His Majesty

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

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941                                   59<>5
as instructors to assist in the training of new         I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the
formations, while an equal number have been          chief of the Mission, General de Division Voruz,
attached to the Force, for instruction, from         and to all his staff for their ever ready help to
units at home.                                       the-British Army on all occasions.
   Despite the almost complete absence of battle        Thanks to their efforts, matters relating to
casualties the supply of officers has caused me      billeting, hire of land, and local purchase of
concern. Over four hundred candidates have           material have been handled without friction.
been sent home for training as officers, while a     To them is due, in large measure, the friendliness
further four hundred have been recommended           of the relations which exist between the French
for immediate commissions.                           population and the troops, and also as between
   These have been drawn to a large extent from      French and British staffs and regiments.
Warrant Officers Class III.                             A British Military Mission under Brigadier
   A large number of War Establishments, par-        J. G. des R. Swayne was established with the
ticularly for the Intelligence Corps and for units   Headquarters of General Georges under whose
on the Lines of Communication, were found to         immediate command the British Expeditionary
need adjustment and steps have been taken to         Force is serving.
this end.
   The existing War Establishment of an infantry      Distinguished Visitors.
battalion, which was not designed for Continental       26. On 4th December His Majesty The King
warfare, has called for modification and I am         visited his troops in France and was received
grateful that my recommendations for an in-          -everywhere with enthusiasm. During the three
crease have been accepted.                            days tour His Majesty was able to make a
   The Royal Corps of Signals has been put to         detailed inspection of forward and rear areas.
great strain in providing communications not          On his return to England, His Majesty was
only for the Army, but for the whole of the Air       graciously pleased to send a message to his
Forces in France. The degree of dispersion            Army which was warmly appreciated by all
required in modern warfare has materially             ranks.
added to their difficulties.                             The President of the French Republic has
   The success with which these demands have          spent a day with the British Expeditionary
been met is due not only to the spirit in which       Force.
the personnel of that Corps have faced and               The Prime Minister and other members of the
overcome difficulties, but to the successful          War Cabinet, the Ministers from the Dominions,
arrangements for co-operation with the French         many members of the Army Council and seven
military and civil organisations, and with the        Field Marshals are amongst those who have
 General Post Office. The Wireless Intelligence       visited my Headquarters at various times.
Staff have done valuable work, and the cipher
duties of the Force have been most efficiently       Honours and Awards.
performed by personnel of the Army Educational          27. I am submitting separately the names
Corps.                                               of officers and other ranks whom I wish to
   The Survey Directorate has been called upon       recommend for reward or to bring to your notice
to carry out a great deal of work under difficult    for gallant or distinguished service.
conditions and has fulfilled all the demands
made upon it.
                                                                   I have the honour to be,
Liaison with the French.                                                      Sir,
  25. On the arrival of the British Expeditionary                      Your obedient Servant,
Force in France a French Military Mission was
established at my headquarters to deal with                                       GORT.
French military and civil authorities and to act
as a link with Grand Quartier General. In
addition, officers and non-commissioned officers                                           General,
of the French Army are attached for liaison                                   Commander-in-Chief,
duties to the headquarters of each formation                          British Expeditionary Force.
and unit as it arrives.


Details

' SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941
  Carvin, and on the following day isgth Infantry        near Maulde on the front of ist Division a
  Brigade of the same division joined the force.         number of enemy had crossed the river dis-
  On 2ist May I27th Infantry-Brigade rejoined the        guised as refugees, but had been detected and
  42nd Division and the sector from Millonfosse          driven out with the bayonet. The Corps Com-
  to St. Amand was handed over to the French.            manders all felt that they could hot how hold
     Already on 2oth May, I had ordered Major-           on for more than .twenty-four hours. We
  General Curtis, Commanding 46th Division, to           discussed a withdrawal to our old frontier
  take command of the sector of the canals between       defences, where advantage could be taken of the
  Aire and Carvin. General Curtis' force was             existing blockhouses and trenches, and of tha
  known as Polforce, and was to.consist of four          anti-tank ditch. This move would have little
  battalions - of 46th Division, 25th Infantry           effect on the French on our right since it would
  Brigade of 5.oth Division (in line between La          pivot on the junction point, where the Escaut
  Bassee and Carvin) and one field battery,              crossed the frontier, but "would seriously affect
  together with a number of engineer and other          the Belgians, who now held the line of the
  units o'f G.H.Q. troops which had been moving         Escaut from Audenarde to Ghent and of the
  northwards and .were collected on the Canal.          canal from Ghent to the sea at Terneuzen.
  It had originally been intended that part of this         I had also to consider the pressing need to
  force should hold St. Pol, Prevent and Divion,        stiffen the defence of the canal line westwards to
  but the railway trains in which were the remain-      Gravelines and to form a new reserve to replace
 ing three battalions of 46th Division failed to        the divisions now committed to counter-attacks
 reach that town in time and remained south of          southward from Arras.
 the Somme. The defence of these localities south          A provisional decision was therefore reached
 of the Canal had therefore to be abandoned.            to withdraw to the frontier defences on the night
     Further to the north-west the defence of the       of 22nd/23rd May, details being left until I had
 canal line was being organised by Brigadier            reached agreement with the French and the
 C. M. Usher, Commander of X Lines of Communi-          Belgians.
 cation Sub-area. On 22nd May he reported that             General Weygand had visited General Billotte
 the enemy had already reached the left bank of         during the day and the latter indicated that an
 the river Aa between Gravelines and St. Omer.          attack was being planned for the following day
 23rd Division had been ordered to move to this         (22nd May), northwards from the direction of
 area and its leading battalion (6th Green Howards)     Roye, with the object of closing the gap. At
 arrived at Gravelines. Brigadier Usher therefore       8 p.m. on 2ist May I went to Ypres where in
 held the right bank of the river from St. Omer to      the Burgomaster's office I met H.M. the King
 Gravelines with this battalion and five batteries      of the Belgians and General Billotte. There
 of heavy artillery used as infantry, in conjunction   were also present General Van Overstraeten,
 with certain French troops of the Secteur             General Champon, the head of the French
 Fortifie des Flandres.                                Mission with Belgian G.Q.G., General Pownall
    The front of Macforce was covered by the           and others.
 French, 3rd, 4th and 5th Corps, who were still            I explained the situation which was developing
 in their quadrilateral on the line of the Escaut      on the Escaut about Audenarde, and the diffi-
 and the Sensee. Here, however, information            culty of maintaining positions there since the
 was frequently lacking and could only be obtained     water in the river was so low as no longer to
 by reconnaissance.                                    form an obstacle. It was then agreed that on
    Thus, by 22nd May, the canal line was occupied     the night of 22nd/23rd May the Escaut should be
in the sense that the whole of the length of 85        abandoned and that the Allied armies should
miles from the sea at Gravelines to Millonfosse        occupy a line from Maulde northwards to
 (West of St. Amand) was divided into sectors          Halluin, thence along the Lys to Courtrai and
 for each of which a British commander was             Ghent.
responsible. The total strength of the troops              I discussed the possibility of reserves. It
 on the Canal line did not on this day exceed          appeared that the available divisions of the
 10,000 men, and the number of anti-tank               French ist Army were all too tired to take part
 weapons was barely adequate to cover all the          in offensive operations in the immediate future.
 crossing places: certainly there could be no          It was therefore agreed that the French should
 question of being able to keep an effective           take over a further sector of the defensive
 watch against small parties of infantry crossing      positions northwards from Maulde, so that the
the canal between the bridges. The barges,             2nd and 48th Divisions could be withdrawn into
however, had almost all been moved away or             reserve on leaving the line of the Escaut. The ,,
 at any rate to the bank furthest from the enemy,      French took up these positions on 22nd May.
.and bridges were fast being prepared for              On the north, 44th Division on withdrawal
demolition.                                            from the Escaut were to hold the sector Halluin- -
                                                       Courtrai, but it was hoped that a Belgian
2ist May—The Situation on the Belgian Front.           formation would relieve them on the night of
   35. On 2ist May at 4.45 p.m. I met the three        23rd/24th May.
Corps Commanders. I told them what had                     When these moves were complete the Allied
happened on the southern flank and how, in             line would run slightly west of north to Halluin,
-order to take the initiative and encourage the        and then almost at right angles, north-eastwards
French ist Army to do likewise, I had gone to          along the Lys. It was evident that sooner or
the length of committing practically the whole         later the Belgian army would have to swing
of my reserve.                                         back to a line in rear, pivoting on their right
   From the Corps Commanders I learned that            of Halluin. Accordingly at the end of the
the line was thinly held and that attacks had          conference General Billotte asked the King of
taken place at several points. At Petegem on           the Belgians whether if he were forced to with-
the front of 44th Division the enemy had secured       draw he would fall back on to the line of the
a bridgehead 1,000 yards deep on a front of            Yser. His Majesty agreed, though evidently
3,000 yards, and at the junction with the French       with some regret, that no alternative line existed.


Details

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941                                    5927
beaches were organised at La Panne, Bray Dunes          While at the Bastion, General Koeltz asked
and Malo-les-Bains, one being allotted to each       me, shortly after n p.m. whether I had yet
Corps ; and military beach parties were impro-       heard that H.M. the King of the Belgians had
vised on each Corps beach. They carried on           asked for an armistice from midnight that
without naval assistance for two days, but were      night. This was. the first intimation I had
hampered by a.shortage of small boats and by a       received of this intention, although I had
lack of experience in their use. The troops were     already formed the opinion that the Belgian
unable to handle boats on a falling tide, and        Army was now iqcapable of offering serious
during daylight on the 27th, when only one           or prolonged resistance to the enemy. I now
destroyer and two whalers were available for         found myself suddenly faced with an open gap
work on the beaches, not more than two hundred       of 20 mile's between Ypres and the sea through
men were embarked.                                   which enemy armoured forces might reach the
    Dunkirk, which for some days had been            •beaches.
heavily bombed, received a particularly severe          Owing to the congestion on the roads, I did
 attack on 27th May; lorry columns had been          not get back to my headquarters at Houtkerque
 set on fire in the town and a pall of black smoke   until about 4.30 a.m. on 28th May. There I
from the burning oil tanks .hung continuously         found that a telegram had been received from
 over the town and docks, impeding the air            the War Office at 1.30 a.m. saying that H.M.
 defence.                                             the King of the Belgians was capitulating at
    Though the outer mole could still be used         midnight.
 the inner harbour was now blocked except to
 small ships.                                         Withdrawal- to' the Sea.
    Dunkirk was therefore cleared of all troops          52. .Next morning (28th May), General
 and they were sent to the dunes east of the          Blanchard arrived at my headquarters at
 town to await embarkation. The port itself           Houtkerque at about n a.m., and I read him
 was kept under the control of G.H.Q. and            .the telegram which I had received the previous
 manned by naval ratings. At one time it              day from the Secretary of State. It was then
 seemed likely to go out of use at any moment,        clear to me that whereas we had both received
 but troops were in fact embarked there till the      similar instructions from our own Government
 end, in numbers which far exceeded expecta-          for the establishment of a bridgehead he had,
 tions.                                               as yet, received no instructions to correspond
    Supplies, water and ammunition were des-          with those I had received to evacuate my troops.
 patched from England to the beaches, and             General Blanchard therefore could not see his
  on 28th May the first convoy arrived. Unfortu-      way to contemplate evacuation.
 nately a high proportion of these stores were            I then expressed the opinion that now the
  destroyed on the way over or sunk when.             Belgian Army had ceased to exist, the only
  anchored off the shore. Nevertheless consider-      alternatives could be evacuation or surrender.
  able quantities were landed at Coxyde and La        The enemy threat to the North-Eastern flank
  Panne and served to create a badly needed           appeared certain to develop during the next
  reserve.                                            forty-eight hours. The long South-Western flank
• During 27th May, the move of 5th and 5oth           was being subjected to constant and increasing
  Divisions was completed and the left flank thus     pressure, especially at Cassel and Wormhoudt,
  extended as far as Ypres. On the front from         and the arrival of the enemy heavy columns
  Bergues to Hazebrouck enemy pressure steadily       could not be long delayed. These considerations
  increased.                                          could not be lightly dismissed. While this dis-
     On the same afternoon, G.H.Q. moved from         cussion was taking place, a liaison officer arrived
  Premesques to Houtkerque (six miles W.N.W.          from General Prioux, now in command of the
  of Poperinghe). Communications were difficult       French ist Army, to say that the latter did not
  throughout. the day since Corps headquarters        consider his troops were fit to make any further
  were all on the move, and it had not yet been       move and that he therefore intended to remain
  possible to re-establish line communications        in the area between Bethune and Lille, protected
  which hitherto had run through Lille.               by the quadrangle of canals.
                                                          I then begged General Blanchard, for the sake
                                                      of France, the French Army and the Allied
 The Belgian Armistice.                               Cause to order General Prioux back. Surely,
    51. During 27th May, I received a further          I said, his troops were not all so tired as to be
 telegram from the Secretary of State which           incapable of moving. The French Government
 read " . . . want to make it quite clear that        would be able to provide ships at least for some
 sole task now-is to evacuate to England maxi-         of his troops, and the chance of saving a part of
 mum of your force possible ". It was therefore        his trained soldiers was preferable to the cer-
 very necessary to discuss further plans with          tainty of losing them all. I could not move
 General Blanchard, for no policy had yet been         him. Finally he asked me formally whether it
 laid down by G.Q.G. or any other French higher        was my intention to withdraw that night to the
 authority for a withdrawal northward of the Lys.      line Cassel-Poperinghe-Ypres.
 I had no idea what plans either he or Admiral            I replied in the affirmative and informed him
 Abrial had in mind.                                   that I now had formal orders from His Majesty's
    In the evening, I left my headquarters at          Government to withdraw the B.E.F. and that
  Houtkerque with the C.G.S. and the French            if I was to have any hope of carrying them out
 liaison officer from .General Blanchard's head-       I must .continue niy move that night. General
  quarters to try and 'get into touch with General     Blanchard's parting was not unfriendly, and
  Blanchard. I failed to find him at La Panne,         when he left I issued my orders for withdrawal
  so I went on to Bastion No. 32 at Dunkirk to         to provide for that change of mind on the part
  visit Admiral Abrial, only to find- that both he     of the French High Command for which I so
  and General Fagalde were equally unaware of          sincerely hoped and which in fact took place
 his whereabouts.                                      later.


