Details

JACKAL( 1)
1st Destroyer Flotilla
Cdr. T.M. Napier, R.N
31st May
0700
in
Relieved the dr. Vega which was
patrolling in support of the destroyers
shipsand small craft evacuating troops
from Dunkirk.
0810
0540
Nil
(2)
2040
1810
Total 651
- R.O.TII. D.332.
F.D.
3
(1) Not mentioned in D.R. 72

Details

3
VANQUISHER (continued)
Car. C.I. Horton, R.N.
usy
The following awards were made: or the correttes Shearwater sup- and
from Sheerness with and In
D.S.M.
while they conducted 8
C.E.R.A.
F.H. Patrick.
for the destroyers, ships and small
search, and in support
L/Sea.
D. Anderson.
Proceeded along asarched channel Q.Z.S.
evacuating troops from Dunkirk".
Mention in Despatches.
60 until Xwinte Bank buoy WRS abeam.
Cdr.
C.B. Alers-Hankey, R.N. serwater and Sheldrake to
ships working or roote X*
Lieut.
Lieut.
C.W.C. Checucci, R.N. channel Q.Z.S.60 to the
C.P.O.
R.N. Hankey, R.N. setward, and to work in conjunction
F.A. Calver.
P.O.
C. Morrice.
Widgoon. with the corvettes Mallard and
Sto. P.O.
W. King.
When Yesa 188 cast of Ewinte Bank buoy
she was joined by the Polish
destroyer Blyskawics.
2330
Year and Blyskawica patrolled between
1. & G. booys.
say
0335
Both ships returned to eastward or
west Hinder buoy.
0648
Two torpadoes passed ahead of Vega
a
in position 51° 23' N., 2" 32' E.
Vega and Alyskawics counter attacked
and hunted until 1043.
1130ca
Directed by a plane, closed a sailing
boat and plaked up 34 British and
Allied troops from Hieuport.
1715
Vega joined Sheldrake off T buoy and in
1750
company carried out a B/M search.
2010
Patrolling independently.
30th May
0330
Between U and W buoys, Sheldrake 78⑉
joined.
2000ca
Vega and Sheldrake rendezvoused at R
buoy with Blyskawica and widgeon.
2030
Picked up the crew of an Allied plane
near Y buoy.
2100
In company with Blyskawice, Eldgeon and
Sheldrake, Vega patrolled between
R buoy and West Hinder.
2346/
Four French destroyers on opposite
2359
course passed at high speed.
Stat tay
0121
Heavy explosion heard to the north
eastward.
0145
Tracer bullets seen 4 miles to the
north eastward followed by a column
of flames 200 feet high. The French
destroyer Sirocco had been torpedoed
by an enemy WASH 150 survivors
were picked up by Widgeon and 15 by
0700
Vega Blyskawica.( relieved by the dr, Jackal.
Vega about 40 soldiers,
sailors and airmen.
Total 34
abthority - R.O.III, D.476,
Tot mentioned in D.R.
tr. Wolves picked up 50 and the tr. Stella Doredo. 33.
262

Details

VEGA(
Destroyer (Nore Command)
Cdr. C.I. Horton, R.N.
28th May
1230
Sailed from Sheerness with and in sup-
Sheldrake while they conducted a
port of the corvettes Shearwater and
submarine search, and in support
"of the destroyers, ships and small
craft evacuating troops from Dunkirk".
-
Proceeded along searched channel Q. Z.S.
60 until Kwinte Bank buoy was abeam.
2026
Covered ships working on route Y.
Ordered Shearwater and Sheldrake to
patrol channel Q.Z.S.60 to the
westward, and to work in conjunction
with the corvettes Mallard and
Widgeon.
2138
When Vega was east of Kwinte Bank buoy
she was joined by the Polish
destroyer Blyskawica.
2330
Vega and Blyskawica patrolled between
T. & S. buoys.
29th May
0335
Both ships returned to eastward of
west Hinder buoy.
0648
Two torpedoes passed ahead of Vega
1
in position 51° 23' N., 2° 32' E.
Vega and Blyskawica counter attacked
and hunted until 1043.
1130ca
Directed by a plane, closed a sailing
boat and picked up 34 British and
Allied troops from Nieuport.
1715
Vega joined Sheldrake off T buoy and in
1750
company carried out a S/M search.
2010
Patrolling independently.
30th May
0330
Between U and W buoys, Sheldrake re-
joined.
2000ca
Vega and Sheldrake rendezvoused at R
buoy with Blyskawica and Widgeon.
2030
Picked up the crew of an Allied plane
near Y buoy.
2100
In company with Blyskawica, Widgeon and
Sheldrake, Vega patrolled between
R buoy and West Hinder.
2346/
Four French destroyers on opposite
2359
course passed at high speed.
31st May
0121
Heavy explosion heard to the north
eastward.
0145
Tracer bullets seen 4 miles to the
north eastward followed by a column
of flames 200 feet high. The French
destroyer Sirocco had been torpedoed
by an enemy M.T.B. 150 survivors
were picked up by Widgeon and 15 by
Blyskawica. (2)
0700
Vega relieved by the dr. Jackal.
Vega disembarked about 40 soldiers,
-
sailors and airmen.
Total 34
Authority - R.O. III, p.476.
(1) Not mentioned in D.R.
(2) The tr. Wolves picked up 50 and the tr. Stella Dorado, 33.
263

