TNA ADM 199 795

CONFIDENTIAL.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
PERSONNEL VESSELS.
Twenty-nine personnel vessels were used during operation "Dynamo"; a list is given in the enclosure.
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Of these, seven were sunk, five so damaged by bombing a:
or gunfire as to render them unfit for further use during the operation, and two were damaged in collision.
er
Of these ships the following, namely MONA'S QUEEN, nd
BIARRITZ, CANTERBURY, QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL, MAID OF ORLEANS, le
AUTO CARRIER and ARCHANGEL; ST. HELIER and KING GEORGE V, had been engaged prior to Dynamo, in operations at Dunkirk,
Boulogne and Calais, and had completed the following trips:
MONA'S QUEEN 3 QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL 1 ARCHANGEL
1
BIARRITZ
2
MAID OF ORLEANS
3 ST.HELIER
2
CANTERBURY
3 AUTO CARRIER
2 KING GEORGE V.1
a
2. There was no doubt that the Captains and crews of these ships were feeling the strain when operation Dynamo started. After completing two round trips to Dunkirk harbour in operation Dynamo the Master of the CANTERBURY stated on the
28th that he would not take his ship to sea for a third trip.
The P.S.T.O. went on board and explained the gravity of the situation and ordered him to sail at 2230, out discovered some of the crew had been given leave. The P.S.T.O. therefore put os, an officer and some set nen and stokers on board to augment and stiffen the crew. The ship sailed at 0930/29, but was bombed and damaged on her return voyage from Dunkirk, and after landing troops did not take any further part in the operation.
3. After completing one round trip the Captain of the
St. SEIRIOL refused to sail, and accordingly one officer, an armed guard and 7 stokers were put on board at 1000 on the 29th.
The Captain was placed under open arrest and the ship sailed at
1100. On her return voyage the ship was bombed and damaged and did not sail again.
should 4. have completed 6 voyages. When due to commence her
The TYNWALD transported 7534 troops in 5 voyages; she fourth voyage at 1945/1, she refused to sail and did not sail again until 1945/2.
On a written enquiry from the S.T.O., Folkestone, on the 2nd June, whether or not the ship would sail for Dunkirk if required, the Master, W. Qualbrough, replied by letter as follows:
"Dear Sir,
Your letter received. I had a signal from the master of the MALINES last night to say him and the master of the BEN MY CHREE had considered it hopeless to proceed to Dunkirk. Our crews have been continually on their feet all the week and especially the deck officers who have had to be on their feet for so long. I myself have had 4 hours rest for the week and am at present physically unfit for another necessary to jo I will abide with the masters of the trip like what we have had. If it is absolutely other ships decision.
P.S. absolutely There nervous wrecks and certiffed by the naval is two more of the crew going ashore now doctor.
In/

Fire was opened and WES effective in
Dynamo293
195
THE LIVERPOOL AND
TELEPHONE 1653 CENTRAL
TELEGRAMS "ST TUDNO, LIVERPOOL.
NORTH WALES
STEAMSHIP Co LIMITED
ST TUDNO.
a. #1 SEIRIOL
40, Chapel Street er $
T.G. BREW. SECRETARY
Liverpool,3
TGB/CP.
12th June, 1940.
The Principal Sea Transport Officer,
Sea Transport Office,
Lord Warden Hotel,
Dover.
Dear Sir,
H.M.T.S. "St. Seiriol"
Your letter of the 5th instant, addressed to the
Master of "St. Seirioi" has been forwarded to this Office, and we have to inform you that Captain Dobb is away from homeand under Medical Treatment.
Ne attached a report signed by the Waster dated 8th
June, and addressed to this Company with the intention of it being forwarded to the competent authority.
We have also received a report from the 2nd Officer and we enclose extract of same.
We also attach an extract from the report which was forwarded to the Director of Sea Transport on the 7th June and signed by the Chairman of this Company.
