Details

DENIS PAPIN (A.D.48)
French M/S
trawlers
Lieutenant de vaisseau
PRESIDENT BRIAND
2nd Section)
J.F. Section. Raquez, S.O. 2nd
Lieutenant de vaisseau(
Le Talaer.
[Notes: (1) The times in this report appear to be
G.M.T.
(11) Movements from 29th - 31st May are as
recorded by the Venus]
29th May
0700
Sailed from Cherbourg for Dover, the
trawlers President Briand, Venus and
Moussaillon in company.
30th May
0500
The 4 trawlers anchored off Dover.
1400
The 4 trawlers sailed for Dunkirk to
evacuate French troops.
2100
Arrived Dunkirk. Entered the harbour
and embarked troops.
2120ca
The 4 trawlers sailed for Dover.
31st May
0400
Arrived Dover.
Denis Papin disembarked 177 troops. (1)
President Briand disembarked 166
troops. (2)
1000
The Denis Papin and President Briand
sailed for Dunkirk.
-
Arrived Dunkirk. Embarked troops
during an artillery bombardment;
about 30 troops on the quay were
killed by a shell burst.
-
Sailed for Ramsgate. In the Dunkirk
channel a bomb burst 50 yards to
starboard of the Denis Papin, killing
one soldier and seriously wounding
another.
1st June
0845(3)
The Denis Papin disembarked at Ramsgate
228 troops. (4)
0925(3)
The President Briand disembarked 117
French troops. (5).
1100ca
The Denis Papin and President Briand
sailed for Dunkirk by the northern
route. Three miles astern of them
were the Venus and Moussaillon.
1520
Denis Papin and President Briand, 1/01
mile north of 6 W buoy, were straddled
by shells from a battery east of
Gravelines. The Denis Papin's small
gun was unable to reply effectively,
so the two ships altered course away
with the intention of reaching
Dunkirk from the east. At this
moment, the Moussaillon and Venus,
on a southerly course, were closing
them.
1603
Eight bombers, flying low, were seen
(1) D.R. which names the ship "Devins Papin".
(2) D.R., which names the ship "president Buars".
(4) Ramsgate report, which names the ship "A.248", mention. and says
(3) B.S.T.
the troops were British. D.R. does not
(5) Ramsgate report. D.R. does not mention.
230

Details

VENUS (A.D.76)
French M/S trawlers
MOUSSAILLON
(2nd Section of
Enseigne de vaisseau
Minesweepers)
de R. Rosec.
[Note: The times in this report appear
to be G.M.T.]
29th May
0700
Sailed from Cherbourg for Dover, in
(s.o. 2nd Section), President Briand
company with the trawlers Denis Papin,
and Moussaillon.
30th May
0500
All four trawlers anchored off Dover.
1400
The four trawlers sailed for Dunkirk
to bring French troops to England.
2100
Arrived Dunkirk and went alongside
the quay opposite the "gare maritime
Shelled by a 4 inch battery; one
shell exploded on the Venus's stern
rail.
Embarked 115 troops and 1 officer in
1 hour.
2120ca
Sailed for Dover.
31st May
0400
Arrived Dover. The Denis Papin and the
1
President Briand first disembarked
their troops. After which the Venus
and the Moussaillon disembarked theirs
The numbers disembarked were as
0
follows:
Denis Papin 177(1);
President Briand 166(2);
Venus 116 (3);
Moussaillon
1000
The Venus wastordered to wait for the
Moussaillon; the Denis Papin and
President Briand sailed for Dunkirk.
1115
The Moussaillon having disembarked her
troops, she and the Venus sailed for
Dunkirk.
2000
The Venus and Moussaillon arrived at
Dunkirk after having been delayed
at No. 5 buoy off Mardyck by an air
attack.
2045
Secured alongside the landing quay and
embarked 350 troops in all, in the
two ships.
2055
The Venus and Moussaillon sailed,
during an artillery bombardment.
1st June
0400
The Venus and Moussaillon arrived at
Ramsgate.
0955(5)
The Moussaillon disembarked 156 French
1040(5)
The troops. Venus disembarked 102 British
troops. (7)
(1) D.R., which names the ship "Devins Papin".
D.R., which names the ship "president Buars".
(3)
Not mentioned in D.R.
Estimated; not mentioned in D.R.
(6) B.S.T.
Ramsgate report, which names the ship "Mensaillon".
D.R. does not mention.
(7) Ramsgate report.
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