Details

CONSTANT NYMPH
M/C
Dr. B.A. Smith, Owner/Skipper
30th May
1530
Left Ramsgate in tow of the Sk.
Jutland, which also towed a cutter,
2130ca
a whaler, and the eel-boat Johanna.
Arrived some miles east of Dunkirk.
Towed the cutter and whaler to the
beach after the Jutland had anchored.
Ferried several loads of French
troops to the Jutland.
-
Shifted nearer to Dunkirk and ferried
British troops.
31st May
0300ca
The Jutland having filled with troops(1)
proceeded.
0500ca
The Constant Nymph, with the cutter
and whaler, then attached herself to
a "similar ship", a skoot(2)
[i.e. the Twente] and commenced
filling her with troops.
0800ca
The skoot was full; (3) the cutter
was aground under a stranded barge;
the Constant Nymph's propeller was
fouled and her petrol tank empty.
Constant Nymph's crew were transferred
to the skoot, and the M/B and whaler
were turned over to a drifter.
The skoot proceeded.
1730ca(4) The skoot arrived Margate and
disembarked her troops. She then
Constant Nymph was eventually found
proceeded to Ramsgate.
stranded at Broadstairs and was
returned to her owner.
[On 1st June, Dr. Smith was appointed to the
M/C Count Dracula (q.v.)]
Nil
(2) Dr. Ramsgate report and the only
(1) states 205 troops (but see Jutland). that
R.N.V.R. 2 cannot Smith officers remember states Dr. on Smith board this why were he was is the rather was the a names Lieut. BO "Laudania", deaf sure of R.N.R. the and of 2 the states officers. and name a that S/Lt. he
"Laudania".
He did not ascertain that the so-called "Laudania" A.W. was in
It 1B considered commanded by Lieut. R.N.V.R.), McMullon for the
R.N.R., fact the (lst skoot Lieut. Twente, was s/Lt. Adderley all the
The following following Twente requisite reason: is the only conditions; skoot them. which indeed satisfies s/Lt. no other R. N. V.R. skoot
satisfies more than one of
(b) (a) (c) Officers She She a M/B embarked disembarked and - "a a Lieut. troops cutter about about and R.N.R. 400 whaler" dawn troops and a 31st [or at wargute at at about at assisted Ramagate] by
(a) [D.R. 1800 She after mentions left on the May. a troops a
(3) Margate name which report evidently states that Twente disembarked 350
on arrival.
(4) Margate report states 1845.
204

Details

CONSTANT NYMPH
M/C
30th May
1530
Dr. B.A. Smith, Owner/Skipper
Left Ramsgate in tow of the
Jutland, a which also towed Sk.
2130ca
Arrived Towed some miles east of Johanna.
whaler, and the eel-boat a cutter,
beach after the Jutland had anchored. the
the cutter and whaler Dunkirk. to
Ferried several loads of French
-
troops to the Jutland.
Shifted nearer to Dunkirk and ferried
British troops.
31st May
0300ca
The proceeded. Jutland having filled with troops(1)
0500ca
The Constant Nymph, with the cutter
and whaler, then attached herself to
a "similar ship", a skoot(2)
[i.e. the Twente] and commenced
filling her with troops.
0800ca
The skoot was full; (3) the cutter
was aground under a stranded barge;
the Constant Nymph's propeller was
fouled and her petrol tank empty.
Constant Nymph's crew were transferred
to the skoot, and the M/B and whaler
were turned over to a drifter.
The skoot proceeded.
1730ca(4) The skoot arrived Margate and
disembarked her troops. She then
proceeded to Ramsgate.
Constant Nymph was eventually found
stranded at Broadstairs and was
returned to her owner.
[on 1st June, Dr. Smith was appointed to the
M/C Count Dracula (q.v.)]
Nil
(1) Ramagate report states 205 troops (but see Jutland).
(2) Dr. Smith states this was the"Laudania", and that the only
2 officers on board were a Lieut. R.N.R. and a S/Lt.
R.N.V.R. Dr. Smith is rather deaf and states that he
cannot remember why he was BO sure of the name "Laudania".
He did not ascertain the names of the 2 officers.
It 1B considered that the so-called "Laudania" was in
fact the skoot Twente, commanded by Lieut. A.W. McMullon for the
R.N.R., (lst Lieut. was s/Lt. Adderley R.N. V.R.),
The following reason: only skoot which satisfies all the
following Twente requisite is the conditions; indeed no other skoot
satisfies than one of them.
(b) (a) Officers more - a Lieut. R.N.R. about dawn and a 31st s/Lt. May, cutters"]. R.N.V.R. assisted by
(c) (a) She She a 1800 M/B embarked disembarked on and 31st Margate "a May. cutter troops about [to and return 400 whaler" troops to her [or at base Margate "2 at Ramagate] at about
[D.R. name She after mentions which left the evidently a the a
(3) Margate report states that Twente disembarked 350 troops
on arrival.
(4) Margate report states 1845.
204

