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9.
ms:
Navalteer, Hove.
Dynamo 369.
R- 503 532
H.M.S. 1432
one No. : Hove 6286.
(Naval KING ALFRED,"
HOVE 3
No. 21/1358
20th June, 19 40
incia
The Vice Admiral,
DOVER.
Dunkirk Evacuation: Proby Temp. Sub. Lt. T. Laurie,R.N.V.R
with your telephone message 1745/15.
The enclosed report is forwarded in accordance
542
12
with N.O.I.C. Brightlingsea.
This Officer has now been discharged for duty
CAPTAIN
VICE ADMIRAL
24 JUN 1940
*
DOVER
Vynamo
noyal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

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H.M.S. "KING ALFRED"
533
12th June, 1940
Report: DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
By:
Proby. Temp. Sub. Lieut. T. Laurie, R.N.V.R.
7
beaches. the next five days was briefly as follows:-
May, to take My time table for river craft to Dunkirk to embark troops from 29th the
I was light sent draught to Sheerness with about 12 others on Wednesday,
Thursday, 30th May. Left Sheerness on "Maldon Annie* bound for
Ramsgate and Dunkirk.
Friday, 31st May. Reached Dunkirk in tow with engine broken down
cutter. and vessel derelict. Embarked men from the beach in & naval
12
Saturday, 1st June. In Ramsgate on harbour duties.
Sunday, 2nd June. To Dunicirk in motor boat "Wind of the Morning".
Monday, 3rd June. To Dunkirk in charge of tug "Dromodary".
I regret to report that "Maldon Annie", the small Thames pleasure
boat of which I was in charge had to be abandoned.at Dunkirk. The magneto of
her engine broke down before we reached Ramsgate and she vas then towed by the
convoying trawler "Strathelliott". "Mation Annie" was only built for river
work and she was not strong enough for the sea. The tow rope pulled all the
bollards and cleats out of her, one after another, (the fastenings wro & bit
nailsicktoo), and eventually it was only possible to tow with & strop right
round the boat. At the same time the pumps choked and could bot be freed,
as her bilge was full of rubbish, and she made water faster than - could sail.
By the time we reached Dunkirk after a slow crossing, she was derelict and
had to be left on the beach.
I transferred to a large diesel-engined barge and carried about
120 French troops to her in a Naval cutter. We left for Ranagate with & full
load about midnight.
I reported the next morning, (Saturday) to the Port Captain. That
day the only work available was landing troops from transports and carrying
orders to ships, but on Sunday I was able to get another motor boat, called
"Wind of the Morning".
We left in the late afternoon with a number of other notor boats;
enemy aircraft were about all the way across, and when we were 10 miles from
Dunkirk their fighters circled over us for some time in the dark. To vent.
dead slow so that the phosphorescence in our wake should not show us up and
after a time the enemy attacked the next boat ahead which replied with machine
gun fire. After two unsuccessful attacks the enemy went off and we went on
our way. Before reaching Dunkirk however, we were stopped by & British
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

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535
From :- Sub.Lieut. R.A.Forbes. R.N.V.R.
505
To
:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
G.V. Peterson, a civilian, who volunteered and was signed on at
I submit my report as requested. I recommend my Engineer
Shaerness. He obeyed orders explicitly and behaved very well
F
during operations off Dunkirk, even when, with a load of excited
French soldiers a bomb fell close enough to blow off half my
Knight, Christian, Clarke and Laurie who were particularly
anchor. I would also recommend Sub.Lieut.R.N.V.R. Bates, Bellamy,
energetic. Sub.Lieut. Clarke swam to the beach himself with a
12
de
line, to get some soldiers off.
ALFI
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

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It was now becoming obvious that to enable the IX Corps
to fall back in good order to the line of the Lower Seine,
a cover position would have to be held along. the River
Andelle, some 12 miles east of Rouen. General Evans, there-
fore, at once ordered his 3rd Armoured Brigade (in fact
reduced to some four weak squadrons of 30 tanks in all)
to stiffen up the right flank of Beauman's defensive line.
9. On the 8th June the German amoured drive continued
on the Axis Amiens - Rouen, and succeeded in penetrating
the weak British defences on the watershed butween the
Rivers Andelle and Bethune, west of Forges-Les-Baux.
Beauman's ill-equipped units, with the British tanks
supporting them, fell back to the line of the Soino.
That night German armoured units penstrated into Rouen,
and the French Tenth Army lost all touch from then onward
with its IX Corps in the Pouen - Dieppe cul-de-sac.
10. The 51st Division was thus completely cut off from
its proper line of retirement via Rouen. This was mainly
due to the failure or inability of the French High Command
to withdraw their left wing while there was still time
and space for this manoeuvre. Throughout all these
operations it was becoming clear that the French High
Command was issuing "die in the last ditch orders, which
their troops had no intention of carrying out. From this
time onwards, until the final evacuation of the B.E.F. on
was crushed and that it had little Intention of offering
the 18th, it was obvious that the spirit of the French Aray
serious resistance. This spirit was also shared by the
Headquarters literally ceased to function for 48 hrs; It
higher commanders; on the 8th June the Tenth French Army
had lost all touch, and its X Corps was broken and in full
retreat.
11. The had on the 9th June reached the line of
The 3rd Armoured and Brigada and Beauman's fragmentary units
the Seine Germans had ustablished bridgeheads at several points.
which had been refitting at Louviers, was put in to support
were withdrawn to reorganize, and the 2nd Amounted Brigade,
General hold de la Laurencie's south III Corps of Rouen. which was It was trying now to
being apparent to the 12. drive Tenth the It employed was Seine Laurie, that south-west French at sent an the elsewhere, this crossings able was out Army German critical towards and rushed to from France. cool-headed armoured while the up On Alencon juncture and the Armee three Its units ni placed with commander, de leading ht that Army Paris. and of & under Corps the view 12th/13th air brigade, 52nd Brigadier the to force were separating Division orders June were detached the
or it the Tenth Freuch right Army. sector of the III Corps frontenst of 8 miles of
Conches, took over the very exposed position, with & battalions gap on
on its right, in a and two newly arrived French
its left west of Evreux.
/AS