Details

FRIDAY, 31ST MAY
CHAP. VIII
Cyclone, was on her way to Dunkirk when, apparently between T buoy and the
West Hinder, the track of a torpedo was seen at 0121 crossing from port to
starboard 10 yards ahead; a minute later another track was seen to port,
and although avoiding action was taken the torpedo struck forward and con-
siderably damaged her, but the Cyclone was still able to steam and she pro-
ceeded back to Dover at 4 knots escorted by an English vessel; later, the
French torpedo boat Bouclier and then the French minesweeper Arras took
over the duty of escort. The Cyclone reached Dover at 1600, having trans-
ferred two serious casualties to an English M/B while on passage. She took
no further part in "Dynamo".
Siroco sunk
At 0145, some 20 minutes after this attack, the French destroyer Siroco, on
her way to Dover with 770 troops from Dunkirk, was hit near T buoy by 2
torpedoes fired by an E-boat which had stopped and was unseen in the dark-
ness; the destroyer Vega, on patrol 4 miles to the south-east, saw a column of
flame 200 feet high. The Siroco capsized shortly after. Survivors to the
number of 252 were picked up, 50 by the trawler Wolves, 21 by the trawler
Stella Dorado, 166 by the corvette Widgeon and 15 by the Polish destroyer
Blyskawica.
At 0700, the Vega, which had been on patrol since noon 28th May, was
relieved by the destroyer Jackal.
It was on this morning that clear evidence of the presence of enemy sub-
marines was obtained, for the Vimy, en route to Dunkirk, sighted the periscope
and conning tower of one between the North Goodwin buoy and the North-
West Goodwin buoy. A depth charge was dropped, and a hunt began in which
the trawlers Westella and Spurs, the corvette Sheldrake, and the Jackal joined,
but without success.
Conditions on the beaches
Meanwhile, conditions on the beaches were by no means favourable. Already
at 0400 a lop had started. At about 0600 the R.N.L.I. life boat Lord South-
borough was ferrying troops to the destroyer Icarus off Bray. 'There was a
nasty surf," said the coxswain of the life boat. "Troops were rushing out to
us from all directions and were being drowned close to us and we could not get
to them
it seemed to me we were doing more harm [than good] by drawing
the men off the shore, as with their heavy clothing, the surf was knocking them
over and they were unable to get up.
The whaler from the destroyer.
was
swamped, so was the motor pinnace that was working with the whaler, and so
it was all along the sands as far as I could see, both sides of us, and there was
not a boat left afloat".
At 0600 also, Lt. Col. R. L. Hutchins, M.C., Grenadier Guards, in command
of the War Department motor launch Swallow, arrived off Dunkirk, and des-
cribed the situation as follows: Dunkirk was under a pall of smoke from fires
which appeared to be mainly to the south and west of the port. There were
numerous wrecks outside the harbour, and along the beaches. There were
large numbers of troops on the shore as far as it was possible to see to the east-
ward, and the beach was strewn with all forms of motor transport. Along the
foreshore were a very large number of pulling boats, aground, capsized or
damaged, and abandoned. There were also a considerable number of motor
I Appendix J.2.
69

