Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

BRANLEBAS
French Torpedo boat
( (11th Torpedo boat
Capitaine de corvette
Division)
de Cacqueray.
2330
29th May
Sailed from Cherbourg.
0820
30th May
Anchored in the Downs by order of
the T/B Bouclier.
1045
Sailed for Dunkirk by the northern
route, the T/B's Bouclier and
1345
Bourrasque in company.
Between Middel Kerke and Nieuport
Banks the flotilla came under the
fire of shore batteries.
1440
Went alongside the Qua1 Felix Faure.
Embarked about 300 troops. Air
attack; bombs fell wide.
1525
Proceeded via the eastern channel.
Rejoined the Bourrasque and formed
line ahead 4 cables astern of her.
After passing Nieuport buoy, the
Bourrasque took the left of the
channel [through the French minefield]
to avoid shore bombardment.
1625
Heavy explosion took place in the
Bourrasque which disappeared from
view in a column of smoke and water,
about 44 miles north of the Nieuport
buoy. When the column subsided, the
Bourrasque appeared to have broken in
two and was sinking rapidly. It was
thought that she had struck a mine.
The Branlebas stopped and lowered
boats. Ships on the horizon were
signalled to assist. A small English
minesweeping craft [the drfr. Ut
Prosim] and a Dutch [?English] motor
boat joined in the rescue operations.
1635ca
The Bourrasque sank. Her captain stood
on her bridge saluting his ship.
(About 1/08 hour after she sank there
a heavy explosion in the wreck). 100
1835
The was Branlebas had picked up over
survivors; [the Ut Prosim picked up
about 65 of the crew and 200
Bresengers had drifted on to
During this time, the the
There were no more survivors in the the
French minefield.
1836
water, Bourrasque's bow, which had left come to to be
but some were seen on
collected Branlebas, the surface. by out already small These of the craft, overloaded, were minefield. and Kerke the
1852.
Regained proceeded the Nieuport - Middel Dover.
channel, en route for
Air Secured to a buoy at Dover.
attacks; no damage.
2015
2232
520
31st May
0130
Anchored off to wait for the
0910
P/V Rouen.
(1) D.R.
125

Details

BRANLEBAS
French Torpedo boat
(11th Torpedo boat
Capitaine de corvette
Division)
de Cacqueray.
29th May
2330
Sailed from Cherbourg.
30th May
0820
Anchored in the Downs by order of
the T/B Bouclier.
1045
Sailed for Dunkirk by the northern
route, the T/B's Bouclier and
Bourrasque in company.
1345
Between Middel Kerke and Nieuport
Banks the flotilla came under the
fire of shore batteries.
1440
Went alongside the Quai Felix Faure.
Embarked about 300 troops. Air
attack; bombs fell wide.
1525
Proceeded via the eastern channel.
Rejoined the Bourrasque and formed
line ahead 4 cables astern of her.
After passing Nieuport buoy, the
Bourrasque took the left of the
channel [through the French minefield]
to avoid shore bombardment.
1625
Heavy explosion took place in the
Bourrasque which disappeared from
view in a column of smoke and water,
about 44 miles north of the Nieuport
buoy. When the column subsided, the
Bourrasque appeared to have broken in
two and was sinking rapidly. It was
thought that she had struck a mine.
The Branlebas stopped and lowered
boats. Ships on the horizon were
signalled to assist. A small English
minesweeping craft [the drfr. Ut
Prosim] and a Dutch [?English] motor
boat joined in the rescue operations.
1635ca
The Bourrasque sank. Her captain stood
on her bridge saluting his ship.
was a heavy explosion in the wreck).
(About 1/08 hour after she sank there
1835
The Branlebas had picked up over 100
survivors; [the Ut Prosim picked up
about 65 of the crew and 200
passengers]. During this time, the
Branlebas had drifted on to the
French minefield.
1836
There were no more survivors in the
water, but some were seen on the
Bourrasque's bow, which had come to
the surface. These were left to be
collected by small craft, and the
Branlebas, already overloaded,
1852.
Regained the Nieuport - Middel Kerke
proceeded out of the minefield.
channel, en route for Dover.
2015
Air attacks; no damage.
2232
Secured to a buoy at Dover.
31st May
0130
Went alongside and disembarked 520
troops and survivors. (1)
Anchored off Folkestone to wait for the
0910
P/V Rouen.
(1) D.R.
125

Details

CHASSEUR 11
French S/M chaser
Enseigne Montillier. de vaisseau
30th May
1900
Sailed from Cherbourg for the Downs,
Palmer (1911 tons) and Caudebec
escorting the cargo ships Chateau
(1471 tons).
31st May
0800
1200
Arrived in the Downs.
Went alongside the Savorgnan de Brazza
in Dover harbour.
1400
Sailed Rouen. for Dunkirk, escorting the P/V
1900
Arrived Dunkirk, and secured alongside.
1st June
0500
Ch.11 was hit by a shell. Damage not
serious.
a.m.
Air attacks.
2nd June
A fire in an adjoining shipyard set
light to Ch.ll's bridge. The fire
was extinguished.
3rd June
1500
The Chasseurs 6 and 1 having arrived
from Havre, the Captains of the
three ships were sent for by Admiral
Abrial, who issued the following
orders:
Ch.6 was to sail immediately and
evacuate military officers;
Ch.11 and 7 were to remain at
immediate notice at the disposition
of the Admiral and his staff.
1900
Ch.6 sailed.
2200
Two fast French M/B's [V.T.B.25 and
V.T.B.26] came alongside the Ch.ll.
2300
Admiral Abrial embarked in one of the
M/B's V.T.B.25 his staff
embarked in Ch.11 and I, which also
embarked the last men from the quay.
2315
Sailed for Dover. (See Malcolm)
4th June
Fog all night.
0500
Arrived Dover. Chasseur 11(1)
disembarked 88.
Chasseur 7 disembarked 39.(2)
5th June
Sailed for Cherbourg, escorting a
convoy of French and Belgian
trawlers.
Total 88
Authority - French Admiralty record, Folio No.33.
(1) D.R. says "Chasseur".
(2) D.R.
183

Details

HIS MAJESTY
M/V (Owner, J. Mears Ltd.)
Cdr.E.C.
Coats
R.N.
29th May
June
2010
Routed to the east of Dunkirk, proceeded
to Sheerness for supplies.
No report of her activities while at
Dunkirk. and the Edvard Bissons
2117
M.A/S.B.I joined the convoy off the B.
Goodwin L.V. opposite Calais, Holland
VOS unable to maintain the 7: knots
Authority - Sheerness D.Y.1/01. convoy and soon lost sight of
Hearing Dunkirk, a tug(1) stowing
a very long line of boats" crossed
Hollands bown and further delayed har.
3rd June
0315ca
Asked M.A/8.B.7 to lead Holland into
Dunkirk. Shortly after, "a long
line of destroyers came out" or
Dunkirk. "Astern of them, there une
0 gap of over 6. mile and then a
large and feet transport."
(note: The following dentroyors left Dunkirk for Dover
at the times stated in brackets: Vanquisher
(0230), Shitshed (0245), Malcolm (0248),
Codrington (0250), Express (0250).
The following transporta left Dunkirk at the
times stated in brackets:
Newhaven 1,888 tons, 3 steam turbines (0245)
Tynwald
2,375 tone, 4 stem turbines
0500)
Rouen
1,882 total, 3 steam turbines
was in Dunkirk
in the early
hours of 3rd
June (see
Thomas Kirk
Wright, P+240))
Cote d'Argent [3,047 tone, 4 steam turbines) (landed
troops at Doyer
on 3rd June)]
L.A/3.B.7 led Holland through the ⑈
lesween the destroyer line and the
Pote
Anceue accession a
ransport. When the transport and
oubles away, and steaming very
'nst with the first streaks or dawn
ehind her, the danger of collision
us abordage 92 affarant
scase apparent, and Holland sounded
ne blast end put the wheel hard to
daws Bizafforth du
tarboard, The transport, says
3- Car. Qoats, Thas then only to e/o
Newhaven du Rown
to starboard 10 pass well clear....
owever she appeared to alter to
ort". Blue strock Holland hard on
et de Pa cote of Arguit
be bridge and Just before the boiler
DOB bulkhead. The transport *did
at appear to suotain much damage,
un Rousn n'a pas apparences as
scked out and carried on". As
alland had no buayancy In hand, her
Druckergue cath nuit la
intain ordered Fabandon ship" a
stant reste s'chous a burst
IV accounts bofore who wes struck.
de Pa. fater of Emberquetage
Tax milian de for forencise
the 3 ferries
Foremost G7-
Note by Odr. Cras of French Historical Dept.
36 37

Details

HOLLAND
Blockship
Lt.Cdr.E.C. Coats R.N.
2nd June
2010
Weighed and sailed from the Downs to
Dunkirk. In company were Vivacious
leading, and towing M.T.B.107;
the Westcove and the Edvard Nissen.
2117
M.A/S.B.7 joined the convoy off the 8.
Goodwin L.V. opposite Calais, Holland
was unable to maintain the 7½ knots
of the convoy and soon lost sight of
it.
Nearing Dunkirk, a tug(1) "towing
a very long line of boats" crossed
Hollands bows and further delayed her.
3rd June
0315ca
Asked M.A/S.B.7 to lead Holland into
Dunkirk. Shortly after, "a long
line of destroyers came out" of
Dunkirk. "Astern of them, there was
a gap of over a mile and then a
large and fast transport."
[Note: The following destroyers left Dunkirk for Dover
at the times stated in brackets: Vanquisher
(0230), Whitshed (0245), Malcolm (0248)
Codrington (0250), Express (0250).
The following transports left Dunkirk at the
times stated in brackets:
Newhaven
1,888 tons, 3 steam turbines
(0245)
Tynwald
2,376 tons, 4 steam turbines
0300)
Rouen
1,882 tons, 3 steam turbines
was in Dunkirk
in the early
hours of 3rd
June (see
Thomas Kirk
Wright, p.240))
Cote d'Argent [3,047 tons, 4 steam turbines) (landed
troops at Dover
on 3rd June)]
I.A/S.B.7 led Holland through the gap
etween the destroyer line and the
Note
Anceuse allution a
ransport. When the transport was
cables away, and steaming very
'ast with the first streaks of dawn
ehind her, the danger of collision
my abordage n'afparait
ecame apparent, and Holland sounded
ne blast and put the wheel hard to
daws Bizafforth du
tarboard. The transport, says
t. Cdr. Coats, "had then only to a/c
Newhaven / du Rown
to starboard to pass well clear....
owever she appeared to alter to
ort". She struck Holland hard on
et de Pa cote d Argent
he bridge and just before the boiler
Dom bulkhead. The transport "did
ot appear to sustain much damage,
be Rouen n'a pas appareises' de
acked out and carried on". As
olland had no buoyancy in hand, her
Dewkergue cette nuit la
aptain ordered "abandon ship" a
etant zaste' ichour a P 'oceast
W seconds before she was struck.
de Pa fatee' d' Embacquat age
feesgee are miliere de Pa fournea
due 3 freen
Foremost 87.
Note by Cdr. Cras of French Historical Dept.
37

Details

HOLLAND
Blockship
Lt.Car.E.C. Coats R.N.
2nd June
2010
Weighed and sailed from the Downs to
Dunkirk. In company were Vivacious
leading, and towing M.T.B.107;
the Westcove and the Edvard Nissen.
2117
M.A/S.B.7 joined the convoy off the 8.
Goodwin L.V. opposite Calais, Holland
was unable to maintain the 7½ knots
of the convoy and soon lost sight of
it.
Nearing Dunkirk, a tug(1) "towing
a very long line of boats" crossed
Hollands bows and further delayed her.
3rd June
0315ca
Asked M.A/S.B.7 to lead Holland into
Dunkirk. Shortly after, "a long
line of destroyers came out" of
Dunkirk. "Astern of them, there was
a gap of over a mile and then a
large and fast transport."
[Note: The following destroyers left Dunkirk for Dover
at the times stated in brackets: Vanquisher
(0230), Whitshed (0245), Malcolm (0248),
Codrington (0250), Express (0250).
The following transports left Dunkirk at the
times stated in brackets:
Newhaven 1,888 tons, 3 steam turbines
(0245)
Tynwald
2,376 tons, 4 steam turbines
0300)
Rouen
1,882 tons, 3 steam turbines
was in Dunkirk
in the early
hours of 3rd
June (see
Thomas Kirk
Wright, p.240))
Cote d'Argent [3,047 tons, 4 steam turbines) (landed
troops at Dover
on 3rd June)]
M.A/S.B.7 led Holland through the gap
between the destroyer line and the
transport. When the transport was
6 cables away, and steaming very
fast with the first streaks of dawn
behind her, the danger of collision
became apparent, and Holland sounded
one blast and put the wheel hard to
starboard. The transport, says
Lt. Cdr. Coats, "had then only to a/c
5° to starboard to pass well clear....:
However she appeared to alter to
port". She struck Holland hard on
the bridge and just before the boiler
room bulkhead. The transport "did
not appear to sustain much damage,
backed out and carried on". As
Holland had no buoyancy in hand, her
captain ordered "abandon ship" a
few seconds before she was struck.
(1) Either Sun X, Sunk XI or Foremost 87.
37A