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Navalteer, Hove.
Dynamo 369.
D- 2'503 532
ms
H.M.S. 1432
one No. : Hove 6286.
(Naval KING ALFRED
HOVE 3
No. 21/1358
20th June, 1940
incia
The Vice Admiral,
DOVER.
Dunkirk Evacuation: Proby Temp. Sub. Lt. T. Laurie,R.N.V.R
The enclosed report is forwarded in accordance
with your telephone message 1745/15.
12
This Officer has now been discharged for duty
with N.O.I.C. Brightlingsea.
CAPTAIN
VICE
24 JUN ADMIRAL 1940
*
DOVER
Vynamo
noyal Navy.
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

Details

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H.M.S. "KING ALFRED"
533
12th June, 1940
501
Report: DUNKIRK EVACUATION.
7
By:
Proby. Temp. Sub. Lieut. T. Laurie, R.N.V.R.
May, to take light draught river craft to Dunkirk to embark troops from the
I was sent to Sheerness with about 12 others on Wednesday, 29th
beaches. My time table for the next five days was briefly as follows:-
Thursday, 30th May. Left Sheerness on "Maldon Annie* bound for
Ramsgate and Dunkirk.
Friday, 31st May. Reached Dunkirk in tow with engine broken down
cutter. and vessel derelict. Embarked men from the beach in & naval
12
Saturday, 1st June. In Ramsgate on harbour duties.
Sunday, 2nd June. To Dunicirk in motor boat "Wind of the Morning".
Monday, 3rd June. To Dunkirk in charge of tug "Dyomodary".
I regret to report that "Maldon Annie", the small Thames pleasure
boat of which I was in charge had to be abandoned,at Dunkirk. The magneto of
her engine broke down before we reached Ramsgate and she was then towed by the
convoying trawler "Strathelliott". "Mation Annie" was only built for river
work and she was not strong enough for the sea. The tow rope pulled all the
bollards and cleats out of her, one after another, (the fastenings wro & bit
nailsicktoo), and eventually it was only possible to tow with & strop right
round the boat. At the same time the pumps choked and could hot be freed,
as her bilge was full of rubbish, and she made water faster than - could sail.
By the time we reached Dunkirk after a slow crossing, she was dereliot and
had to be left on the beach.
I transferred to a large diesel-engined barge and carried about
120 French troops to her in a Naval cutter. We left for Ramagate with & full
load about midnight.
I reported the next morning, (Saturday) to the Port Captain. That
day the only work available was landing troops from transports and carrying
orders to ships, but on Sunday I was able to get another notor boat, called
"Wind of the Morning".
We left in the late afternoon with a number of other notor boats;
enemy aircraft were about all the way across, and when - were 10 miles from
Dunkirk their fighters circled over us for some time in the dark. la went.
dead slow so that the phosphorescence in our wake should not show us up and
after a time the enemy attacked the next boat ahead which replied with went machine
gun fire. After two unsuccessful attacks the enemy went off and we on
our way. Before reaching Dunkirk however, we were stopped by & British
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.

Details

View matching collection pages →

535
From :- Sub.Lieut. R.A.Forbes. R.N.V.R.
505
To
:- Naval Officer in Charge, Ramsgate.
I submit my report as requested. I recommend my Engineer
G.V. Peterson, a civilian, who volunteered and was signed on at
Shaerness. He obeyed orders explicitly and behaved very well
ports
during operations off Dunkirk, even when, with a load of excited
so th
French soldiers a bomb fell close enough to blow off half my
anchor. I would also recommend Sub.Lieut.R.N.V.R. Bates, Bellamy,
Knight, Christian, Clarke and Laurie who were particularly
te,
energetic. Sub.Lieut. Clarke swam to the beach himself with a
12
line, to get some soldiers off.
ALPI
The Captain's Secretary.
H.M.S. FERVENT.
RAMSGATE.