TNA Unclassified 1

MOTOR CONVOY.
6/6/40. Dynamo 188.
Notor Barge Sherfield
&
Ex-Lighter Y.O. 63.
185
Ex-Lighter X.95.
Motor Launch Nanette II.
Sub Lt. J.D.F. Kealy, R.N.
On arriving at Sheerness Motor Boat Dook on Friday, Sist May, 1940, we received command of the above convoy with instructions to pick up British Troops we were under way heading out to sea.
from the shores round Dunkirk as soon as possible. This was at 2 p.m; by 2.15 p.m.
Good progress was made until later that night we lost contact with lighter X.95
although we spent some time in trying to locate her without success.
At 11 a.m. 1st June land was sighted, peniol Where were we? The one and decidedly irregular compass, the Deviation of which we never knew, which perhaps was just as well, brought us to a busy round which was painted -"Ostend". This
Synamotique
184
REPORT OF "SINGAPORE" B/L.F.E. R.N.V.R.
Ity
No personal injury to self or crew. Engine failed in North Sea and return had to take tow, Owing to heavy swell sudden strain was put on to tow and the winch was torn taking with it part of the fore deck, the anchor, cable and all ropes.
Managed to repair ngine temporarily and returned to
Remagate.
e our a too du the

Dynams 121.
367
St. Malo Les Bains. June 2nd - 3rd.
- 345
I reached Ramsgate with Commander Troup about 4 p.m.
on the 2nd. The operations were to be for fast craft only, but hearing from a Colonel, who had just come ashore, that
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he thought there were some British troops and others near
St. Malo who had not been able to get into Dunkirk, I got permission from V.A. Dover to go there with a group of
Schuits, motor boats and life boats. Commander Troup was to take the fast boats into the Avant Port and Commandant
Anduse - Faru arranged for the French motor fishing boats to go *mto St. Malo and ferry troops to a French ship and a paddle steamer. The larger ships, however did not sail, and the fishing boats went to Avant Port instead of St.
Malo. 3 Schuits and 12 motor boats were available. They sailed between 1800 and 1900. I was expecting a M.A.S.B
from Harwich and waited as long as I could for her, as I
thought her armament might be useful during our withdrawal.
As she did not come I went in the 12 know motor boat "White
Wings", Sub Lieut. Mullins. We left about 2045 and owing
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to a head sea and some trauble with the starboard engine, did not overtake the slow convoy.
2.
I found the three Schuits in the appointed place between E.12 buoy and the shore and went in to close the motor boats. They had already been in and found the beach deserted. After giving one boat which had broken down to a Schuit to tow, I ordered them all to return to Ramsgate and went back to the beach to make sure no one was left behind.
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3.
The battery of four/inch guns near Nieuport, which had been shelling a point somewhere near La Panne, where I supposed some Allied troops to be holding out, and had been dropping an occasional shell in our neighbourhood, now started to register on the Eastern Mole.
They got the range with about four rounds, and then landed a salvo, on the mole itself, these direct hits wore just short of me. Though evidently fired at entreme range, the salvo fell well together. Another round struck and sank a transport which was entering. It was now time to leave, but as it got lighter we made out S ship's lifeboat pulling off with very tired men in her. This was a party from the Schuit "Hilda", in charge of a volunteer from one of the yachting associations. I Ashou hope it will be possible to get his name. He had been and along the beach to make sure therewas no one there.
4.
There were hundreds of troops lined up on the
Mole, but it was clearly impossible for us to do anything but report. We also discovered a motor boat ashore (The
"Singapore") at the foot of the mole. The lifeboat went ashore and our volunteer waded along the beach to help her off. The boats's crew decided to wait till the tide lifted them, keeping under cover so that aircraft should think the boat deserted. As my boat drew too much to get anywhere near her, I decided to withdraw. The "Singapore" got away and returned to Ramsgate in company with the motor boat "Kitcat", which had been into Dunkirk.
who 4. were pulling for England in a small fishing boat. I
Off Dunkirk we picked up 6 French soldiers saw in the distance another of my boats towing a life boat full of troops, but I do not know her name. 8 German bombers flew out of the smoke cloud, but turned off to the westward, ignoring us. Many British aircraft were seen on the return voyage.