Details

COUNT DRACULA M/C (Owner, K. Greiner)
Mr. Greiner writes as follows:
?Master.
without My motor cruiser was requisitioned at the time
my knowledge, 80 that I was not able
accompany that the boat. I understand, however, from to
Master the Count Dracula made 4 trips to Dunkirk the
and brought back to Ramsgate 75 B.E.F. men on each
trip. (1)
On the first trip after taking the men on board a Nazi bomb
dropped about 25 yards away, lifted her clean out of the
water, but she luckily found an even keel.
On her last trip back to Ramsgate she developed clutch
slipping, and was eventually towed into Ramsgate harbour.
On her trip from Ramsgate to Richmond, she sustained
considerable sustained". damage. Previous to that no damage was
According to Dr. B.A. Smith, D.S.M., (a member of the Little
Ship Club, and Owner Skipper of the M/C Constant Nymph, q.v.),
however, it seems that the Count Dracula did not go to Dunkirk
at all. Dr. Smith, having arrived at Ramsgate from Dunkirk
(via Margate) says:
"On Saturday, 1st June I
.....
asked for another boat and
before lunch-time had taken over one which had only been
brought (2) into Ramsgate that morning
This boat
was an old German Admiral's barge from the last war .....
the steam engine had been taken out and a petrol engine
substituted, a dummy funnel being fitted where the
original funnel existed
.....
it had no self starter and
worked with a clutch, being in fact a lorry engine.
The engine was a brute to start and the gear lever
required a strong man to put it into any position, but
the engine was started and run over for a few minutes
by the man who stated that he had brought the ship round
from the Thames, (3) and he assured me that it was
good for 12 knots without undue pressing
.....
cigarettes
and other little comforts had been provided on the boat
by the owner for the rescued troops. This boat could
have taken 35 men I should think.
..... we cast off to go across the harbour and get
yards petrol of leaving [the] moorings and refused had to fire Engineer so I had to
boat
konked
out
within
a
few
.....
Within an hour
we
an
Commander anchor ..... R.N.V.R., an Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.,
.....
two Petty Officers Artificers and one leading Artificer
investigating the question of our engine trouble.
mystery ..... to me that that boat was ever brought round her
the magneto was simply dripping oil ..... it is to a
Ramsgate from the Thames as the experts worked on
until 2000 that night, by which time they had succeeded
in getting the engine running again. We .....
On to take there was no increase in speed but
started ..... her for a trial round the harbour .....
a most opening throttle noise from the clutch which was was obviously very
slipping badly. the engine on sight as could very
terrible The Engineer Commander ..... a
amused, old Scammel he had lorry identified engine converted ..... nothing be
(1) the Count Dracula in the Ramsgate in any
There report 1s of no mention disembarkations, of nor is she mentioned
(2) It other report. means towed or escorted; own power. or whether
(3) This she 1s was not clear brought if in this by her she Master, had not under yet been her to Dunkirk.
seems
to
imply
that
211

Details

COUNT DRACULA - Continued.
done out of except the fairway. move her ahead at dead slow, I ..... tied up
While additional the gear was in neutral ..... I had,
pedal, which precaution kept my foot hard down as an clutch
clutch was right down on the deck, so that on the
she should have been well out ..... in spite the
moment or two, when she started to go slowly ..... ahead.
suddenly commenced to go gently astern of for this a
It was clearly unsafe in a crowded harbour to have
this ..... engine running at all, so I called down to
the stoker to switch off..... Again the engineers
worked on her until 2230 that night and all day Sunday,
2nd June, they took down pretty well everything. The
final report was that the engine was worth about £10
and it would cost £20 to repair it, 80 they did not
propose to do any more about it
"
There is no evidence to show that this vessel went over
to Dunkirk.
212

