TNA Unclassified 1

&
I
187
made for the coast.
All five of us had so far crossed safely.
At 0500 arrived at beach near La Panne, and recognised it as Cupola, hundreds upon hundreds of troops waiting to be taken off. I proceeded, stopped just out off the surf and commenced towing boatloads of soldiers to Destroyers and Trawlers.
I continued without stopping for any reason until about
1200 30/5/40, when alongside a Destroyer, a voice hailed me, saying,
"Well done, motor boat, wait for me".
An
Officer wearing a
lambskin coat came on board.
He was wet through, however, he said he wanted me to carry on as I was doing and that then he would have one or two other jobs for me.
So I carried on taking off troops to ships. In the late afternoon the Officer above mentioned, whose name I then leanred was Commodore Stephens or Stevens, asked me to run him down to a certain position on the beach, and he instructed me not to do anything until he returned as he was going ashore to look for Lord
Gort, and, if he got him, I was to take him straight to England.
Enemy shore batteries were now on and off dropping heavy shells quite close. Commodore Stephens waded ashore through the surf, up to the neck in water. In an hour's time he returned, waded out again, but did not mention Lord Gort's name, and I did not ask him why he had not come.
I made a good guess.
The Commodore then ordered me to close a destroyer, and I had the honour of receiving my Admiral on board with C.O.S. ( I can't remember his name). I closed the surf to land him ly his whaler which I was towing. However, he d&d not land and I returned him aboard his ship. shells stillfalling around.
Commodore Stephens and I then carried on taking troops to ships.
Long before this I had spoken to "SILVER QUEEN" and made sure she had distributed her petrol supplies.
She disappeared about this time and I did most of the rescue work myself,
(with one or two boats from destroyers) from now on until the following afternoon. At 0100, rescued 7 soldiers from drowning.
Continued rescue work until 0200 (approx.) 31/5/40
when, being in very close inshore, I went aground; I knew the tide was rising so didn't worry, but put out my anchor astern and tried to heave her off.
Succeeded in floating her at 0400 and carried on as before.
Now I was feeling the strain somewhat, but worse lay ahead. At about 0800 strong North wind and very heavy swell, boat rolling and pitching at every turn and going alongside ships was very difficult.
Commodore Stephens now asked me to take him out to an
M.T.B. which had come in, and he asked me to continue the good work rest, alone. too much remained to be done. I might say that the
He said I had done good work, but could not allow me to
Commodore said I was "A good fellow", and on other occasions said
I was "a bloody fool". It is not my place to pass remarks about without food, was a great example to me. He helped
Senior Officers, but this Officer, without cap, soaked through, to me steer, to pass lines, to haul drowning soldiers aboard, and very often would say, "Come on the Army".
"Where have I seen you before, you are so good looking, I'm sure I know you".
Other times he cursed the lot as stupid.
I carried on after he left me and so I come to 1330 on
31/5/40. sight, and heavy shelling was taking place, suddenly the shelling
I was heading close inshore at this time, no boats in became terrific, and my Cox. called out "For God's sake get off,
Sir, look, all the destroyers have left".
It was as he said, but a small Merchant ship remained.
I closed her and saw she too was heaving up. so I proceeded after the destroyers towards
Dunkerque. the last Naval Boat. The troops had all disappeared from the
I was the last Naval Officer to leave La Panne, and beach. to the most Easterly position from Dunkerque in which our ships
I proceeded along the beach close inshore, until I came lay.
I got a very heavy boat load of troops in tow.

