Details

FOREMOST 101
Steam hopper
(Tilbury
W.E. Llewellyn, Master
Contracting
also Naval Officer.
and Dredging
Co. Ltd.
30th May
0350
1840
Left Portsmouth for Dover.
2120
Arrived Dover. Ordered to Ramsgate.
Arrived Ramsgate.
31st May
0540
Sailed for Dunkirk, the hopper Lady
Southborough in company.
1255
Anchored off Dunkirk beach.
1415
Launched 2 life boats. Air attacks.
The life boats plied between ship and
shore, embarking French soldiers.
2030
Ordered by a "M.T.B." to leave Dunkirk.
2055
Left Dunkirk.
Rescued 5 French soldiers from a
dinghy.
1st June
0555
Arrived Dover. Ordered to Ramsgate.
1025
Arrived Ramsgate. Disembarked 70
troops. (1)
Total 70
Authority - R.O.III, p.98
(1) Estimated. report states that between 0845 638 and
1100 on 1st Ramsgate June, "eight tenders" disembarked British
and 70 Allied troops.
337

Details

FOREMOST 102
Steam hopper
Actg. S/Lt. H. Martin, R.N.
W.C. Attwaters, Master.
30th May
1120
Left Portsmouth, taking in tow
Excellents 35 ft. fast M/B and the
pleasure launches Enterprise and
wave Queen, manned by 12 naval
ratings.
31st May
0900
1100
Anchored off Ramsgate.
Left for Dunkirk.
1730ca
Anchored off Malo beach. Sighted 4
hoppers already at work 1.e.
Lady Southborough, Queen's Channel,
Gallion's Reach and Foremost 101].
The 3 motor boats and the hopper's
2 lifeboats were sent in shore to
bring off troops.
For 5 hours the boats were used to
take 260 men aboard Foremost 102
and also to fill other ships lying
off shore.
2230ca
Proceeded, taking Excellents' M/B
and Wave Queen in tow and leaving
Enterprise and its crew still taking
off troops. During the passage
Excellents' M/B which had become
water-logged, pulled out her towing
bollards and was lost presumably
sinking later.
1st June
0700
Arrived Ramsgate. Disembarked 6 British
troops.
Ordered to proceed to Margate and
disembark the French troops.
1400
Arrived Margate. Disembarked 254
French troops. (1)
Note: At 0300, 5th June, the Foremost 102
proceeded for Portsmouth, have Queen in
tow. Off Folkestone, the Wave Queen
which had become water-logged, pulled
out all six of her towing bollards, and
was left sinking.
Total 260(2)
Authority - R.O.III, pp.100 and 104.
(1) Margate report states that 200 troops were disembarked at
1345 by "Foremost".
(2) D.R. states 200.
333

Details

GALLION'S REACH
Steam hopper
S/Lt. F.N.F. Johnstone, R.N.
J.F. Mason, Master.
30th May
0300
Sailed from Portsmouth. In company
were the Queen's Channel, Foremost 101
Lady Southborough, and James 67 - all
hopper barges.
2015
The flotilla arrived at Ramsgate, except
the James 67 which could not steam
more than 7 knots.
31st May
0500
Left Ramsgate for Dunkirk.
1015
Arrived Dunkirk.
1500ca
Ordered to beach head on by "a naval
authority". This was done. Embarked
troops. Sent 2 life boats inshore,
but had difficulty in getting them off
the beach; one had to be left behind.
Embarked 123 French and British troops,
2230
Proceeded, as the tide was falling.
1st June
0800
Arrived Ramsgate. Ordered to Margate.
0930
Arrived Margate. Disembarked 123 troops,
Total 123
5th June
2100ca
Took in tow a French trawler, (No.
L.4058), out of control, and towed
her to Newhaven.
Authority - - R.O.II, p.600.
R.O.III, p.96.
356

Details

Details

Tilbury Contracting & Dredging Co. Ltd.
took part
The following in Operation 5 steam Dynamo: hopper barges of the above company
Foremost 101
Lady Southborough
Foremost 102
Queen's Channel 1)
Gallion's Reach
[The Ramsgate]. steam hopper barge James 67, stood by at
(1) Erroneously referred to in official reports as the
"Queensland".
224