Details

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941                                     5929
   I communicated the gist of this report to the          The arrival of these troops, though welcome
 C.I.G.S. and I asked that H.M. Government             from-so many points of view, raised the question
 should consider the policy to be followed in the      of embarkation in an acute form. Admiral Abrial
 event of a crisis arising, as well it might.          had apparently received no orders from his
   In reply, I received two telegrams which            Government that the whole of the British troops
.read:—                                                were to be embarked, and he professed great
      ". . . . H.M. Government fully approve           surprise when he heard of my intentions. He
   ypur withdrawal to extricate your force in          had, it seems, imagined that only rearward
   order embark maximum number possible of             elements were to be withdrawn, and that British
   British Expeditionary Force. . . . If you           troops would stay and defend the perimeter to
   are cut from all communication from us and          the last, side by side with the French. I there-
   all evacuation from Dunkirk and beaches had,        fore sent Sir Ronald Adam to see the Admiral.
   in your judgment, been finally prevented            He explained the orders to extricate my Force
   after every attempt to re-open it had failed        which I had received from His Majesty's Govern-
   you would become sole -judge of when it was         ment and which had been confirmed the day
   impossible to inflict further damage to enemy."     before.
    I also received a gracious telegram of en-            Meanwhile, the French troops were expecting,
 couragement and good wishes from His Majesty,         to embark along .with their British comrades,
 the King, which I communicated to all ranks.          notwithstanding that no French ships had so far
    General Weygand telegraphed on this day            been provided: the beaches were becoming
 appealing personally to me to ensure that the         crtiwded with French soldiers, aiid difficulties
 British Army took a vigorous part in any counter-     might have occurred at any time. I urged the
 attacks necessary; the situation, he added,           War Office to obtain a decision as to the French
 made it essential to hit hard. When he sent           policy for embarkation and asked that the French
 this message, he could have had no accurate           should take their full share in providing naval
 information of the real position or of the powers     faculties. However, to permit embarkation of
 of counter-attack remaining to either the French      the French troops to begin at once, I decided to
 or the British. General Koeltz had not, as yet,       allot two British ships to the French that night,
 had time to return to G.Q.G. with a first-hand        and also to give up the beach at Malo-les-Bains
 report on the situation, and in any case the          for their sole use.
 time for such action in the northern theatre
 was long past.
                                                        Medical arrangements.
   French troops arrive : Problems of embarkation.         56. Hospital ships worked continuously till
                                                        3ist May though "continuous bombing made
      55. By 2gth May, the naval arrangements           their berthing difficult and they frequently had
 .were beginning to bear -fruit: however, during       'to put to sea before they were fully loaded.
   the day, the enemy began to shell Dunkirk from       Walking wounded were taken on board personnel
   the' south-west, and the port and the beaches        ships from Dunkirk or the beaches, but to prevent
   were constantly bombed.                              delay in embarking fit men, orders were issued
      Owing to a misunderstanding, the personnel        that the most serious cases should only be
   of certain anti-aircraft units had been embarked     embarked on hospital ships. Casualty Clearing
  instead of being retained for the defence of          Stations had been established at Dunkirk and at
   the port-of Dunkirk. Therefore, I -was the           the beach at La Panne. Some of the wounded
   more dependent on the action of fighter aircraft,    were, however, too ill to move. They had been
   and I made this clear to the War Office. I           collected into two Casualty Clearing Stations,
  realised how heavy was the demand to be made          one at Crombeke and one at Rosendael, where
   on the Royal Air Force for the remainder of the      they were to be cared for till the enemy should
   operation, and how impossible it would be to         arrive.
  expect that they could succeed completely in
  preventing air action on the beaches. Yet they
  did succeed in intercepting a large part of the      The Evacuation of yd and 2nd Corps.
  enemy attacks, and those which'arrived, though          57. The 3rd Corps Sector included the canal
   at times serious, were never able to impede         from Dunkirk to Bergues, with the town of
  our embarkation for long.                            Bergues, and a little more than two miles of
      French troops were now arriving in the peri-     front west of the town. By the evening of .29th,
  meter in large numbers, and, unfortunately,          3rd Corps had withdrawn 44th and 2nd Divisions
  brought with them much transport. The conges-        from their positions and Corps headquarters
  tion created within the perimeter was well-nigh      were now embarked. 44th and 48th Divisions
  unbearable and for two days the main road'           were ordered to be transferred to ist Corps, and
' between La Panne and Dunkirk became totally          2nd, 23rd .and 46th Divisions to proceed to
  blocked with vehicles three deep. The French         Dunkirk for embarkation, ist Corps was also
  were in process of withdrawing all their troops      ordered to embark what remained of 42nd
  behind the defences on the Belgian frontier, and     Division, except for I26th Infantry Brigade.
  for the next two days' their dispositions were       Subsequently a change was made, 44th Division
  superimposed on those of the British troops in       being embarked and 46th Division remaining
  that part of the perimeter between the frontier      with ist Corps.
  and Bergues. The French military forces,
  within the perimeter or now approaching it,             During the 2Qth and 30th May, 5th and 5oth
  consisted of two weak divisions of the i6th          Divisions came into the 2nd Corps, area: the
  Corps (6oth and 68th), General Barthele'my's         former, sadly reduced in numbers, was with-
  regional troops, General de la Laurencie's           drawn from the line, while the latter occupied a
  3rd Corps of two divisions (i2th and 32nd), and      sector between the Belgian frontier and the right
  the Cavalry Corps, together with some artillery.     of the 3rd Division.


Details

5906          SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941

                           SECOND DESPATCH f
(Covering the period from ist February, 1940, to 3ist May, 1940, with an Appendix
covering operations of ist Corps from 6 p.m. 3ist May, to midnight 2nd/3rd June).

   | i. The narrative portions of this despatch have been compiled from the war diaries and other
records of the General Staff at G.H.Q. These have been supplemented by war diaries, including
those of the Swayne Mission, and by diaries, notes and records made by various commanders
and staff officers at the time, or within a few days of their arrival in England. The records of the
General Staff at G.H.Q. are only partially complete for the period loth—i8th May, owing to some
papers having been destroyed at Boulogne, and a portion of the records for 3ist May lost at sea.
Some records of less importance were burnt at Hazebrouck to avoid possible capture and others
were destroyed in a lorry which caught fire near Cassel on or about 24th May.
     2. The Appendix contains an account of the operations at Dunkirk from 6 p.m., 3ist May, to
midnight 2nd/3rd June, which may conveniently be appended to this despatch, though they were
not carried out under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. It has been compiled by the General
Staff at G.H.Q., from sources similar to those used for the despatch itself.


                               London,               Arrival of yd Corps in France.
                                   25 July, 1940.       3. 3rd Corps (Lt.-General Sir Ronald F.
Sir,                                                 Adam, Bt.), consisting of 42nd Division (Major-
   1. I have the honour to submit a report on        General W. G. Holmes), 44th Division (Major-
the employment of the British Expeditionary          General E. A. Osborne) and 5ist Division
Force, and on the part which it played in             (Major-General V. M. Fortune) was due for
operations in France and -Belgium from ist           despatch to France in February and March, and
February, 1940, to 3ist May, 1940, on which          5 ist Division arrived during early February.
date I gave up Command of the Force.                 The 5oth (Motor) Division (Major-General G. le
                                                     Q. Martel) arrived in France at the same time
   The period under review may be divided into       and was allotted to 2nd Corps. It had been
two distinct and sharply contrasting phases,         arranged that the front of the B.E.F. should be
namely, before and after loth May, on which          extended northwards to Croix de Poperinghe on
date active operations began. The active             the Belgian frontier, two miles north-east of
operations themselves can be divided geo-            Bailleul, and that 3rd Corps should go into the
graphically into two distinct parts ; on the east,   line on the left of the B.E.F. taking over 5th
the advance to the River Dyle, and the with-         Division from 2nd Corps, and relieving 53rd
drawal to the frontier; on the west, the defence     French Division, between Armentieres and Croix
of Arras and the organisation of the Canal line.     de Poperinghe, with 5ist Division. The Com-
Later, the two parts merged into one whole in        mand of the new sector had passed to the
the final phase of the withdrawal and embarka-       B.E.F. at midnight 3ist Jan./ist February, and
tion of the Force.                                   the relief of the French troops was to take
   No such clear definition can be made in terms     place about I2th February.
of time; furthermore, the two operations, on            At this time, however, owing to the situation
the east and on the west, were closely inter-        elsewhere in Europe His Majesty's Government
dependent, and the same reserves had to serve        found it necessary to postpone the despatch of
for both. For this reason the accounts of the        3rd Corps (excepting 5 ist Division) and also of
operations on the two fronts cannot but be           certain anti-aircraft, administrative and labour
intermingled at certain points in the narrative.     units. I was also instructed to earmark one
Broadly speaking, however, three distinct phases     division for withdrawal from the B.E.F. if
can be distinguished. First, the advance to the      required ; for this I selected 5th Division. It
Dyle from ioth-i6th May; then from i7th-26th         was evident that the programme of shipments of
May the withdrawal from the Dyle to the              ammunition and other war material to France,
Escaut, the defence of the Belgian frontier and      on which I had counted to make up the serious
of the southern and western flanks ; and finally     deficiencies in stocks, would be severely curtailed
the withdrawal and embarkation of the Force          in February and March.
from 27th-3ist May.
   2. The narrative in my first despatch dated          4. These changes entailed a delay in the
25th April, 1940, concluded with the completion      development of the Force which was naturally
of the first contingent of the Force.                disappointing; moreover, it became impossible
   I had been informed that the expansion of the     for me to take over the new sector to Bailleul,
Force was to be continued by the despatch of         and at the same time to retain a proper propor-
3rd Corps during the early months of 1940;           tion of divisions in reserve. I was, therefore,
the Armoured Division was to follow in May,          obliged to obtain the consent of the French to
and a fourth Corps, with ist Canadian                the indefinite postponement of the relief, and to
Division, during the late Summer ; furthermore,      accept the resulting congestion in the area of
it had been decided that the Force should be         the B.E.F.
divided into two Annies, as soon as the number          5oth Division was temporarily accommodated
of divisions in the field, excluding the Armoured    in an area south-west of Amiens in G.H.Q.
Division, rose above eleven.                         reserve.
   Preparation for this expansion, which had            At the end of March, however, the 3rd Corps
been proceeding since the previous autumn,           was finally despatched to France ; 5ist Division
continued steadily until loth May.                   duly relieved the French in the new sector on


Details

5924         SUPPLEMENT TO .THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941
    some sectors were held jointly with the French.      I replied that a plan for withdrawal north-
    The virtual closing of Dunkirk as a port of        westward had been agreed with the French
    entry was making the supply situation ever         tha't morning; I added that the news from the
    more difficult, and the ammunition situation       Belgian front was disquieting,' and concluded
    permitted only of very restricted expenditure.     by saying:—
                                                             . . . " I must not conceal from you that
  The Plan for Withdrawal.                               a great part of the B.E.F. and its equipment
                                                         will'inevitably be lost even in best circum-
.   44. Later, on 26th May, I discussed the plan         stances."
 for withdrawal with the Corps Commanders, and
 issued orders for the operation in accordance            Later in the day, I had a further teiegram
 with the agreement reached with General               from the War Office which read as follows :—
 Blanchard that morning. The plan, as agreed                 " . . . Prime Minister had conversation
 with the French First Group of Armies, envisaged         M. Reynaud this afternoon. Latter fully
 the reservation of certain roads for the exclusive       explained to him the situation and resources
 use of the B.E.F. In fact, however, French               French Army. It is clear that it will not be
 troops and transport continued to use them, and          possible for French to deliver attack on the
 this added very considerably to the difficulties         south in sufficient strength to enable them to
 of the withdrawal of British troops. The roads           effect junction with Northern Armies. In
 were few and for the most part narrow, and for           these circumstances no course open to you
 the next three days they were badly congested            but to fall back upon coast. . . . M. Reynaud
 with marching troops and horsed transport of             communicating General Weygand and latter
 French formations, and with refugees.                    will no doubt issue orders in this sense
    On the night 26th/27th May, ist and 2nd               forthwith. You are now authorised to
 Corps, leaving rearguards in the frontier defences,      operate towards coast forthwith in con-
 were to swing back to the old divisional reserve         junction with French and Belgian Armies."
 position with their right at Fort Samghin
 (5 miles south-east of Lille), while the French        The Situation, of the Belgian Army.
prolonged this line from Thumeries to the canal
at Pont-a-Vendin, linking up there with 2nd                45. The situation on the Belgian front was
Division. The following night (27th/a8th May),          causing me ever increasing anxiety. At the
main bodies were to withdraw behind the Lys,            conference at Ypres on the evening of 2ist May,
leaving rearguards on the Deule canal up to its         His Majesty the King of the Belgians had agreed
junction with the Lys at Deulemont: these               that, if forced to abandon the positions on the
rearguards were to stay there until the next night      Lys, he would withdraw to the Yser, maintaining
 (28th/29th May). The immediate effect of              touch with the left of the B.E.F. Now, however,
these dispositions would be to shorten the total        signs were not wanting that the Belgian Army
perimeter by some 58 miles, but on the other            were being forced to withdraw northwards and
hand I had to face the possibility of having to         away from the Yser canal. If so, the task of
occupy the front from Ypres to the sea, some            defending the whole line as far as the sea
25 miles long, which was still the responsibility       appeared likely to fall on ourselves and the
of the Belgian Army.                                    French, as actually did happen.
                                                           Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes, who
    There remained the question of the future.          had been carrying out liaison duties with
I had not so far discussed with General                 H.M. the King of the Belgians since the opera-
Blanchard a further withdrawal to the sea.             tions began, came to G.H.Q. on the morning of
However, the possibility could not have been           26th May, and I e'xpressed to him my earnest
absent from his mind; nor was it absent from           hope that the Belgian Army would fall back
mine, for, although up to now no instructions          towards the Yser. Sir Roger Keyes took this
had been given authorising me to undertake             message back to the Belgian G.Q.G. at Bruges,
such an operation, I had, as I have said, foreseen     where he saw His Maj esty. Later he telegraphed
the possibility of such a move being forced            to me sajdng that the Belgians would do their
upon us.                                               best, but that His Majesty considered that the
   I returned from the conference at General           only method of avoiding immediate and com-
Blanchard's headquarters at about 10.30 a.m.           plete disaster was a strong and immediate
on 26th May to find a telegram from the                counter offensive between the Lys and the
Secretary of State which read:—                        Escaut. Such an operation was, however, quite
      . . . " I have had information all of            out of the question since, now that 5th and
   which goes to show that French offensive            5oth Divisions had been committed, my reserves
   from Somme cannot be made in sufficient             were again reduced to one weak cavalry
   strength to hold any prospect of functioning        regiment.
   with your Allies in the North. Should this             The indication that the Belgian Army would
   prove to be the case you will be faced with a       withdraw northwards and not to the Yser, was
   situation in which the safety of the B.E.F.         confirmed in a note, a copy of which I received,
   will predominate. In such conditions only           sent on 26th May by General Michiels, the
   course open to you may be to fight your way         Chief of the Staff of the Belgian Army, to
   back to West where all beaches and ports            General Neissens, head of the Belgian Mission
   east of Gravelines will be used for embarka-        with G.K.Q.
   tion. Navy will provide fleet of ships and             This note contained the following passage :—
   small boats and R.A.F. would give full support.           . . . ft To-day, 26th May the Belgian Army
   As withdrawal may have to begin very early             is being attacked with extreme violence on
   preliminary plans should be urgently prepared.         the front Menin-Nevele,* and since the
   . . . Prime Minister is seeing M. Reynaud           0 battle is now spreading to the whole of the
   to-morrow afternoon when whole situation               area of Eecloo, the lack of Belgian reserves
   will be clarified including attitude of French
   to the possible move. . . . "                       • * Eight miles west pf Ghent.


Details

5934         SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 OCTOBER, 1941

of my three Corps. Lieut.-Generals Sir Alan          Honours and Awards.
Brooke, M. G. H. Barker and Sir Ronald Adam,            73. I am submitting separately the names of
Bart. The sudden turn of events on iyth May          officers and other ranks whom I wish to recom-
threw a violent and unexpected strain on the         mend for reward or to bring to your notice for
Commander, Lines of Communication Area (the          gallant or distinguished service.
late Major-General P. de Fonblanque), and I
wish to record my sincere appreciation of his                        I have the honour to be
good and devoted work during the time that he
was serving under my command.                                                       Sir,
   Finally, I desire to express my thanks and                              Your Obedient Servant,
good wishes to all those officers in' the' French                                 GORT,
Army whose duties brought them into contact
with the British Expeditionary Force, and whose                                        General,
goodwill, understanding and personal friendship
 did so much to foster the good relations which                              Commander-in-Chief,
existed between the two armies.                                          British Expeditionary Force.


                  APPENDIX TO SECOND DESPATCH OF C.-IN-C., B.E.F.