Details

LADY CABLE
M/B (C.W. Mott)
Lieut. B.S. Fidler, R.N.V.R.
Actg. S/Lt. G.A. Cadell, R.N.
(Retd.)
1st June
1705
With Lieut. Fidler in command,
(assisted by Mr. F. Gooding and 2
naval ratings), left Dover in top of
the dfr. Golden Sunbeam.
2nd June
0030
Arrived Dunkirk beach. Ferried about
0305
560 troops, in 7 trips, to transports.
Sailed.
0815
Arrived Ramsgate. Disembarked 40
troops. (1)
1130
Sailed for Dover.
On arrival, Lt. Fidler and Mr. Gooding
disembarked and S/Lt. Cadell took
command.
1530
Sailed from Dover, with 2 life-boats
and one other craft, in tow of the
tug"Sun VI" [there was no such tug -
it was probably the Sun XI].
2230
Entered Dunkirk harbour. Ferried about
200 French troops to tugs and
"H.M.S. Wishart" (2) in 4 trips.
3rd June
-
On the 5th trip, embarked 24 French
troops. When nearly outside the
harbour, the Lady Cable's engine
broke down.
Seing the W.D/M.L. Haig nearby with
her engines, running, S/Lt. Cadell and
0330ca
Cadet rating Price boarded her and
found her deserted. She had some
water forward, and extensive damage
on the port bow. The Lady Cable was
placed in tow of the Haig, which
proceeded. For several hours only
slow progress was made.
0730ca
One of the Haig's engines broke down;
but Lady Cable's engine having by
now been re-started, she proceeded
with the Haig in tow.
-
Contacted a four funnelled French
destroyer, believed to be the "X.440",
and the French soldiers were trans-
ferred to her.
Lady Cable proceeded with the Haig
in tow, which now proved so difficult
an operation that after several mis-
haps, it was decided to abandon the
Haig. [She was eventually brought
back by R.A.F. personnel].
Lady Cable's engine again broke down,
and the vessel drifted for several
Contacted hours. the P/V Rouen, loaded with
-
troops, and asked that the Lady
Cable's crew should be taken on board
but the Rouen refused, and steamed
The away. S.S. City of Christchurch which
was in sight, took the Lady Cable in
tow to the Downs.
(1) (2) There Not mentioned was vessel in Ramsgate of this report. name in Operation Dynamo.
no
134

Details

3
PANGBOURNE - Continued.
0646
30th May
Sighted the S. Goodwin L.V. and was
(contd.
Mosquito. (1)
led into Dover by the G/B
1000
At Dover, disembarked 450 troops, and
the wounded and dead.
2000
1st June
Damage repaired but compasses still
out of action. Sailed to rendezvous
with the M/S Halcyon at N. Goodwin.
Did not find her. (2)
-
Now too late to go to the beaches, BO
proceeded eastward to assist ships
returning in difficulties.
2nd June
0532
Passed T buoy.
Off S buoy, transferred 23 British
troops from the tr. Stella Rigel.
1030
Arrived Dover. Disembarked 23 troops.
2000
Proceeded to Dunkirk in company with
the M/S's Halcyon and Speedwell.
3rd June
0030
Entered Dunkirk harbour. Ordered by
R.A. Dover to wait outside, as there
were no troops.
0200
A life-boat with 43 French troops and
4 officers came alongside and embarked
They stated that they were from a
French vessel, which had run aground
on a sandbank. (3)
Ordered by R.A. Dover to return to
England.
0215
Followed the M/S Albury until clear
of the channel and then made for
Folkestone.
-
Arrived Folkestone. Disembarked 47
troops.
Total 920
Authority - R.O.I, p.327.
The following awards were made:
D.S.O.
Actg. Cdr. F. Douglas-Watson, R.N.
C.G.M.
L/sto. R.K. Robb.
Mention in Despatches (Posthumous)
P.O. W.G. Hoare.
Mention in Despatches.
L/Sea. A. Reid.
(1) Not mentioned in Mosquito's report.
(3) Probably the French mail packer Rouen.
(2) She was delayed and had not left harbour.
378

Details

ROSABELLE
OD
&
F.V. (Owner, J.C. Wood)
Nameo of Cozn. and
Shoreham
orew are not known.
Did not return from Operation Dynamo.
Said to have made 1 trip to the benches and 1 to
Dunkirk harbour. [See also R.M.E.D.)
Authority - TO.9144 the report by P.O. Cooley of the
M.IV TO.9436
1st June
1718
On the way to Dunkirk, Joined company
with the M.L/B's E.M.B.D. and Abdy
Beauclerk. Air attacks.
1821
The Rosa Wood and Phyllis Lunn and the
Abdy Beauclerk turned back.
According to C.W. 29685/40, the Rosa Wood and Phyllis Lung
which is erronsously said to be the Newhaven life boat :
2rd/3rd
pm
Went to Dunkirk harbour and ferried to
June
ships about 700 troops.
Assisted to remove troops from the
B/V Rouen aground in the harbour.
3rd June
Returned to Dover. Disembarked 51
troops. (2)
It is considered that this report does not apply to the
Rosa Wood but to the Cegil and Lilian Philpott (q.v.)
Authority - .W.29685/40.
The following awards were made to the crew of the Newhaven
life boat, not to the Shorsham life boat. Bee, Cecil and
Lilian Philpott.
D.B.M.
A.B. W.J. Morris.
Mentionin Despatches
Sto. 1st 01. W. Spray.
0.8.
T.E. Whyte, R.N.V.R.
(1) Supplement 34925, to the London Gazette of 16th August 1940
erroneously calls this the Newhaven life boat.
(2) D.R.
32
33

Details

ROSA WOOD & PHYLLIS LUNN(1)
R.N.L.I.
Names of Coxn. and
Shoreham
crew are not known.
life boat
Said to have made 1 trip to the beaches and 1 to
Dunkirk harbour. [See also E.M.E.D.]
According to the report by P.O. Cooley of the
M.L/B E.M.E.D. :
1st June
1718
On the way to Dunkirk, joined company
with the M.L/B's E.M.E.D. and Abdy
Beauclerk. Air attacks.
1821
The Rosa Wood and Phyllis Lunn and the
Abdy Beauclerk turned back.
According to C.W. 29685/40, the Rosa Wood and Phyllis Lunn
(
which is erroneously said to be the Newhaven life boat )
:
2rd/3rd
pm
Went to Dunkirk harbour and ferried to
June
ships about 700 troops.
Assisted to remove troops from the
P/V Rouen aground in the harbour.
3rd June
Returned to Dover. Disembarked 51
troops. (2)
It is considered that this report does not apply to the
Rosa Wood but to the Cecil and Lilian Philpott (q.v.)
Authority - C.W. 29685/40.
The following awards were made to the crew of the Newhaven
life boat, not to the Shoreham life boat. See Cecil and
Lilian Philpott.
D.S.M.
A.B. W.J. Morris.
Mention in Despatches
Sto. 1st Cl. W. Spray.
O.S.
T.E. Whyte, R.N.V.R.
(1) Supplement 34925 to the London Gazette of 16th August 1940,
erroneously calls this the Newhaven life boat.
(2) D.R.
33

Details

-1-
ROUEN( 1)
French vessel
31st May
to
Disembarked 800 troops. = (the
1st June
Route
they
Disembarked 800 troops. X
3rd June Disembarked 1,286 troops.
On 27th May, the V.A. Dover reported to the Total 2,886 the
channel, Dover to Dunkirk (the southern
impracticable in daylight owing to fire from shore batteries
from Les Hemmen to Gravelines.
Consequently, the northern Route Is via Dyck whistle buoy,
Middel/Kerke buoy and Zuydgooote pass, had to be used instead,
Authority - D.R. round trip from 80 miles to 172. Route Y
had to be used before it could be swept. (1)
Work was also commenced on a new channel (the middle Route X)
from the North Goodwin to the Ruytingen Pass, and thence into
S
the Dunkirk rondar(2), thus shortening the round trip from 172
miles to 108.
On 28th May, all thips proceeding to Dunkirk from Dover were
ordered to use Man aprocud Sunhuh harbour
from No.6 Calais Bell+Buoy to Dunkirk could be made in darkness
This order continued in operation, even after Route X was
brought into gene on no glu of 2/3 gime HVA)
On 29th May, during the forenoon, the drs. Jaguar, Oallant and
Grenade were desputched via the middle Route Xg to test the
opposition by shore batteries. On arrivel at Dunkirk, Grenade
reported no fire from shore batteries.
In the early after Rouen Route rere X still was brought route-ed into via use Route for VD
shortly after noon, however, enemy batteries near Nieuport,
At ordered 1606, to Route use X Nas cheffres dounent all ships
brought the Zuydecoote under spasmodic gunfire.
were
Note: Route X passed of
2150 debarques en U.K.
Route mais the ey plus 420 was enemy
shielda Ruytingen charbourg It failed appears in the to
that to (hate the enemy by belr bras of French
On been 18.8 arrunged to sail personnel ships
the 29th May also, secording to D.R., the northern Route Y
Histonical Section)
having to Dunkisk et anylight, and to continue to sail throughout
(1) 4 The M/S's Gossemer and ROSS swept a section on of the the forenoon route
between buoys
of
29th
(howsor)
(2)
(3)
B. double North Goodwin
The M/B's ROSS the at
(1) See M.L.B. Thomas Kirk Wright.
40

Details

Details

Page 103.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Motor-Boat AURA and Michael H.M. Drifter YORKSHIRE LASS. Sub,Lieutenant
Adam Anthony Chodzko, R.N.V.R. -
Recommendation.
showed capped by extremely unreliable engine of his Handi- he
off the the beaches for 12 hours on June let.
Sub. -Lieutenant Chodzko performed valuable work
craft and great determination in making the best boat,
final breakdown of his motor-boat, he was appointed
ferrying a large number of troops. use After of his the
Skipper of H. M. Drifter YORKSHIRE LASS and under
work 2nd. in the Inner Harbour, Dunkirk, on the night of June
command of Lieutenant-Commander Prior, R.N., did excellent the
Recommended for mention.
Motor-Boat SKYLARK and Lowestoft Lifeboat MICHAEL STEPHENS. Sub.-
Lieutenant Marwood J. R. Yeatman.
Recommendation.
in tow for Dunkirk, Tow failed and Sub. -Lieutenant
Took charge of motor-boat SKYLARK on the 31st May
Yeatman returned to port and did valuable work in over-
hauling the engines of motor boats which had broken down.
Next day he proceeded in SKYLARK to Dunkirk and resoued
survivors of various bombed ships, returning to Dover under
own power p.m. Next day commissioned MICHAEL STEPHENS,
Lowestoft Lifeboat, with a crew of two stokers and one
A.B. Spent the night in Dunkirk harbour ferrying troops.
Climbed on to the Mole under shell-fire and by means of
forecful language and the rifle-butt induced French
troops, who were lying on the Mole, to embark. Reached
Dover with a full load of troops after a 6 hour voyage
under own power. Displayed considerable determination
and initiative.
Recommended for mention.
Newhaven Lifeboat ROSA WOOD and PHYLLIS LUND. - Able Seaman W.J.
Morris, P/JX. 26097, in Command.
Recommendations.
RATINGS:
Able Seaman W. J. Morris, P/JX.26097.
With a crew of one stoker and one ordinary seaman,
carried out two independent trips to the beach and to Dunkirk
harbour. Encountered great difficulty off the beaches due
to deep draught of lifeboat, and during the night rescued a
number of troops from motor-launch and drifting boats off
shore. Was dissatisfied with his efforts and proceeded
back to Dunkirk harbour, where during the night 2/6 - 3/6
under artillery fire ferried off about 700 troops to various
ships, and assisted in removing troops from the personnel
vessel ROUEN aground in the harbour. Finally returned to
Dover with a full load. This was Morris's first experience
as Coxswain of any boat. He showed great determination and
gallantry under fire in his independent command.
Recommended for decoration.