Details

x.209(1)
X Lighter (Royal
Clarence Yard,
Gosport.
S/Lt. Capt. W.R. R.G. Williams, Banks, R.N.
0130
Actg.
30th May
2000
Left Gosport.
Master.
were for orders Williams
S/Lt.
2130ca
Sailed from for Dunkirk which
-
31st May
0200
In "Good with Slight about boat collision progress orders, 5 damage miles Ramsgate with was and to to an with accordance which X.209's seaward in unknown a accordance. of ship, Gravelines (4) (2)
3 went astern. smashed, as
the lighter in tow of X. 209 was bows; the
and army 15] punts [probably A.L.C's Contacted
to company, and arranged with them
in bound for Dunkirk. Proceeded 3,8
0400ca(5) Arrived off beach and embarked 57
ferry troops to X.209.
1100
Sailed for Ramsgate.
British and French troops.
1715(6)
Arrived Ramsgate. Disembarked 62 B.E.F.
and 5 Allied troops(
The X.209 remained at Ramsgate( 8)
until 3rd June when she proceeded
to Portsmouth in company with tugs
C.9, and Prima and the hopper
Foremost 101.
Total 67
(on 1st June S/Lt. Williams went to a
tug whose master refused to go to
Dunkirk again [probably the Racia])
Authority - R.O.II, p.567.
R.O.III, pp.82, 83, 488.
The following award was made:
Captain A.G. Banks, Actg. Master.
Mention in Despatches
& Speed 5 to 6
Capt. R.G. Banks's knots. report. S/Lt. Williams says "ordered to
(3) Capt. sands Banks's between Gravelines and Williams Calais." says "Anchored off
sands. Landed report. in boat S/Lt. engaged two [enemy] and believe
(4) S/Lt. shot both; returned to ... my ship". place on 1st June.
Captillianka says this took collision place on took 31st May, but the he date
countersigned &/Lt. Williamssreport which gave dates
countersigned S/Lt. many instances of mistaken
(5) s/Lting operation There are
Rams Williams report. Dynamo. Capt. Banks says 0800.
(7) report. report. Capt. Banks says 1915 returned to Dunkirk 2130 cal.
This the. troops,
after liams landing says that the X.209 at dusk [1.00 He
furtherpears noon doubtful that troops in were view THE
to confirm on 1st this. June.
There
is
343

Details

C.W.19295
(Revised-June, 1983.)
D-51.
1940
FROM WHOM
DATE
Merchant Service Vessels employed in Operation "Dynamo".
/
(Extracted from Case 5458).
Personnel Ships
Case 5458 Vol. III. 7.)
29.
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
"
III. 6.
sunk
1.
"
DORRIEN ROSE
"
1.
NEW PRINCE OF WALES
"
III. 6.)
sunk
1.
SCOTTISH CORPORATION
"
III. 6.)
1.
MASSEY SHAW
"
III. 6 & 8)
1.
LIGHTER X 209
"
III. 6.)
1.
C.E.in C. TUG PRIMA
)
"
III. 6.)
1.
"
HOPPER BARGE W.24)
1.
"
"
"
W.26)
1.
"
"
"
W.95)
1.
THYRA
1.
PUDGE
London and Rochester ( "
II.5.)
1.
CABBY
Trading Company,
1.
SEINE
)
Limited.
1.
BEFENDER
1.
RELIANCE
1.
LETITIA
Bawley Boats
III 8
1.
ENDEAVOUR
"
Civilian crews.
1.
RESOLUTE
1.
RENOWN (Sunk)
1.
QUEENSLAND,
Tilbury Dredging Company.
(Case 5458.Vol.III.8.)
1.
JOHANNA
"
(Dutch eel boat)
III.8. 1.
River M/L "MADAME SANS GENE" (sunk)
"
III.8.) 1.
M/V "SEA ROAMER"
"
III.8.) 1.
"FAAR BREEZE" Drifter
1.
Votor Boat "KIT CAT"
(
"
III.8.) 1.
Southend Lifeboat "GREATER LONDON"
1.
Launch belonging to Skylark Shipbuilding
(
"
III.8.) 1.
Co. Poole.
opper " Barge "Lady Southborough"
1.
"
1.
QUEEN'S CHANNEL
"
"
GALLIONS RANCH
Tilbury
l.
"
(
"
"
FOREMOST 101.
Contracting
III.8.) 1.
"
"
FOREMOST 102.
& Dredging
1.
"
"
1.
JAMES 67.
Company.
Dutch eel boat "CHANTECLER"
(
"
III.8.) 1.
Motor Life Boat unnamed,
#
(S.Lt.Amos, R.N.V.R.)
III.8.) 1.
Motor Yacht "RYGATE II"
"
III.8. 1.
M/B "QUICKSILVER"
"
III.8. 1.
Motor Cruiser "BOBELI"
"
III.8.) 1.
M/B "RAPIDE"
"
III.8.) 1.
"NAID ERRANT"
"
III.8.) 1.
M/B "THARK"
#
III.8.) 1.
Total. 71.
Mainly civilian crew, but R.N. or R.N.R.Officer in command.