390
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(-2-)
367
Sub.Lieuts.Don, Edge- artington and Pool, Coptein,
Navigator and Coxswain of the Army fast boat "Marlborough"
in which I sailed on 3rd.-4th. All these showed themselves good officers and remained cool and resourceful in the somewhat interesting situation in which we found ourselves.
Sub. Lieut. Pool, while I was ashore looking for the
French Marines, took a rench motor Bicycle, started it with the help of the Stoker and rode round to see what was happening. I would not have allowed him to go but
B.
I am delighted to find we have young Officers of his spirit.
Sub.Lieut.
on 3rd.took the motor yacht "Mermaiden", leading the rest, up to the
Quai Felix Faure under very difficult conditions. He wait took off one load of Marines and came back again in time to tow out an Admiral's barge that had broken down.
I have not yet received the report which will be forwarded when it comes.
26.
landed from the Schuit on
2nd.-3rd, walked along the beach at St. Malo les Bains to make sure no troops were there. Subsequently went to help the motor launch "Singapore" which was aground, although it was daylight, and finally came away with me.
This gentleman was a member of one of the yachting accociations and I hope it may be possible to trace him.
6.
Although the following Officers did not come under my personal observation, I was in close touch with them at
Sheerness, and draw attention to their names in case their names have not been brought forward elsewhere.
CommanderE.C.Cordeaux, Senior Officer, "Eagle"
minesweepers. He was of much assistance to me personally in promulgating the instructions given to the motor boats.
from his full knowledge of the situation on the beaches.
Lieutenant A. Tyson, in command of Schuit "Neiger".
lie did at least five trips between Sheerne und the beaches, he missed the operation on 2nd-3rd and I did
A.
not therefore meet him in action, but I formed a very favourable impression of him.
7.
A
list of all R.N..R.N.R.,R.N.V.R. taking part and civilians who signed on for the operation is attached.
(Sgd) Taylor.
*Sea Cadeb Sidmoult Willing

Dyrom P2 391
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368
June 5th, 1940.
1.
Lieut. A.J. Davies, R.N.V.R. -"Java" never got over the other side and was finally towed to Sheerness by "Gorecht"
2.
Lieut. A.N. Blundell, R.N.R. - "Bornrif" did three. trips between Ramsgate and beaches at Dunkirk. "King Orry" was sighted sunk off Dunkirk.
3.
Sub Lieut. R.H.C. Amos, R.N.V.R. - "Iote" was beached and abandoned after she had damaged her rudder while rescuing two of her crew, who had fallen overboard on the morning of Saturday June 1st. On night of Monday, June 3rd, Sub Lieut
Amos, R.N.V.R. and Sub Lieut. R.H. Wallace, R.N.V.R. were in a new but unnamed power life boat which was towed over to
SUN
Dunkirk by Tug "About
.....
(A).
On the 30th May D.S. "Horst" was known to have been abandoned.
4.
Sub Lieut. D.C. Williams, R.N.V.R. - left Ramsgate on the night of Su day, June 2nd in the "Kitcat". On the way over he became separated from the rest of the convoy. After doing some work the other side he towed the "Singapore" back to Dover and then on to Ramsgate on Monday, June 3rd.
5.
Lieut. R.W. Thomson, R.N.V.R. - After being discharged from the "AEGer", where he had proved lacking in experience, did
4 trips in the "DABB II", two of which were unsuccessful.
6.
Sub Lieut. C. Minchin, R.N. - Went to the beached in the
"LYDD" where he ferried until the boat broke down. She was abandoned and Minchin returned to Ramsgate in the "Lydd".
On Monday, against orders he tried to go over in the "Helfrinore" but she broke down.
7.
Sub Lieut. E.S. Foreman, R.N.V.R. - In the"Princess Freda"
he ferried from the beaches for a destroyer. He then worked for the Dutch "Besta" --?, who finally towed him back to Ramsgate.
8.
Sub Lieut. R.E. Blows, R.N.V.R. - Started in the "Minikoi"
but she was rammed and sunk by "MASB 6" off the downs at
0230 on Wed, May 29th. He next went over in the "Ambleve", which with the "Sambre" was towed over by the "Skipjack", for whom he ferried from the beaches. A crew from the
Skipjack releived his crew for a'stand-easy' and ran the
"Ambleve" aground. He and his crew returned in the
Skipjack. On Saturday, June 1st, he went over in a power life boat. She was damaged by near bombs but the engines continued to run.
9.
Sub Lieut. J.W. Pratt, R.N.V.R. - Ran aground in the
"Singapore" on beach at 0130 on Sunday June 2nd. She rfloated at 0800 and he left with three French Officers.
On the way he picked up two British soldiers who were floating around'. These were revived with wine from the
French Officers' water bottles. He passed the "Mosquito"
which was still afloat but had been deserted. In mid channel he found three life boats which he took in tow intil his engines gave out and he was taken in tow by the "Kitkat".
10.
Sub Lieut. I.F. Smith, R.N.V.R. - In "Jong" helped to ferry troops from the beaches on Friday, May 31st. On way home he sighted the "Iote" drifting round empty and the "White Heather" empty but at anchor.