Details

208
195
my left foot.
especially as I was partially incapacitated by a wound on
As we were a long way from the French coast I decided
that there was very little chance of HAIG falling into enemy
hands and that no doubt help would soon be forthcoming in
reply to the wireless message I had asked X440 to send.
I hauled down HAIG's ensign and took it aboard LADY CABLE and
we tried to make towards the English coast. Unfortunately
the engine kept stopping and we made very slow progress and
finally nothing would make our engine start again. We
drifted helplessly for several hours and then sighted a Bell
Buoy which I believe may have been the N.W. Goodwin Bell
Buoy, but we did not get close enough to make sure. At
last we sighted a warship and waved HAIG's White Ensign to
try to attract stention. We were seen and the ship altered
course towards us and came up close to LADY CABLE. She was
the French transport ROUEN of Dieppe and was packed with
troops from Dunkirk. An officer asked what I wanted and I
told him that we were broken down and asked to be taken
aboard. To my surprise my appeal was met with a blunt
"No" - with no explanation, and the ROUEN steamed away.
My crew and I felt angry at this in view of the fact that
we had rescued over 200 French soldiers during the night.
No doubt the ROUEN had good reasons for not taking us aboard
but no explanation was given and I would like if possible
to discover why she was unable to help us.
Luckily another ship some considerable distance away
had noticed the ROUEN and observed that she had not picked
us up. This ship was the CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH and she
came up and took us in tow to the Downs where she was bound
for in ballast. On arrival in the Downs where CITY OF
CHRISTCHURCH dropped anchor, we were able to start up the
engine of LADY CABLE and I decided once again to try to make
for Dover. However, we broke down after a run of about
15 minutes and were picked up by a tug (Operational I
don't know her name). She had orders to proceed to Ramagate
with H.M. Drifter VIKING in tow and was about to do this
when we broke down near her. She towed us to the VIKING
and I boarded the VIKING to have my injured foot attended
to and get some rest. VIKING and LADY CABLE were towed round
to Ramsgate where we arrived about 2100. I was landed and
taken to "Merrie England" and then to Ramagate General
Hospital.
The Commanding Officer of VIKING at my request reported
the return of LADY CABLE and that one member of my crew,
Cadet Rating Price was missing but might be aboard French
warship X440. He also reported direct to C. in C., Dover,
about HAIG. A little later, while I was still at "Merrie
England", the Commanding Officer of VIKING arrived to tell
me that he had been informed from Dover that HAIG was safe.
Unfortunately he had no news for me of Cadet Rating Price.
The behaviour of my crew throughout the operation had
been magnificent. The taking off of over 200 French troops
and 6 British from the Mole was conducted quickly and
calmly under difficult and hazardous conditions. Later,
Cadet Rating Price's work in helping to get the HAIG along-
side LADY CABLE cannot be too highly praised. Without the
great initiative and efficiency he displayed the operation
would not have been successful and the HAIG would have
drifted ashore to the S.W. of Dunkirk.
After/

Details

243
221
OPERATION
NO.16
SHIP:-
THOMAS KIRKWRIGHT LIFEBOAT. BOURNEMOUTH.
REPORTING:-
L.S. HUNTINGTON IN COMMAND
Date of
Date of
Name
arrival
Service
leaving
at Dover
Boats
L.S.
H.Huntington.
26th.
A.B. E.H.Bletchford. 25.V.
First trip to Dunkirk bombed
Sto. R.Gibbs.
and machine gunned by air-
craft and kept off shore by
gunfiro from shore latteries.
27th.
Second time over, just the
same, but got troops off the
beach East of Dunkirk. Tried
to save survivors from 2 or
3 trawlers blown up. One
French other English.
2nd.
Third trip towed over by &
tug which alipped them 15 miles
from Dunkirk. Made their own way
to Dunkirk forrying troops from
harbour (on own initiative as
there were no troops on the
beach), between 2315 and 0430.
Found a Lieutenant Commander
Higham,R.N. on board a ship in
Dunkirk Harbour the ROUEN and
brought him to Pyince of Vales
Pier. While taking him off were
fired at by German soldiers at
25-40 yards, no casualties.
French sailors on board. Germans
had automatic guns on stands and
rifles. When trying to get out
found one engine completely
burnt out and boat making water.
Returned to Dover on one engine.

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164
163
APPENDIX I.
Page 2
of
and final.
181
Operation "DYNAMO"
-
Narrative of Events.
FLARE BURNING
BOY ROY
GOLDEN GIFT
PAXTON
DRIFTER:
EILEEN EMMA
GOLDEN SUNBEAM
SHIPMATES
FORECAST
LORD HOWARD
THE BOYS
GERVAIS RENTOUL
LORD HOWE
TORBAY II
GIRL GLADYS
MIDAS
UT PROSIM
GIRL PAMELA
NETSUKIS
YORKSHIRE LASS
YOUNG MUN
GUARDSHIPS AND
LORMONT
MONA'S ISLA
KING ORRY
A.B.V's:
LLANTHONY
CORVETTES:
KINGFISHER
G
ILLEMOT
F.A.A.
AIR FORCE
GRIEVE
AMULREE
TRAINING VESSEL:
M.T.B's:
16
M.A.S.B's:
6
67
7
68
10
100
102
107
PERSONNEL SHIPS:
ARCHANGEL
LOCH GARRY
PRINCESS MAUD
AUTOCARRIER
LORINA
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
BEN MY CHREE
HAID OF ORLEANS
ROUEN
BIARRITZ
MALINES
ROYAL DAFFODIL
CANTERBURY
MANX MAID
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
COTE D'ARGENT
MANX- MAN
SCOTIA
FENELLA
MONA'S QUEEN
ST. HELIER
KILLARNEY
NEWHAVEN
ST. SEIRIOL
KING GEORGE V
NORMANIA
TYNWALD
LADY OF MAN
PRAGUE
OSPITAL CARRIERS: DINARD
ISLE OF GUERNSEY ST. ANDREW
ISLE OF THANET ST DAVID
PARIS
ST JULIAN
WORTHING
OTE:
In addition, some 23 of H.M. Trawlers, Drifters and
Yachts of the Nore Command assisted by taking one or more
tows of boats to the coast.

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APPENDIX
to
1st June
Page 7
Operation "DYNAMO" Narrative of Events.
DESTROYERS
PERSONNEL SHIPS
MINESWEEPERS
PADDLE MINESWEEPERS
SKOOTS
FRENCH DESTROYERS
VANQUISHER (I)
640
ST. HELIER
659
GOSSAMER
845
QUEEN OF THANET 850
DEMOK
114
FLORE
351
HAVANT
882
LADY OF MANN
870
NIGER
310
SANDOWN
800
ORANJE
100
BOUCLIER
300
WHITEHALL (I)
871
MAID OF ORLEANS 1856
FITZROY
67
ORIOLE
470
HEBE
365
SCIMITAR (I)
584
TYNWALD
2000
LYDD
252
PRINCESS ELIZABETH 510
AEGIR
130
WOLSEY
533
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
47
LEDA
650
MEDWAY QUEEN
700
ANTJE
150
MALCOLM
1200
KING GEORGE V
700
DUCHESS OF
WESTWARD HO
918
PACIFICO
414
WORCESTER (I)
661
BEN-MY-CHREE
2080
FIFE
535
WIPPINGHAM
2500
AMAZONE
111
WINDSOR
493
ST. HELIER
1250
HALCYON
243
QUEEN OF THANET 1500
HILDA
530
VIVACIOUS
427
ROUEN
800
SALAMANDER
479
WESTWARD Ho
900
RIKA
200
Total 58,4
VANQUISHER (II)
1200
COTE D'ARGENT 1000
SPEEDWELL
972
FRISO
648
HARVESTER
576
SALTASH
400
ICARUS
1114
QUEEN OF THE
ROSS
260
CODRINGTON
746
CHANNEL
52
DUNDALK
280
SABRE
451
HALCYON
508
SHIKARI
623
SALTASH
400
DRIFTERS
MISCELLANEOUS
453
HOSPITAL SHIPS
FOREIGN VESSELS
WINCHELSEA
1150
SUTTON
SCIMITAR (II)
376
KELLETT
40
Miscellaneous 1110
FOREMOST
200
ESK (I)
979
WESTWARD Ho
900
ST. ANDREW 130
INCENIEUR CACHIN
1
GOLDEN GIFT
123
VINCIA
108
PATRIE
WHITEHALL
(II)
34
157
GRIEVE (F.A.A.
GASTON RIVER
120
WORCESTER
(II)
900
OCEAN BREEZE
TRAWLERS
Trg. vessel)
374
MISCELLANEOUS (Cont.)
MONIQUE CAMILLE
302
JACKETA
564.
MOSQUITO (Gunboat) 610
REINE DE FLOTS
62
LORD INCHCAPE 240
LOCUST
"
620
LADY
ANDRE LOUIS
317
17.97
SATURN
307
NEPHRITE
500
SOUTHBORO
350
CHALUTIER
100
D. TRAWLER
100
ESKBURNE
27
RAPID
25
CHASSEUR MARIE
117
GRIEVE (Yacht)
411
MAYSPEAR
15
NORMANVILLE
500
647
UNNAMED M.B.
23
TENIAS
100
ONDERS ONS
95
II's CHANNEL
108
GALLEON
FRANSAH
500
KINGFISHER (A/S Exp.
REACH
123
Ship) (I)
180
HOPPER 24
580
KINGFISHER
-do-
(II)210
LLANTHONY
90
IOLANTHE
35
(ex serv.vessel)
10593
173171
THREE KINGS
59
GOLDEN EAGLE
KINGSGATE
910
(sp.serv.) 1250
CHRISTOBEL II
33
ROYAL EAGLE
10503
OLIVIA
103
(AA Ships)1250
ATHOLA
6
ROEBUCK (Coastal steamer)408
Lifeboat
35
MINWOOD
=
51
509
MONA'S ISLE
(A.B.V.)
1500
FL
TB
S
3
e
S
d
it

Details

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Details

length of piling runs out parallel to East Pier 295
292
wide. encloses the entrance to this channel - about 150 and
A new series of docks under construction has yards
into the harbour by this entrance is the West Quay.
entrance opening off the inner harbour, and jutting out an
93
West Quay was used entirely by the French; luckily for us
they did not consider East Pier suitable for embarkation. to
All British troops were embarked from East Pier, and on
se
last 2 days a large number of French troops also.
Bi g rise and fall of tide: at H.W. can step straight on
a destroyer's deck, but at L.W. it was a 15 ft. drop.
Many ladders were sent over and secured to sides of pier,
O
but sobdiers with rifles and packs took a long time to get
down ladders.
When I first went in (30th) there was a trawler (c) sunk
alongside pier and another ship (A) sunk outside the end.
The trawler and drifter shown sank later, as also the
(9
blockships.
4 berths alongside East Pier could be used. Inner one (F)
only by small ships at L.W., but at H.W. personnel ships
(7
could get into B, D and E.
On 24th May, KING ORRY had rammed the pier during a bombing
raid and made a large gap in it abreast E berth: until
this was bridged outer berths could not be used as roadway
along pier was cut. Harbour very shallow to the west of
West Quay, and place where ROUEN went ashore on night of
2nd June when leaving the quay is shown - also where
KELLETT grounded on night of 3rd June.
As soon as HEBE got alongside East Pier I went to local
Naval H. Q., while she was quickly filled up with 6-700
some of them wounded.
men, Naval H.Q. were established in a dug-out at shore end of
East Pier. This area was not large and was separated
from mainland by a bridge over a cabal. Surface was
uneven and covered with heaps of rubble; there was a
and a few ambulances, cars and wounded men.
Bofors small gun staff of the SNO, Captain Tennant, did wonderful the
The controlling the embarkation and dealing with shell
work ashore: they worked under constant Tennant fire
and were was away with the General, but was and that
situation short of sleep and food. Did not informed see that
as he of troops were ready to embark at sent pier in.
plenty would take all ships that could be East
At this cut off the end, so that the only Later, accessible this
they time gap in roadway halfway along Pier
completely points were inside this point. along its
embarkation bridged so that pier could be alongside. used whole
Had intended to keep HEBE as my headquarters, so she had
length gap was except where ships were sunk
not been used to embark any troops from beaches. Felt this I
could not refuse to do this at Dunkerque, and once
done the question of their disposal arose.
was returned to beaches and sent any surplus ships to load to
(8)
I Dunkerque, and from then on had continually to and try needs
hold beaches and Dunkerque. Also reported that, essential to more
at the balance between the respective claims until
boats of were available for ferrying, it was itself.
Explanation why Dunkerque was then being so little used
concentrate on evacuation from Dunkerque
and 25th so May, Dunkerque was heavily attacked from sunk, the and air
much effort expended on beaches:-
On harbour was full of ships. GRENADE was
when ORRY and several other ships alongside piers Party were ashore hit.
KING result of this, a junior member of Naval of the day,
whose off in a car to La Panne where he Dunkerque and
a judgment had been affected by events saw Lord Gort
dashed Admiralty that further embarkation from sending al
phoned was impossible. Dover was, therefore, took 2 days to
itself to beaches and none to Dunkerque: which had a
ships overcome results of this indiscretion, consi
erable temporary effect on the plans.

