N.R., "LORD MELCHETT"
Skipper L.P. Keable, R.N.R., "STELLA RIGEL", upon whose conduct throughout, their Unit Officers informed me, they were unable to give them sufficient praise.
Neither Lieutenant W.H. Ward, R.N.V.R. nor
Sub. -Lieutenant J.W. Wykeham, R.N.V.R. had previously seen anything of war, and Sub. -Lieutenant Wykeham came back as if he had been to a football match.
VICE ADMIRAL
10JUN1940
*
CAPTAIN, M/S.
*
DOVER
mes
4A.

Dryrams 162
329
307
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Lord Melchett",
7th June, 1940.
29th May, 1940.
1525 Left Parkeston Quay with "Argyleshire" and "Stella Rigel".
Set course N. Goodwin Patrol to West Hinden Buoy.
30th May, 1940.
Patrol from S. Falls Buoy to W. Hinden.
0615 sighted wreck 2 miles west of T. Buoy. Sent boat away to investigate. Picked up some of H.M.S. "Gracie Fields" papers and 3 soldiers' kitbags. No survivors.
Resumed patrol.
31st May, 1940.
Patrol between S. Falls and West Hinden.
1st June, 1940.
Patrol S. Buoy to W. Hinden.
0245 "Argyleshire" sunk by torpedo 1/2 mile East of S. Buoy.
"Stella Rigel" picked up 5 survivors.
Joined by "Cape Argona" resumed patrol.
2nd June, 1940.
Patrol to W. Hinden.
1055 Aircraft attack, heavily bombed and machine gunned.
1130 Again attacked. No damage. "Cape Argona" damaged.
1530 "Blackburn Rovers" and "Westella" sunk by torpedo.
Resumed patrol.
3rd June, 1940.
Patrol to N. Goodwin.
0320 Received message return to Base with "Stella Rigel".
Berthed 1210.
I should like to record that the general behaviour of
Skipper Taylor and the whole of the ships company was at all times magnificent under most trying conditions.
W.H.Ward LERNOR
LIEUTENANT, R.N.V.R.

Dynam 162.
-_330
330
H.M.S. HARWICH. "Stella Rigel" 308
7th June, 1940.
Report on patrol of May 29th to June 3rd.
At 1515 on May 29th we cast off and proceeded out of harbour, icking up H.M.T. "Argyleshire" and "Lord Melchett" outside. We rrived off the position at 2200 and proceeded to our patrol area east f S. Buoy. At 0030 on May 30th we observed a vessel stopped which got nder way as we approached. As she did not answer the challenge we ave chase and eventually stopped her. She proved to be M.S. "Ricas"
rom Ostend with troops.
At 0750 we picked up "Argyleshire" and returned to area of
Walls Buoy for patrol.
At 2100 on 31st May we received orders from "Argyleshire" to atrol S. Buoy to West Hinder during night.
At 0230, having lost touch with "Argyleshire", and having efound her, we were closing when she was struck by a torpedo and sank mmediately. We lowered the boat and recovered five survivors, the two fficers, the signalman, wireless operator and one Able Seaman. During he course of the rescue a plane circled overhead and dropped parachute lares, but took no action. The Captain reported having seen a ubmarine crash dive, and while manoeuvring to attack he was struck midships by a torpedo. We received instructions to land survivors at earest port and proceeded towards Ramsgate. Artificial respiration las carried out on A.B. Laycock for 3 hours until we transferred all urvivors to H.M. Drifter "Gerrars Rontoul" outside Ramsgate to be taken
.nto port. Picked up "Lord Melchett" and patrolled area of S. Falls
Buoy during daylight of June 1st.
3. Buoy to West Hinden.
At 2015 received orders from "Lord Melchett" to patrol from
At 0430 on June 2nd we picked up a motor boat with 23 soldiers, aking them aboard and the boat in tow. During this operation the
'Lord Melchett" had closed us, and reported seeing a torpedo passing close inder our bow.
the soldiers and boat to her, rejoining the "Lord Melchett" on patrol.
At 0745 we were signalled by H.M.S. "Pangbourne" and transferred enemy plane, which attacked us and dropped a salvo of four bombs close to
At 1100 all ships in neighbourhood were in action against' one the "Lord Melchett", doing no damage.
daylight, and arrived at Parkeston at 1135.
At 0130 on June 3rd we received orders to proceed to Harwich at
(Signed) J.W. Wykeham.
Sub Lieutenant, R.N.V.R.
p.p.