Details

Details

Details

VESSEL
OWNER
REMARKS
BOY FRED
G.L. Good
To V.A. Dover.
BUCEPHALUS
C.J. Watkins
Did not go - for Dynamo.
MA J
BETTY
R.F. Skinner
A.P.S.
BEVERLEY
Thompson & Rordroy
Reported abandoned at Dunkirk.
MAJOE
BRENART
K. Frisby &
Returned to owners 2.6.40.
MALDO
A.E. Harrison
Kamble.
BAT
Messrs. Pickfords
Returned to owners.
MALVI
BEE
Murrell "
MOLLY
P. Robinson
MARE 1
MARCH
Sons,
MARGHI
Wright
CACHALOT
J. Powers
T.98. A.P.S.
MARINA
CAIRNGORE
MARSAY
H.W.S. Wright
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
CAMELLIA
R.F. Money
A.P.S.
MARINA
CARIAD
F.E. Jeffs
T.98. Returned to owners 6.6.40.
CAVERSHAM
E. Crouch
ARICEI
Returned to owners.
CECILLE
Mansfield Markham
A.P.S.
CHARLOTTE
ARY
Capt. The Hon.
Waterlogged Sandwich (now at Ramsgate
ARY HO
M.T. Henderson
with Receiver of Wrecks).
CYS
ARY IR)
Chelsea Yacht & Boat
No information of return from
Co.
Dunkirk.
ARY ROS
CHRISCRAFT 25'
R. Hayes
No report received from list of
missing vessels.
COMMODORE
RY SPE
Bonniface
No information of return from Dunkirk.
RY SPE/
Now presumed lost.
CONSTANT NYMPH
ILDA
B.A. Smith
T.98. Returned to owners.
CORDELIA
J.E. Lambe
CORA-ANN
T.98. Returned to owner.
BELLE
Col. F.L. Newhouse
CARONIA
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
LOWER
W. Light (6A)
CORSTIR
Re-allocated to Spl. Admy. Service.
Dr. Tiby
COURT BELLE II
Returned to owner.
c. Whatford & Son
DER
No report received from list of
CRECLE
missing vessels.
AIDEN
D.N. Clark
Returned to owner.
EY
COUNT DRACULA
K.A. Creiner
Returned to owner.
ANT
CURLEW
E.T. Holme
A.P.S.
CERVATES
V.H. Cooper
A.P.S.
LICENT I
CHAMOIS
Messrs. Pickfords
Returned to owners.
CARAMA (15' Punt)
A. Moody
Lost at Dunkirk.
CLARA BELLE (Wherry)
A. Liddle
Lost at Dunkirk.
OSA
CRUISER
H.J. Sharp
IKOI
Returned to owner.
CARMEN
H. Garnett
Returned to owner.
CHANTECLER
R.E. Hodgman
DRU II
Returned to owner.
AUR
NY
DAB II
Lt.Col. Hardie
RASOL
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
DAPHNE
Mrs. C.M. Smith
T.98. Returned to owner.
DAWN
108
A.C. Wills
DEENAR
Mr. Dunsbier
T.98. Returned to owner 6.6.40.
MADGE
Returned to owner.
DEFENDER
MING
R. Harvey
DESEL II
MODESTY
Dudley Stone
Damaged. Returned to owner.
DESIREE
Capt. N. Dore
A.P.S. Now returned to owner.
AH
NA
DEVILFISH
T.98. Returned to owner.
Pete Knapp
No report received from Ciron. of
RCH
list of missing vessels.
ROSE
Motor Boe
Motor Boa
2 or Torpedo
tor Ferries
SME