Details

13
305 302
The difficult west-going tide, with a fresh easterly
tide turned at about 2300. Used the MA/SB to push one
to get ships alongside the East Pier wind, until made the it
destroyer in and tried to get other small craft to do
likewise. By this time the French had come to life and
many of their small craft filled the narrow harbour.
The MA/SB's clutch out of action - could not go astern.
2200
4 destroyers had been got away by 2200, and the last of
the B.E.F. was clear soon after.
Then a long pause. The French should have followed our
men on the East Pier, but they ddd not appear. Could see
crowds of soldiers on West Quay, but as there seemed a
scarcity of French ships I sent 2 personnel ships there.
One was ROYAL SOVEREIGN, which was handled magnificently -
went alongside bows out. Other was ROUEN (French cross-
Channel steamer): in getting away she got broadside on to
the wind and grounded just to the westward of the quay.
Sent a tug to assist her, but she drew too much water to
get near: also a lifeboat to get men away. Think men were
got away; ship floated off with next tide in daylight and
then returned in safety.
3rd June. A most disheartening night. Flow of French troops to the
(36)
East Pier stopped for some hours. One report = they were
held up to make a counter-attack. When they did come it
was almost impossible to get them to the ships at the end
of the pier: they all wanted to get into the first they
came to, and pier was so narrow that they then blocked the
way to any ships beyond. One ship lay for 3½ hours at
the end berth waiting for men. Finally, began to trickle
down, but was then obvious that many of ships waiting out-
side could not be used and I had to send back empty 2
personnel ships, 3 destroyers and several Fleet sweepers.
Dawn
French coming down faster, and as time of leaving got
closer tried to make them double down the pier. Even then
they were quite hopeless. Saw men who were on the way to
the end ship turn and run back up the pier, because they
saw another ship coming alongside farther in.
0300
Again I ordered ships to leave at 0300, and waited to see
the last go and to hail the 2 blockships as they passed up
harbour shortly after, accompanied by MTBs which were to
take off the crews.
One blockship was sunk as arranged across the channel, but
the other shifted as she was blown up and lay up and down
the channel, leaving a clear passage. Either this night
or the next one blockship was blown up on a magnetic mine
After seeing the blockships pass up harbour, the MA/SB took
just outside the harbour.
us back to Dover in time to get 2 hours' rest before
breakfast. Last night's results were very disappointing and only
24,000 men were embarked. Many more could have been taken
but for the long pause in the flow of troops to East Pier.
After the Naval ratings had left at 2300 there was some
difficulty in getting ships berthed, as the French did
nothing to replace our men although the Port was the H.Q.
of a Naval Command and there were always plenty of French
marines in evidence.
Was informed at Dover that there was to be another embarka-
tion that night, but that this really would be the end.
Each night had been thought to be the last, and then each
(37)
day the ships had been asked for one more effort. By the this
time many of the Commanding Officers and men were at
limit of their endurance, and the VA did not feel he could
order ships to go over. Signal asking what ships 6 were
ready and able to go. Finally, 10 transports, 2 yachts, destroyers
8 1 gunboat, 10 drifters, 5 schuyts and 1 tug were collected. boats
minesweepers, 4 paddle sweepers, 2 corvettes,
Besides these, a large number of small craft and as
before.
For

Details

312
315
- 7 -
high tide personnel ships could get into B, D and E.
30/5
The "KING ORRY" during a bombing attack on 24th May rammod the pier /29th
and made a large gap in it abreast E borth; until this WO.ES bridged the
outer berths could not be used as the roadway along the pier was cut. The
harbour was very shallow to the west of the West quay, and the place where
the "ROUEN" went ashore on the night of 2nd June when leaving the Quay is
shown - also where the "KELLETT" grounded on the night of 3rd Juno.
As soon 2B "HEBIG" got alongside the East Pier I made my way up to the
Local Naval Headquarters while the "HEBE" was quickly filled up with six to
seven hundred men - some of them wounded.
The Naval Headquarters were established in a dug-out at the shore end
of the East Pier. This area was not large and VISA separated from the main-
land by a bridge over a canal. The surface was uneven and covered with heaps
of rubble. there was a Bofors gun and a fow ambulances, dust-stained dis-
hevelled cars and wounded men. I was greeted by some of the staff of the
S.N.O., Captain Tennant. This small band of Officers with a party of
ratings did wonderful work controlling the embarkation and doaling with
the situation ashore. They worked under constant shellfire and were short
of sleep and food. While I was waiting there, shelling of the area began
and we retired to the dug-out entrance - but were urged by a French soldier
to go further down and round the corner as he said the direction of the fire
was straight into the entrance. I did not see Tonnant as he was away some-
where with the General, but I learnt that there were plenty of troops ready
to embark at the pier and they would take all the ships that could be sent
in.
At this time the gap in the roadway half way along the East Pier
completely out off the end, so that the only berths where we could
embark were inside this point. Later this hole was bridged DD that the whole
pier could be used except where ships were sunk alongside.
It had been my intention to keep "HERE" as my headquarters, and for
this reason she had not taken any troops on board from the beaches. I did
not feel I could refuse to fill her up at Dunkirk, and onco this was done
the question of their disposal inovitably arose. On leaving Dunkirk I

Details

343
340
- 35 -
2/6
boat wore not soon egain und X had to nend the survivor book on 10 hed only
one engine and was too badly damaged to be of use.
We got over about 2030 and went in and picked up Gonoral Aloxander and
his staff. I transferred them to a destroyer shortly after, and in her
General Mansergh was later killed by a machino-sun bullet from 0. pl: no then
close to Dover. Tennant and the last of his party loft in on M.T.B. as soon
as the last of the British troops had gono.
The outer part of the East Fier was not built solid but was of concrete
piles through which the Westgoing tide set. This, coupled with a fresh
Eastorly wind, made it very difficult for ships to got alongside until the tido
turned about 2300. We used the M.A.S.B. to push one destroyer in and tried to
get other small craft to do likewise. By this time the French had come to life
and a large number of their small craft of overy sort, size and description filled
the narrow harbour. To make matters môre complicated the M.A.S.B.'s clutch
went wrong and she could not go astern. Turning in that harbour became most
dangerous in consequence as hoats of all sorts boro down on us from both directions.
By 2200, however, in spite of the tide and wind, 1/- destroyers hed got any and the
last of the B.E.F. was clear soon after.
Then there was a long pause. The French should have followed OU2* men on
the East Pier but they did not appear. I could see crowds of beholmetted
figures at the West quay and there seemed a scareity of French ships, 30 I sent
two personnel ships in there, One was the "ROYAL SOVERSION" who vas handled
magnificently, turning and going alongaide bown out. Another was the "ROUEN,"
Q. French cross-channel steamer. I don't know what happened to her but in gotting
away she got broadside on to the wind and grounded just to the Westward of the
quay; there she lay showing up clearly against on oil fuel five bohind hor.
The tide was falling and I had visions of her still there in daylight - Sull of
men and a sitting target for bombers. I went outside the herbour and cont in
a tug to try and help her but the tug drew too much water and could not got
near. I also sent a lifeboat to her to try and get the mon away. The men, I
think, were got away, but she remained there until she florted off with the
next tide in daylight and then returned in safety.

Details

APPENDIX I.
Page 2
of
and final.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Narrative of Events.
URNING
BOY ROY
GOLDEN GIFT
PAXTON
:
EILEEN EMMA
GOLDEN SUNBEAM
SHIPMATES
FORECAST
LORD HOWARD
THE BOYS
GERVAIS RENTOUL
LORD HOWE
TORBAY II
GIRL GLADYS
MIDAS
UT PROSIM
GIRL PAMELA
NETSUKIS
YORKSHIRE LASS
YOUNG MUN
IPS AND
LORMONT
MONA'S ISLE
KING ORRY
:
LLANTHONY
ES:
KINGFISHER
GUILLEMOT
CE
GRIEVE
G VESSEL:
i
16
M.A.S.B's:
6
67
7
68
10
100
102
107
EL SHIPS:
ARCHANGEL
LOCH GARRY
PRINCESS MAUD
AUTOCARRIER
LORINA
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
BEN MY CHREE
HAID OF ORLEANS
ROUEN
BIARRITZ
MALINES
ROYAL DAFFODIL
CANTERBURY
MANX MAID
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
COTE D'ARGENT
MANX MAN
SCOTIA
FENELLA
MONA'S QUEEN
ST. HELIER
KILLARNEY
NEWHAVEN
ST. SEIRIOL
KING GEORGE V
NORMANIA
TYNWALD
LADY OF MAN
P. LGUE
L CARRIERS: DINARD
ISLE OF GUERNSEY ST. ANDREW
ISLE OF THANET ST. DAVID
PARIS
ST. JULIAN
WORTHING
In addition, some 23 of H.M. Trawlers, Drifters and
achts of the Nore Command assisted by taking one or more
OWS of boats to the coast.

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 3.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
Personnel Vessels (continued).
remaining; she started a trip but failed to make Dunkirk. On
return, original Captain rejoined with some of the original
crew. She should then have sailed at 2010/3, but the Captain
reported 3 engineers short at the last minute. It was not
to wait for the engineers and the Master
and the new crew provided for the second
time. Before further use could be made of her, however, the
evacuation terminated.
9. The MONA'S QUEEN was sunk by a mine on her second
voyage to Dunkirk, and the FENELLA was bombed and sunk on her
first voyage.
10. The MALINES who had completed two trips, refused to
sail on the 1st, left Dover at 1600 on the 2nd without orders and
was subsequently found to have proceeded to Southampton.
11. It was felt that trouble might occur in the ST. HELIER
and PRINCESS MAUD, and accordingly a naval party was put on
board to supplement the ships crews, and in consequence no
trouble occurred,
12. The outstanding ships were the MAID OF ORLEANS 6 trips,
one being diverted without completing the trip, and once
returning due to collision. ROYAL DAFFODIL 7 trips, on one of
which she was turned back by a French destroyer -
ROYAL SOVEREIGN 6 trips
KING GEORGE V
5 trips
COTE a' ARGENT
5 trips
ST. HELIER
4 trips after having refused to
sail once.
PRAGUE
3 trips with full loads, bombed,
severely damaged and
beached on the last return
trip.
13. Eleven other ships were concerned in the Operation,
details of which are as follows:
27th May BIARRITZ
Damaged by shell fire and returned.
27th May
ARCHANGEL
Damaged by shell fire and returned.
27th May
QUEEN OF THE
Sunk by bombing attack.
CHANNEL
28th May LORINA
Sunk by bombing attack.
29th May
NORMANIA
Sunk by bombing attack.
28th May LOCH GARRY
One trip.
28th May SCOTIA
One trip.
2nd June
1111
Sunk by bombing attack.
28th May KILLARNEY
One trip.
2nd June ROUEN
One trip.
2nd and 3rd
June AUTO CARRIER Two trips.
2nd and 3rd
June
NEWHAVEN
Two trips.
ce
of
Enclosure:-
ER. Officer Commanding,
Details of Personnel
June, 1940.
Ships used.