OPERATIONS OF IST CORPS FROM 6 P.M.                   artillery fire. It was therefore evident that the
ON 3isT MAY TO MIDNIGHT SND/SED JUNE,                 force could not be evacuated completely on the
                 1940                                 night ist/2nd June. Major-General Alexander
                                                      therefore agreed on a modified plan with Admiral
   Major-General Hon. H. R. L. G. Alexander,          Abrial and General Fagalde at 8 a.m. on ist June.
on taking over command of ist Corps, handed           He arranged to hold his present line till
over command of the ist Division to Brigadier         midnight ist/2nd June; thus he would cover
M. B. Beckwith-Smith. He then proceeded to            Dunkirk and so enable the French to evacuate
Dunkirk to see Admiral Abrial, who informed           as many of their troops as possible. He would
him that he intended to hold the perimeter till       then withdraw to a bridgehead round Dunkirk
all the troops were embarked. A French Corps          with all available anti-aircraft and anti-tank
on the right was to hold the sector from Grave-       guns and such troops as had not yet embarked.
lines to Bergues (Gravelines however had not              During the ist June, heavy enemy attacks
apparently been in French hands for some days)        developed on the British sector, supported by
and a mixed French and British Corps under             bombing and artillery fire. The garrison of
command of Major-General Alexander was to             Bergues (ist Loyals) were forced to withdraw
hold a line from Bergues to Les Moeres, and           to the line of the canal north of the town, and
thence to the sea.                                     to the west, 46th Division, i26tH Infantry
    Major-General Alexander at once • told the         Brigade of 42nd Division and ist Division
Admiral and General Fagalde that in his view           were forced back north of the canal for about
this plan did not take account of the true naval       1,000 yards. 5oth Division had also to meet
and military situation which was serious and           enemy penetration from the east, but by
deteriorating rapidly. The fighting condition of       nightfall on ist June the enemy advance had
the tro'ops was now such that prolonged resist-        been checked on a line Bergues-Uxem-Ghyvelde,
 ance was out of the question and the present          thence due east to the frontier and along the
front could riot in his opinion be maintained          frontier defences to the sea.
 after.the night ist/2nd June : furthermore the
 line to be held was so close to the beach and to         Embarkation was temporarily stopped at
 Dunkirk that the enemy might soon stop all            3 a.m. on 2nd June to prevent casualties in
 further evacuation by short range artillery fire.     daylight; by that time there remained in the
 He gave the same opinion to the Secretary of          Dunkirk area about 3,000 men of various
 State and received a reply that the British force      artillery and infantry units, with seven anti-
 should be withdrawn as rapidly as possible on a       aircraft guns and twelve anti-tank guns. They
 basis of equal numbers of British and French           held the outskirts of Dunkirk throughout
 continuing to be embarked from that time            - 2nd June with little interference save heavy
 onward. This he showed to Admiral Abrial               shelling and bombing of the beaches.
 and General Fagalde informing'them that he                By midnight on 2nd/3rd June, all the remain-
 would hold the sector allotted to him till mid-        ing British troops had been embarked. Major-
 night ist/2nd June and then withdraw under             General Alexander, with the Senior Naval Officer
 cover of darkness. They agreed that in the.            (Captain W. G. Tennant, R.N.) made a tour of
 circumstances no other plan was feasible.              the beaches and harbour in a motor boat and
    The naval situation had by now grown worse,         on being satisfied that no British troops were
 and the Channel from Dunkirk was under direct          left on shore, they themselves left for England.


                                              LONDON
          PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
       To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses :
              York House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh 2;
                 39-41 King Street, Manchester 2; i, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff;
                                    80, Chichester Street, Belfast;
                                      or through any bookseller.


Details

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947                                                 3299
the evacuation. The attributes of this officer        Ministry of Shipping and the Commander-in-
for initiative and resource are well known            Chief, Nore, as to the provision of small craft
throughout the Service, but . I venture to            for the final evacuation, and the provision 01
express the opinion that never in the course of       Naval personnel for manning the small boats
his long and distinguished career have they been      required -for ferrying and skoots and other
put to better use than during the operations for      small vessels taken up for transport purposes.
the evacuation of the Allied Armies from                 7.- A meeting was held at the Admiralty on
Dunkirk.                                              Sunday, the 26th May, to consider the same
   17. RECOMMENDATIONS OF PERSONNEL.                  subject and to examine the number of craft
                                                      available. The notes of this meeting were sub-
   I have already transmitted a brief list of those   sequently supplied to the Vice Admiral, Dover,
recommended for immediate award or decora-            who was not represented at the Admiralty.
tion (which His Majesty has been pleased to              8. Meantime, on the 23rd May, evacuation
accept) and I will forward a further list at a        of Boulogne was started and completed on the
later date when time has permitted a full             24th. The position was more complicated at
examination of all the reports.                       Calais where evacuation was limited to non-
                    (Sgd.) B. H. RAMSAY,              fighting personnel; the fighting personnel having
                                Vice Admiral.         to hold on in order to assist the main B.E.F.
                                                      Further, a supply ship with stores and trans-
                                                      port had to be unloaded at Calais for this
   OPERATION " DYNAMO "—NARRATIVE OF                  Force.
                    EVENTS                               9. It was then apparent from all these events
                INTRODUCTION                          that if the B.E.F. was to be evacuated the
  As far as the Dover Command is concerned,           only port available would be Dunkirk.
the genesis of this operatipn took place at a            10. P.M. Sunday, the 2,6th: The military
War Office meeting on Sunday the igth May,            situation was 'thought to have deteriorated so
1940, at which the Vice Admiral, Dover, was           rapidly that the Vice Admiral was informed
represented. This meeting discussed (i) Tenv          by the Admiralty that it was imperative for
porary maintenance of the B.E.F. through Dun-         " Dynamo " to be implemented with the
kirk, Calais and Boulogne, and (2) Evacuation         greatest vigour, with a view to lifting up to
of personnel through Dunkirk, Calais and              45,000 of the B.E.F. within two days, at the
Boulogne. Under -this last item was included,         end of which it was probable that evacuation
amongst other items, the problem of " the             would be termdnated by enemy action.
hazardous evacuation of very large Forces."
This was considered "to be unlikely." (This
problem ultimately became that of Operation                       OPERATION " DYNAMO ".
" Dynamo ").                                                       NARRATIVE OF EVENTS.
    2. The main decision of this meeting was          Sunday, 2&th May, 1940.
 that the control must be delegated to the Vice          Admiralty ordered Operation " Dynamo " to
Admiral, Dover, and available shipping placed         commence at 1857. Prior to the receipt of this
 at his disposal.                                     order, the despatch of Personnel Vessels* to
    3. Further meetings were held at Dover on         Dunkirk had already commenced at 1500. At
the 20th May, and at the War Office on the 2ist       this time a flow of two vessels every four hours
May, to consider the " emergency evacuation           had been agreed to 'by the B.E.F., the first of
across the Channel of very large Forces."             these reached Dover on the return trip at 2230
These meetings determined the number of per-          and 1,312 personnel were landed.
sonnel vessels and small craft available, and            2. On this day the only Inshore Craft avail-
confirmed that the control of all sea move-           able to Vice-Admiral, Dover, were four Belgian
ments rested with the Vice Admiral, Dover, a          Passenger Launches and the Naval Small Craft
liaison officer from the War Office Movement          of the Dover Command such as Drifters, and
 Control and from the Ministry of Shipping            Motor Boats from the Contraband Control Base
being attached to the Vice Admiral.                   at Ramsgate. The only ones capable of lifting
    4. The need for air protection of sailings,       personnel direct from a beach being the boats
including the period of embarkation and dis-          from Ramsgate. The Admiralty had been asked
embarkation was recognised, and was to be             for the supply of small boats, especially whalers
arranged by the Vice Admiral, Dover, direct           and cutters,* but there was always the difficulty
with the Fighter Command.                             of arranging for the personnel to man them.
                                                      When mattters became urgent, the Admiralty
    5. The reception arrangements at the points       made a signal to the various Home Ports ask-
of disembarkation were -provided for. At the          ing them to report how many cutters and
Dover meeting it was pointed out that in the          whalers could be made available for immediate
event of evacuation it would be necessary to          service under Vice-Admiral, Dover.
make provision for lifting troops from beaches,
and that owing to the very .gradual shoaling of       Monday, 2jth May.
the beaches it would be necessary to have a              3. The Vice-Admiral, Dover, was informed
large number of small boats to carry troops           by the Admiralty of the various steps taken to
from the beaches to the off-shore ships. Fur-         supply coasting vessels, skoots,* motor boats
ther, it was thought extremely doubtful if the        and other small craft including rowing boats
whole of the troops to be evacuated could be
lifted from the beaches, and that, if at all           * Admiralty footnotes:
                                                          (i) The cutters and whalers are rowing boats
possible, the ports must 'be used as well.             carried by H.M. Ships.
   6. Subsequent to the Dover meeting of the              (ii) A skoot is a Dutch type of coasting vessel.
                                                          (iii) The Personnel Vessels were manned iisiost
20th May, continual telephone conversations            wholy by members of the Merchant Navy ana
took place between Dover, the Admiralty,               Fishing Fleets.


Details

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 JULY, 1947
   (d) Of the troops landed in U.K. during " Dynamo," the following French troops were carried
in the above French vessels.

                                                             French troops disembarked in U.K.
            Date of disembarkation in U.K.
                                                        Carried by French      Total by French and
                                                              Vessels            British Vessels.
27th May        ...   ...   ...    ...                           Nil                    Nil
28th                                                             Nit                   Nil
2gth                                                             655                    655
3oth                                                           5,444                  8,616
Hist                                                           4,032                 14,874
 ist June                                                      2,765                 35,oi3
 2nd                                                             905                 16,049
 srd                                                           4,235                 19,803
 4th                                                           2,349                 26,989
 5th                                                             140                  1,096
                  TOTALS                                      20,525                123,095

  Besides the above 20,525 troops landed in U.K., an unknown number was transported direct
to French ports in French vessels.




                                         LONDON
       PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
        To be purchased directly from H.M. Stationery Office at the following addresses:
          York House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 13a Castle Street, Edinburgh, 2;
            39-41 King Street, Manchester, 2; 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff;
                    Tower Lane, Bristol, 1; 80 Chichester Street, Belfast'
                                  OR THROUGH ANY BOOKSELLER
                                                 1947
                                             Price is. 6d.
                                                                            S.O. Code No. 65-38017


Details

Such a necessity since has the now first arisen. day of Though the the Royal
FROM
meet many and till May this year that the endurance and had
has been very various active calls on its courage, War, and has Navy
it seemed likely invasion of the Low scale would besource,
sea has greatly quickened been unexpectedly intensified, and His Majesty' at
enough. But since the and Countries, the War
MAR
in home waters enterprises have along an engaged coast in a number of Ships
and for hazardous some 2,000 miles. enemy which now stretches vital
In particular the withdrawals in so short a time of the
Armies from Norway, Belgium and France were operations of a kind
which could hardly have been foreseen. They were such as to
great losses and to demand a high degree of gallantry and devotion cause
to duty.
The withdrawal from Dunkirk took nine days. 222 of His
FOR
Majesty's Ships took part in it; some of these were sunk, and many
others damaged. The total number of vessels that went across was
nearly a thousand. A large number of the proposed decorations
would go to Officers and Men of the Royal Navy, taken for the
occasion from service ashore, who are not part of the 150, for
whom the scale allowance provides, and to Seamen not in the Royal
Navy. As these latter were for the time being under Naval
discipline they would be given Naval decorations.
It may be relevant to mention that the total number of
decorations awarded for the short action at Zeebrugge in the last
War was 222, or more than two months scale allowance for the whole
seagoing Fleet today. The force employed was 82 Officers and
1698 Men, less than one tenth of that which saved the Armies from
Dunkirk.
I need not say that the Admiralty have no intention of
lowering the standard for decorations in this war. It is in fact
steadily rising. Should the calls on the Royal Navy fortunately the
lessen, that scale the allowance we Committee will, to as provide we have for in unforeseen the past, save Operations; what we but can and we of hope
hazards of Naval warfare will accept have the view that the relentless rigours through-
Majesty's Ships afloat that would the have thousand decorations earned in this period
out these ten months been so heavy and allowed to His
for be ready to invite the King to sanction from Dunkirk; a further 350 decorations
if there had been no withdrawal been fully and that will
this unique and arduous enterprise.
Treasury Chambers,
Whitehall,
S.W.1.
16th July, 1940.
2.

Details

Details

M44
268
CONFIDENTIAL.
By Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham, Knight
Grand of Cross of the Military Division
the Most Honourable Order of the
Bath, Companion of the Distinguished
Service Order, Admiral in His
1941 d3s02
DAYS MILITARY
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chiet
of His Majesty's ships and vessels
employed and to be employed on the
Mediterranean Station.
Med. 427/278.
MEMORANDUM.
LOSS OF H.M.S. SCUDD III.
His Majesty's Ship SCUDD III having been lost by
enemy action it is my direction that she is to be regarded as
having been formally paid off on Wednesday, the 27th day of
August, 1941. Pay should be computed to 27th August, 1941,
inclusive.
Given under my hand this thirtieth
day of August, nineteen hundred
and forty one.
ADMIRAL.
Po:- Temporary Acting Lieutenant
Robert Cunningham MacMillan,
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve,
late of H.M.S. SCUDD III.
(Copies to:- Secretary of the Admiralty (Med.1476/427/278).
Rear Commodores, Admiral, Royal Alexandria. Naval Barracks, Portsmouth,
Devonport and Chatham.
Commander, Senior Local Patrols, Ships,
Naval Officer, Inshore Alexandria. Squadron.
Commanding Officers, H.M. SPHINX.
Base Accountant NILE, Officer, H.M.S. NILE.)
CANOPUS and

Details

Dynams 202.
BIGLO
- 337
H.M.S. Albury. H.M.S.
9th June 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to formed the account of
proceedings of His Majesty's Ship Albury during the
days May 28 th to June 6th 1940.
25
I left Harwich at noon on lay 38th in company
with the Fifth Minesweeping Flotilla, arrived off
Zudecotte Beach at 3130 and, anchoring as close as
possible, sent Doats inshore to embark troops. The
rate of embarkation was then slow as the tide vis low
and a small surf was troublesome 00 the beach. The
troops were in good spirits though short of rations;
I landed a quantity of dry provisions in the skiff.
mile 3. to seamed of the ship, but no interference was
About 2330 a bomb was seen to drop about one
caused to the work in hand.
4. ceeded without incident to Margate, where the troops
At 0830 on May 20th I got under my and pro-
were disembarked.
5. at 1930 on May 29th; a considerable amount of bombing
I then returned to Zudecotte, arriving there
was in progress. On arrival the roads were fairly
empty, as we had passed,on the my,a number of loaded
ships returning.
had 6. grounded and,beirg being full of troops and survivors,
I made towards a burning Paddl -stommer, which
appeared to be in 8 bad my. All boats and Carley
up. Bombs were being dropped continually around the
floats were sent any and many survivors were picked
two Machino-gun attacks were carried out. I have
ship and the Paddle-steamor during this operation, and
but the utmost praise for all concerned, the
majority nothing of whom are very young and had certainly
never fire was kent as by the Twelve Pounder. I sent
been in action before. Continual Anti-aircraft a
signal for Fighter assistance, which arrived later in
the evening.