We are expecting & report from the Chief Officer -
J. McNamee and Purser D.D. MeMahon, which will be forwarded on to you within the next two or three days.
The Master of the vessel left the Ship by order of the Medical Officeron Thursday 30th May.
Any further information which you may require we shall be pleased to furnish.
Yours faithfully,
The Liverpool & North Wales
Steamship Company utaited.
Secretary.
and we Lowered our only Lireboat and rescued 150 nen from the burning ship under very heavy fire from the Air.
Arrived Dover about 6.0 am and disembarked. (Thursday
30th May).
Yours faithfully, R.A.AM
Master.

Fire was opened and WILLS effective in
197
53, Ambrose Street,
Bangor.
21
O3TIMU
10th June, 1940.
1
Extract from letter from
Mr Birss Jones. 2nd Officer. "St. Seiriol".
The night of the 27 th May.
"We arrived at Dunkirk between 7 and 8.0 pm and as soon as we got alongside the Pier the bombing started from all directions, so the Captain had orders to go out again and get all the Troops he could get from the beach. The bombing was still going on but we were lucky, so we dropped Anchor and the Captain ordered
10
boats to be Lowered and manned and to go ashore and get as many
128
troops as we could. I took charge of No.3 Lifeboat with J. Wishart
Greaser, and i,Roberts. A.B.
8
The night was dark out the burning buildings ashore lit up the Beach, so I managed to get the boat full of wounded soldiers
O., e
and when I got out again I could not find the "St. Seirioi". While was ashore the Captain got order to 80 back to the Pier and load d
troops, so I took ay Load to & destroyer and put them on board are irned there and I went for another boat load and back to the Destroyer.
pe
It was getting about half past eleven, so the Dieutenant told ne and my men to go on board and cast the boat adrift as they were to, leaving at midnight. Just before we left the *St. Seiriol" came
55
close and hailed the destroyer that he had three of his sen ashore, so he was told that we were on board. Ne proceeded with the that
Destroyer and arrived at Dover and I joined "St. Seiriol" at ards,
Folkestone midday on the 26th.
made
The We got night to of the the Pier 29th at May. Lunkirk about 7 o'clock, after Jerry had been y
trying to bomb us all along the Coast. The first thing we saw was the S.S. "Fenella" alorgside the Pier and P.S. Crested Bagle*, e
iber
The "Fenella" had been bombed and disembarking the troops and her
:ions
Cre. to the other ship. After the "Crested Eagie" left the Pier she was bombed and on fire so the Captain run her ashore. lie had
1
orders the boats. or course we had only two boats left. the took to man of No.5 boat and the Chief Officer took charge of burned other, charge managed to get some on board, wounded, scalded, all and half SQ drowned. we It was hellish there and bombs dropping

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EXTRACT FROM LETTER dated 7th June, 1940.
To. The Director of Sea Transport,
From.
motî T93301
STATE CHAPEL 40 STREET STRAISHIP
21
.7901110
Ministry of Shipping,
1
Berkeley Square House,
LIVERPOOL
Berkeley Square,
LIVESPOUL
TEL 1835
9W as 2002 as bris mq 0.8 ons \ news YSM
London.W.i.
CENTRAL
COMPANY
381
LED
118 mort 2. gradmod
Dear Sir,
H.M.T.S."St.Seiriol"
about edd IIB Jeg bns nisss JUO 00 of ST9DTO
"We have now had an opportunity of interviewing the around us. It was terrible and also a miracle
Master (R.D.Dobb) and various Members of the Crew of our no gniog 11132 2.8W graderod 911.dosed steamer "St. Seiriol" on their exploits on the nights of 27th and 29th May when the vessel was ordered to proceed to
0919610 mistqs0 90J DNS ALCOULT D9QQOTD 9W 02
got clear of them. We left there between 10 and
May Dunkirk to assist in the evacuation of the B.E.F. from that and we consider it our duty to the Master and Crew to
VISA as J93 brie этопав 08 OJ DAS D9MNSM DILS
managed to get our two boats in the davits.
bring Port to the notice of the competent authority the exceptional Master courage, endurance and devotion to duty shown by the
10
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Jisdel to dJ tw c.on to Food I
Captain Dobb acted wonderful in command and Crew on these two occasions.