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Page 4.
WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYN/MO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940.
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (continued)
NEL AND HOSPITAL SHIPS
RCHANGEL
MANXMAN
UTOCARRIER
MONA'S QUEEN
EN-MY-CREE
NEWHAVEN
IARRITZ
NEPHRITE (Store Ship)
ANTERBURY
NGAROMA
LAN MACALISTER
NORMANIA
OTE D'ARGENT
PARIS (Hospital)
OTE D'AZUR
PRAGUE
INARD (Hospital)
PRINCESS MAUD
ORIAN ROSE (Store Ship)
#
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
ENELLA
ROEBUCK
ОЛМ QUEEN
ROUEN
SLE OF GUERNSEY (Hospital)
ROYAL DAFFODIL
SLE OF THANET (Hospital)
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
ILLARNEY
ST. ANDREW (Hospital)
ING GEORGE V
ST. DAVID (Hospital)
ADY OF MAN
ST. HELIER
EVENWOOD (Store Ship)
ST. JULIAN
OCH GARRY
ST. SEIRIOL
LORINA
#
SCOTIA
AID OF ORLEANS
TYNWALD
MALINES
WORTHING (Hospital)
MANXMAID
WHITSTABLE
BRITISH SHIPS
ADVENTURESS
BONNY BELLE
re
AGNESS CROSS (Life-boat)
BOURNEMOUTH LIFE-BOAT
ALBATROSS III
B.P. ONE
ALOUETTE
BRITANNIA
ANDORA
BULLFINCH
ANDORA II (R.A.F. Launch)
CABBY
ANNE IV
CANVEY QUEEN
ATHOLA
CAVERSHAM (M.B.)
AURA
CHAMOIS (Lighter)
BATL
CHERFIELD
BAT (Lighter)
/
CLAUDE (Water Boat)
BEE (Lighter)
COMMODORE
BELFAST
CONSTANT NYMPH
BLACK ARROW
CORDELIA
BLACK JAVA
CORNELIA
BLACKPOOL
BOBELI (Motor Cruiser)
C. 11
C. 9 } (Tugs)
BONNY HEATHER
C.Y. 63
DABB II
DEFENDER
DHOON (Trawler)
(Continued)
Sunk

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Page 103.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel,
Motor-Boat AURA and H.M. Drifter YORKSHIRE LASS. - Sub,Lieutenant
Michael Adam Anthony Chodzko, R.N.V.R.
Recommendation,
)
Sub.-Lieutenant Chodzko performed valuable work
off the beaches for 12 hours on June lst. Handi-
capped by the extremely unreliable engine of his boat, he
showed great determination in making the best use of his
craft and ferrying a large number of troops. After the
final breakdown of his motor-boat, he was appointed
Skipper of H. M. Drifter YORKSHIRE LASS and under the
command of Lieutenant-Commander Prior, R.N., did excellent
work in the Inner Harbour, Dunkirk, on the night of June
2nd.
M
Recommended for mention.
:
Motor-Boat SKYLARK and Lowestoft Lifeboat MICHAEL STEPHENS. Sub.-
Lieutenant Marwood J. R. Yeatman.
Recommendation.
Took charge of motor-boat SKYLARK on the 31st May
in tow for Dunkirk. Tow failed and Sub.-Lieutenant
Yeatman returned to port and did valuable work in over-
hauling the engines of motor boats which had broken down.
Next day he proceeded in SKYLARK to Dunkirk and rescued
survivors of various bombed ships, returning to Dover under
own power p.m. Next day commissioned MICHAEL STEPHENS,
Lowestoft Lifeboat, with a crew of two stokers and one
d
A.B. Spent the night in Dunkirk harbour ferrying troops.
Climbed on to the Mole under shell-fire and by means of
forecful language and the rifle-butt induced French
troops, who were lying on the Mole, to embark. Reached
Dover with a full load of troops after a 6 hour voyage
during
under own power. Displayed considerable determination
istered
and initiative.
vivors
M
Recommended for mention.
was
whom
Newhaven Lifeboat ROSA WOOD and PHYLLIS LUND. - Able Seaman W.J.
m
n
Morris, P/JX. 26097, in Command.
&
i:
20
Recommendations.
8
RATINGS:
n
Able Seaman W. J. Morris, P/JX.26097.
With a crew of one stoker and one ordinary seaman,
3
carried out two independent trips to the beach and to Dunkirk
harbour. Encountered great difficulty off the beaches due
in
to deep draught of lifeboat, and during the night rescued a
or
number of troops from motor-launch and drifting boats off
ar
shore. Was dissatisfied with his efforts and proceeded
10
back to Dunkirk harbour, where during the night 2/6 - 3/6
d
under artillery fire ferried off about 700 troops to various
et
vessel ROUEN aground in the harbour. Finally returned to
ships, and assisted in removing troops from the personnel
Dover with a full load. This was Morris's first experience
as Coxswain of any boat. He showed great determination and
gallantry under fire in his independent command.
D.S.M.
Recommended for decoration.

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Page 103.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Recommendations of Personnel.
Notor-Boat AURA and Michael H.M. Drifter Adam YORKSHIRE Anthony Chodzko, LASS. -Sub.Lieutenant
Recommendation.
off by the Sub.-Lieutenant the beaches for 12 Chodzko hours performed on valuable work
showed capped lst. Handi-
craft and best of his boat, he
final breakdown of troops. use of his the
Skipper command of and appointed
of was After
work in the R.N., under did the
2nd. on the night of excellent June
Recommended for mention.
Motor-Boat SKYLARK and Lowestoft Lifeboat MICHAEL STEPHENS. Sub.-
Lieutenant Marwood J. R. Yeatman.
Recommendation.
in tow for Dunkirk. Tow failed and Sub.-Lieutenant
Took charge of motor-boat SKYLARK on the 31st May
Yeatman returned to port and did valuable work in over-
hauling the engines of motor boats which had broken down.
Next day he proçeeded in SKYLARK to Dunkirk and rescued
survivors of various bombed ships, returning to Dover under
own power p.m. Next day commissioned MICHAEL STEPHENS,
Lowestoft Lifeboat, with a crew of two stokers and one
A.B. Spent the night in Dunkirk harbour ferrying troops.
Climbed on to the Mole under shell-fire and by means of
forecful language and the rifle-butt induced French
troops, who were lying on the Mole, to embark. Reached
Dover with a full load of troops after a 6 hour voyage
under own power. Displayed considerable determination
and initiative.
Recommended for mention.
Newhaven Lifeboat ROSA WOOD and PHYLLIS LUND. - Able Seaman W.J.
Morris, P/JX. 26097, in Command.
Recommendations.
RATINGS:
Able Seaman W. J. Morris, P/JX.26097.
carried With out two a crew independent trips to the beach and to Dunkirk due
of one stoker and one ordinary seaman,
harbour. number to deep of draught Encountered of from lifeboat, motor-launch great difficulty and during and drifting off the and night the proceeded beaches boats rescued off a
shore. troops with his efforts 2/6 3/6
Was dissatisfied where during the night -
under back to Dunkirk harbour, fire ferried off about 700 troops the personnel to various to
vessel ships, ROUEN and assisted aground in the harbour. Morris's Finally first experience
artillery in removing troops from returned
Dover with a full load. and
gallantry as Coxswain under of any fire boat. in his
Recommended for decoration.

Details

Details

Details

- 5
with large stocks of vehicles and material which had been
accumulated since September, 1939. Major Macartney of the
Quartermaster General's Movement Staff arrived from the War
Office that night. He brought with him & list showing the
order of priority for shipment of stores etc., and &
suggested outline plan for evacuation. A Senior Naval
Officer also arrived early next norning.
15 JUNE
12. At 0315 hours Lieutenant-Censral J.H. MARSHALL-CORNWALL
reported to me, and we discussed the situation. I placed
all British troops with the Tenth French Army under his
command, and gave him orders to co-operate with that Army
until an opportunity arose to disengage his troops and
withdraw them to CHERBOURG for embarkation to the United
Kingdom.
The subsequent operations of Lieutenant-General J.H.
( ) MARSHALL-CORNWALL'S troops (Norman force) are described in
that officer's report which is attached as Appendix B.
13. The withdrawal of B.B.F. started in the early hours of
15 June. The flights of the Canadian Division which had
arrived in the Concentration Area were sent beck to EREST
for embarkation, Corps Troops were re-embarked at ST. MALO,
and various L. of C. troops in the LE MANS area were moved
nearer the Port areas.
14. Information as to the position of the enemy on the front
of the Tenth French Army and southwards was very meagre as
bad visibility prevented air reconnaissance, and there were
no ground troops to reconnoitre between ALENCON and TOURS.
were engaging enemy the 157 Infantry Brigade in the area CONCHES.
little activity west of ROUEN, but hostile infantry of
The general inference, however, was that there was
aircraft landing, about EVREUX and that he had seen & seemed to of
forced A reported that he had run into heavy column
British pilot of a Bomber aircraft, who had made anti- a
was moving South with its left on CHARTRES.
confirm arms previous moving information that the Fourth
all fire south in that area. This report Garman Army
/ 15.
FOOTNOTE:
(
)
NORMAN Force was an improvised
formation which, on 15th June, comprised:-
3rd 157 Brigade Group (157 Infantry Brigade:
Armoured Brigade.
71 Field Regiment RA; Troop-Carrying
BEAUMAN Division (see Roonote ( ) page ).
Company, 52 Division).

Details

in its defences, had had no time to organize rearward
defences, nor any reserves with which to counter-attack.
It was forced back to the line of the river Bresle, the
next natural obstacle, 15 miles in rear.
5. Meanwhile the 1st Armoured Division was refitting
south of the Seine. Its tanks were in poor mechanical
condition, owing not only to battle casualties but also to
the long road distances they had been forced to cover,
and to the lack of opportunity for adequate maintenance.
It was in fact in no condition for offensive operations.
6. On the 7th June the Garmans out in & smashing attack
with their 5th and 7th Amoured Divisions on the point of
junction between the two Corps of the Tenth French Army.
This drive was directed from west of Amiens on Rouen and
the lower Seine, with the object of splitting the Tenth
Army and cutting off its IX Corps between the Saina
Estuary and Dieppe. The IX French Corps than comprised
the British 51st Division on the extrema left, and then
further east the 31st and 40th French Divisions and the
2nd and 5th Light Cavalry Divisions. The wh le of this
force was completely sundered from the X Corps on its
right by the penetration of the German tanks.
British base at Rouen, General Sir Henry Karslake, 0.0.0.
7. Meanwhile, owing to the threat developing to the
the Lines of Communication, had scraped together an
improvised force for its local defence. This force
comprised nine infantry battalions of a sort; they
out to France for pioneer duties and partly of composite
consisted partly of second line Territorial units sent
base. They had no war equipment except rifles and &
units made up from miscellaneous reinforcements at the
never fired before. guns They were without artillery, wans
few odd Bren and enti-tank weapons, which they had
District, units were of the formation, this transport command heterogeneous thus was Lines misled given complete of and Brigadier the of signal into Communication. collection with t tile thinking equipment. artillery Besuman, of had of Division; that untrained been in and Vary it They charge given was ancillary unfortunately were The $ and the of righting French the placed task ill-aquipped services. orth of under
Beauman's holding back so-called line along Division the Rivers Bethung and Andella the
covering a Rouen, and had done good work in organizing
defence of this position.
on While the Cerman of the 7th June, General Weygand personally impressed
8. armoured attack was at its height
visited the afternoon Headquarters east of Rouen and the
on Tenth Army and on General Evans commanding holding the
German attack Armoured on the Seine at all costs as this
British General Altmayer, Division, the necessity for was "the
decisive battle of the war.
/It