Details

332
338
7.
mostly suffering from severe burns; the Commanding
Fifty seven cot-cases alone were brought off,
Officer and other survivors from His Majesty's Dest-
cleared the steamer out as far as was known, I pro-
royer Grenade were amongst those embarked, After having
ceeded down the coast towards Bray, and picked up troops
from several boats, which they had found on the beach. A
Captain Churchill, from the Headquarters Staff, off
and told me that he had to get over to England to see
his uncle, the Prime Minister,by 0600.
8.
I proceeded to Margate, arriving at 0550 on May
30th, disembarked troops,survivors and Cartain Churchill,
then sailed for Sheerness for coal and Ammunition.
9.
I left Sheerness at 0300 on the 31st and arr-
ived without incident off the beach just to the Bast of
Dunkirk, at 0930. The rate of embarkation was slow ording
to considerable surf on the beach, but valuable assist-
ance was given by a large power boat, It was necessary
for me to leave at 1230 in order to unload and be at By
render-vous by 8300 on May 31st for the evening oper-
ations.
10.
I sailed from liargate to comply with previous
instructions and proceeded, under the orders of the
Senior Officer 11 the Fifth Minesweeping Flotila, to By
appointed station off the beach; navigation at this
period was difficult,a the absence of wind allowed the
smoke from Dunkirk to settle over the channel, that
visibility The poor. On enchoriz at 2345 a shell from 8
shore battery landed about a cable to securd; this ma
repeated spasmodically. Reports were then received of
magnetic nines being dropped in the channel.
on 11, embarkation, using ships' boats, Short y after a
About 0832 the Flotil a ms ordered to carry
bombing attack took place,and from then on these
attacks were practically continuous. Several Heinkel III
type aircraft were observed, but the majority of the
attackers were identified as Junkers 87 Dive-bombers.
Embarkation was carried out, though the rate ha slow,
this operation the ship case under machine-gun fire
aground; 12. a vire was passed and I towed her off. During
His Majesty's Ship Speedwell ma seal to be
tenant for the speed and coolness with which be carried
from the air, end great credit is due to ay First Lieu-
out the ution.
afloat 15. to proceed alongaide in Dunkirk harbour, and to
I then received orders from the 7108 Officer
comp. ete with troops there. As troops vere being and a
machine-gun embarked, attack me delivered, but no casualties were
bombs were dropped in the harbour
incurred.
14. board, His Majesty's Dostroyer Ivanhoe to was her hit
Just before I al ipped, with a full load of
by troops a bomb on outside the herbour. Two ships went
assistance, 80 I proceeded at full speed,

Details

333
339
15.
the Breedt bank, the nost intense bombing attacks were
While leaving the charnel and couing up to
experienced, Repeated Lear misses were registered on
His Majesty's Ship Gossamer, ahead of ne, His Majest's
Destroyer Havant, who had just overtaken me, was hit in
the vicinity of number Three gun; continuing at high
speed, she described a large circle to starbcard, and
when last seen was steaming in a Southerly direction.
Near misses were 30 registered on His Majesty's Ship
Albury; Fighter assistance The requested.
16.
These bombers came in relays and pursued the
ship well out to sea, The Twelve pounder ms kept in
action the whole time, 'Id it the very noticeab 0 that
11 fire has witheld until aircraft approaching from
astern were close, they were forced to sheer off and
go round again. Effective use ms unde of Lends and
Bren guns, the atter obtained from and samed by the
troops,
17.
I proceeded to Sheerness, anded the trooys,
replenished supplies of coal and ammunition, and
sail ed for Dunkirk at 1600,on June 2nd,
18.
On arrival in Dunkirk harbour at 0015 on June
3rd, I went alongside the Bastern 113, French troops
were embarked, though there did not supear to be many
waiting, and It ms necessary to send along the jetty
towards the tom to 001 set then. During the time that
His Najesty's Ship Albury ms niongaide,intermittent
shelling was taking place, apparently directed at the
harbour and ships alongside. I sailed eventually about
0215 with Two hundred troops on board,
off 19. "U" buoy, which I reported to you. It ms afightly
While returning I encountered a floating mine
contral in shape, and from its appearance night have
been a Dutch nine. I sank it and proceeded to Sheerness
to land the troops and to coal.
in 30. with His Majesty's Ships Gossaner and Leda,
I sail ed again for Dunkirk at 1630 OD June 3rd
order to arrive at the herbour at 0020 on June 4th. I
and company was detached off ⑈ buoy to not independently, in
was ordered a ongside the lest pier, filled w with
French soldiers, and left the harbour at 0130.
21, Goodwin Light-vessel, and I overtook His Majesty's
Fog ms encountered between "U" buoy and the
unti relieved by His Majesty's Ship Hellett
North Ship Leda, who had been in 001 laton; I stood by her
22, In Naval Tessel Saile Deschamps, crowded five
the vicinity of the 31bow buoy, the with French
troops of her, and signalling her course to
Auxiliary and refugees, ms passed, I ms about the
the North blew up and sank within half a
cab: es ahead Goodwin Light-vessel, which she minute. had missed, I
turned when she to pick up survivors, and reported to you that
she had been sunk by a mine,

Details

335
- 3!1
Leading Stoker Chris - the outstanding
10 the ship's E E IS USA 2 its atterts to
boats, help with the total = to = tach 12 a hoisting
Acting Leading State United - to untiring
andexce lent service 22 22 SING the Gift 3a the
of great assi taxe to his but because overtured
and swaped, ut the Brust 7 required 8 he syving
the lives of several SD: clars, " juging 11 not cutting
their equipment off the
Both them = arried att these dities in
addition to their norml Engine Room titles, over a
Deriod of six days.
Canteen Manager Allertis - - This 312 to brd only
been at sea DE 3 aspidient nort through-
out the six days, TU continually supplying conforts,
food and necessities = to troors 134 musted, 12d
was invalunble 8 in the First 144 Station, though the
work obvious I revo tel the 122 onde ate very sick,
Chief Petty Officer Curr, 1/205908 - 18 of
His Majesty's STATE 5023 125 3030 used in attending
the wounded and assisting 11 the First ALL Stations,
In addition be the it the the for one periods and
carried out his daties in & must afficient memer.
I have the honour a DO, Str,
Dur obstient servant,
VICE ADMIRAL
Singleter
11 JUN 1940
Lieutenant -Commander
in Thursand.
.
R E DOV
The Vice-Admiral,
Dover Chanand,
5th (Hneaweeying / ott
(Copy to the Senior officer,

Details

Dynams 376 8/4/0/13
1262
J .6633,
c/o Messrs. J.S.White & Co.
Cowes, Isle of White,
20th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of
proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. 0.
1700/6/6/40.
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty's Ship "SURSUM-
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.M. Friday 24th May, 1940,
sailing for Portsmouth at 1600, arriving at 2130.
HMS GODETIA
rew e/o. NOIC.
S.-546. (Revised-January, 1925).
Dynamo 350 huddles box.
125
D.-398.
COMMUNICATION SHEET.
FROM Cornanding officer D.B.16 SAN ANTONIO
DATE 10th June 1940.
To The Cornodore.
Ref. No.
R.N. Banachs. Partsmonth
FORMER
LEADING SEAMAN (S.T.) ARMITACE.
D.B.16.
&
Submitted that the above rating camed out
his duties in Q most efficient manner during
operation DYNAMO and under the lining and
ling circuinstances conducted himself will a
eheerful and Jealous spirit. and was an
excellent. examp be to the re-ander of the
DE
ships company.
MODORE R.N. BARRACE
CO
12 JUN 1940
Reeil. Connacia R.N.R.
PORTSMOU
Sta. 186/24.
5.546.
212188. Wt. 43306/D.6536. 900M. 2-39, W.&S. Ltd. Gp. 701-68.

Details

Dynamic 376
8/4/0/139
126
J .6633,
c/o Messrs. J.S. White & Co.
Cowes, Isle of White,
20th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of
proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. 0.
1700/6/6/40.
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty's Ship "SURSUM_
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.M. Friday 24th May, 1940,
sailing for Portsmouth at 1600, arriving at 2130.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained in company with other Skoots
under the ordera of Lieutenant Commander Stuart in H.M.S
"FREDANJA" until P.M. 28th May, 1940, when ship was sailed for
Dunkirk from Dover at 1400 by order of Vice Admiral Dover, for
islbe
the evacuation of troops via North Goodwin and Middle Kirke.
On arrival off beaches at Dunkirk at approximately
2230, decided to enter harbour straight away having sighted
large number of soldiers on mole, but apparently no other ships
in the harbour, though a transport and other skoots were lying
off, and two ships just leaving. The western side of the harbour
was ablaze.
Having evacuated British troops, approximate number
three hundred and seventy, ship sailed for Dover at 0330; &
hospital ship and six or seven other skoots having entered and
secured to the mole were also embarking troops by this time.
Ship arrived off Dover 1130/29, no incidents of
30/5?
importance occurring on passage.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained at Dover, storing and provision-
ing until orders were received to sail again for Dunkirk at 2100.
Short routevia Calais was taken; ship proceeding
independently as visibility was decreasing and all skoots were
not ready.
On arrival off Western beaches of Dunkirk, a wreck
was sighted approximately half a mile to West of Harbour
31/5
entrance in the approach channel, and cries of & man in the
water were heard, a boat was lowered, but the rescue work was
Priso)
left finally to a Sloop's whaler the Sloop itself being on her
return passage to England. "SURSUM-CORDA" proceeded and arrived
off beaches Eastern side of Dunkirk at 0430/30.
Many men were sighted waiting on the beach approximately
two or three miles east of the mole, and on closing H.M.S. "FITZROY"
lying approximately three quarters of a mile off the beach, was
asked to assist in ferrying troops from small craft to ITZROY"
and "VANQUISHER", three to four cables to Westward.
For approximately half an hour my Ship remained stopped
three cables from the beach embarking as many troops as possible.
This process I considered far tooslow as the number of
small boats employed in that area amounted only to four or five
and these appeared to be in danger of being swamped by excessive
loads, so decided to close the beach while the tide was flooding
and endeavour to embark troops over my bows.

Details

CONFIDENTIAL 119
.
Report on Operation "DYNAMO".
117
Page 8.
Staff Officer, Captain L.V. Morgan, C.B.E., M.V.O., D.S.C.
Augmented by additional officers, including both
Army and Royal Air Force, specially appointed for the
occasion, their task of organising and operating the large
and varied collection of H.M. ships continued without a
pause day and night throughout the 10 days that the Operation
lasted, and I can never testify adequately to the excellence
of their work, upon the efficiency of which successful results
depended.
Finally I would like to pay tribute to the valuable
support and assistance which I received throughout the whole
course of the evacuation from Vice Admiral Sir James
Somerville, K.C.B., D.S.O., who was appointed to H.M.S. LYNX
for special service in connection with the evacuation.
The attributes of this officer for initiative and resource
are well known throughout the Service, but I venture to
express the opinion that never in the course of his long
and distinguished career have they been put to better use
than during the operations for the evacuation of the Allied
Armies from Dunkirk.
17.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF PERSONNEL.
I have already transmitted a brief list of those
recommended for immediate award or decoration (which His
Majesty has pleased to accept) and T will forward a

Details

CONFIDENTIAL
Report on Operation "DYNAMO".
Page 8.
Staff Officer, Captain L.V. Morgan, C.B.E., M.V.O., D.S.C.
Augmented by additional officers, including both
Army and Royal Air Force, specially appointed for the
occasion, their task of organising and operating the large
and varied collection of H.M. ships continued without a
pause day and night throughout the 10 days that the Operation
lasted, and I can never testify adequately to the excellence
of their work, upon the efficiency of which successful results
depended.
Finally I would like to pay tribute to the valuable
support and assistance which I received throughout the whole
course of the evacuation from Vice Admiral Sir James
Somerville, K.C.B., D.S.O., who was appointed to H.M.S. LYNX
for special service in connection with the evacuation.
The attributes of this officer for initiative and resource
are well known throughout the Service, but I venture to
express the opinion that never in the course of his long
and distinguished career have they been put to better use
than during the operations for the evacuation of the Allied
Armies from Dunkirk.
17.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF PERSONNEL.
I have already transmitted a brief list of those
recommended for immediate award or decoration (which His
Majesty has been pleased to accept) and I will forward a
further list at a later date when time has permitted a full
examination of all the reports.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Balaway Vice Admiral.

Details

-3-
representation must take precedence over any normal form of
proportion as between officers and men.
6.
In List 'A', 93 H. M. Ships and Vessels and 80
requisitioned or other small craft and tenders are represented, ye
besides beach parties, pier parties, and base organisations.
r
In List "B", 42 H. M. Ships and Vessels and 37
requisitioned or other small craft and tenders are included;
some of them are also represented in List 'A'.
The total number of H. M. Ships and Vessels and
requisitioned small craft and motor boats manned and working
independently in this Operation is unknown, but is estimated
to be 600.
There were besides H. M. Ships' own boats, a further
large number of open boats used in tow or as tenders to the
larger craft, estimated at about 200,
7.
As will be seen from the above, it has been impossible
to recommend decorations for more than a small percentage of
the personnel engaged in the operation. It is therefore
submitted to Their Lordships that consideration should be given
either to the issue of a special plaque to each ship engaged
in the operation, or that a special medal be struck, in
:h
addition to any decorations awarded, to be worn by any officer
or rating actually taking part in the operation afloat or on
the beaches at Dunkirk. of the two, I would prefer the issue
of a. medal for the following reasons:
(a) That many unrecorded acts of gallantry and examples
of meritorious service took place in small craft and
on the beaches and piers which deserve recognition.
(b). A great number of the personnel were not in ships
or boats at all, being used for beach parties, etc.
(c). A plaque could only be issued to a ship, and many
hundreds of the personnel engaged were in small boats
requisitioned for the purpose.
8.
In conclusion, I would refer to Dover Despatch
A.14/0/876/40 of the 18th June, 1940, in which I made special
reference to the invaluable services of the following officers,
whom I trust Their Lordships will recommend to His Majesty for
decoration in recognition of their outstanding services
throughout Operation Dynamo.
Vice Admiral Sir James Somerville, K.C.B., D.S.O.
Appointed to H.M.S. LYNX, special service, in
connection with the evacuation. The attributes of this officer
for initiative and resource are well known throughout the
service, but I venture to express the opinion, never in the
course of his long and distinguished career have they been put
to better use than during the operations for the evacuation of
the Allied Armies from Dunkirk.
Captain/

Details

C.W./40.
5th October,
40.
Sir,
addressed to the Relatives of Officers Information
In reply to your letter of the 25th September
Bureau, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of
the award of a posthumous Mention in Despatches to
the Admiralty to inform you that the King approved
your son, the late Sub. Lieutenant Humphreys, R.N.,
"for good services in the withdrawal of the Allied
Armies from the beaches at Dunkirk". This award was
published in the Second Supplement to the London
Gazette of Friday, 16th August, 1940, Number 34925,
p.5068, of which I enclose a copy.
It is His Majesty's desire that in due course all
officers and men who have been mentioned in despatches
should receive a certificate to that effect, the
design of which is now under consideration. In the
case of deceased officers this certificate will be
sent to their next of kin.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Birkenhead.

Details

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.
St. James's Palace, S.W.1.
August, 1940.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the
following Appeintments to the Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire, for good services in orgainising the withdrawal to England,
under fire and in the face of many and great difficulties, of
335, 335,490 Officers and Men of the Allied Armies, in about one thousand
of His Majesty's Shipa and other craft between the 27th of May and
the 4th of June, 1940:-
said
To be Additional Commanders of the Military Division of the/Most
Excellent Order:
Captain william Raigersfield Phillimore, Royal Navy / (Retired).
Commodore Edward Glyn de Styrap Jukes-Hughes, Royal Navy, (Retired).
To be an Additional Officer of the Military Division of the said
Most Excellent Order:4
0
Commander Robert Gordon Hood Linzee, Royal Navy / (Retired).
To be an Additional Member of the Military Division of the Said
Most Excellent Order:-
ing Inspector of Shipwrights Frederick Hercules Harvey.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following Awards
for good services in the thdrawal of the Allied Armies from the
beaches at Dunkirk:-
The Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of
the British Empire, for Meritorious Service:
Acting Master-at-Arms Sidney Welfare, C/M.36212.
Chief 6XXXXXXXX Petty Officer Telegraphist Alexander Arthur
Lee, C/J.96386.
Chief Shipwright Joseph William Heathcote, P/M.23064
Chief Chief Sick Stoker Ingine Hoom Herbert Artificer John Baxter, Reginald C/K.2659. Francis Fox, P/M.5545.
Berth Petty Officer CEcil Ernest Jelley, C/M.39618.

Details

whith
Admiralty,
on.
whitehall.
August, 1940.
Order for good services in the withdrawal of the Allied
for the following Appointments to the Distinguished Service
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders
Armies from the beaches at Dunkirk:-
To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order:
Captain Jack Grant Bickford, D.S.C., Royal Navy, H.M.S. Express.
Captain Eric Wheler Bush, D.S.C., Royal Navy.
hanspos
Commander captain Edward Cawdron Cordeaux, M.B., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.,
Commander Michael Oliver Dundas Ellwood, Royal Navy, (Retired).
Royal Navy (Retired) H.M.S. Royal Eags.
Shapling
Commander Reginald Wastell English, Royal Navy, (Retired).
Commander Eric Perceval Hinton, M.V.O., Royal Naty.
e
Commander Edward Reginald Lewis, Royal Navy, (Retired).
Commander Hector du Plessis Richardson, Royal Navy.
Commander John Charles Keith Dowding, R.D., R.N.R., H.M.S. Mona's
(RD)
Isle.
Commander Jeffery Elliott R.N.R., H.M.S. King Orry.
Acting Commander Grenville Mathias Temple, Royal Navy, H.M.S.
Sutton.
Lieutenant-Commander Lionel James Spencer Ede, Royal Navy,
H.M.S. Salamander.
Lieutenant-Commander Humphrey Gilbert Boys-Smith, R.N.R.,
H.M.Skoot Twente.
Lieutenant Robert Bill, Royal Navy.
Lieutenant Archibald Gray, Royal Navy, H.M.Skoot Hilda.
Surgeon Lieutenant John Jordan, M.B., B.Ch., Royal Bideford. Navy, H.M.S.
His Majesty has also been graciously pleased to approve
the following Awards for like good services:-
The Distinghished Service Cross.
Acting
Commander Michael Anthony Ormus Biddulph, Royal Glengower. Navy, H.M.S.
0/1
Lieutenant -Commander Colin Henry Corbet-Singleton, Royal Navy,
H.M.S. Albury.
Lieutenant-Commander Ackroyd Norman Palliser Costobadie, Royal
Navy, H.M.S. Locust.
Lieutenant-Commander Richard John Hullis Couch, Royal Esk. Navy, H.M.S.
Lieutenant-Commander Stratford Hercules Dennis, Royal Navy.
Lieutenant-Commander William Alan Frank Hawkins, Royal Navy,
H.M.S. Winchelsea.
Lieutenant-Commander John Hugh Lewes, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Bideford.
Lieutenant-Commander Hugh Nicholas Aubyn Richardson, Royal Navy,
H.M.S. Shikari.
well

Details

CONFIDENTIAL.
Office of
The Flag Officer Commanding,
DOVER.
No. B. 14/0/1316.
18th June, 1940.
The Secretary of the Admiralty, London, S.W.1.
Copies to: The Ministry of Shipping.
The Permanent Under Secretary
of State for War.
The Director of Sea Transport, Admiralty.
The Principal Sea Transport Officer,
Southampton.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
I have deemed it desirable, in drawing up my report
on Operation DYNAMO, namely the evacuation of the Allied
Armies from Dunkirk between 26th May and 4th June, to deal
separately with the work carried out by the "Personnel" vessels
(or transports) in order that copies may be sent to other
authorities concerned, without the necessity for sending them
the full report.
2. The work of these vessels has accordingly been
summarised in the accompanying report, which it is requested
may be placed before Their Lordships for their information.
3. I have already transmitted (Dover Letter 4th June,
1940 - No.B.23/862/40) a brief list of personnel recommended
for immediate award or decoration (which His Majesty has been
pleased to accept), and I will forward a further list at a
later date when time has permitted a full examination of all
the reports.
Vice Admiral.

