Details

EMPIRE HENCHMAN
Tug (United Towing
Co,. Ltd.)
(?)E. Fishe,
(?Fisher), Master.
30th May
0800
1300
Arrived Dover from Sheerness.
Left Dover for Dunkirk, in company a
2000
M/B (Lieut. R.N. 1/c).
Off Dunkirk. Towed small boats from the
beach to destroyers. Four such
trips were made.
-
Entered Dunkirk harbour, by order of
the Lieut. R.N. in the M/B. Found
no troops on the quay. Proceeded to
the beaches.
2210
Ordered to stand by the M/S Sharpshooter
which the tug Foremost 22 was about
to take in tow.
Foremost 22 towed Sharpshooter to
Dover, Empire Henchman accompanying
31st May
0800
her. When near Dover, Empire Hench-
man assisted to take the ship into
Dover harbour.
1600
Left Dover towing a barge loaded with
food and ammunition.
2000
Arrived off Dunkirk. Handed over the
barge to the French authorities.
Towed boats from the beach to
destroyers.
1st June
0300
On orders from the Lieut. R.N. in charge
of the M/B, proceeded; an empty
barge in tow.
-
Arrived Dover.
1100
Left for Dunkirk towing a barge loaded
with food and ammunition.
1600ca
Off Dunkirk. Told by a naval drifter
not to enter Dunkirk until dark,
because of shelling.
Whilst standing off, attacked by 20
-
aircraft. Tug and barge damaged by
Proceeded. Half way across took A/B
near misses.
1800
Thyra in tow.
2300
Arrived Dover with the barges.
2nd -
Laid at Dover, partially disabled.
4th June.
Nil
Authority - W.W.
284

Details

FOREMOST 22
Tug (s. Ry. Co.)
C. Fieldgate, Master.
F.M. Holden, Actg.Master
29th May
1850
Left Newhaven for Dover.
Capt. Holden as Master.
30th May
0415
Arrived Dover.
1335
Left Dover for Dunkirk as leader of
5 small vessels.
2030
Arrived off Dunkirk. Separated from the
5 vessels after arrival: proceeded
eastward along the coast and then back
to the harbour entrance.
2300ca
The sound of a heavy collision in
Dunkirk roads was heard. The P/V
St. Helier had been in collision with
the M/S Sharpshooter.
2320ca
Foremost 22 took Sharpshooter in tow
and St. Helier backed away and carried
on.
Proceeded with Sharpshooter in tow
stern first.
31st May
1035
Arrived off Dover. Cast off the tow.
The tug Empire Henchman now assisted,
1320
and Sharpshooter was moored to a buoy.
1st June
1630
Captain Fieldgate rejoined the ship from
the sick list.
2030
Assisted 2 vessels in collision in the
outer basin. (2)
2nd June
1700
Left for Dunkirk.
2300
Dunkirk harbour entrance. Ordered into
harbour to assist the P/V Newhaven ?]
aground. The tug ran aground herself
but managed to refloat. A tug Sun X
and Sun XI both failed to re-float
her] /01 less draft was then sent in.
2400ca
off the harbour entrance, M/B's came
alongside and unloaded French troops.
0100
Proceeded.
0630
Dover. Disembarked
troops. (1)
(number not stated).
1430
Ordered to stand-by to leave for
1830
"Stand Dunkirk. by" order cancelled "owing to some
members of the crew being sick."
3rd June
Standing by.
4th June
1525
Left Dover for Newhaven.
Total 8
(1) (2) Not dr. mentioned Worcester was in D.R. in collision with P/V Maid of Orleans at
this time.
329

Details

Auxy. Barge (Lond. &
THYRA
Rochester Trading Co. Ltd.)
Mr. E.W. Filley,
Master.
2330
29th May
Requisitioned at Millwall and towed
Sun XII with other barges, to
to Tilbury. Towed by the tug
Southend. Thence ordered to Ramsgate
and thence to
30th May
1430
Dover harbour.
31st May
-
Proceeded outside breakwater with S/B
H.A.C. in tow. The Thyra and H.A.C.
were taken in tow by the tug St. Abbs.
1st June
0500
Arrived Dunkirk. "Shot off" by the tug
at the Pierhead and told to beach
barges.
0630ca
Towed the H.A.C. into the beach, and
embarked 11 French troops. Picked
up (off the beach) the crews of the
S/B's Glenway and Lark; also 8
British troops that were aboard them.
Including the crew of the H.A.C.
the Thyra now had 28 men on board.
1400ca
Proceeded. Half way across, was picked
up by the tug Empire Henchman.
2345
Arrived Dover. Disembarked 19 troops(1)
Total 19
Authority - R.O.II, p.618
(1) D.R. gives June 2nd as date of disembarkation.
232