Details

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

Details

101
especially as I was patially incapacitated by a wound on
my left foot.
As we were a long way from the French coast I decided
that there was very little chance of HAIG falling into enemy
hands and that no doubt help would soon be forthcoming in
reply to the wireless message I had asked X440 to send.
I hauled down HAIG's ensign and took it aboard LADY CABLE and
we tried to make towards the English coast. Unfortunately
the engine kept stopping and we made very slow progress and
finally nothing would make our engine start again. We
drifted helplessly for several hours and then sighted a Bell
Buoy which I believe may have been the N.W. Goodwin Bell
Buoy, but we did not get close enough to make sure. At
last we sighted a warship and waved HAIG's White Ensign to
try to attractattention. We were seen and the ship altered
course towards us and came up close to LADY CABLE. She was
the French transport ROUEN of Dieppe and was packed with
troops from Dunkirk. An officer asked what I wanted and I
told him that we were broken down and asked to be taken
abcard. To my surprise my appeal was met with a blunt
"No" with no explanation, and the ROUEN steamed away.
My crew and I felt angry at this in view of the fact that
we had rescued over 200 French soldiers during the night.
No doubt the ROUEN had good reasons for not taking us aboard
but no explanation was given and I would like if possible
to discover why she was unable to help us.
Luckily another ship some considerable distance away
had noticed the ROUEN and observed that she had not picked
us up. This ship was the CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH and she
came up and took us in tow to the Downs where she was bound
for in ballast. On arrival in the Downs where CITY OF
CHRISTCHURCH dropped anchor, we were able to start up the
engine of LADY CABLE and I decided once again to try to make
for Dover. However, we broke down after a run of about
15 minutes and were picked up by a tug (Operational - I
don't know her name). She had orders to proceed to Ramsgate
with H.M. Drifter VIKING in tow and was about to do this
when we broke down near her. She towed us to the VIKING
and I boarded the VIKING to have my injured foot attended
to and get some rest. VIKING and LADY CABLE were towed round
to Ramsgate where we arrived about 2100. I was landed and
taken to "Merrie England" and then to Ramsgate General
Hospital.
The Commanding Officer of VIKING at my request reported
the return of LADY CABLE and that one member of my crew,
Cadet Rating Price was missing but might be aboard French
warship X440. He also reported direct to C. in C., Dover,
about HAIG. A little later, while I was still at "Merrie
England", the Commanding Officer of VIKING arrived to tell
me that he had been informed from Dover that HAIG was safe.
Unfortunately he had no news for me of Cadet Rating Price.
The behaviour of my crew throughout the operation had
been magnificent. The taking off or over 200 French troops
and 6 British from the Mole was conducted quickly and
calmly under difficult and hazardous conditions. Later,
Cadet Rating Price's work in helping to get the HAIG along-
side LADY CABLE cannot be too highly praised. Without the
great initiative and efficiency he displayed the operation
would not have been successful and the HAIG would have
drifted ashore to the S.W. of Dunkirk.
After/

Details

CHAP. IX
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
Loadings at Dunkirk during the day
In
the
space
of
a
few
hours
the
supply cerned to shipping at at any the as losses time, during of asked the destroyers, whole the of enemy a the type previous had of vessel caused 7 which days. almost was as much damage Noremase
and services carrying used of ing personnel attack. 6 only through of power; in no vessels positions In less serious the no than short was other where damage. 15 perhaps view, of vessels they them however, Admiralty equally could could had been manoeuvre the compare serious. to effect lost give to with on The orders the thigh speed under bor them. operation, that possessed Up 9 to by date the sinking great loss the
Dunkirk Nevertheless, through and the despite growing the number increasing of difficulty of threading
was throughout day, though not without a series of setbacks. vessels
maintained the wrecks, the supply of personnel a way into
The Côte d'Argent, a French mail boat transferred to the orders of
Admiral Dover, disembarked 1,000 troops from Dunkirk harbour on the Vice-
disembarked 1,250 troops at Dover in the morning and left again about 0930
June, the King George V 700, the French vessel Rouen 800. The St. Helier. 1st
At 1530 she entered Dunkirk harbour to embark wounded and troops, and was
twice hit by shore batteries before sailing for Dover once more at 2230 with
1,334 troops.
The controlling organisation
The organisation which controlled the supply of shipping functioned in a
room below Dover Castle, known as the Dynamo Room from the codeword
of the Dunkirk operation. In charge was Captain M. M. Denny, R.N. With
him there were 20 or more officers, soldiers, naval officers and Board of Trade
and Sea Transport officials, and the work they did was marvellous. They
were controlling, organizing, fuelling and supplying, not only men-of-war, but
a variety of merchant vessels. Sometimes a merchant vessel would need a
crew to take her over to Dunkirk again, but within a few hours the Sea the
new Transport Officer would get one and the ship would sail. At Ramsgate, collected
and various other places besides Dover, ships and boats were where
Nore, and organised, but the head and control of the whole was in this room,
they worked continuously and tirelessly against time day and night.¹
for the numerous small craft, working parties, and beach small parties craft were of
provided by the Chatham serviced and controlled by N.O.I.C. to assist
Crews Depot. The great majority of the Ramsgate. At
Harwich, which exceptional called there to make a quick turn round their by vessels.
the inshore an flotillas were Naval and Military system was organised relieving the
tired those ships' ships companies of the work of cleaning and clearing
NAVAL LOSSES OF THE DAY.
SUNK BY AIR ATTACK.
Destroyers-Basilisk, Havant, Keith, French Foudroyant.
Gunboat Mosquito.
Minesweepers French Minesweeping Brighton Trawlers Queen, Skipjack. Denis Papin, Moussaillon, Vénus.
Personnel vessel Scotia.
Tugs St. Abbs, St. Fagan.
Barges Lady Robinson, Doris.
I Report of R. A. Wake-Walker, M 017978/41, p.27.
94

Details

THE NIGHT 2ND-3RD JUNE
CHAP. XI
Teteghem, the event this was postponed 2000 and when it took place some
on a front of two miles. The until French intended to counter-attack at
There was no movement in the port. Later Admiral
was in the hands of the enemy, but they had not
advanced beyond. Further attacks were expected by the French this day,
when the situation regarding munitions might become critical.
Sailing of the night flight from England
The movement from England towards Dunkirk commenced at 1700. The
armada consisted of 13 personnel vessels, 2 large store carriers, 11 destroyers,
5 paddle minesweepers, 9 fleet sweepers, 1 special service vessel, 9 drifters,
6 skoots, 2 armed yachts, 1 gunboat, a large number of tugs, lifeboats, etc.,
formed either in organised tows or proceeding individually. For various
reasons, however, not all of these ships evacuated troops.¹
The composition of the French contingent was not known at Dover. Actually,
3 French torpedo boats, two minesweeping trawlers, two patrol vessels, and
17 trawlers and motor fishing vessels landed troops in England on the 3rd June.
One Belgian patrol boat and 16 or 17 trawlers brought troops.
B.E.F. evacuated, 2330/2
The first destroyers to reach Dunkirk were the Sabre and Shikari, which
sailed together from Dover at 1845. As the latter ship rounded No. 6 W buoy
enemy shore batteries opened fire, but caused no damage. Berthing was
carried out by an officer with a loud speaker at the pier head. Both destroyers
sailed again at 2200, the Sabre with 500 and the Shikari with 700 troops. The
Venomous, which arrived at 2150, had difficulty in going alongside the East Pier.
This was not a solid jetty, but was built of concrete piles through which the
west-going tide set. This, coupled with a fresh easterly wind, made it very
I The following ships (other than those on patrol which picked up survivors and landed
them) landed troops in England on 3rd June, (numbers in brackets) :-
BRITISH Destroyers - Codrington (44), Esk (500), Sabre (500), Shikari (700), Vanquisher (37),
Venomous (1500), Whitshed (82), Winchelsea (152), Windsor (1022) ;
Gunboat Locust (800)
Minesweepers - Albury (200), Duchess of Fife (300), Dundalk (399), Gossamer (490),
Halcyon (416), Kellett (364), Marmion (198), Medway Queen (481), Niger (430),
Oriole (750), Pangbourne (47), Speedwell (300), Westward-Ho (48) ;
Special Service Ship Golden Eagle (1);
Drifters - Forecast (108), Golden Sunbeam (163), Lord Howard (100), Midas (43),
Netsukis (119), Starlight Rays (319), Ut Prosim (49), Yorkshire Lass (103)
Trawler Cayton Wyke (300) ;
Skoot Doggersbank (50) ;
Yacht Sargasso (252) ;
Personnel ships - Côte d'Argent (955), King George V (1460), Newhaven (396),
Lady of Mann (18), Rouen (1286), Royal Sovereign (1500), St. Helier (2000),
Tynwald (1200) H.M.S. Nelson's M.B. (27)
Tugs - St. Olaves (200), Sun X (211), Sun XI (188), War Dept. M.Ls. (69)
Sailing barge Glenway (213)
R.N.L.I. Lifeboats Cecil & Lilian Philpot (51), Michael Stephens (52) :
3 motor boats and launches (300).
FRENCH Torpedo boats - Bouclier (340), La Flore (410) ;
Destroyer Léopard (19) ;
S/M Chaser 6 (50, apparently disembarked at Havre) ;
M/S trawlers - Ste. Bernadette de Lourdes (79), Ste. Denise Louise (78) ;
Patrol vessels - Lucien Gougy (78), Reine des Flots (500) ;
17 trawlers and M.F.V's. (1663).
BELGIAN Patrol boat A.5 (229) ;
17 trawlers (1583).
107

Details

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. XI
difficult for ships to get alongside until the tide turned, about 2300. Rear-
Admiral Wake-Walker, who was afloat in M.A/S.B. 10 used the latter to
harbour was now filled with numbers of small French craft of every sort, size
the Venomous in and tried to get other small craft to do likewise. The narrow push
and description. At this moment a defect Venomous developed in the M.A /S.B's clutch,
apparently her from going as the astern result and of down pushing made on turning her the from a most both alongside, directions. hazardous which adventure prevented with
boats of all sorts bearing The
was away again in half an hour, with 1,500
Alexander and his staff who had been taken on
Admiral Wake-Walker and transferred to the
had difficulty in getting alongside but managed to clear the harbour with 1,022
troops, one minute before the next destroyer was due to enter. The stream of
British troops was evidently diminishing in volume now, for the Winchelsea,
which arrived at the pier at 2300, embarked only 152. The gunboat Locust,
however, which sailed two minutes later, carried 800 troops, a proportion of
whom were French.
Eight drifters disembarked 1,004 men in England, the Starlight Rays bringing
319 of these. The yacht Sargasso brought 252. Only two personnel vessels
lifted British troops from the East Pier; the King George V embarked 1,460
in 27 minutes and sailed at 2225 and the St. Helier embarked 2,000 and sailed
at 2330 for England.
This completed the evacuation of the British rearguard.
At 2330 Captain Tennant made the welcome signal "B.E.F. evacuated."
He embarked in M.T.B. 102, together with the demolition party and left for
Dover.
A pause in the embarkation
After the last of the B.E.F. were clear there was a long pause. French
troops should have followed the British rearguard on the East Pier, but they
did not appear. The West Quay, however, was crowded with French in their
distinctive helmets, though there seemed a scarcity of ships on that side of the
harbour. The personnel ship Royal Sovereign, which had been joined that
afternoon by Commander L.P. Skipwith as adviser to the Master, Captain T.
Aldis, went alongside the West Quay at 2130, handled magnificently, turning
and going alongside bows out", as Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker reported. She
embarked 1,500 French troops and sailed at 2205 for Margate. The Rear-
Admiral also sent the personnel ship Rouen, a French cross-channel steamer,
to the West Quay. In getting away she got broadside on to the wind and
grounded just to the westward of the quay, where she lay, on a falling tide,
showing up clearly against an oil fuel fire behind her. A tug was sent to help
her but drew too much water and could not get near. However, the ship
remained unhit throughout the shelling, and she floated off with the next tide
in daylight and reached England safely with 1,286 men.
Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker was unable to discover the reason for the
cessation of the flow of French troops to the East Pier; it was apparently caused
make a counter-attack, for the counter-attack which was to have been made
by the necessity either of repelling a German attack or holding them up to
at 1500 to restore the line east of Bergues was postponed until 2000. With
destroyers waiting to be filled the situation was most exasperating. Five
destroyers had to be sent back to England for lack of to fill them. The
she Vanquisher was ordered to return to Dover to 0230, taking troops only 37 troops which
embarked from a small boat while lying off the harbour. The Codrington
108