Details

CONFIDENTIAL.
WEC.
Charl
S3.
FROM
FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING DOVER.
Macclesfuld.
DATE
4th. JUNE 1940.
No. B23/862/40.
TO
SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY.
Be pleased to inform Their Lordships that in
accordance with their directions I am forwarding, herewith,
an advanced list containing the names of certain officers
whose services in connection with the recent evacuation
of the Allied Armies from Dunkerque I consider to be worthy
of submission to His Majesty The King for immediate
recognition.
2.-
I am unfortunately unable at this stage to forward
the names of those Naval ratings who displayed valour,
gallantry, or exemplary conduct since it has not been
practicable in the time available to obtain particulars from
the many officers under whom they were serving.
It has, however, been possible to obtain the names
of those men who specially distinguished themselves while
serving on shore in Dunkerque or on the beaches since these
men were under one control, and I submit them in Enclosure
No. 5 so that, if desired, the list of immediate awards may
contain names of both officers and men.
3.-
It is intended that the main list of recommendations
for officers and men shall form the subject of a separate
letter.
4.-
I have not referred in any detail to the arduous
and exacting conditions under which the evacuation took
place as this will also form the subject of a separate
report.
VICE ADMIRAL.

Details

a
ENCLOSURE No.1 TO DOVER LETTER No.B23/862/40 dated 4 June 1940.
Page 2.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF OFFICERS FOR SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH
THE EVACUATION OF THE ALLIED FORCES FROM DUNKIRK.
(contd.)
CAPTAIN THOMAS EDGAR HALSEY, ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. "MALCOLM", D.So
50
D.S.O.Lay.
CAPTAIN GEORGE FREDERICK STEVENS-GUILLE, D.S.O., O.B.E., DSO
is the ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. "CODRINGTON",
COMMANDER BRIAN DEAN, ROYAL NAVY, (RETIRED), H.M.S. "SABRE" ,D.S.O.
COMMANDER RALPH LINDSAY FISHER, ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. "WAKEFUL" ,DSO
COMMANDER JOHN HAMILTON ALLISON, ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. "WORCESTER"
D.S.O
COMMANDER RICHARD CYRIL VESY ROSS, ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. "GOSSAMER"
ACTING COMMANDER KENNETH MORLAND GREIG, ROYAL NAVY, (RETIRED)
H.M.S. "SANDOWN",
DSC,
\
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER COLIN HENRY CAMPBELL, ROYAL NAVY,
DSC
H.M.S. "WOLSEY",
sqs,DSOL
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN BRUCE GOODENOUGH TEMPLE, ROYAL NAVY,
H.M.S. "HEBE",
DSC
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER HAROLD UNWIN, ROYAL NAVY, H.M.S. "LEDA",
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN MARK SYMONDS COX, D.S.C., ROYAL NAVY,
? This should Ge Commander Hinton.
H.M.S. "HALCYON",
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CECIL JOHN WYNNE-EDWARDS, ROYAL NAVY,
H.M.S. "PRESIDENT",
D.S.C.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER REDVERS MICHAEL PRIOR, ROYAL NAVY, (RETIRED)
H.M.S. "LYNX",
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ARTHUR JELFS CUBISON, D.S.C.,
ROYAL NAVY (RETIRED),
D.S
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NEVILLE LIONEL JOHN PISANI, D.S.C., D.S.O
ROYAL NAVY (RETIRED), H.M.S. "FERVENT",
D.SC
TEMPORARY LIEUTENANT CEDRIC VICTOR BRAMMELL, ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE
H.M.S. "GULZAR",
D.SC
D.S.C
TEMPORARY LIEUTENANT E. L. DAVIES, ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE
H.M.S. "ORIOLE",
D.S.C
PROBATIONARY TEMPORARY SUB. LIEUTENANT JACK MASON, ROYAL
NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE, H.M.S. "CHICO",
D.S.C.V
TEMPORARY SKIPPER JAMES HENRY MUGRIDGE, ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE,
SKIPPER,
W.S.3018,
TEMPORARY PROBATIONARY GEORGE WILLIAM ALDAN, ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE
D.S.C.
W.S.3014, H.M.TRAWLER "JOHN CATTLING",
PROBATIONARY TEMPORARY SKIPPER EDWARD FREDERICK DETTMAN,
ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE, W.S.3306, H.M. DRIFTER "BOY ROY",
D.S.C.
PROBATIONARY TEMPORARY SKIPPER ALFRED MANNING LOVIS,
ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE, W.S. 3397, DRIFTER "PAXTON",
70
LIEUTENANT VAN HAMILEN, ROYAL NETHERLANDS NAVY.
For distinguished service while serving in His Majesty's
Ships carrying Troops from Dunkerque to Dover.
Ships were the target for continual attacks from enemy
aircraft, submarines, and M. T. B'S.
They were required to berth under exceptionally difficult
conditions in darkness, and in a confined harbour obstructed
by wrecks and crowded with small craft under way.
: Commander Cronin of Nigu. Sevin officer 4 ᵃ Maicsweepoing Aistilla.
(Continued

Details

ENCLOSURE NO.1 TO DOVER LETTER 10.B23/862/40 dated 4th. JUNE
1940.
Page 3.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF OFFICERS FOR SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH
THE EVACUATION OF THE ALLIED FORCES FROM DUNKIRK.
(contd)
CAPTAIN MICHAEL MAYNARD DENNY, ROYAL NAVY,
OBE(M)
CB
ACTING COMMANDER PHILIP BRIAN MARTINEAU, ROYAL NAVY, (RETIRED),
MAJOR (TEMPORARY) A.E.M.WALTER, B.A., ROYAL ENGINEERS, wo OBE
(Deputy Assistant Director of Transport
Dafer,
JAMES LEONARD KEITH, ESQUIRE, MINISTRY OF SHIPPING,
CAPTAIN (TEMPORARY) L.E.L. WRIGHT, ROYAL ENGINEERS, we: OBEM,
(Reserve of Officers).
For distinguished service in organising the sailing of
the very large number of ships and vessels of all classes
employed for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force
and the French Army to the number of 307,218, between the
breakwater and beaches at Dunkirk and British ports, under
circumstances of unprecendented difficulty.
CB
also
For
Norwa
SNO audabus
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JAMES COVERLEY STOPFORD, ROYAL NAVY,
OBE(M)
wait Martincan.
i/ashi
For distinguished service in establishing and
maintaining essential W/T communications with the Naval,
part
Military, and French Authorities respectively in Dunkerque,
and with the large number of small vessels employed during
the evacuation under circumstances of great difficulties,
thereby contributing very materaially to the success of the
operation.
OFFICERS OF THE MERCHANT NAVY.
3
D.S.A
CAPTAIN GORDON DYER WALTER, MASTER, 'MAID OF ORLEANS',
D.S.A
CAPTAIN GEORGE JOHNSON, MASTER, 'ROYAL DAFFODIL',
CAPTAIN THOMAS ALDIS, MASTER, ROYAL SOVEREIGN'.
ok Foley.
For distinguished service while serving in His Majesty's
Transports carrying Troops from Dunkerque to Dover.
The transports of necessity provided a vulnerable and
easy target for enemy aircraft, but were required to make
their passages while subject to constant bombing attacks,
and frequently under shell fire.
They were required to berth in darkness in a confined
harbour obstructed by wrecks, and crowded with small craft
under way.
VICE ADMIRAL.

Details

with the of Compliments the R.M.Gleadorse,
29685/40.
2.
Under Secretary Affairs of State admiralty Esq.,
for Foreign FOREIGN OFFICE,
1940.
DATE
Dec. 23ʳᵈ, 1940. 21st S.W.1. December,
1940.
- July 1940
7106/6374/372)
Sir, od your odd of Dec. 7)
(Ref: EO. letter ho: T7106/6374/372
i, 1940
The King has informally approved
the of to the the award Order officers of decorations of the and men British of and the Empire medals
Belgian Merchant Navy, whose names,
HONOURS AND
together with details of their
valuable services in connexion with
the evacuation of Allied troops from
Dunkirk, are given in the annexed
statement.
2. I request that, without revealing
get His Majesty has been approached
is connexion with these proposals,
you will ascertain and inform me as
NOTATION ONLY
soon as possible whether the awards
Referred to
contemplated will be agreeable to
Date
the
A.F. Aveling, Esq., C.M.G., C.B.E.
etc., etc., etc.

Details

- 2 -
11.
S.S.B.A. S.S.B.A. No. 598 (7). are the same as those mentioned 1n
No. The 609 two (19) speedboats from Sayonara referred
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1938)
(M. 09624/40).
2672
REGISTRY CENTRAL MAY1940
63
Commissioning Order
1940
12. from Deptford The Pay to 18, Section MARDOL, of SHREWSBURY, PRESIDENT I has been transfer
(President I. 1702/16).
13.
With reference to S.S.B.A. No. 551 (15),
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
PANORAMA Trawlers KINGFISHER and CURLEW have been renamed LUMINARY Boom To
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
respectively.
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
(M. 013945/40).
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
14.
S.S. ALCA and S.S. REGISTAN have been taken
O.B.V. respectively.
commissioned naval service as a Base Mining Depot Ship up i and
REGISTAN at T.W. Greenwell and Co. Ltd,, Sunderland.
ALCA will be fitted out at R.J. Evans, Liverpool
No.8820/87.
(M. 018320/40).
MEMORANDUM.
15.
has been approved to charter with their crews Norwegian FROM
With the concurrence of the Norwegian Authorities
THE NAVAL OFFICER-in-CHARGE, POOLE.
JOKULL and RUNDHORN for Examination Service, Iceland.
(M. 018359/40).
DATE
23rd September, 1940.
No. 49/1/
16.
TO
THE HEAD OF MILITARY BRANCE. ADMIRALITY.
M/Y ALASTOR (S.S.B.A. No. 467 (9)) has been allocs
to Ayrshire Dockyard Co. Ltd., Irvine, for conversion to
Dutch Coaster AEGIR paid off at Poole.
vessel with D/C Chutes, rails, 6 pdr. gun, and A/S installs
(M. 018365/40).
With reference to your M. 010027/40 of the 19th September, it
is confirmed that the AEGIR remained an Admiralty responsibility until
17.
the 4th July.
Submarine NARWHAL was publicly announced on 18th September,
Reference S.S.B.A. No. 581 (3) the loss of H.M.
The AEGIR was paid off on the 28th June, but the Care and Main-
(M. 015836/40).
tenance party left on board did not hand over to the Dutch crew until p.m.
the 4th July.
See my 65/1/ of the 15th August.
Circulation as for Special Secret Branch Acquaint No. 53%
b.Alamp
VT
m(.)
NAVAL OFFICER-in-CHARGE, POOLE.
Captain, R.N.R.
(Sd.) W. M. JAMES.
Admiral,
to R.S. Blacker, R.N.
Commander-in-Chief.
S. JABA.
0:- Secretary of the Admiralty (No.2506/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

Details

Details

REGISTRY CENTRAL
by
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1938)
M.
2674
Commissioning Order
2675
1940
R.O.
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/66
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
1=)
is to be
commissioned
Majesty's Ship
DESPATCH
or as soon afterwards as
on Saturdayhe 25th May, 1940
circumstances permit, witht as 8 tender to H.N.S. VICTORY
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, SO far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
1940
25th day of May,
(Sd.) W.M. JAMES.
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
nant Commander F.E. Wilmot-Sitwell,R.N.
3 to:- H.M.S. Secretary of the Admiralty (No.2308/8820)
DESPATCH. IL
Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

GENTRAL
65
27 MAY1940
CEN
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
REGISTRE
MAY 1940
Commissioning Order
M.
2675
1940
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleat and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/67
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
is to be
commissioned
Majesty's Ship SURSUM CORDA
or as soon afterwards as
Saturday the 25th May, 1940.
circumstances permit with as a tonder to H.M.S. VICTORY
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th
day of May
18
(Sd.) W.M. JAMES.
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
it C.L.G. Philpotts, R.N.,
M.S. SURSAM CORDA.
;ary 10:- of the Admiralty (No.2309/8820)
lore 500-10-39. R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)

Details

Details

Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
M.
2678
CENTRE
27 MAY 1940
1940
REGIST
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8320/68
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
is to be
commissioned
Majesty's Ship
FRISCO
or as soon afterwards as
onSaturdaythe 25th May, 1940.
circumstances permit, with a as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
day of
180
25th
May,
(Sd.) W. M. JAMES.
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant G.O. Symons, R.N.,
.M.S. FRISCO.
stary to:- of the Admiralty (No.2312/8820)
Barracks, Portsmouth.)