Details

Details

TUGS
THE FOLLOWING TUGS TOOK PART
IN OPERATION DYNAMO:
William Watkins Ltd.
Cervia
Kenia
Doria
Persia
Fabia
Racia
Fairplay I(1)
Tanga
Foremost 87(1)
Vincia
Java
W.H.J. Alexander & Co. Ltd.
Sun
Sun VIII
Sun III
Sun X
Sun IV
Sun XI
Sun V
Sun XII
Sun VII
Sun XV
The Gamecock Steam Towing Co.
Crested Cock
Ocean Cock.
Gaselee and Son Ltd.
Fossa
Saml. Williams and Sons Ltd.
Duke
[Marquis] (2)
Prince
Princess
Elliot Steam Tug Co. Ltd.
Challenge
Contest
United Towing Co. Ltd.
Empire Henchman
Southern Railway Co. Ltd.
Foremost 22
(1) Managed by W. Watkins Ltd.
(2) Left Ostend at 2200 on 26th May. There is no record of
her having taken part in Dynamo.
244

Details

Details

618
I, E.W. Filley am Master of the auxiliary barge "THYRA"
582
6
We were requisitioned on the 29th May at Millwall 11.30 p.m.,
towed to Tilbury where three days rations were put aboard.
Proceeded in tow of Tug "SUN 12" with other barges, to Southend,
thence ordered to Remsgate and thenoe to Dover Harbour, arriving
2.30 p.m. on the 30th May and lying at Prince of Wales Pier.
May 31st. Volunteers were called for to go to Dunkirk and all
the barges crews offered their services.
We proceeded outside breakwater with barge "H.A.C." in tow.
We were both taken in tow by tug "ST. ABBS" and proceeded to
Dunkirk, arriving there at 5.0 a.m. on Saturday June 1st.
We were shot off by the tug at Dunkirk Pier Head and told to
beach barges. Towed "H.A.C. with me into beach and with their
assistance we got eleven French Soldiers off the beach on to our
barge. Other groups of Soldiers refused to come as they wanted to
di
go to France and not to England.
ed
At that time bombing was very bad and we had no protection of any
kind, not even helmets and we went into the beach as close as
possible and picked up the crews of the barge "GLENWAY" and the
barge "LARK", also eight British Soldiers that were aboard them
as they had been left on the beach with 8 tor in for the Frenchmer
to get when the tide went out, and the crews had been told to get
out of it. Including "H.A.C." crew, we had 28 men aboard.
As the tugs had disappeared, the only thing I could do was to
proceed with what I had got and come away to England. I sailed
half way across and was picked up by the tug "EMPIRE HENCHMAN"
arriving at Dover 11.45 p.m. on June lst.

Details

CONFIDENTIAL.
MESSAGE 0746/3rd June
OUT.
To. V.A. Dover, 438.
Date 3.6.40
Repeated C. in C. Nore. 922.
20
C. in C. Portsmouth. 245,
F.O. 1/c London.
Commodore 1/c Sheerness. 618.
F.O.1/c Portland. 567.
N.O.i/c Ramegate.
N.O.1/c Newhaven.
War Office.
P/L BY T/P
From Admiralty.
IMPORTANT.
Reference Admiralty mesuage 2321/1,
instructions regarding disposal of tugs and lighters
should be amended as follows so far as craft named
are concerned:-
(1) Following London tugs which were requisitioned
specially for Operation should be returned to
CHALLENGE, CONTEST, PERSIA, RACIA, CERVIA, TANGA
Gravesend - -
HIBERNIA, CRESTED COCK, OCEAN COCK, WATERCOCK,
They should be utilised as fully as possible
SUN, SUN X, SUN XI, SUN XII, BETTY.
for towage of craft or boats to be returned to
the Thames or elsewhere en route.
(ii) Under-mentioned tugs which are under orders of
D. of S.T. should proceed as follows:-
(a) EMPIRE HENCHMAN to Portsmonth with barges
SNOWDON and SALADIN for N.S.O. These carges were
left at Ramsgate by tug TANGA on 29th May.
pair of barges from those mentioned in (v) Below
(b) FOREMOST 37 to Weymouth with any convenient
sufficiently seaworthy, for towage as in (1)
(c) FAIRPLAY I to Gravesend being used, if
above. (d) GONDIA to Fishguard with barges SARK and
SHETLAND. These barges ware left at Dover on
20th May by FOREMOST 87.
(iii) Tugs SUN VII and FOREMOST 23 should return to
station at Southend and Newhaven respectively
taking any convenient tow.
(iv) If any of the tuge named above are required to
assist in other more urgent towages arrangementa
should be made by you direct with D. of S.T.
Crews of EMPIRE HENCHMAN, GONDIA and FOREMOST 87
may be given at your discretion up to 24 hours
standeasy before proceeding Westward.
(v) The barges JAPAN, KENYA, EGYPT, APRICA, LONDON
and SCOTLAND which arrived Dover from Tilbury
on 2nd June should not repetition not be
returned/....