Details

THE NIGHT 2ND-3RD JUNE
CHAP. XI
also stopped off the harbour by entered orders at the 0050 harbour and had only 44 troops when
she devoid of troops and was by Whitshed found Wake-Walker to return to
was sailed at 0250. The Express ordered Rear-Admiral at 0200, found the pier
sailed at 0245 with 82 men collected small craft. Finally, the Malcolm
and Dover lay outside with orders to hail from stop other ships from entering. She
with the Codrington. The and no berth on arrival at 0030
was ordered back at 0248, empty. Thus five destroyer trips were wasted.
Only the minesweepers which berthed at the inner end of the East Pier after
the British rearguard had embarked, managed to collect normal quotas from
the trickle of French troops.
Dunkirk was the headquarters of a French Naval Command and there was
always a considerable number of French marines in evidence. But after the
British naval ratings left at 2300 there was difficulty in getting ships berthed,
as the French did not replace them.
The Albury embarked 200 French troops, the Duchess of Fife 300, the Dundalk
399, the Gossamer 490, the Halcyon 416, the Kellett 350 French and 14 British,
the Marmion 198, the Medway Queen 481, and the Speedwell 300. The Niger
slipped at 0120 with 430 French troops. While turning an unknown French
craft crossed her bows and was rammed, though apparently no damage was
done to her. A few minutes later the Frenchman returned and rammed the
Niger.
Personnel ships did well. The Royal Sovereign sailed at 2205 with 1500
troops, the King George V at 2225 with 1460, the St. Helier at 2330 with 2,000.
The Côte Argent took 955 men, the Newhaven 396 French, the Tynwald 1,200,
the Rouen 1,286; but the Lady of Mann was ordered back for lack of troops
and took only 18 French embarked from a small boat.
Amongst the French ships the torpedo-boat Bouclier embarked 340 men and
the La Flore 410. The patrol vessel Reine des Flots embarked 500 troops
during a violent bombardment" and also reported air attacks (from German
strays returning no doubt), en route to England, for which she sailed from
Dunkirk at 2300 on the 2nd. Seventeen French trawlers and motor fishing
vessels brought off 1,662 troops and a Belgian patrol boat 229.
Summary of troops evacuated, night 2nd-3rd June
To Rear-Admiral Wake-Walker, who had worked out a programme by
which 37,000 men could have been lifted, in addition to those that would get
off in small craft, this had been a most disappointing night's work, owing to
the long pause when the flow of men to the East Pier ceased for some hours
after the British rearguard completed its embarkation, and the difficulty of
getting ships berthed owing to the failure of the French to replace the British
naval parties after these left Dunkirk. Between midnight on 2nd-3rd and
0300 on the 3rd a lifting capacity of about 10,000 men was left empty.
There were disembarked in England on 3rd June 26,700 troops. Of these,
British ships lifted 21,671, French ships 3,216 and Belgian ships 1,812. The
great majority of these, namely 24,830, were embarked in Dunkirk harbour,
principally by ships berthed alongside, though a few were ferried to ships
waiting outside the port. Most of the remainder were taken out of small craft
by ships which were likely to reach England with greater expedition and
certainty many of these found in small craft had no doubt come off from
the beaches.
109

Details

CHAP. XI
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
quarter of an hour later they all three proceeded, with the Holland last in the
line, to carry out their part in blocking the port. As they neared Dunkirk a
"long line of destroyers came out of the harbour. " Astern of them", stated
the Holland, there was a gap of over a mile and then a large and fast trans-
port". M.A/S.B. 7 led the Holland through the gap between the destroyer
line and the transport. When the latter was 6 cables away, and steaming very
fast with the first streaks of dawn behind her, the danger of collision became
apparent, SO the Holland sounded one blast and put her wheel hard astarboard.
Lieutenant-Commander E. C. Coats, R.N., captain of the blockship, reported
that the transport had then only to alter course 5° to starboard to pass well
clear. However, she appeared to alter to port", with the result that she struck
the Holland hard on the bridge and just before the boiler room bulkhead. The
transport, which did not appear to have sustained much damage, backed out
and carried on her way. The Holland had no buoyancy in hand, and, a few
seconds before she was struck, her captain ordered abandon ship", seeing
that it was inevitable she would be rammed. The bows sunk at once and rested
on the bottom, there being apparently only 8 feet of water under her keel;
the stern remained above water. Two seamen were crushed and seriously
injured in the collision. M.A/S.B.7 took off the crew and transferred them to
the Vivacious. The wreck of the Holland came within an ace of being rammed
a second time, for two more ships, reported to be destroyers, passed and missed
the Holland's stern by no more than a few feet.
At 0300 the blockship Westcove entered Dunkirk, followed ten minutes later
by the Edvard Nissen. Both ships proceeded into the channel leading to the
inner harbour. When in her allotted position the Westcove put her wheel hard
astarboard to ram the Inner Western Jetty, but her bows struck mud about
50 feet from the pier, with the ship at an angle of about 30° across the channel.
By going full speed ahead on the engines, the athwartship's angle was increased
to 50°.
As the Edvard Nissen came in with the intention of ramming the East Pier
she endeavoured to strike the Westcove's stern a glancing blow in order to in-
crease her angle to the channel before scuttling herself; but underestimating
the strength of the ebb stream she passed close under the Westcove's stern, and
rammed the East Pier abreast of the latter. Letting go an anchor, she applied
full port helm with all engine power to increase the blocking angle. The
Westcove now fired her scuttling charges, which probably owing to coal gas in
the bunkers, caused a large column of flame and smoke to envelop the ship's
stern. When this had dissipated, the crew, who had pulled clear in their boat,
saw that the Westcove had slid off the sloping bank of the channel and was
lying on an even keel in the line of the piers, almost in mid stream, thus causing
a minimum of obstruction. Between the sterns of the two ships there was
now a gap of 80 feet which was reduced to 50 feet by heaving on a hawser run
by the Edvard Nissen's motor boat from the ship's stern to the Westcove. No
more could be done and the Edvard Nissen abandoned ship and fired her
scuttling charges from the boat. M.A/S.B. 7 took out both ship's crews to
the Vivacious.
1 No transport reported being in collision at this time and it has not been possible to
identify any of the vessels concerned. The following destroyers and transports sailed from
Dunkirk at the times given destroyers - Vanquisher 0230, Whitshed 2045, Malcolm 0248,
Codrington 0250 and Express 0250; transports Newhaven (French 1,888 tons) 0245,
Tynwald (British 2,376 tons) 0300, Rouen (French, 1,882 tons time not known but ship
was in Dunkirk in the early hours of 3rd June), and Côte Argent (French 3,047 tons, time
not known but ship landed troops at Dover on 3rd June.)
112

Details

THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
CHAP. XII
Moyle rammed the As Inner she sank, Western she Pier slid off abreast the bank the wreck towards of the Westcove
scuttled line channel, intention The of Pacifico the herself. as was channel, the to decided Westcove proceed her to after between had scuttle part done, down and in being and the between beyond finally against position the them settled the allotted wrecks Westcove. at of to a slight the the the Edvard Gourko. centre angle to of Her and the the
and Westcove and defeated then drift this the Pacifico broadside on. Nissen
the strong current after hold, dropped manoeuvre, anchor so into her and rammed However,
The stern then swung not over turn further owing to the tide Nissen, but, after
cove abreast her to port towards the Edvard secured
ships. of certain point, Orders would were then accompanied given for the by scuttling considerable of the Pacifico; race between As in the the case two a
due in this instance to vapour.
the Westcove, this was oil fuel a sheet of flame, probably
One shell hit the pier, causing many casualties, for there were still some 200
The time now was about 0330 and at this juncture shelling recommenced.
French troops on the East Pier. General Bathelemy, Commander of the
Flanders Garrison, who was taken off by the Shikari, stated that 12,000 French
troops still remained in Dunkirk. The Shikari carried 383 when she sailed
from Dunkirk at 0340 by orders of Captain Dangerfield; she was the last ship
to leave. Apart from an air attack, which caused no damage, her passage
home was uneventful.
An M.T.B. had been detailed to evacuate Admiral Abrial but the latter
could not be found, and as a matter of fact he was brought out from Dunkirk
in a French M.T.B. V.T.B. 25. Near the North Goodwin Light Vessel the
vessel's propeller became disabled by wreckage, and the Malcolm towed her
to Dover about 0600.
On the conclusion of the blocking operation there remained a gap of about
100 to 120 feet unobstructed on the west side of the channel. Part of this gap
was, however, shoal water, because of the shelving bank.
Disembarkation figures, 4th June
There were landed in England on 4th June 26,175 persons, of which British
ships had evacuated 21,600, French 3,838, and Belgian 737. These figures
included a number of survivors, both troops and ships' crews, from sunken
ships and some refugees. It was recorded that 622 of the total were evacuated
from the beaches, but it is doubtful whether any of these were actually
evacuated from the beaches, for the figure includes many such as the 43 French
troops landed by the Pangbourne, who were taken from a French vessel
(probably the mail packet Rouen) which had run aground on a sand bank: the
260 brought over by the Beatrice Maud: a number (apparently 210) recorded as
evacuated from the beaches and landed in England but actually ferried from
Dunkirk pier to various transports, by the motor launch Bonny Heather.
Operation Dynamo completed, 1423/4th June
Ammunition in Dunkirk was exhausted, enemy were and reported the remaining consisted
When the Shikari sailed, the to be only 3 miles away.
principally the of non-combatant units. troops Admiral Nord agreed that
was dispersed at 1030.
operation should be considered as Accordingly, terminated. The fleet of rescue ships
The decision to terminate the operation was agreed to by the French
120

Details

Details

INDEX
Phillips, Vice-Admiral T.S. V., 16.
Phipps, L/St. M., 81.
Pickford & Co., 72n.
Pierre, set on fire, 74.
Pierre et Marie, 73.
Piers (beach) built at La Panne, 47, 60, 76; of barges impracticable, 49; built at Bray,
59, 82.
Pigeon, 72n, 114n.
Pim, Capt. R., R.N.V.R., 78.
Playmates, 13n.
Polly Johnson, 13n, 39, 40 (damaged), 43, 44 (sunk).
Pool, S/Lt. R. A. W., 72.
Port of London Authority, 32.
Porter, Col., 47.
Portsdown, 100, 103.
Portsmouth, C. in C.: sends destroyers, 20; provision of boats, 51 Inner Patrol yachts,
71 A.S.'s. barge, 117 (abandoned).
Pownall, Lt. Gen. H. R., 4.
Prague, 29n, 54n, 64n, 91 (damaged).
Président Briand, 93.
Preston, Vice-Adm. Sir L. (D.S.V.P.), 21.
Princess Elizabeth, 47n, 89, 114n.
Princess Lily, 75n.
Princess Maud, 48n, 53 (goes aground), 62 (damaged), 114n, 118.
Prudential, 60.
Pudge, 71s.
Queen of England, sunk, 53.
Queen of Thanet, 91, 114m.
Queen of the Channel, 22, 24, 29 (sunk).
Queen's Channel, 72n.
Racia, 71n, 114я, 117.
R.A. Dover, see Wake-Walker, Rear Admiral W.F.
Ramsay, Vice-Adm. Sir B. (V.A. Dover) : to control evacuation, 4; to arrange air cover,
5 ; asks for more destroyers, 20; driving force, 23, 33 ; promulgates disembarkation
ports, 25 ; efforts to increase supply of small craft, 23, 32; plan for night 29/30th
May, 50; orders all ships to beaches, 51; concern at losses of destroyers, 94; calls
for volunteers, 105; reports exhaustion of crews, 113.
Ramsgate, N.O.I.C. Administers in shore flotilla, 21, 94; services skoots, 30.
Raphael-Raymonde, 73n.
Rapid I, 72, 92.
Reda, 53, 60n.
Reed, 7ln.
Refugees, 37, 100-1, 119.
Reiger, 32, 47m, 64, 101-2, 116.
Reine des Flots, 102, 107n, 109.
Reliance, 73n.
Renascent, 71n.
Renown, 73, 93 (sunk).
Resolute, 73n.
Revoir, Capt. de, 115.
Rewga, 71n.
Reynaud, M., 10, 11.
Richardson, Cdr. H. du P., 80n, 82, 83n.
Riggs, Mr. H. C., 21.
Rika, 41.
Rina, 117.
Robinson, Cdr. C. E. C., killed, 37.
Roebuck, in collision, 83.
Rope for towing, 61.
Rose Marie, 72n.
Ross, 28n, 44, 97.
Rouen, 94, 107n, 108 (goes aground), 109, 112n, 120 (aground).
Route, X prepared, 20; mined, 38; tested by destroyers, 39 taken into use, 48; last
route to come under fire, 96-7 ; traffic suspended, 98.
Route, Y adopted, 20, 29 ; under fire, 48; E-boats, on 85; in use, 93 ; mines on, 110.
Route, Z under fire, 20, 48; to be used in darkness, 29, 48.
204