Details

98
88
6
Wednesday Stopped 5th. Left Margate 3.20 a.m. for
until at 5 a.m. by Naval Control and told we Portsmouth.
0's 1700 & 1723. VESSELS TAKING PART IN OPERATION LTD. STEAM DYNAMO.
7 a.m. Hove up. at 7.15 a.m. and proceeded. could not
TILBURY CONTRACTING & DREDGING CO.
-
about arrived 10 off the Sovereign Lightship, I saw a French When
HOPPER "FOREMOST 101"
REPORT OF MASTER.
tow-rope on board and took him in tow for so I
miles off, flying 'out-of-control' signals steam
off take there the vessel about in 10 tow, p.m. then I signalled I anchored to for the Newhaven, the shore night. for arrivi the to Dover On the for night orders. of 29th May, 1940, the above vessel was ordered
left for Dover at 3.50 a.m. of 30th May, received arriving to after
Thursday in tow. June Her 6th. number 9 was a.m. L.4058. a tug At came 10 out a.m. and a took the 1 an uneventful We which trip was at 6.40 reached p.m. at Orders 9.20 p.m. were a wonderful All sorts sight. and proceed sizes
took us in as we were very short of water and food. pilot Made came of to Ramsgate, vessels were anchored there, presenting
Newhaven Harbour 11 a.m. At 7 p.m. I received orders the
could proceed at 7 a.m.
Naval officer came aboard with charts and confidential
instructions, A andorders to make for Dunkirk.
Friday June 7th. 8 a.m. waiting for the water to flow.
left Newhaven for Portsmouth on Admiralty route, passing Ov
out in company with the "Lady Southborough" cleared at 5.40a.m. the
Lightship at 1.15 p.m. Arrived Portsmouth 4 p.m. and made
of the We 31st set May. A brilliant sun was shining as we
to the Buoys.
Goodwins, visibility being good.
dropped anchor off Dunkirk beach, and Independ- many
(Sd.) J. Mason,
At 12.55 p.m. we standing in and near the water. lifeboats
Master.
ant action the heavy swell running making up a terrific
soldiers were was observed clearly indicated so at 2.15 p.m. the the operations two aerial
were difficult. launched, During this period the enemy kept near, being and
One salvo of bombs was uncomfortably we were not hit,
bombardment. yards away. However, brought down.
only a matter of a few seeing several German aircraft damage.
Quite had the a bit pleasure of shrapnel of fell on the ship but did no
embarking The boats French then soldiers. proceeded I to regret ply between to say the the number ship and is shore, unknown.
During one of these lifted trips, right when out a bomb of the fell water went close spilling on. to the At the
boats, one of them was nobody was hurt and the job Dunkirk which we
about occupants. 8.30 Happily a M.T.B. ordered us to we leave left & small dinghy
proceeded rowed by five to p.m. do French at 8.55 soldiers p.m. with Just pieces as of wood - there being
no oars - was sighted and rescued.
hot tea and bread dried. and cheese, also
they were The soldiers made warm were whilst given their clothes were
P.T.O.

Details