Details

FRIDAY, 31ST MAY
CHAP. VIII
in the Bray and Malo sectors were being thinned out by movements westward
towards Dunkirk iteslf. This change of plan involved concentrating the special
tows and the minesweepers to which they were to transfer the troops, into the
stretch opposite the beach between Zuydcoote Sanatorium and one mile east
of La Panne¹, and also advancing the commencement of the operation by one
hour².
A risk was involved in this change of plan as the boat tows were not in com-
munication with the Vice-Admiral, and it would therefore be necessary for
minesweepers to see that the escorting M.A./S.B.'s shepherded the tows to the
new positions It had been explained to the Naval officers in each tow that
the minesweepers would be anchored so as to serve as guiding marks³.
" It was always impossible for me to do more than deal with the situation of
the moment", says Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker. "I did not know what ships
were coming or when-except for the pre-arranged plan of the sloops. Nor
was it possible for Dover to give me much information. Ships got back there,
unloaded, and were off again, the stream was constant but irregular and it was
not possible to see any way ahead. My policy was always to keep only sufficient
ships off the beaches and send all the others into Dunkirk, but the situation
changed continually."4
Small craft arrive in hundreds
It was in such circumstances that, at about 1900, Rear-Admiral Wake-
Walker had proceeded to Dunkirk in the Keith to see how the boat situation
was getting on. There he saw for the first time that strange procession of
craft of all kinds the story of which was to become famous-tugs, towing
dinghies, life-boats and all manner of pulling boats5-small motor yachts,
motor launches, drifters, Dutch skoots, Thames barges, fishing boats, pleasure
steamers⁶. This was indeed the first time that the small craft had come over
in hundreds⁷. Since noon Lt. Cdr. C. J. Wynne-Edwards, R.N. (of R.-A.
Dunkirk's staff), embarked in M.T.B.68, had been directing the tows to the
various beaches.
I See Appendix Q.18, observing that D.R. p.20, para. 61 says the beach between Bray
and 1 mile east of La Panne."
2 Appendix Q.19.
3 D.R. p.20, para. 61.
4 M.017978/41, p.17.
5 The following 14 tugs (their tows are shown in brackets) reached Dunkirk that evening:
The Racia (12 life-boats), Sun VIII (12 life-boats), Sun XV (6 life-boats), Vincia (3 life-
boats), Sun IV (9 boats), Tanga (6 boats), Ocean Cock (6 M/B's), Sun VII (seaplane tenders
243, 254, 276, 291 and A.M.C.3), Foremost 87 (two sailing barges), Fairplay I (sailing barge
Barbara Jean), Empire Henchman (sailing barge Aidie), Crested Cock (a lighter), Sun XI (a
lighter), and the Sun XII (sailing barges Tollesbury and Ethel Everard).
In the early hours of 1st June 4 other tugs arrived. The St. Fagan (auxiliary barges
Pudge and Lady Rosebery, and the sailing barge Doris), St. Abbs (auxiliary barge Thyra
and sailing barges H.A.C. and Duchess), Cervia (sailing barge Royalty), and the Persia
(sailing barge Glenway and Lark).
6 M.017978/41, p.19.
7 New arrivals off Dunkirk and the beaches on 31st May included the following The
yachts Amulree, Aronia, Glagla, Caleta, Christobel II and Llanthony, the nine yachts of the
Portsmouth Inner Patrol, viz the Ahola, Ankh, Bounty, Caryandra, Eilla II, Lahloo,
Noneta, Seriola and Thele and from the R.N. Air Station, Ford, the yacht Andora.
The drifters Ben and Lucy (towing 4 boats), Dorienta (towing boats), Monarda, Renas-
cent and the 13 drifters of the Yarmouth Base, viz Alcmaria, Feasible, Genius, Gula,
Jeannie MacIntosh, John and Norah, Lord Barham, Lord Hood, Overfalls, Reed, Rewga,
Swift Wing and Taransay. The drifters Fair Breeze and Ocean Breeze were again over,
the former towing a motor life-boat and 3 life-boats.
The steam hopper barges Foremost 102 (towing the Excellent's 35 ft. fast motor boat and
71