Details

Page 4.
OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYN/MO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940.
PART I - - BRITISH SHIPS (contimued)
PERSONNEL AND HOSPITAL SHIPS
ARCHANGEL
MANXMAN
AUTOCARRIER
MONA'S QUEEN
BEN-MY-CREE
NEWHAVEN
BIARRITZ
NEPHRITE (Store Ship)
CANTERBURY
NGAROMA
CLAN MACALISTER
NORMANIA
COTE D'ARGENT
PARIS (Hospital)
COTE D'AZUR
PRAGUE
DINARD (Hospital)
PRINCESS MAUD
DORIAN ROSE (Store Ship)
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
FENELLA
ROEBUCK
FOAM QUEEN
ROUEN
ISLE OF GUERNSEY (Hospital)
ROYAL DAFFODIL
ISLE OF THANET (Hospital)
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
KILLARNEY
ST. ANDREW (Hospital)
KING GEORGE V
ST. DAVID (Hospital)
LADY OF MAN
ST. HELIER
LEVENWOOD (Store Ship)
ST. JULIAN
LOCH GARRY
ST. SEIRIOL
LORINA
SCOTIA
MAID OF ORLEANS
TYNWALD
MALINES name
WORTHING (Hospital)
MANXMAID
of Inen
WHITSTABLE
OTHER BRITISH SHIPS
ADVENTURESS
BONNY BELLE
AGNESS CROSS (Life-boat)
BOURNEMOUTH LIFE-BOAT
ALBATROSS III
B.P. ONE
ALOUETTE
BRITANNIA
ANDORA
BULLFINCH
ANDORA II (R.A.F. Launch)
CABBY
ANNE IV
CANVEY QUEEN
ATHOLA
CAVERSHAM (M.B.)
AURA
CHAMOIS (Lighter)
BAIL
CHERFIELD
BAT (Lighter)
CLAUDE (Water Boat)
BEE (Lighter)
COMMODORE
BELFAST
CONSTANT NYMPH
BLACK ARROW
CORDELIA
BLACK JAVA
CORNELIA
BLACKPOOL
C. 9
)
BOBELI (Motor Cruiser)
(Tugs)
C. 11
)
BONNY HEATHER
C.Y. 63
DABB II
DEFENDER
DHOON (Trawler)
Sunk
(Continued)

Details

Page 4.
LIST OF SHIPS WHICH TOOK PART IN OPERATION "DYNAMO" - 26TH MAY - 4TH JUNE, 1940.
PART I - BRITISH SHIPS (contimued)
PERSONNEL AND HOSPITAL SHIPS
ARCHANGEL
MANXMAN
AUTOCARRIER
MONA'S QUEEN
BEN-MY-CREE
NEWHAVEN
BIARRITZ
NEPHRITE (Store Ship)
CANTERBURY
NGAROMA
CLAN MACALISTER
NORMANIA
COTE D'ARGENT
} french
PARIS (Hospital)
COTE D'AZUR
PRAGUE
DINARD (Hospital)
PRINCESS MAUD
DORIAN ROSE (Store Ship)
QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
FENELLA
ROEBUCK
FOAM QUEEN
ROUEN
ISLE OF GUERNSEY (Hospital)
ROYAL DAFFODIL
ISLE OF THANET (Hospital)
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
KILLARNEY
ST. ANDREW (Hospital)
KING GEORGE V
ST. DAVID (Hospital)
LADY OF MAN
ST. HELIER
LEVENWOOD (Store Ship)
ST. JULIAN
LOCH GARRY
ST. SEIRIOL
LORINA
#
SCOTIA
MAID OF ORLEANS
TYNWALD
MALINES
WORTHING (Hospital)
MANXMAID
WHITSTABLE
OTHER BRITISH SHIPS
ADVENTURESS
BONNY BELLE
AGNESS CROSS (Life-boat)
BOURNEMOUTH LIFE-BOAT
ALBATROSS III
B.P. ONE
ALOUETTE
BRITANNIA
ANDORA
BULLFINCH
ANDORA II (R.A.F. Launch)
CABBY
ANNE IV
CANVEY QUEEN
ATHOLA
CAVERSHAM (M.B.)
AURA
CHAMOIS (Lighter)
BAIL
CHERFIELD
BAT (Lighter)
CLAUDE (Water Boat)
BEE (Lighter)
COMMODORE
BELFAST
CONSTANT NYMPH
BLACK ARROW
CORDELIA
BLACK JAVA
CORNELIA
BLACKPOOL
C. 9 (Tugs)
BOBELI (Motor Cruiser)
C. 11
BONNY HEATHER
C.Y. 63
DABB II
DEFENDER
DHOON (Trawler)
Sunk
(Continued)

Details

June,
CONFIDENTIAL.
Page 3.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
Personnel Vessels (continued).
remaining; she started a trip but failed to make Dunkirk. On
return, the original Captain rejoined with some of the original
crew. She should then have sailed at 2010/3, but the Captain
reported 3 engineers short at the last minute. It was not
considered necessary to wait for the engineers and the Master
and crew disembarked and the new crew provided for the second
time. Before further use could be made of her, however, the
evacuation terminated.
9. The MONA'S QUEEN was sunk by a mine on her second
voyage to Dunkirk, and the FENELLA was bombed and sunk on her
first voyage.
10. The MALINES who had completed two trips, refused to
sail on the 1st, left Dover at 1600 on the 2nd without orders and
was subsequently found to have proceeded to Southampton.
11. It was felt that trouble might occur in the ST.HELIER
and PRINCESS MAUD, and accordingly a naval party was put on
board to supplement the ships crews, and in consequence no
trouble occurred.
12. The outstanding ships were the MAID OF ORLEANS 6 trips,
one being diverted without completing the trip, and once
returning due to collision. ROYAL DAFFODIL 7 trips, on one of
which she was turned back by a French destroyer -
ROYAL SOVEREIGN 6 trips
KING GEORGE V
5 trips
COTE d'ARGENT
5 trips
ST. HELIER
4 trips after having refused to
158 rgdl
sail once.
PRAGUE
3 trips with full loads, bombed,
85mght
severely damaged and
beached on the last return
trip.
13. Eleven other ships were concerned in the Operation,
details of which are as follows:
27th May BIARRITZ
27th May
Damaged by shell fire and returned.
ARCHANGEL
27th May
Damaged by shell fire and returned.
QUEEN OF THE
Sunk by bombing attack.
CHANNEL
28th May
LORINA
Sunk by bombing attack.
29th May
NORMANIA
Sunk by bombing attack.
28th May LOCH GARRY
One trip.
28th May SCOTIA
One trip.
2nd June
THE
28th May KILLARNEY
Sunk by bombing attack.
One trip.
2nd June ROUEN
One trip.
2nd and 3rd
Acapt R.
June AUTO CARRIER
Two trips.
2nd and 3rd
June NEWHAVEN
Two trips.
fice of
Enclosure:-
g Officer Commanding,
Details of Personnel
ER.
Ships used.
2 June, 1940.
authorized.

Details

Details

18
VO 15 LND V BIC
TO MR W.H.BROWN
FROM MR GROSS
1520/27
YOUR SRL 63 1330/27
THE DUCHESS
AR CLYDE 29/4/40 SD GLASGOW 7/5
AR BOULOGNE ABT. 14/5 AT BOULOGNE 18/5,SD?
SD DOWNS 21/5 ARR LONDON 21/5 SD22+5
AR CLYDE 28/5 AND SD 2/6
AR ST MALO 4/6 SD 11/6
AR GLASGOW 14/6 SD 17/6
AR MILLAN PREV.20/6 SD 20/6
AR SWANSEA 21/6 SD 25/6
AR NEWPORT 25/6 SD 26/6
AR/#8A////
AR CORK A// 28/6 SD 1/7 FOR CARD IFF
THE MARQUIS
AR LONDON 29/4/40 SD 3/5
AR GLASGOW 8/5 SD 10/5
AR ROUEN 14/5 SD 15/5
AT CAEN 16/5 SD 18/5 APPROX
AR LONDON 18/5 SD 22/5
ANCH. SOUTHEND 23/5 SD DOWNS 24/5 BOUND FOR OSTEND, BXX NO RECORD
OF ARRIVAL OR SAILING DATED FROM a a OSTEND. ANCH DOWNS 27. 28/5
SD 28/5
AR DOVER 28/5 SD 5/6
AR LONDON 6/6 SD ? PD SOUTHEND 9/6
AR GLASGOW 12/6 SD?
ANCH GOUROCK BAY 29/6 AND SD 1/7 FOR SHOREHAM
10++++
/RECD 1530/27

Details

208
195
my left foot.
especially as I was partially incapacitated by a wound on
As we were a long way from the French coast I decided
that there was very little chance of HAIG falling into enemy
hands and that no doubt help would soon be forthcoming in
reply to the wireless message I had asked X440 to send.
I hauled down HAIG's ensign and took it aboard LADY CABLE and
we tried to make towards the English coast. Unfortunately
the engine kept stopping and we made very slow progress and
finally nothing would make our engine start again. We
drifted helplessly for several hours and then sighted a Bell
Buoy which I believe may have been the N.W. Goodwin Bell
Buoy, but we did not get close enough to make sure. At
last we sighted a warship and waved HAIG's White Ensign to
try to attract stention. We were seen and the ship altered
course towards us and came up close to LADY CABLE. She was
the French transport ROUEN of Dieppe and was packed with
troops from Dunkirk. An officer asked what I wanted and I
told him that we were broken down and asked to be taken
aboard. To my surprise my appeal was met with a blunt
"No" - with no explanation, and the ROUEN steamed away.
My crew and I felt angry at this in view of the fact that
we had rescued over 200 French soldiers during the night.
No doubt the ROUEN had good reasons for not taking us aboard
but no explanation was given and I would like if possible
to discover why she was unable to help us.
Luckily another ship some considerable distance away
had noticed the ROUEN and observed that she had not picked
us up. This ship was the CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH and she
came up and took us in tow to the Downs where she was bound
for in ballast. On arrival in the Downs where CITY OF
CHRISTCHURCH dropped anchor, we were able to start up the
engine of LADY CABLE and I decided once again to try to make
for Dover. However, we broke down after a run of about
15 minutes and were picked up by a tug (Operational I
don't know her name). She had orders to proceed to Ramsgate
with H.M. Drifter VIKING in tow and was about to do this
when we broke down near her. She towed us to the VIKING
and I boarded the VIKING to have my injured foot attended
to and get some rest. VIKING and LADY CABLE were towed round
to Ramsgate where we arrived about 2100. I was landed and
taken to "Merrie England" and then to Ramsgate General
Hospital.
The Commanding Officer of VIKING at my request reported
the return of LADY CABLE and that one member of my crew,
Cadet Rating Price was missing but might be aboard French
warship X440. He also reported direct to C. in C., Dover,
about HAIG. A little later, while I was still at "Merrie
England", the Commanding Officer of VIKING arrived to tell
me that he had been informed from Dover that HAIG was safe.
Unfortunately he had no news for me of Cadet Rating Price.
The behaviour of my crew throughout the operation had
been magnificent. The taking off of over 200 French troops
and 6 British from the Mole was conducted quickly and
calmly under difficult and hazardous conditions. Later,
Cadet Rating Price's work in helping to get the HAIG along-
side LADY CABLE cannot be too highly praised. Without the
great initiative and efficiency he displayed the operation
would not have been successful and the HAIG would have
drifted ashore to the S.W. of Dunkirk.
After/

Details

243
221
OPERATION
VO.18
SHIP:-
THOMAS KIRKWRIGHT LIFEBOAT. BOURNEMOUTH.
REPORTING:-
L.S. HUNTINGTON IN COMMAND
Date of
Date of
Name
arrival
Service
leaving
at Dover
Boats
L.S. H.Huntington.
26th.
A.B. E.H.Bletchford. 25.V.
First trip to Dunkirk bombed
Sto. R.Gibbs.
and machine gunned by air-
craft and kept off shore by
gunfiro from shore latteries.
27th.
Second time over, just the
same, but got troops off the
beach East of Dunkirk. Tried
to save survivors from 2 or
3 trawlers blown up. One
French other English.
2nd.
Third trip towed over by &
tug which alipped them 15 miles
from Dunkirk. Made their own way
to Dunkirk forrying troops from
harbour (on own initiative as
there were no troops on the
beach), between 2315 and 0430.
Found a Lieutenant Commander
Higham,R.N. on board a ship in
Dunkirk Harbour the ROUEN and
brought him to Pyince of Vales
Pier. While taking him off were
fired at by German soldiers at
25-40 yards, no casualties.
French sailors on board. Germans
had automatic guns on stands and
rifles. When trying to get out
found one engine completely
burnt out and boat making water.
Returned to Dover on one engine.