Details

Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
CENTRACT CENTRAL
(Revised July, 1938)
M.
2679
27 MAY 1940
REGISTRY
Commissioning Order
1940/-
R.O
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander in. Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/44/51.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship
1
THE
B
8
is to be
commissioned
oisaturday the 25th May, 1940,
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances permit, where as a tender to: H.M.S., VICTORY.
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
Mayby,
19400.
(Sd.) W. M. JAMES.
Comdr. L.W. Stewart R.N.
Admiral,
alty.
to:- Have No.2315/8320. Hele II
Commander-in-Chief.
dore, R.N. Portsmouth) Barracks,
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRAL
70
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 97a)
27 MAY 1940
(Revised July, 1989)
M.
2680
&
Commissioning Order
1040
R.O.
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No.
8820/51.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship
ABEL TASMAN
is to be
commissioned
25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
on
Saturdaythe
circumstances permit, withxacc as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant Commander T.G.P. Crick, R.N.,
3 M.S. to:- ABEL The TASMAN. Secretary of the Admiralty. (2514/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
The Flag Officer-in-Charge, Southampton.
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRÁL
Portsmouth Form 21
27 MAY 1940
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
M.
2681
REGISH
71
Commissioning Order
1940
R.O
By Sir William Milbourne James. Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/59.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship
ALICE
is to be
commissioned
on Saturdayhe 25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances permit, as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
of
despatch to be used, SO far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
9d
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
19 40.
25thday of
May,
lo
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant H.D.M. Slater, Royal Navy,
M.S.
to:- ALICE. The Secretary of the Admiralty. Southampton. (2515/8820)
The The Commodore, N.Barracks, Portsmouth.)
Flag Offi cer-in-Charge,
500-10-39:

Details

Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
STATE
M
2682
Commissioning Order
19401R.0
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
8820/500.
No.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords having decided that His
is to be
commissioned
Majesty's Ship
Saturday
25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
on
the
xxxxxx as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
circumstances permit, with &
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
25th
Given under my hand May, at Portsmouth, this 40
19
day of
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant C.E.S.B.St.G. Beal, Royal Navy,
M.S. to:- KAAPFALGA, The Secretary of the Admiralty. Southampton. (2516/8820)
The The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
Flag Officer-in-Charge,
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRAL
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 11a)
(Itevised July, 1988)
M.
27 MAY 1940
2683
73
Commissioning Order
10401
R.O
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleetand Commander in Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/501
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
JAVA
Majesty's Ship
is to be
commissioned
Saturday
25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
on
the
circumstances permit, **** as & tender to H.K.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
lespatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
or sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant Commander J.M.D. Hunter, Royal Navy,
M.S. JAVA.
to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty. (2317/8820)
The Flag Officer-in-Charge, Southampton.
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

M.
CENTR
Portsmouth Form 21
2684
27 MAY 19
(Late 91a)
(Revised July, 1989)
1040
R.O.
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/52.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship
PACIFIC
is to be
commissioned
on Saturdayhe 25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances permit, with axx as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40.
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant Commander C.J. Skrine, R.N.,
M.S. PACIFIC.
to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty (2518/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
M.
2685
Commissioning Order
R.O.
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleat and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/53.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship SAN ANTONIO
is to be
commissioned
or as soon afterwards as
on Saturday the 25th May, 1940
circumstances permit, withex as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
1940 =
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant Commander L.H. Phillips, Royal Navy,
M.S. SAN ANTONIO.
to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty. (2519/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

M.
CENTRAL
Portsmouth Form 21
2686
27 MAY 1940
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
REBIST
13401
RRO
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/54.
MEMORANDUM.
abrol
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
qid8
Majesty's Ship
P ZEUSOAL
is to be
commissioned
on Saturdayhe 25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
odd
circumstances permit, without as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
890
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
of
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
of
for sea accordingly.
51000
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40.
vali
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant Commander L.E. Fordham, R.N.R.,
M.S. ZEUS.
to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty. (2520/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRAL
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 91a)
M.
2687
(Revised July, 1938)
1340.R.0
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Flest and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/55.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship PASCHOLL
is to be
commissioned
on Saturdaythe
25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances permit, withoux as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40 .
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
nant Commander G. Legassick, R.N.R.,
S to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty. (2321/8820)
.M. S. PASCHOLL.
The Commodore, Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRA
M.
(27 MAY 1941
2688
Portsmouth Form 21
2689
(Late 91a)
(Revised July, 1988)
1940
127 MAY 1940
4018.0
REGI
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/56.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship
AVIGATIC
is to be
commissioned
25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
on Saturdayhe
circumstances permit, withoux as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40.
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
enant Commander C.B. Hoggan, R.N.R.,
BS to:- The Secretary of the Asmiralty. (3522/8820)
H.M.S. WIGA.
The Commodore, R.N.Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRAL
(27 MAY 1940
Partsmouth Form 21
(Late 91a)
M.
REGIS
2689
(Revised July, 1988)
19401
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/57.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship ATLANTIC
is to be
commissioned
on Saturdaythe 25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances permit, with acc as R tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40.
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
enant Commander J.W. Thompson, R.N.R.,
H.M.S. ATLANTIC.
es to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty. (2525/8820)
The Commodore, N.Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 91a)
M.
CENTRAL
(Revised July, 1988)
2690
AY 1940
10
Commissioning Order
1940
R.O
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/58.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
Majesty's Ship AMAZONE
is to be
commissioned
on Saturdaythe 25th May, 1940
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances permit, with ax x as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,May,
1940
vab
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
enant Commander T. Johnston, Royal Navy,
as I.M.S. to:- AMAZONE. The Secretary of the Admiralty. (2524/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRAL 28 MAY1940
270
Portsmouth Form 21
M.
2706
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
REGISTRY
1940
NEW
R.O
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
No. 8820/88.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
ZEUS
is to be
commissioned
Majesty's Ship
Saturday
25th May, 1940,
or as soon afterwards as
on
the
xxxx as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
circumstances permit, with &
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
May,
19 40
Marry
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
ant Commander C.B. Hoggan, R.N.R.,
.S. ZEUS,
to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty (2528/8820)
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

CENTRAL 28 MAY1940
M.
270
outh Form 21
2706
e 21a)
July, 1938)
REGISTRY
bio
1940
MAN
Insurance
RO
nissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
8820/88.
ORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
ZEUS
is to be
commissioned
sty's Ship
aturday
25th May, 1940,
or as soon afterwards as
the
mstances permit, with XXXXX & as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
tch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
a accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
day of
May,
19 40

Details

CENTRAL
M.
2707
Portsmouth Form 21
28 MAY1940
(Late 21a)
91
REGISTRY
1940
(Revised July, 1988)
Uo
R.O
Commissioning Order
Commissioning Order
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
the
No.
8820/86.
MEMORANDUM.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
The
Majesty's Ship
ATLANTIC
is to be
commissioned
Majesty
on Saturdayhe
25th May, 1940,
or as soon afterwards as
circumstances on permit, withorx as a tender to H.M.S. VICTORY,
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25th day of
MAY,
19 40
Marr
Admiral,
enant Commander L.E. Fordham, R.N.R.,
Commander-in-Chief.
BB to:- The Secretary of the Admirality (2326/8820).
H.M.S. ATLANTIC.
The Commodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

M.011266
Portsmouth Form 21
(Late 21a)
(Revised July, 1988)
2708
COMMISSIONING
--
Commissioning Order
in R10
and Flag 09/1602 in Charge,
London.
No. 402/40/40.
By Sir William Milbourne James, Knight Commander of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral in His
Majesty's Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels employed and to be employed within
the Portsmouth Naval Command.
The Lords Commissioners of the
No. 8820/57. His
MEMORANDUM. 10 to on 1940, or as soon
as as a tender to
you to
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having decided that His
the despatah commissioned to be
Majesty's Ship
is to be
the WIGA in
or as soon afterwards as
on Saturday
25th May, 1940,
circumstances permit, for with & as a tender to H.N.S. VICTORY,
0 London
3. day of
you are to proceed to commission that vessel, and to cause the utmost
despatch to be used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in preparing
for sea accordingly.
E c Rougle
Rear Admirel.
Given under my hand at Portsmouth, this
25ᵗʰᵈay of
19 40
May,
of
Admiral,
Commander-in-Chief.
nant Commander J.W. Thompson, R.N.R.,
H.M.S. WIGA,
to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty (2327/8820).
The Comodore, R.N. Barracks, Portsmouth.)
500-10-39.

Details

M.011266/40
R.O.
COMMISSIONING ORDER
SECRET.
BY EDWARD COURTNEY BOYLE, V.O.,
Rear Admiral in His Majesty's
Fleet and Flag Officer in Charge,
MEMORANDUM.
London.
No. 402/40/40.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
having directed that His Majesty's Ship "GCRECHT"
is to be commissioned on 9th June 1940, or as soon
afterwards as circumstances permit, as a tender to
H.M.S. "PEMBROKE", you are to proceed to commission
that vessel, and to cause the utmost despatch to be
used, so far as the same may depend upon you, in
preparing for sea accordingly.
Given under my hand at the Port of London
Authority Building, London, E.C. 3. this 9th day of
June 1940.
E
To:- Lt. P.C.R. Arbuthnot, R.N.
Rear Admiral.
Commanding Officer,
Flag Officer in Charge.
(Copy to:- The Secretary of the Admiralty No. BR 165/402/40/40.
H.M.S. "GORECHT".
Commander in Chief, The Nore.
Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "PEMBROKIN"
FOUTHAS

Details

VESSEL
OWNER
REMARKS
MA J(
GOLDEN SPRAY
J.W. Pocock
Returned to Owners 5/6.
COP
GRETA
London & Rochester
Returned to Owners.
MAJOB
Trading Co.
MALDO
MALVI
HASTAWAY
Mr.Peters
Returned to owner, damaged-
MOLLY
5.6.40.
MARE
HANORA
C.E.Thompson
T.98. No information of
MARCH
return from Dunkirk.
MARGH
HAZARD
c/o Toughs
Broke from tow and lost.
HELEN IX
c/o Toughs
DID NOT SAIL.
MARINA
HENRY HARRIS
C.W.& C. Haste
Re-allocated to Special
MARSAY
Admy. Service 6A.
MARINA
HILDA
C.Stephens
T.98 Returned to owners
6.6.40.
ARICE]
HILFRANOR
F.Parham
T.98. Re-allocated to
A.P.S.
ARY
HIS MAJESTY
J.Mears
Returned to owners.
ARY HO
HOPEFUL
Mr.Duckitt
DID NOT SAIL
ARY IR
HURLINGHAM
J.Mears
Returned to owners
HOUND
4B
Messrs. Pickfords
Returned to owners
ARY ROE
HAWFINCH
A.Grant
Returned to owners 6.6.40.
HANDY BILLIE
F.Kinson & Son
RY SPE
No report received from
RY SPE,
list of Missing Vessels.
HEATHER-BELL
H.Loose
TILDA
Returned to owner 6.6.40.
LN.101
BELLE
FLOWER
IDAHO
DER
O.W.Mocatts
IMSHI
Returned to owners
Norman Myron
AIDEN
Returned to owners
INDUSTRY
J.E.Breeds, Senr.
EY
Re-allocated to Spl.Admy.
ANT
(6A)
Service
INSPIRATION II
E.H.O.Manns
Released 27/6. Badly
LICENT D
damaged.
IOTE
A.R.Bell
Reported lost at Dunkirk.
I
ISLAND QUEEN
T.Davis
T.98. Lost on Flanders
OSA
Coast. Abandoned.
IKOI
IRMA
E.J.Philip
A.P.S.
IOTA
Eastwoods Ltd.
Returned to owners.
DRU II
IRENIC
G.Coyde
Returned to owners.
5
AUR
X
RASOL
JANE HANNAH
B.Chase
To V.A.Dover
JEBERA
Messrs. Hill
Returned - unsuitable.
US
JEFF
J.Mears
T.98. Returned to owner.
MADGE
JETSAM
Maj.Lawrence
Returned to Owner.
B MING
JOCKETT II
A.Partington
A.P.S.
PAH 3 MODESTY
JONG
T.A.Aldington
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
JOCKETT II
A.Partington
A.P.S.
NA
RCH
ROSE
Motor Boat
KING'S LYNN
(13 Vessels)
"Fishing Vessels"
Standing by but did not go.
Motor Boat
KARINA
E.D.Ranger
0.00 1.2 Torpedo
T.98 A.P.S.
KAYELL
J.H.Senior
Returned to Owners.
tor Ferries (
SME
KING.....

Details

SECRET
Depranes zzbo 2421
Royal Naval Barracks,
Chathem.
10th June 1940.
I have the honour to submit a brief report of events mainly
upiled from H.M.S. "Malcolm's" deak and signal 103.
The days went by 30 quickly and one was so intent on one's
11 small section of the job In hand that I find it difficult to
nember a great deal of what occurred, or to do Justice to the
od work of other ships working nearby.
After the period from 0200 to 1800 on 89th May during
ich "Malcolm" was largely concerned with trying to distribute
stroyers and boats to the best advantage between various beaches
d Dunkirk Pier, the ship ren almost solely as a ferry between
nktrk Eastern Pier and Dover.
In this connection I feel It should be pointed out how
ch harder it must have been for the Commanding Officers of
ivate destroyers than for of ship with a Captain (D) staff.
unnanding Officers of these ships had to rely almost entirely
themselves, without the assistance or the additional officers
who in a leader.
I was very little concerned with the work on the beaches
"tar Eadnesday, 29th, which WAS bafore the very large member of
miliary boats arrived, but I must comment on the admirable work
the transports at Dunkirk Pier. These ships were handled with
dill and a coolness under shell fire and bombing which would be
spooted from His Majesty's Ships but which is an snormous credit
their maters and crews.
The following 1a a brief diary of events:-
eaday,
28th
1422 slipped from North Western Well Ports.
2010 Spoke Dover. Ordered to proceed to beaches
East of Dunkirk by route Y with H.M.S. "Express",
H.M.S. "Esk", H.M.S. "Shikart" and H.V.S.
"Scimitar" in company.
dneaday, 29th
0215 Anchored off No.8 S. Zuydootte buoy. Sent in
one whaler in tow of "Express's" motor boat,
Sub-Lieutemant Brooke-Alder, R.N.R. in charge,
with orders to investigate and consience
embarking soldiers If a concentration had been
found.
0245 Sent in second shaler in tow of another ship's
motor boat. Put Lieutenant Nelson, R.N.V.E.
in charge with similar orders.
0630 Closed abandoued shore motor boat, which we
repaired. Sent First Lisutenant in shore to
beach a schuyt for use as a pier for boats
embarking soldiers on shore.
0945 "Shikari" came alongside bringing First Lieu-
tenant and N.R.A. from shore motor boat which
broke down completely and had to be abandoned.

Details

Dynom 376 302
308%
J .6633,
0/0 Messrs. White & Co.
This method was found successful and two trips were
Cowes, Isle of White,
carried out in issue manner. for the 20th June, 1940.
larger oraft being in the intentions
"VANQUISHER" laft for Regland, and DD
close Sir, n, fill to capacity and towards La Trims, to
transfer troops if
I have the honour to submit the following report of
proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. O.
1700/6/6/40. in re-floating,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty Ship "SURSHM"
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.N. Friday 24th May, 1940, In
sailing for Portsmouth at 1600 arriving at 2130. tide being
carried.
"SURSUM_CORDA" remained in company with other Skoots
under the orders of Lieutenant Commander Stuart in H.M.S
"PREDANJA" until P.M. 28th May, 1940, when ship was sailed for
Dunkirk from Dover at 1400 by order of Vice Admiral Dover, for
the evacuation of troops via North Goodwin and Middle Kirke.
On arrival off beaches at Dunkirk at approximately the
2230, decided to enter harbour traight away having sighted
large number of soldiers on mole, but apparently no other ships
in the harbour though & transport and other skoots were lying
I
CONFIDENTIAL
300
301
Page 2 of
Enclosure to Commanding Officer D/C Unit's letter dated
14th June, 1940.
boat in tow hoping that self-bales would keep boat afloat.
motor boat making water and liable to sink. SUN tug took motor
2115. Transferred all survivors to a sur class tug. 40 ft.
2130. Abandoned 40 ft. motor boat in tow.
Monday, 3rd.
boat awash, due to leaks. 0800. Hoisted Crew
0415. Arrived Dover in tom. Secured. motor boat 0700 out. motor
returned to D/C motor boat.
Officer J. during the extremely Sunday, 2nd June, also at boat
I Luckins in obeying my helm difficult orders period when the
should like to bring to notice the with coolness calm and of Petty
was promptitude Dunkirk being on heavily 29th/30th attacked. May his coolness a was also noticeable.
The enemy aircraft with the Sunday, 2nd June. gun, was
accurate shooting and calmess stripped of A.B. Lawis Cole who
very hit at praiseworthy least one during the air attack on
50 01088 the beach my while bows. the tide was flooding
and AUGUS, endeavour DU 0001000 to embark troops over

Details

Adm 234/360
B.R. 1736 (32)
RESTRICTED
W
NAVAL STAFF HISTORY
1227
SECOND WORLD WAR
Battle Summary No. 41
THE EVACUATION
FROM DUNKIRK
Operation "Dynamo"
26th May - 4th June 1940
ID
1949
This book is the property of His Majesty's Govern-
ment and is for the use of persons in His Majesty's
Service only. It must not be shown, or made
available to, the Press or any member of the public