Details

OF
ESSEL
OWNER
REMARKS
JY FRED
G.L. Good
To V.A. Dover.
BUCEPHALUS
C.J. Watkins
Did not go - for Dynamo.
BETTY
R.F. Skinner
A.P.S.
BEVERLEY
Thompson & Rordroy
Reported abandoned at Dunkirk.
BRENART
K. Frisby &
Returned to owners 2.6.40.
A.E. Harrison
BAT
Messrs. Pickfords
Returned to owners.
BEE
If
"
"
"
"
CACHALOT
J. Powers
T.98. A.P.S.
CAIRNGORE
H.W.S. Wright
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
CAMELLIA
R.F. Money
A.P.S.
CARIAD
F.E. Jeffs
T.98. Returned to owners 6.6.40.
CAVERSHAM
E. Crouch
Returned to owners.
CECILLE
Mansfield Markham
A.P.S.
CHARLOTTE
Capt. The Hon.
Waterlogged Sandwich (now at Ramsgate
M.T. Henderson.
with Receiver of Wrecks).
CYS
Chelsea Yacht & Boat
No information of return from
Co.
Dunkirk.
CHRISCRAFT 25'
R. Hayes
No report received from list of
missing vessels.
COMMODORE
Bonniface
No information of return from Dunkirk.
Now presumed lost.
CONSTANT NYMPH
B.A. Smith
T.98. Returned to owners.
CORDELIA
J.E. Lambe
T.98. Returned to owner.
CORA-ANN
Col. F.L. Newhouse
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
CARONIA
W. Light (6A)
Re-allocated to Spl. Admy. Service.
CORSTIR
Dr. Tiby
Returned to owner.
COURT BELLE II
C. Whatford & Son
No report received from list of
missing vessels.
CRECLE
D.N. Clark
Returned to owner.
COUNT DRACULA
K.A. Creiner
Returned to owner.
CURLEW
E.T. Holme
A.P.S.
CERVATES
V.H. Cooper
A.P.S.
CHAMOIS
Messrs. Pickfords
Returned to owners.
CARAMA (15' Punt)
A. Moody
Lost at Dunkirk.
CLARA BELLE (Wherry)
A. Liddle
Lost at Dunkirk.
CRUISER
H.J. Sharp
Returned to owner.
CARMEN
H. Garnett
Returned to owner.
CHANTECLER
R.E. Hodgman
Returned to owner.
DAB II
Lt.Col. Hardie
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
DAPHNE
Mrs. C.M. Smith
T.98. Returned to owner.
DAWN
A.C. Wills
T.98. Returned to owner 6.6.40.
DEENAR
Mr. Dunsbier
Returned to owner.
DEFENDER
R. Harvey
Damaged. Returned to owner.
DESEL II
Dudley Stone
A.P.S. Now returned to owner.
DESIREE
Capt. N. Dore
T.98. Returned to owner.
DEVILFISH
Pete Knapp
No report received from Ciron. of
list of missing vessels.

Details

1
TO DOVER LETTER OF 6 ans. 19to
ENCLOSURE No
- 2 -
VI Yachts and Small Craft. (Continued).
Pioneer.
Chelsea.
Two Rivers.
Charlotte.
Unique.
Diana Mary. - DOVER
Eothen.
Cuisisana.
Ramagete 18/6
Princess Lily.
/
The King.
Count Dracula.
Royal Thames.
Gayfly.
Formosa.
Sallyforth.
Margherita.
Kayell.
Maldon Annie.
Anthony.
Canvey Queen.
Imshi.
Miss Ming.
Sinbad II.
Princess Maud.
Curlew.
Empress.
Skylark.
Faversham.
Bream.
Queen Boadicea.
Pike.
Queen Boadicea. II.
Windsor Castle.
Vera.
Omega.
Daphne.
Tinker.
Kingwood.
Black Arrow.
Hurlingham.
Thetis.
The Viscount.
Aljanor.
His Majesty.
Silvery Breeze.
The Marchioness.
Rummy II.
Mutt.
Thark. ih,Dovier 18/6
Jeff.
Thurne.
Beverley.
Fleetwing.
St. Patrick.
Miss Modesty.
Skylark. (whech of may ?)
Gay Venture.
Spinaway.
Westerly.
Mary Rose.
Sylvia.
Advance.
Lorna Doone.
Hanora.
Hazard.
Maid of Honour.
Tigris I.
Cordelia.
Iote.
View Finder.
Shamrock.
Karina.
Queen of England.
Triton.
Wolsey.
Stonehaven.
X
Sceneshifter.
1 name unknown (Thames Conservancy).
1 Seaschool Yacht (Shipping Federation, Cmdr. Cavill).
VII Power Driven Lifeboats.
26 out of 27 have not been returned. It is
understood that 3 are still at Ramsgate.
VIII Ordinary Lifeboats.
34 out of 87 have not been returned.

