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 Viewfinder. Tags are exact matches from this collection’s OCR tag index. Clear vessel filter ×

2 matching pages. OCR may contain transcription errors.

List page 1 of 1 Showing document pages 480–655 of this collection

A note about image and OCR quality

Every reasonable effort has been made to present these document images as flat, straight and accurately cropped as possible. Historical records can be difficult to photograph or scan because of tight bindings, deep gutters, page curvature, folds, creases, fragile paper, uneven edges, shadows, glare, skewed pages, fading, stains, tears, attachments and restrictions on how a document may be handled. These conditions can distort parts of an image and consequently affect the OCR transcription.

Considerable post-production work has been undertaken to crop, align, flatten and enhance the images where practicable, but the results represent our best effort rather than exact facsimiles. Text showing through from the reverse of a page, printed backgrounds, stamps, ruled lines, marks and text visible from neighbouring pages may confuse or spoil OCR output. Handwriting is not reliably recognised and, in most places, may be missing, incomplete or incorrectly transcribed. Always check the page image and, where accuracy matters, consult the original record held by the identified archive.

OCR is not a transcription. It is machine-generated text used to create research tags and help locate names and references within the source images; it should not be read as a verified narrative.

Page	Image	OCR text	OCR tags
480	Log in to enlarge	3. 370 22. Skipper A. Gardner, R.N.R. - Went in Tug "Tanga" arrived at the beaches at 2200 on Friday, May 31st. They were bombed and machine-gunned throughout the night, while lying off an inprovised jetty. He helped to ferry troops in a power life boat which "Tanga" had towed. This broke down and he returned on Saturday in "Leda", leaving the life boat. 23. Sub Lieut. E.T. Garside, R.N.V.R. - Went to Le Panne in "Elizabeth Green" and ferried for larger craft. He sighted "Viewfinder" on the beach. He got back to Ramsgate on Thursday May 30th, transferred to the R.F.A. launch "Andora II" and returned to beaches where he ferried for a bit and then brought back 23 French. Arrived Ramsgate on Friday. On Monday night he was towed over in the "Elizabeth Green" by a tug, which he could not afterwards find and so he brought his load home. 24. Sub Lieut. R. Shrimpton, R.N.V.R.- In an Admiralty, open 36 ft. launch he was towed over by a drifter and pent Saturday night at the beaches. On a later night he went into Dunkirk. 25. Sub Lieut. S.C. Allen, R.N.V.R. Went over to Le Panne in the "Frightened Lady" which was beached after fouling the screw. He reported to an Admiral with side whiskers who was escorting Gort. He was told to help some soldiers getting abandoned pinnaces away. He also assisted to build a jetty with trailers etc. Left the beaches in the "Horst". 26. Sub Lieut. A.V. Weaver, R.N.V.R. Went over in "Quijijana" and brought back a party of 18 troops mostly Coldstream Guards. He went over again in "Sun X". 27. Sub Lieut. W.G.H. Bonham, R.N. - went over in "BOBELI" in the first batch and ferried until about midni on Wednesday night. His boat was broken up by a destroyer which went full ahead while he was alongside. He went on ferrying for a bit but had to abandon the "Bobeli" and returned to Margate in the "Albury". He then went over in the "Horst" which had to be abandoned owing to engine trouble and a near miss. 28. Sub Lieut. J.W. Culham, R.N. - in "Smolt" which broke down on way over and was towed back by "Midas"?. Went over in "Glitter II" to the beaches about 6m East of Dunkirk arrived at 1600 on Wed. 29th. Stayed ferrying until 0200 on Thursday when she lost her rudder on some wreckage and was towed back to Dover by a drifter. The "Black Arrow" was seen aground at Dunkirk. 29. Sub Lieut. R.A.W. Pool, R.N. - Took lighter X.817 to Dunkirk and then back to Ramsgate. He went over again on last night to Dunkirk in the M.T.B. "Marlborough". Mares 30. Sub Lieut. E.G.B. R.N.V.R. - in "Skylark" but she sank on the way over. He also saw "Mary Rose" sink in mid ocean and the "Ellen Mary" run down by a life boat and abandoned. 31, Sub Lieut. E.A.E. Cornish, R.N.V.R. - was in the "Lansdowne" which slipped her tow outside Dunkirk.	Albury Andora II Black Arrow Boat Bobeli Broke Drifter Elizabeth Green Ellen Mary Frightened Lady Glitter II Horst Lansdowne Marlborough Mary Mary Rose Midas Rose Skylark Smolt Sun Sun X Tanga Viewfinder Allen Black Bonham Cornish Culham Dover Gardner Garside Gort Green Last Le Mares May Pool Rose Weaver
655	Log in to enlarge	FLAG OFFICER IN CHARGE 17JUN1940 * HARWIOH H.M.S. "Watchful" 547 Great Yarmouth. 8th June, 1940. Sir, I have the honour to submit the report of proceedings of the "M" Drifters attached to Yarmouth Base (H.M.S. "Watchful") whilst employed on Operation "Dynamo". 30.5.40. 2345. Flotilla sailed Yarmouth for Ramagate, good 569 the From:- Sub.Lieut. F.N.Dann R.N.V.R. 533 Date:- June 5th 1940 To :- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate. Ld May 27th Sent from H.M.S. King Alfred to H.M.S. Wildfire. * May 28th 1100 Ordered to fuel and provision about 20 motor yachts in harbour basin and other yachts continuously arriving. 1930 Left Sheerness for Dover in M.Y. Viewfinder, leading a convoy of six yachts all towing whalers. Other convoys followed astern. May 29th lled 0130 Arrived Dover. Moored alongside destroyer and & requested 0.0.W. to signal shore for orders. n 0400 The following civilian volunteers refused further on duty and were sent ashore:- out T.Lewis, John Bye, - Bye, J.Palmer all Collected a total of six yachts and refuelled them 8 e 0600 Left Dover in Viewfinder leading a column of six motor yachts viz. Viewfinder (myself) Advance Three civilian volunteers) Hanora (S.L. Minchin R.N.) Mann, Bobeli Elizabeth Green (S.L. Snow) (S.L. Bonham) red Joined by Reda which fell in with us and re-completed One other which turned back. 0700 the six arrived in convoy off Gravelines. hit. Repeatedly column of six. 1400 All dive arrived off La Panne Beach and ferried whalers All machine gunned from the air. None 1500 1830 full of troops dragged to ships aground at by anchor. excited Belgian abtain help. soldiers. Viewfinder in whaler with two ratings to with us and Put off load of soldiers in whaler Put soldiers left Took two ratings off aboard Lydd to and await contacted my return. Hanora Contacted (S.L.Minchin) my aboard H.M.Sloop was abandoned. 1900 Hanora Pouled and took off all soldiers etc. from No room Viewfinder for my whaler remaining two Elizabeth charts Green who took off Hanora's personal also gear. officer Hailed and crew and towed my loaded whalers to H.M.S. Lydd	Advance Bobeli Elizabeth Green Gravelines Hanora Lydd Reda Viewfinder Watchful Bonham Dann Dover Green King Lewis Mann May Minchin Palmer Snow