Details

CHAP. II
THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK
21ST MAY
Counter-attack south of Arras
Mechanised He had Division, co-operation but the movements of the Corps and a byLord Cort
was begun the of the French Cavalry Major-General H. by Lord Gort
The counter-attack this day under with 2 the divisions command south of of Arras planned
did not materialise. Furthermore, serious attack
widely divisions to of the French as 5th Corps would also the The hot develop two
the flanks General Franklyn had latter did
through wear¹. were now troubles developed beak troubles developed beak bubles developed break
the British overworked tanks, whose tracks mechanical troubles developed to
that Although the attack the objectives would not of maintain the day its were therefore reached, it became
and supported by the French on its left¹. momentum unless it was reinforced clear
enemy direction.¹ pressure "Thus compelled concluded the Allied force to withdraw - and in an 23rd
During the 22nd May General the Franklyn held his ground, but on the
had valuable defence of Arras," said Lord Gort, easterly
blocked imposed a vital a road centre".¹ delay on a greatly superior force against which it ... had It
Germans approach Boulogne
military situation, for, in the afternoon, an enemy column of all arms the
In the meantime, the 21st May had marked a still more serious change in
approaching the Germans Boulogne.² The military situation was rapidly deteriorating; was
completely Allied severing our line of communications.³ A quarter of
were across the Somme² and had cut the railway at Abbeville,
tons of troops now lay north of the Somme, cut off from the daily flow a of million
decision ammunition and supplies essential to their maintenance. 2,000
"was to maintain the force through the northern ports", said Lord 'The
established at Dunkirk.
finally taken on 21st May and the headquarters of a Base Sub-Area Gort,
A conference of the Allied Commanders was essential, and at 2000 Lord Gort
went He to Ypres where he met the King of the Belgians and General Billotte.4
river explained the situation developing on the Escaut, where the water in the
and decided back As the to was it was a that line line SO evident low the be in withdrawn rear, Escaut that that General it should no sooner to longer Billotte the or be later abandoned formed Belgian the a frontier Belgian tank on the obstacle. Army defences.⁵ night would of It 22nd-23rd was have thereupon to swing May,
if on he to were the forced to withdraw from the asked positions the on King the of the he Belgians would whether, fall back
the line of the Yser SO as to continue to Lys, of
days B.E.F.⁵ later His Majesty agreed that maintain touch with the left five
the Yser the Belgian command decided no that alternative the idea line of the existed, withdrawal but to
must be ruled out".
I 2 Lord Lord Gort's Second Despatch,
3 Lord Gort's Second Despatch, para. 33.
General Gort's Second Despatch, para. 36.
General Lord Blanchard Gort's Billotte Second succeeded was Despatch, fatally him injured in para. para. command in 37 35. a motor of the accident French returning First Group from of this Armies. conference.
6

Details

18
THE WAR OFFICE CASUALTY BRANCH,
BLUE COAT SCHOOL,
CHURCH ROAD,
WAVERTHERE,
LIVERPOOL, 15.
filed
18th November, 1941.
M/B/Gen./28
Dear Alcock,
with our enquiries into which the
In of connection casualties to military from Dunkirk, personnel we are endoavouring of
circumstances occurred during authentic the details evacuation concerning and "Jaguar". the loss of It two is understood His
Majesty's to from obtain statements ships i.e. received the "liavant" that both ships and were we are carrying anxious military least to the
passengers obtain, if at possible, the time a before they copy were of proceeding the sunk official to presume report The details death or at in
the case essential of the are personnel those details normally who are supplied of still missing. in such conditions cases, survival vis: obtaining, the
required cause, and other date, ships time in and the place vicinity enquiry reciate to an of
those assist not in resoued. case you have I attach to pass a it on and would ap.
B
,
early reply.
Yours sincerely,
(Sd.) H. A. DAWKINS
es
J.G.M. Alcock Esq.,
Admiralty (Naval Branch)
Rex House,
Lower Regent Street,
London, S.W.1.
au пишег a natch. The DOMDS went
through the weather deck abreast of No. 5 Hatch and set
the whole of the after end of the said vessel on fire.
NE
A number of the Appearers crew and some of the troops
a
on board were killed and injured. About 4.30 p.m. one
ts
of His Majesty's Destroyers came alongside and the troops
already aboard the Appearer's vessel and the wounded members
of the vessel's crew were transferred to the said Destroyer.
5
The Destroyer put two lines of hose on board the Appearer's vessel
ry
which were operated from the Destroyer and the Appearer himself
caused his vessel's own hose line to be used in an attempt to
put out the fire. The latter hose could not however, be
operated efficiently as the deck water service pipes were found
to have been fractured as a result of the bombing but
nevertheless so long as the Destroyer was alongside, the fire
was kept under control. About half an hour later the Destro
not being able to wait longer owing to enemy air action
the Appearer's vessel with the troops and wounded me
the crew who had been transferred. The Appearer t
to make a further attempt with the remmants of his
his vessel under way.

Details

36"
The War Office,
Casualty Branch,
Blue Coat School,
Church Road,
Wavertree,
original colem filed
Liverpool, 15.
in M/99
7
October, 1941.
(Casualties)
Dear Commander,
We are endeavouring to obtain evidence regarding
the loss of the S.S. 'Clan MacAlister' in order that we may
presumption be a of death of the personnel who are still missing.
in position to deal with the question of the
It is understood that this vessel was bombed and
sunk during the evacuation from Dunkirk, and of I
subsequently shall be most grateful if you can supply further The details
partioulars i.e., the date, time and place of the occurrence, in how
the required are the ones normally supplied in such
circumstances in which the ship was sunk.
cases, the vessel took in sinking, what ships took part not
rescue long work and the possibility of survival of those
rescued.
I should greatly appreciate your early assistance
in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
a
(Sd.) H. A. DAWKINS
t
ities
said
Commander Holbrook,
Shipping Casualties Section,
Trade Division,
Admiralty.
London, S.W.1.
au live natch. The DOMDS went
through the weather deck abreast of No. 5 Hatch and set
the whole of the after end of the said vessel on fire.
NE
A number of the Appearers crew and some of the troops
at
on board were killed and injured. About 4.30 p.m. one
ts
of the crew were transferred to the said Destroyer.
already vessel's aboard the Appearer's vessel and the wounded members
of His Majesty's Destroyers came alongside and the troops
5
caused which were his vessel's operated from the Destroyer and the Appearer himself
The Destroyer put two lines of hose on board the Appearer's vessel
ry
put The latter hose could not however, be
out the fire. own hose line to be used in an attempt to
to fractured as a result of the bombing but
operated have been efficiently as the deck water service pipes were found
was kept under able control. About half an hour later the Destro
nevertheless so long as the Destroyer was alongside, the fire
not being to wait longer owing to enemy air action
the Appearer's vessel with the troops and wounded
the crew who had been transferred. The Appearer m t.
his vessel under way.
to make a further attempt with the remmants of his

Details

Copy Original filed
35A 30
in PD99
Ministry of War Transport,
Empire Hotel,
Lansdowne Crescent,
Blackpool, N.S.
WR/1940
18th September 1941.
Dear Mr. Dawkins,
You wrote to me on the 9th September
concerning the loss of the "Clan Macalister" during
the evacuation of Dunkirk and I am now enclosing
for your confidential information, a copy of a
Notarial Protest, which appears to contain all the
information we were able to obtain at the time
about this case.
If this is not sufficient for your purposes I
would suggest that you should communicate with Commander
Holbrook of the Shipping Casualties Section, Trade
Division, Admiralty, who will probably be able to supply
you with further details of the circumstances attending
the loss of the ship.
Yours sincerely,
ty's
(SGD)
MARGARET
H.
CHURCHARD.
Sea
the
one
oblock
in
3.30
Authorities
to
so
said
left
the
(the
the
H.A.
Dawkins
Esq.
by
of
Salu au пишег live natch. The DOMDS went
through the weather deck abreast of No. 5 Hatch and set
the whole of the after end of the said vessel on fire.
a
A number of the Appearers crew and some of the troops
ts
on board were killed and injured. About 4.30 p.m. one
of His Majesty's Destroyers came alongside and the troops
already aboard the Appearer's vessel and the wounded members
of the vessel's crew were transferred to the said Destroyer.
an
ry
The Destroyer put two lines of hose on board the Appearer's vessel
which were operated from the Destroyer and the Appearer himself
caused his vessel's own hose line to be used in an attempt to
put out the fire. The latter hose could not however, be
operated efficiently as the deck water service pipes were found
to have been fractured as a result of the bombing but
nevertheless so long as the Destroyer was alongside, the fire
was kept under control. About half an hour later the Destroy
not being able to wait longer owing to enemy air action
the Appearer's vessel with the troops and wounded m
the crew who had been transferred. The Appearer t.
to make a further attempt with the remmants of his
his vessel under way.

Details

8A
COPY
CLAN MACALISTER.
NOTARIAL PROTEST
T566
Stamp:
)
BY THIS PUBLIC NOTARIAL ACT BE IT KNOWN AND MADE
1/-
MANIFEST UNTO ALL Persons to whom these Presents
(3.6.40
)
shall come THAT on this day, the 31st day of May
House,
in the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred
N.
and forty, before me JOSEPH PHILLIPS CRAWLEY, of
the City of London, Notary Public by Royal Authority
duly admitted and sworn, and in the presence of the
Witnesses hereinafter named, personally came and
appeared ROBERT WILLIAM MACKIE, Master Mariner and
Commander of the Steamship or Vessel called the
ntity
"Clan Macalister" of the Port of Glasgow, of the
was a
burthen of 6787 tons gross registered or thereabouts
last seen by him the Appearer burning furiously in
Dunkirk East Roads;
in
WHO said and declared as he doth by those
is as
tish
Presents solemnly say and declare for truth as follows:-
THAT on the Twenty seventh day of May One thousand nine
hundred and forty the Appearer left the Port of Southampton
in and with his said vessel which was laden with His ajesty's
landing craft and equipment and was engaged on transport
service in accordance with instructions received from the Sea
Transport Authorities. He proceeded in accordance with
the said instructions to the Downs there to await further
orders. There he remained with his said vessel until about
one oblock in the morning of the Twenty ninth day of May,
when in pursuance of instructions given by the Naval Authori
to proceed to Dunkirk or as near thereto as possible, the said
vessel left the Downs and arrived at 9.30 a.m. on the same
day (the Twenty ninth of May) at Dunkirk East Roads, where
all the said landing craft, and equipment that it was
possible to discharge were discharged. During the course
of the unloading two motor craft were damaged and
rendered unfit for service due to the rolling of the said
vessel caused by the wash of one of His Majesty's
Destroyers which was proceeding past the port side of
the said vessel at high speed. Later in the day some
of His Majesty's troops were brought aboard the said
vessel by motor craft and were being embarked until
about 3.45 p.m. when enemy planes flew over dropping
bombs, and scored three direct hits on the stern of the
said vessel at number five hatch. The bombs went
through the weather deck abreast of No. 5 Hatch and set
TE
the whole of the after end of the said vessel on fire.
a
A number of the Appearers crew and some of the troops
ts
on board were killed and injured. About 4.30 p.m. one
of His Majesty's Dest royers came alongside and the troops
already aboard the Appearer's vessel and the wounded members
5
of the vessel's crew were transferred to the said Destroyer.
ry
The Destroyer put two lines of hose on board the Appearer's vessel
which were operated from the Destroyer and the Appearer himself
caused his vessel's own hose line to be used in an attempt to
put out the fire. The latter hose could not however, be
operated efficiently as the deck water service pipes were found
to have been fractured as a result of the bombing but
nevertheless so long as the Destroyer was alongside, the fire
was kept under control. About half an hour later the Destro
not being able to wait longer owing to enemy air action
the Appearer's vessel with the troops and wounded m
the crew who had been transferred. The Appearer t
to make a further attempt with the remmants of his
his vessel under way.

Details

13A
The fire however began to spread rapidly and the Appearer by
reason of the fire had previously given orders for the ammunition
HT
carried by his vessel to be jettisoned in order to save the said
vessel from being blown up. The Appearer then made an attempt
ST.
to leave the Roads with a view to returning to an English Port
on a course given to the Appearer by the Officers of the last
ITE
mentioned Destroyer, but it was found that the telemotor steering
gear was broken and unusable, and that it was impossible to reach
the hand steering gear which was situated aft on the poop owing
to the fire and the fact that the remaining ammunition in the
tonnage opening was exploding. As at this juncture it became
impossible for the Appearer and his crew to navigate the said
vessel or even remain on board owing to the fact that the fire was
burning fiercely and was beyond control and that explosions were
continuously taking place and that the vessel was being subjected
to machine gun fire from enemy aircraft which were continuously
attacking vessels in the roadsteads, the Appearer called for the
assistance of one of His Majesty's Minesweepers which came alongside.
The Appearer then for the aforesaid reasons gave instructions for
the Officers and the crew to leave the said vessel, and they,
including him the Appearer, were transferred to the said
Minesweeper. When the Appearer and his crew last saw the vessel
she was burning fiercely and explosions were constantly occurring.
The Appearer with his Officers and crew were then brought to the
Port of Dover where they arrived at about 10 o'clock in the morning
of the Thirtieth day of May One thousand nine hundred and forty.
AND LASTLY that all losses and damages which may have happened
to the said vessel her appurtenances or cargo have arisen in manner
aforesaid and not through the neglect or default of the Appearer or
any of his crew, who all did their duty to the utmost of their power,
nor yet by any insufficiency in the said vessel which was tight
staunch and substantial sufficiently manned and furnished with
everything necessary for such a vessel and voyage and in every
respect seaworthy, her engines and machinery being in good working
order and condition, her cargo properly stowed and damaged and her
hatches well secured.
THEREFORE the Appearer declares to protest and I the said
Notary at his request do hereby solemnly protest for all losses
costs and damages, and for what else ought to be protested in the
premises.
THUS done and protested in London in the presence of John
William Patching and Rowland Rye, Witnesses.
Witnesses:
J.W. Patching.
R.W. MACKIE, Master.
Rowland Rye.
In testimonium Veritatis.
( S E A L)
J. Phillips Crawley.
Not Pub.
B
WE, ROBERT WILLIAM MACKIE, Master Mariner and Master of the
B
Steamship or Vessel called the "Clan Macalister", and JOHN OSBORNE
BC
Stamp
BO
BRI
6.40)
m
WOODALL, Chief Officer, and ROBERT HANNAH, Chief Engineer on board
/6a
the said Vessel, DO SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY DECLARE THAT the contents
of the foregoing protest are strictly true and correct.
BRE
BRT
AND WE MAKE THIS SOLEMN DECLARATION conscientiously believing
BRIT
BRYW
the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory
Declarations Act 1835.
BULL
BURGO
ARED this first day
BURTO
ne 1940 at No.30
ng Lane in the City
...
R.W. MACKIE.
BOU SA
J.O. WOODALL.
BARBAR
ndon England.
ROBERT HANNAH.
BHURAN
BOAT (1
Before me,
J. PHILLIPS CRAWLEY,
Not. P

Details

OF
VESSEL
OWNER
REMARKS
GOLDEN SPRAY
J.W.Pocock
Returned to Owners 5/6.
GRETA
London & Rochester
Returned to Owners.
Trading Co.
HASTAWAY
Mr.Peters
Returned to owner, damaged-
5.6.40.
HANORA
C.E.Thompson
T.98. No information of
return from Dunkirk.
HAZARD
c/o Toughs
Broke from tow and lost.
HELEN IX
c/o Toughs
DID NOT SAIL.
C.W.& C. Haste
Re-allocated to Special
HENRY HARRIS
Admy. Service 6A.
HILDA
C.Stephens
T.98 Returned to owners
6.6.40.
HILFRANOR
F.Parham
T.98. Re-allocated to
A.P.S.
HIS MAJESTY
J.Mears
Returned to owners.
HOPEFUL
Mr.Duckitt
DID NOT SAIL
HURLINGHAM
J.Mears
Returned to owners
HOUND
4B
Messrs. Pickfords
Returned to owners
A.Grant
Returned to owners 6.6.40.
HAWFINCH
HANDY BILLIE
F.Kinson & Son
No report received from
list of Missing Vessels.
H.Loose
Returned to owner 6.6.40.
HEATHER-BELL
LN.101
Returned to owners
IDAHO
O.W.Mocatts
IMSHI
Norman Myron
Returned to owners
INDUSTRY
J.E.Breeds, Senr.
Re-allocated to Spl.Admy.
(6A)
Service
INSPIRATION II
E.H.O.Manns
Released 27/6. Badly
damaged.
IOTE
A.R.Bell
Reported lost at Dunkirk.
ISLAND QUEEN
T.Davis
T.98. Lost on Flanders
Coast. Abandoned.
E.J.Philip
A.P.S.
IRMA
IOTA
Eastwoods Ltd.
Returned to owners.
IRENIC
G.Coyde
Returned to owners.
JANE HANNAH
B.Chase
To V.A.Dover
JEBERA
Messrs. Hill
Returned - unsuitable.
JEFF
J.Mears
T.98. Returned to owner.
JETSAM
Maj.Lawrence
Returned to Owner.
JOCKETT II
A.Partington
A.P.S.
JONG
T.A.Aldington
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
JOCKETT II
A.Partington
A.P.S.
KING'S LYNN
(13 Vessels)
Standing by but did not go.
"Fishing Vessels"
KARINA
E.D.Ranger
T.98 A.P.S.
KAYELL
J.H.Senior
Returned to Owners.
KING.....