Details

HO
216x
COUNT DRACULA
/STN 6B
2, Blondin Avenue,
2nd October 1940.
Northfields,
sir,
Ealing T.5.
44
I have to acknowledge receipt of
24/10/40.
your letter dated 20th September, 1940.
enclosing reports on the Dunkirk
1.0.)
operations insofar as your vessel
use,
CONSTANT NYMPH took part in these
operations, and to thank you for the
most interesting information which
D. 9144/STN.6B.
you have been good enough to supply.
It is anticipated that this report will
it Dracula".
be of value in compiling the final repat
which will be drawn up on these
e. regarding the Dunkirk
operations.
in requisitioned at the time
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
was not able to accompany
:,
from the Master that the
Director of Sea Transport.
Dunkirk and brought back to
A.B. Smith, Esq.,
rip.
Westfield,
Rodney Road,
fter taking the men on board
New Malden,
Surrey.
ds away, lifted her clean out
und an even keel.
On
P back to Rams gate she developed
clutch slipping, and was eventually towed into Ramsgate Harbour.
On her trip from Ramsgate to Richmond, she sustained
considerable damage. Previous to that no damage was sustained.
The repairs have been effected, and I take this opportunity of
thanking again the Ministry of Shipping for the prompt and fair
settlement, which enabled me to have my boat repaired.
I am happy that she has been of some service to
our Country.
Yours faithfully,
K. Cliener.
Directorol Sea Transport.
ng
me
em,

Details

COUNT DRACULA
2, Blondin Avenue,
Northfields,
Ealing W.5.
45
24/10/40.
The Director of Sea Transport,
Ministry of Shipping (H.O.)
Berkeley Square House,
W.1.
Dear Sir,
your Ref. T.O. 9144/STN.6B.
Re : "Count Dracula".
In reply to your favour regarding the Dunkirk
evacuation, my motor cruiser was requisitioned at the time
without my knowledge, so that I was not able to accompany
the boat.
I understand, however, from the Master that the
"Count Dracula" made 4 trips to Dunkirk and brought back to
Ramsgate 75 B.E.F. men on each trip.
On the first trip after taking the men on board
a Nazi bomb dropped about 25 yards away, lifted her clean out
of the water, but she luckily found an even keel.
On her last trip back to Rams gate she developed
clutch slipping, and was eventually towed into Ramsgate Harbour.
On her trip from Ramsgate to Richmond, she sustained
considerable damage. Previous to that no damage was sustained.
The repairs have been effected, and I take this opportunity of
thanking again the Ministry of Shipping for the prompt and fair
settlement, which enabled me to have my boat repaired.
I am happy that she has been of some service to
our Country.
Yours faithfully,
K.
cliener.
Director of Sea Transport.
ng
me
em,