Details

Details

INDEX
Discipline. See British Expeditionary Force and French troops.
Disembarkation ports, 25.
Docksey, Capt. T. E., 21.
Doggersbank, 20, 29n, 32, 45, 47n, 64, 72, 107n.
Dolphin's power boats, 72n.
Donald, Lt. Cdr. C. G. W. Died of wounds, 10.
Dorienta, 71n.
Doris, 71n, 94 (sunk).
Dorrien Rose, 24, 29, 62.
Dove, Cdr. J. S., 50n (reports Dunkirk blocked), 59.
Dover, mined, 38.
Dowling, Lt. Cdr. D. B., 82.
Drifters, 23, 24 (flare burning).
Drogou, Lt. de V., 73.
Duchess, 71n, 95 (sunk).
Duchess of Fife, 28n, 54n, 101, 107n, 109.
Du Guesclin, 62n, 73n.
Dundalk, 86, 107я, 109.
Dunkirk, S.N.O. See Tennant, Capt. W. G.
Dunkirk: water supply destroyed, 8; demolitions, 8, 19, 106; inundations, 12; bridge-
easier, munications 27, 30; limitations, 48; reported blocked, 50; ships not to close, 51 ; com-
head, 15, 18, 35; damaged, 15, 18; out of action, 23 ; reported fallen, 24; conditions
established with Dover, 51; reduced number of ships sent, 61-2 bom-
barded, 70; harbour deserted, 87; harbour full of ships, 88; growing number of
wrecks described, off, 117. 94; pier damaged, 97; blocking of inner harbour, 111-112, 119-20 piers
Duperre, 73.
Dwarf, 60.
Eastbourne Queen, 74.
E-boats, activity). 27-8, 36, 37n, 49 (fail to discover change of route), 68-9, 85 (recrudescence of
Edmond René, rams Kingfisher, 116.
Edvard Nissen, 111-12.
Edward Z. Dresden, 114n.
Eggington, Ldg. Sea., 119.
Eileen Emma, 23n, 83n (damaged), 95 (sunk).
Eilla II, 71n, 74.
Elizabeth Green, 53, 114n.
Ellwood, Cdr. M. 0. D. (i/c Communications), 67.
Emerald Wings, breaks down, 111.
Emile Deschamps, sunk, 119.
Emma, 73.
Emperor of India, 28n, 47n, 54n, 100.
Empire Henchman, 7In.
Endeavour, 73n.
Enterprise, 72n, 75n.
Epervier, 99.
Escaut, 60.
Esk, 28n, 49, 79 (takes across R.A. Dover and Beach parties), 54n, 55, 58, 64n, 92, 97,
102, 107n.
Ethel Everard, 71n, 95 (sunk).
Evans, W. L., 110.
Excellent's A/A M.B., 72n, 75n.
Excellent's 35 ft. M.B., 71n, 75n.
Exhaustion of ships' crews, 29, 113.
Express, back 28n, 41-2, 54n, 55, 59 (flag of R.A. Dover), 62n, 83 (slightly damaged), 109 (sent
empty), 112n, 114n, 118.
Fagalde, General, 12, 68, 85.
Fairplay I, 71n.
Fair Breeze, 60, 71n, 95 (sunk).
Feasible, 71n, 73 (disabled).
Fenella, 34, 43 (sunk), 46.
Fidget, 32n, 51n.
"Fifth Column", 24, 100.
198