_203
LAUNCH "TRITON"
à
190
Lieutenant R.H. INVING, R.N.R.
3, KNITH. Sea. Cox.
J.STEPHENS. Ord.Sea.
D. STMPSON. B.R.A. (uttorly useless)
0. GLYNN. Ord.Sea.
F.G. PURBRICK. Ord.Sea. (fell overboard and had to put him on "MOSQUITO"
suffering from cold and shook).
I was at Sheerness as No.1 of Dutch Scoot "PRINCESS JULIANA"
Wednesday 20th May 1940, was instructed to proceed from Sheamess to
Ramsgate in charge of 13 Launches, various kinds and speeds - handed over
12. Left Sheerness about noon Wednesday, 29th May.
Arrived Remagate about 1930
Left Remagate about 2150
for Cuploa near La Panne with 9 Launches.
Very vague instructions about La Panne and was not definitely informed whether British troops were actually there. Had bad visibility and did not know exact position but made Cuploa 0500, Thursday norning only 5 launches arrived in company, others broke down and returned to
Ransgate. Launch "SILVER QUEEN" was of great assistance.
From 0500, Thursday, 30th May to about 1700 Friday, 31st May
I towed or picked up hundreds of troops and transferred them to destroyers, scoots etc. Launches not equipped with proper towing topes and crew very unsemanlike. Had to steer and make fast myself. Commodore Stephens used my launch and participated in taking off troops, no one at Cuplos to give to instructions.
I worked all Thursday night and carried on until 1330 when ship was shelled heavily and all ships proceeded towards Dunquarque and I was last to leave Cuploa under heavy shell fire.
I proceeded towards Dunquerque along the beach and on arriving at extreme west end of Dunquerque beach a heavy air attack and fire from shore batteries was falling all round. I took the most westerly boat in tow and when looking round to find a near ship, saw the large launch "PRINCE
OF WALES" struck by a bomb, I proceeded with the boat I had in tow towards her and found 4 survivors very bedly wounded ready to take off. Two others were dead on board. On the way to the sloop "MOSQUXTO" with survivors I
resoued soldiers from drowing whose boat had sunic close ashore. While doing this my starbcard propeller get fouled and I had a terrible job to get to the sloop "MOSQUITO" with troops and wounded from "PRINCE OF MALZES".
All this time bombing and shelling was going on. I landed all on the
"HOSQUITO" and then asked the "MOSQUITO" to tay and clear ay propeller, they tried but could not do so. I them consulted the Piret Lieutenant and he suggested that I get a tow home. I spproached the yacht "CALNTA", the C.O. immediately asked me to get him troops but I told him I would attempt it with one engine although I could not handle her. I got near the west beach and immediately came under shore fire and no boats being ready to come off "CALETA" signelled me to return as he was being shelled and had to get out of it. I got back and made the launch fast for towingunder fire, but the tow rope broke and the Launch being still in the hotly peppered area and close to the surf the C.O. of "CALETA" and myself thought it would endanger his vessel to remain there to try and pick up again so chose inshore.
Neither I or the arew had any sleep or proper food from Wednesday morning until the launch was abandoned at 1640 Friday. All of us were stupid with exhaustion.
I took off more troops at Cuploa than anyone else.
I have lost my voice meantime through constant hailing of boats and giving orders. The "TRITON" was damaged badly in the stern and bow through going alongaide ships so frequently in a very heavy swell. I have lost my uniform cap and raincoat, rasor and other items.
My information on sailing from Ramsgate was - "No troops east of
La Panne or west of Braye Duns", the first item was correct byrb the second quite wrong.

252
233
OPERATION
NO.26
SHIP:- M/BOAT YSER
STATEMENT BY 0
Date of
Date of
Name arrival
Service leaving at Dover
Boats.
Boat Yser
Ø Act. P.O. W.H.Achin,
CJX 149919
Belgian Canal Boat. Joined
S.P.O.
A.V.Mullans boat at Gravesend.
A.B.
W.Goodier
A.B.
K.Baily
1st Trip. to Calais was
A.B.
R.A.Stuart fired on and trawler ordered out to join trawler that towed them in. (All boats
* joined for only got 160 or so that time)
3rd trp.
2nd Trip to beach by "Nieuport"
bucy ferrying troops. On the
28 may way back to Dover rescued troops from Brighton Belle
3rd Trip to beach North of
Dunkirk. Ferried troops off till all ships had left.
Occasional bombing and shelling off shore. Told to follow boat ahead by Officer in a motor boat for they were loaded with about 160 troops.
Boat ahead in error of navigation (boat like Silver
Queen with a Sub.Lieutenant in charge) led them to Calais where they were shelled from beach, but managed to make
Ramsgate. Used a pocket compass from one of the R.E.s Boat's compass all steel round was just "locked".
4th Trip crew was split up,
S.P.O. & 1 A.B., Goodier went to Blue Bell for Dunkirk and ferried troops. Rest of crew manned Hastings Lifeboat and went to Dunkirk. Occasional bombing and shelling.