Details

VINITAL
H.O.
FALCON II
tn.2161.
righton Municipal Hospital,
Elm Grove,
9144/STN6B.
29th October, 1940.
Brighton, 7.
47
46
Sir,
19th September, 1940.
I have to acknowledge receipt of
your letter dated 24th October, 1940
enclosing report on the Dunkirk
Operations insofar as your vessel
"COUNT DRACULA" took part in these
'ALCON 11'.
operations and to thank you for the
information which you have been good
sels were required for the
enough to supply. It is anticipated
t Dunkirk, I offered my vessel,
that this report will be of value in
y 31st arranged with a crew of
compiling the final report which will
ssel to be taken to Dover or
be drawn up on these operations.
ssage was received in the evening
essels were to proceed, but on
I am, Sir,
t) orders were received at
Your obedient Servant, d to proceed, and as there was
no
time
again
he crew, she sailed under a crew
detailed by the Chichester Yacht Co. She was proceeding
to Dover but, probably to the crew being unaccustomed
to the particular some trouble was experienced and
she put into Shoreham.
Director of Sea
Transport.
The
she was taken from Shoreham to
Newhaven and the channel to St. Valerie. From
accounts
grim time, and four bombs exploded
K. Greiner, Esq. the tunately, only resulted in a burst
2, Blondin Avenue, allons of Diesel oil. This narrow
Northfields, later quite independently, by a
Ealing, W.5. of who, prior to the war, had a
W the 'Falcon 11'.
erie to Newhaven the vessel was
taken over by the naval authorities, and is now doing routine
coastal patrol duties.
The vessel can be regarded as an 'old-timer' as she
did useful service in the last war (not under her present
name), and having come safely through that, it is hoped that
she may have the same good fortune in her second period of
service.
Rekin
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Director of Sea Transport,
Ministry of Shipping,
Berkeley Square,
LONDON, W.1.
Director of Sea Transport.
ng
me
em,

Details

DUNKIRK COMMITTEE
Meeting held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday 7th August, 1940
at the Ministry of Shipping, Room 8021A.
Present: Mr. Allen (Chairman)
" Simmons
" Moore
" Riddell
" Wand
1. Minutes of Meeting held on 31st July were agreed.
2. Matters arising were discussed.
(a) "Britannic": New evidence was considered and it was
agreed to offer the owner (Mr. Budd) £375 in full and
final settlement of all his claims.
(b) "Pote": Agreed to make a formal offer of £1,350 in
full and final settlement.
(c) "Count Dracula": Agreed to offer £250 in full and
final settlement of all claims of the owner, leaving
him to liquidate any outstanding charges arising from
any delay in arriving at a settlement.
(a) "Viewfinder": Agreed to approach the owner and arrange
settlement up to £950.
(e) "Beverley": Agreed to offer £500 in full and final
settlement of all claims.
(f) "Elvin": Agreed to pay for wages as claimed plus
2½% agency fee.
3. Report of Payments for week ended 6th August amounting to
£3,116.17.4₫. was presented and passed.
4. The following cases were discussed:-
(a) Total Loss:
"Little Ann": Agreed to offer £600 in full
settlement.
"Bobel$": Agreed to offer £1,100
=
=
4
"Westerley": Agreed not necessarily to accept
insured figure for Total Loss value,
but to obtain further evidence as to
date of purchase, condition etc.
"Kingfisher": Agreed to pay £70 in full and final
settlement of all claims.
his Williams
14 Anyment. 19

Details

Committee to deal with claims of small craft employed
in the Dunkirk and subsequent operations.
Meeting held at ll.a.m. on Wednesday 31st July 1940
at the Ministry of Shipping. Room 8021.A.
.......
Present :-
Mr. Allen (Chairman)
" Moore
"
Riddell
" Wand
.....
1. Minutes of Meeting held on 24th July were agreed.
2. Matters arising were discussed
(a) "Britannic" : Rye Fishery Officer is endeavouring
to find a suitable boat.
(b) Sailing Barges:
"Ada
Mary" : Agreed to Repair and negotiate
settlement.
"Hastaway"
"
"
"
"
"
"
:
"Ashingdon"
"
"
"
"
"
"
:
"Basildon"
"
"
:
have valued.
"Burton"
"
If
:
"
If
"Shannon"
If
"
"
"
:
(c) "Iote" : Agreed to invite owner to call and discuss
terms of settlement at £1,250 - £1,400.
(d) "Count Dracula" : Agreed to obtain valuation from
Messrs Tough's.
3. Report of Payments for week ended 30th July amounting to
£1,541.17.10d was presented and passed.
4. The following Total Loss Cases were discussed:-
(a) "Warrior" : Agreed to offer £125 in full and
final settlement.
(b) "Rocinante" Agreed to offer £300 in full and final
settlement.
(c) "Viewfinder":
"
"
"
£900
"
"
If
It
"
(a) "Beverley" :
"
"
"
£425
"
"
"
=
=
5. "Elvin": Claim for wages was deferred until next meeting.
6. Next Meeting fixed for ll.a.m. on Wednesday 7th August, 1940.
his alm 7/8/40.

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