Bridge and also the Chief Officer. Mr.Onions would respectfully draw your attention to the
We and seamanship displayed by the Master on the enemy night
JHI этолає againstud SHINTED ent find NISD 2.8W
staff had done their best looking after the wounded of the 27th when he succeeded in taking his vessel and Mole try coolness May, under heavy Gunfire and Bombing by to the
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and was then aboard by use of ships lifeboats, midnight and did.
aircraft, ordered by S.I.O. to go to the beaches which he
Aid) as we were bringing them on board. If to 1101 Jsoa 9AJ Jeg OJ begsnem I OC
He and was get then troops ordered to return to the Nole about eltdW 9dj "Your I obedient remain Servant embarked nearly 600 B.E.F.Troops.
and also ships which were sunk by enemy shore and was put successful in picking men from the water action were
On the the remaining lifeboat out to go to the who night of 29th May he took his vessel well beach, in bsol bns Te I9 9dd of NOBD 00 of 19171 Jones.
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based no mont Jug bns 2nd Officer. Seiriol"
and survivors then brought from other his Ship safely to Port with a complement of ed end of Hosd bris bsol Jsod Teddons
.E.F.men despiteintense air bombing.
9m blot 9dd 02 enevele Jasq fied JUOOS
doubt Lieut McEwen R.N. who was this, on and duty on board Seiriol" wishes on to place on record his appreciation Lieut McBwen of R.N. the
We have no the 29th May will confirm
SISW veda as titubs Jsod 9dj Jaso bas based до 08 of
Captain gallant Dobb work and assistance he received from emso "foimiss, edj Jiel SW Jawl
No praise is too high for the gallantry of Captain Dobb erodes nom ald 10 bed 9d JANJ revorted 900
in the opinion of my Directors.
We would through by Chief Officer of the who, also draw your attention to the J.McNamee good work
9dd NJ IW bebeecorq sW.bIsod no 9'19W 9W
undertaken in charge of and a ship's carried lifeboat with of two B.E.F.men other members to get off the
JS "lottles, 3" benief 1 ons isvol JS Devings crew, helped a considerable Officer number B.Jones who under similar did similar tions
.dj8s no beaches, was in charge and also of another 2nd of the ship's lifeboats and good work.
need bsd Vimet TOJIS, NOOLD'O \ Juods V8A JS 1919
did excellent work at their a Bren posts Gun, and wse SW gridt Jamit sniT.Jaso0 9dj gnoss 116 dmod by we understand permission of the the 4th Chief Engineer, with effect on enemy planes. and
ALL the Engineers Engineer (A.M.Rivett) manned
Steward Onions. 2nd Steward J.E.Brown tending to
"eigel Dits 1919 and
D.D.McMahon The Chief we understand aid heroic board. work in
Ted bns 9dd DOB bedmod need bad #811909
Purser the wounded, there being no Doctor on
Supplies and other consumable Comfort stores to of the
1919 edd they and TOJIA.qide Teddo 9dd our Catering ALL the Department Medical were used to give Medical and ben 9W.emodes Ted aus nisiqe0 edd 02 only no bns oadmoo rescued. After the strain work during and anxieties the previous of these week, two Doctor the trips whole at of
I.Jist assod OWJ Vido bad OW TO.afsed and after the strenuous shaken and the Military that Dover, the edd 10 egrado Food TODITTO Te IdO edj bega 10
Waster after he had hands were unfit to carry homes. any #
the crew were examined thoroughly them, decided without on hesitation longer, behand,bebisos bebauow,basod по based SW eased n99d 0 9dd aluensequently and all they all returned to their
(Signed) H.lan Maclver.
116 edmod Drts 10 Teldaido Dd dedmoo
Chairman.