Details

Details

INDEX
Greatwood, Lt., 76.
Grenade, 28, 43-4 (damaged), 46, 50n (reported sinking), 55 (sunk).
Greyhound, 13 (bombards Calais) ; in Dynamo, 23, 27, 42 (damaged), 47 (remains in
action), 54n, 55n.
Grey Mist, 13.
Grimsby Town, 104, 110.
Grive, 38, 93 (sunk), 60, 90-1.
Grouse, 72n.
Guillemot, 114n, 117.
Gula, 71n.
Gulzar, 17, 60n, 114n, 118.
H.A.C., 71s.
Haig, 72n, 90.
Halcyon, 20, 28n, 45, 47n, 54n, 82, 86 (attacked), 91, 107n, 109, 114n, 117.
Hallett, Vice-Admiral T. J., (act. Cdre.), 49 (takes charge off Bray), 58, 79; leaves, 80 ;
effect of his arrival, 126.
Hancock, Capt. C. A., 29.
Handy Billie, 81.
Hanora, abandoned, 53 : sunk, 55.
Harris, Cdr. W. V. H., 13.
Harvester, 28n, 35-6, 47, 54n, 55n.
Harwich, F.O.I.C., 70; assistance to ships at, 94.
Havant, 46, 55n, 91 (sunk), 93.
Hawkinge, 5, 7.
Hebe, 44, 47n, 49, 50 (flag of R.A. Dover), 54n, 58 (hoists flag), 66, 67, 70, 76 (Whaler),
76n, 83 (slightly damaged), 84 (shoots down Heinkel).
Hebe II, 20, 24, 27, 28n.
Hemans, Lt. M. A., 81.
Henderson, Comdr. H. P., 22.
Hilda, 20, 29n, 32, 72n, 78, 90.
Hird, 37.
Hirschfield, A. B., C.A.L., 93.
Holford, Maj. C.F. L., R.M., 8.
Holkham, Capt. A., 38.
Holland, 111-2.
Holland, invaded, 1; surrenders, 2.
Holland-Martin, Lt. Cdr. D. E., 21.
Holmes, Maj.-Gen. W. G., 82.
Hondsrug, 20n, 24, 102, 114n, 116-7.
Hospital carriers, attacked, 16, 17, 43, 45, 104; space too valuable for them, 87.
Hound, 72n.
Howson, Capt. J. M.: S.N.O. Beaches, 49, 59; stops waste of boats, 60; returns to
Dover, 74; orders beach parties to embark, 79, 80; effect of his arrival, 126.
Hutchins, Lt. Col. R. L., 69-70.
Hythe, 32, 72n.
Icarus, 37-8 (damaged), 54 (makes two trips in 24 hours), 55n, 69, 83 (in collision), 87, 97
101 (in collision).
Impulsive, 20, 23, 27, 55n, 64n, 70, 83 (damages propeller).
Indépendence, 73n.
Ingénieur Cachin, 73.
Intrepid, 37, 38, 43 (damaged), 54n, 55n, 61n.
Inverforth, 34.
Ironside, General Sir Edmund (CIGS), 5.
Isle of Guernsey, 17, 45 (damaged).
Isle of Thanet, 19, 22n, 24, 28, 34 (sunk).
Ivanhoe, 37n-8, 54n, 55n, 77n, 83 (bombed), 86, 90-1 (damaged), 93.
Jackal, hunts submarine, 69.
Jacketa, 32n, 51n.
Jaguar, 28, 39, 41 (damaged), 42, 61n (in need of repair).
Java, 32, 42, 47.
Javelin, 28, 37-8, 54n, 55n, 61n, 105 (forbidden to sail).
Jeannie MacIntosh, 71n.
Jeune France, 62n, 73n.
200

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126
boat up and returnine to in the
daylight. Much the same thing happened- bombs dropped
around me and the machine guns rattled overhead, but I
was not so much worried about that as about keeping the
engines running and I was thankful to have no more trouble
with them.
I did not see my original "crew" again, SO I
dont know how they got on. No doubt they returned safe
and sound, as I and the "Naiad Errant" did.... the job
had been done.
NOTE
"Naiad Errant" a twin screw motor yacht of 9.12 gross
tonnage (7.56 register tonnage) was built by William
Osborn Limited of Littlehampton for Major and Mrs R.K.T.
Nightingale and launched there in June 1939. She was
registered at Littlehampton No. 167764 in 1939.
In May 1940 she was lying at Clarks Wharf Sunbury on
Thames when she was requisitioned by Admiralty during her
owners temporary absence in Bath, and steamed down river
the same night by Mr.H.C.H.Clark of Messrs Horace Clark
& Son, Sunbury - on -Thames assisted by a crew composed of
members of the Sunbury Auxiliary Fire Service to Ramsgate
where she was handed over to Admiralty.
On return from Dunkirk she was retained by Admiralty
refitted at Clark's Wharf Sunbury on Thames and has since
formed part of the "Mosquito Navy" engaged on coastal
patrol service. Her Owner Major R.K.T.Nightingale M.C.
is one of the crew of M.L. "Lady Ruth" of the Middlesex
Flotilla of the Upper Thames Patrol (Home Guard) Able Sea-
man Samuel Palmer D.S.M is now serving on H.M.S.Jackal.