Details

VESSEL
OWNER
REMARKS
GOLDEN SPRAY
J.W.Pocock
Returned to Owners 5/6.
GRETA
London & Rochester
Returned to Owners.
Trading Co.
It
HASTAWAY
Mr.Peters
Returned to owner, damaged -
5.6.40.
HANORA
C.E.Thompson
T.98. No information of
return from Dunkirk.
HAZARD
c/o Toughs
Broke from tow and lost.
HELEN IX
DID NOT SAIL
HENRY HARRIS
C.W.&.C.Haste
Re-allocated to Special Admy.
Service 6A
(
HILDA
C.Stephens
T.98 Returned to owners 6.6.40
HILFRANOR
F.Parham
T.98. Re-allocated to A.P.S.
HIS MAJESTY
J.Mears
Returned to owners.
HOPEFUL
Mr.Duckitt
DID NOT SAIL
HURLINGHAM
J.Mears
Returned to owners
HOUND
4B
Messrs.Pickfords
Returned to owners
D
HAWFINCH
A.Grant
Returned to owners 6.6.40.
DI
HANDY BILLIE
F.Kinson & Son
No report received from list
DO
of Missing Vessels.
HEATHER-BELL
H.Loose
Returned to owner 6.6.40.
LN.101
FE
FR
IDAHO
O.W.Mocatta
Returned to owners
IMSHI
Norman Myron
Returned to owners
INDUSTRY
J.E. Breeds, Senr.
Re-allocated to Spl.Admy.
(6A)
Service
INSPIRATION II
E.H.O.Manns
GOF
Released 27/6. Badly damaged.
IOTE
A.R.Bell
Reported lost at Dunkirk
ISLAND QUEEN
T.Davis
T.98. Lost on Flanders Coast.
Abandoned.
IRMA
E.J.Philip
A.P.S.
IOTA
Eastwoods Ltd,
Returned to owners.
IRENIC
G.Coyde
Returned to owners.
HEB
HON
HOR
JANE HANNAH
B.Chase
To V.A.Dover
JEBERA
Messrs.Hill
Returned - unsuitable.
JEFF
J.Mears
T.98. Returned to owner.
JETSAM
Maj.Lawrence
JAVA
Returned to Owner.
JOCKETT II
JUTL
A.Partington
A.P.S.
JONG
T.A.Aldington
Re-allocated to A.P.S.
JOCKETT II
A.Partington
A.P.S.
KAAFA
KING'S LYNN
(13 Vessels)
Standing by but did not go.
"Fishing vessels"
KARINA
E.D.Ranger
T.98 A.P.S.
KAYELL
J.H.Senior
Returned to Owners.

Details

1
TO DOVER LETTER OF 6 ans. 19to
ENCLOSURE No
- 2 -
VI Yachts and Small Craft. (Continued).
Pioneer.
Chelsea.
Two Rivers.
Charlotte.
Unique.
Diana Mary. - DOVER
Eothen.
Cuisisana.
Ramagete 18/6
Princess Lily.
/
The King.
Count Dracula.
Royal Thames.
Gayfly.
Formosa.
Sallyforth.
Margherita.
Kayell.
Maldon Annie.
Anthony.
Canvey Queen.
Imshi.
Miss Ming.
Sinbad II.
Princess Maud.
Curlew.
Empress.
Skylark.
Faversham.
Bream.
Queen Boadicea.
Pike.
Queen Boadicea. II.
Windsor Castle.
Vera.
Omega.
Daphne.
Tinker.
Kingwood.
Black Arrow.
Hurlingham.
Thetis.
The Viscount.
Aljanor.
His Majesty.
Silvery Breeze.
The Marchioness.
Rummy II.
Mutt.
Thark. ih,Dovier 18/6
Jeff.
Thurne.
Beverley.
Fleetwing.
St. Patrick.
Miss Modesty.
Skylark. (whech of may ?)
Gay Venture.
Spinaway.
Westerly.
Mary Rose.
Sylvia.
Advance.
Lorna Doone.
Hanora.
Hazard.
Maid of Honour.
Tigris I.
Cordelia.
Iote.
View Finder.
Shamrock.
Karina.
Queen of England.
Triton.
Wolsey.
Stonehaven.
X
Sceneshifter.
1 name unknown (Thames Conservancy).
1 Seaschool Yacht (Shipping Federation, Cmdr. Cavill).
VII Power Driven Lifeboats.
26 out of 27 have not been returned. It is
understood that 3 are still at Ramsgate.
VIII Ordinary Lifeboats.
34 out of 87 have not been returned.

Details

LIFEBOATS
Patrons
His Majesty The King. Her Majesty The Queen
Her. Majesty Queen Mary
President:- H.R.H.The Duke of Kent. K.G.
Chairman:- Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt.
Founded 1824
Deputy Chairman The Hon. George Goloille
Secretary:- Lieut:-Golonel C.R. Satterthwaite. Satter thwaite. O.B.E.
Royal National life-Boat Institution
solely by Voluntary Contributions
Life-Boat Depôt
76
Telephone number
and
Telegrams
Boreham Wood. Hertfordshire
Elstree 1755
The are Director of Sea Transport,
Any further communication
air
on this subject should be
CRS/H
addressed to The Secretary
24th September, 1940.
0
Ministry of Shipping, H.O.,
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
London, W.1.
Your Ref: T.0.9144/S.T.N.6.B.
Sir,
I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 19th instant dealing with the services of this Institution'
Life-boats in connexion with the evacuation of Dunkirk, and to
enclose for your information copies of reports made by the
Honorary Secretary and Coxswain of the Margate and Ramsgate
Life-boats. These were the only two Life-boats which operated
in the evacuation with their own crews; the other Life-boats
employed being manned by Naval ratings.
Copies of the reports which I now enclose were forwarde
to Mr. Guttery of the Ministry of Shipping on the 26th July.
to
While my Committee have made suitable monetary rewards
to the crew of the Margate and Ramsgate Life-boats, and have
addressed a letter of warm appreciation to each station, th
felt that as the services were carried out under Ad
Orders it would not be proper for them to make awards of
Institution's medals or any other honorary award.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Enclosure
RECEIVED SEPP. M.
18 1887 ALTISTINO
Culaminium
Secreta
activities set ff for Margate. The do
more, impossible the Life-boat on account on une of Dunkirk the draft Sands of full the of Life-boat water, and and other to as vessels any it was
were close to Neiuport (?) and on the Life-boat's homeward journey
ng
me
em,

Details

REPAIRS & REPLACEMENTS
TOTAL D
VESSEL
TYPE
CLAIMANT
PAPER NO.
HIRE & EXS.
£.
S.
d.
£.
£.
S.
d.
124.
-.
!
"HASTAWAY"
S.Bge.
S.J.Peters
T.M.3915/40
216.
!
"
12.
10.
287.
"HANORA"
M.V.
C.E.Thompson
T.0.9176/40
CrescentTrade
277.
7.
2.
Facilities Ltd.
240.
i
"HAZARD"
M.V.
Crescent Trade
T.M.3768/40
Facilities Ltd.
3.
8.
"HILDA"
3.
M.F.B.
R.A.Newman & Sons
T.O.9337/40
"HOPEFUL"
M.F.B.
D.Hillyard
T.M.4105/40
5.
6.
5.
24.
5.
"HOUND"
M.V.
Pickfords Ltd.
T.M.4368/40
69.
13.
8.
4.
"HEATHER BELL"
M.B.
H.Loose
T.M.6098/40
4.
18.
9.
"HANDY BILLY"
M.L.
F.Kinson & Son
T.M.5752/40
13.
18.
6.
200.
"HERON"
6.
10.
M.B.
C.W.Mott
T.M.5237/40
18.
10.
!
"HENRY JAMES"
M.B.
Mr.Mitchell
T.M.9123/40
4.
3.
8.
"HEART OF GOLD"
M.B.
J.Walker
T.M.8970/40
11.
3.
9.
70.
10.
!
"H.A.C."
S.Bge.
H.A.Cunis Ltd.
T.0.9302/40
221.
10.
10.
275.
16.
3.
H.W.Harvey
14.
9.
10.
16.
4.
!
"HAROLD MARGETTS"
S.Bge.
Port Edn.Authority.TO. 9312/40
5.
5.
"HAPPY RETURNS"
M.V.
J.T.W.Saunders
T.M.4960/40
6.
13.
10.
(F.E.5)
"HAWFINCH"
M.V.
A.Grant
T.M.4979/40
5.
5.
"
(N.N41)
"HIBERNIA"
M.V.
M.F.Hardy
T.M.5003/40
4.
18.
8.
12.
6.
(N.N47)
3.
14.
"HURLINGHAM"
M.V.
J.Mears Ltd.
T.M.3719/40
See under "Jeff"
"HIS MAJESTY"
"
If
11
11
"
11
If

Details

Tune, 1940.
the
31
Manx
April
lefts
1940.
The Flag Officer Commanding Dover.
The following Confidential matter has been received from
Dover No.
Date.
No of copies.
B14/0/1316.
. 18th June 1940.
To FLAG OFFICER
In Two.
ЯНЬ
COMMANDING DOVER
her I Folly
unBellamy
to see
RANK.
LS
getting am with the letters
How unkenlynde
Persong further enquires m
we have not sent to
cares of appreciation this Them are ochn
to make in report which
appreciation ream
wild Ben my Chree in other
to lynwald,
may be Piace
3.
I have already transmitteu
20/6 letter have 20 fore
nuck
1940 - No.B.23/862/40) a brief list of personnel
g
for immediate award or decoration (which His Majesty has been
pleased to accept), and I will forward a further list at a
later date when time has permitted a full examination of all
the reports.
Vice Admiral.
apt R.
th
ner
ly
of the
Pi
b
ER
shore now
the naval
In/
ized.

Details

nine, 1940.
REGISTRY 1 10 REDIMED LIIBUR
31
31 A
CONFIDENTIAL.
Office of
The Flag Officer Commanding,
DOVER.
No.B.14/0/1316.
18th June, 1940.
The Secretary of the Admiralty, London, S.W.1.
Copies to: The Ministry of Shipping.
The Permanent Under Secretary
of State for War.
The Director of Sea Transport, Admiralty.
The Principal Sea Transport Officer,
Southampton.
Operation "DYNAMO" - Work of Personnel Vessels.
I have deemed it desirable, in drawing up my report
on Operation DYNAMO, namely the evacuation of the Allied
Armies from Dunkirk between 26th May and 4th June, to deal
separately with the work carried out by the "Personnel" vessels
(or transports) in order that copies may be sent to other
authorities concerned, without the necessity for sending them
the full report.
2. The work of these vessels has accordingly been
summarised in the accompanying report, which it is requested
may be placed before Their Lordships for their information.
3. I have already transmitted (Dover Letter 4th June,
1940 - No.B.23/862/40) a brief list of personnel recommended
for immediate award or decoration (which His Majesty has been
pleased to accept), and I will forward a further list at a
later date when time has permitted a full examination of all
the reports.
Vice Admiral.
apt R.
th
ner
ly
of the
FL be EH
shore now
the naval
In/
rized.

Details

OM
DAVID MACBRAYNE, Ltd.
44 ROBERTSON STREET
WP/JWA.
GLASGOW,
T.M.6213/40/S.T.A.6.
Your
Ref:
14ᵗʰ 14 August, 1940.
209
Gentlemen,
I have to thank you for your letter WP/JWA of
the 12th August, 1940, and to inform you that the
Department sees no objection to reports being obtained
from the Masters of your two vessels which took part
in the Dunkirk operations as the Masters and crews of
His Majesty's Transports are not subject to Kings
Regulations. The Department will accordingly await
these reports with interest.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd.) B. E. BELLAMY.
C>
Director of Sea Transport.
David Macbrayne, Ltd.,
44, Robertson Street,
GLASGOW, C.2.
Gun, by permission 01 the onler Engineer, with ellect on enemy
planes.
The Chief Steward E.u.Onions, 2nd Steward J.F. Brown and
Purser D.D.McMahon we understand aid heroic work in tending to
the woundea, there being no Doctor on board.
ALL the Medical Supplies and other consumable stores
of our Catering Department were usea to give Medical Comfort to
the rescued.

Details

Dynams 376
8/4/0/13
1262
J .6633,
c/o Messrs. White & Co.
Cowes, Isle of White,
20th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of
proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. 0.
1700/6/6/40.
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty's Ship "SURSUM-
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.M. Friday 24th May, 1940,
sailing for Portsmouth at 1600, arriving at 2130.
HMS GODETIA
rew e/o. NOIC.
S.-546.
(Revised-January, 1925).
Dynamo 350 huddles
125
D.-398.
COMMUNICATION SHEET.
FROM Commanding officer D.B.16 SAN ANTONIO
DATE 10th June 1940.
To The Commodore.
Ref. No.
R.N. Banachs. Portsmonth
FORMER
LEADING SEAMAN (S.T.) ARMITACE.
5/5
D.B.16.
Submitted that the above rating camed out
his duties in Q most efficient manner durag
operation DYNAMO and under Ac lining and
ling circui-stances conducted himself will a
reso)
eheerful and Jealous spirit. and was an
excellent. examp be to the re-ander of the
DE
ships company.
MUDORE L.BARRACE
CO
12 JUN 1940
Reeil. Connacia R.N.R.
PORTSMOU
Sta. 186/24.
212188. Wt. 43306/D.6536. 900M. 2-39, W.&S.Ltd. Gp. 701-68.
5.146.

Details

Dynamic 376
8/4/0/139
126
J .6633,
c/o Messrs. J.S. White & Co.
Cowes, Isle of White,
20th June, 1940.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit the following report of
proceedings during operation "DYNAMO" in accordance with P. G. 0.
1700/6/6/40.
In accordance with orders from Commander-in-Chief,
Portsmouth, I assumed command of His Majesty's Ship "SURSUM_
CORDA", (Ex Dutch Skoot) at Poole, P.M. Friday 24th May, 1940,
sailing for Portsmouth at 1600, arriving at 2130.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained in company with other Skoots
under the ordera of Lieutenant Commander Stuart in H.M.S
"FREDANJA" until P.M. 28th May, 1940, when ship was sailed for
Dunkirk from Dover at 1400 by order of Vice Admiral Dover, for
islbe
the evacuation of troops via North Goodwin and Middle Kirke.
On arrival off beaches at Dunkirk at approximately
2230, decided to enter harbour straight away having sighted
large number of soldiers on mole, but apparently no other ships
in the harbour, though a transport and other skoots were lying
off, and two ships just leaving. The western side of the harbour
was ablaze.
Having evacuated British troops, approximate number
three hundred and seventy, ship sailed for Dover at 0330; &
hospital ship and six or seven other skoots having entered and
secured to the mole were also embarking troops by this time.
Ship arrived off Dover 1130/29, no incidents of
30/5?
importance occurring on passage.
"SURSUM-CORDA" remained at Dover, storing and provision-
ing until orders were received to sail again for Dunkirk at 2100.
Short routevia Calais was taken; ship proceeding
independently as visibility was decreasing and all skoots were
not ready.
On arrival off Western beaches of Dunkirk, a wreck
was sighted approximately half a mile to West of Harbour
31/5
entrance in the approach channel, and cries of & man in the
water were heard, a boat was lowered, but the rescue work was
Priso)
left finally to a Sloop's whaler the Sloop itself being on her
return passage to England. "SURSUM-CORDA" proceeded and arrived
off beaches Eastern side of Dunkirk at 0430/30.
Many men were sighted waiting on the beach approximately
two or three miles east of the mole, and on closing H.M.S. "FITZROY"
lying approximately three quarters of a mile off the beach, was
asked to assist in ferrying troops from small craft to ITZROY"
and "VANQUISHER", three to four cables to Westward.
For approximately half an hour my Ship remained stopped
three cables from the beach embarking as many troops as possible.
This process I considered far tooslow as the number of
small boats employed in that area amounted only to four or five
and these appeared to be in danger of being swamped by excessive
loads, so decided to close the beach while the tide was flooding
and endeavour to embark troops over my bows.