Details

20
21
1222.
All engagements are only taken subject tour usual conditions
TUG DO, LIMITED.
UNITED TOWING CO., LTD.
37
TELEGRAMS TOWING, HULL
Nelson Street,
TELEPHONES
ALL HOURS
CENTRAL 15514.
is LINES)
Hull.
REFERENCES
FRIDAY,
YOURS
21st June,
1940.
OURS
G/4-1/1222/0.
Dear Sir,
The
TUG "EMPIRE HENCHMAN" - Dunkirk Operations.
We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 19th instant
enclosing one addressed to the Master of the tug "EMPIRE HENCHMAN".
Accordingly we are taking steps to transmit the letter in
question to the Master of the tug "EMPIRE HENCHMAN" as requested.
of
Yours faithfully,
letter the Officers in of For our UNITED TOWING CO., LIMITED,
in
the
Weransmik.
Private Secretary,
Ministry of Shipping,
SECRETARY.
Parker skeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
LONDON, W.1.
to We For Mo Tage
The Elliott Steam Tug up
your
Joint Manager.
at
ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN BY US IS SUBJECT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM STANDARD TOWAGE CONDITIONS.
apt R.
th
er
1y
of the

Details

owned collision by I went the with Great to the spot and found that the
The H.M. been Helier" in
I
alo
wind, and The weather visibility was was fine, fairly sea smooth. good. There was very little
him isfa
very
Destroyer with "St. Helier" her stem. struck the starboard bow of the
until
vessels When The were I arrived together. at the sceme of the collision the two
and
th
me to take I Officer hold of in his charge vessel of as the quickly Destroyer as possible. hailed me, and asked
to
m
then
made at fast. once ordered my crew to get out the tow rope, and
and passed I backed the my end stern of the close wire up aboard. to the stern of the Destroyer
shackled The to tow 50 rope fathoms consisted of 5" wire. of 60 fathoms of 16" manilla rope,
Destroyer, The end and of the the manilla wire was was made on our fast towing to the hook. stern of the
her could stern. see the Destroyer had a number of tow depth rope charges because on
I had to use care in passing the I
backed As away I passed and carried the tow on rope with to her the business. Destroyer, the "St. Helier"
in a westerly
I made fast direction. at about 11.20 p.m. and at once commenced towing
her bows very severly damaged.
The were Destroyer had been hit just forward of her bridge, and
The bridge of the Destroyer was well forward.
and let go 10.35 a.m. on the 31st May.
I towed at the Destroyer stern first and arrived off Dover
He left the job of towing in my hands.
The Captain of the Destroyer did not use his engines.
and I asked her Master to hold the Destroyer's stern to the
The Tug "Empire Henchman" was following us into Dover,
tide so that I could get my tow rope in.
At 11.35 a.m. I moored alongside the starboard side of
the "Sharpshooter" and steered her to No. 10 buoy inside the
Eastern entrance to Dover Harbour.
The "Empire Henchman" had a short scope of rope to the
stern of the tow and assisted me to get the Destroyer through
the Eastern entrance.
We took the Destroyer in stern first.
We moored her to the buoy at 1.20 p.m. and then proceeded
alongside the Prince of Wales Pier.
/I
-2-

Details

618
I, E.W. Filley am Master of the auxiliary barge "THYRA"
582
6
We were requisitioned on the 29th May at Millwall 11.30 p.m.,
towed to Tilbury where three days rations were put aboard.
Proceeded in tow of Tug "SUN 12" with other barges, to Southend,
thence ordered to Remsgate and thenoe to Dover Harbour, arriving
2.30 p.m. on the 30th May and lying at Prince of Wales Pier.
May 31st. Volunteers were called for to go to Dunkirk and all
the barges crews offered their services.
We proceeded outside breakwater with barge "H.A.C." in tow.
We were both taken in tow by tug "ST. ABBS" and proceeded to
Dunkirk, arriving there at 5.0 a.m. on Saturday June 1st.
We were shot off by the tug at Dunkirk Pier Head and told to
beach barges. Towed "H.A.C. with me into beach and with their
assistance we got eleven French Soldiers off the beach on to our
barge. Other groups of Soldiers refused to come as they wanted to di
go to France and not to England.
ed
At that time bombing was very bad and we had no protection of any
kind, not even helmets and we went into the beach as close as
possible and picked up the crews of the barge "GLENWAY" and the
barge "LARK", also eight British Soldiers that were aboard them
as they had been left on the beach with 8 in for the Frenchmer
to get when the tide went out, and the crews had been told to get
out of it. Including "H.A.C." crew, we had 28 men aboard.
As the tugs had disappeared, the only thing I could do was to
proceed with what I had got and come away to England. I sailed
half way across and was picked up by the tug "EMPIRE HENCHMAN"
arriving at Dover 11.45 p.m. on June lst.